5 reviews
The Mysterious Outsider
The outsider G.I. Arthur Adams meets Kirby in battle and joins Saunders´ squad. They are assigned for a mission and Adams endangers the squad, raising suspicious of who he might be.
"The Ringer" is a great episode with good action and tension created by the behavior of the mysterious Arthur Adams. Is he a coward or a German spy infiltrated in the squad is the question certainly raised by the viewers. The final explanation is satisfactory and the episode is well-resolved. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "O Impostor" ("The Impostor")
"The Ringer" is a great episode with good action and tension created by the behavior of the mysterious Arthur Adams. Is he a coward or a German spy infiltrated in the squad is the question certainly raised by the viewers. The final explanation is satisfactory and the episode is well-resolved. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "O Impostor" ("The Impostor")
- claudio_carvalho
- May 17, 2019
- Permalink
Under Pressure
"The Ringer" is a story about a young G.I. Private Arthur Adams (well played by Mart Hulswit) who is desperate to make good in combat action.
Gene Coon & Del Carnes put together a fine story and Coon adapted it for television. There's plenty of combat and the beginning sequence reruns some excellent heavy artillery fire. Adams makes a couple of major mistakes along the way and The Sarge begins to smell something fishy. It's somewhat amusing in that the viewing audience who are familiar with Sergeant Chip Saunders will probably look forward to the chewing out to follow. Ultimately the truth comes out and one can see the logical and illogical side of the same scenario.
Michael Caffey directed a fine episode; the ending combat scene was extremely well done. Hats off to the stunt men playing the Germans; you could not have an excellent episode without their consistently great efforts.
The ending sequence is priceless and features the right outcome for all of the wrong reasons. Reminded me of Anthony Perkins in the 1956 movie Fear Strikes Out when he cannot stand the noise next door. Mart Hulswit is fun to watch in this memorable ending. I've always been sympathetic to those put into pressure situations by their families.
Gene Coon & Del Carnes put together a fine story and Coon adapted it for television. There's plenty of combat and the beginning sequence reruns some excellent heavy artillery fire. Adams makes a couple of major mistakes along the way and The Sarge begins to smell something fishy. It's somewhat amusing in that the viewing audience who are familiar with Sergeant Chip Saunders will probably look forward to the chewing out to follow. Ultimately the truth comes out and one can see the logical and illogical side of the same scenario.
Michael Caffey directed a fine episode; the ending combat scene was extremely well done. Hats off to the stunt men playing the Germans; you could not have an excellent episode without their consistently great efforts.
The ending sequence is priceless and features the right outcome for all of the wrong reasons. Reminded me of Anthony Perkins in the 1956 movie Fear Strikes Out when he cannot stand the noise next door. Mart Hulswit is fun to watch in this memorable ending. I've always been sympathetic to those put into pressure situations by their families.
Anticipation...Hero or not??
- chicagopunkie
- Aug 16, 2013
- Permalink
Hero Or Zero?
This episode is all about the concept of "hero" in war. Who's a hero, what's a hero, are you a hero, am I a hero, maybe we're all heroes, or maybe we're all just a bunch of zeroes, just dumb meat for the giant meat-grinder of war that has no mercy.
So this episode explores that concept. From that standpoint it reminded me a little bit of The Red Badge of Courage, the great classic war novel by the young genius Stephen Crane.
This episode really kept me guessing. That's what makes it so interesting from moment to moment. First you think this, then you think that, then you wonder what the hell is going on. Sgt. Saunders and his squad are wondering what the hell is going on, too. It's hard enough just to fight the Germans without a crazy mystery among your own men to unravel along the way.
It's also about family pressure, specifically father pressure, to serve in war and become a hero.
I thought this episode was as good as I've seen from Combat! That's why I gave it a "10".
So this episode explores that concept. From that standpoint it reminded me a little bit of The Red Badge of Courage, the great classic war novel by the young genius Stephen Crane.
This episode really kept me guessing. That's what makes it so interesting from moment to moment. First you think this, then you think that, then you wonder what the hell is going on. Sgt. Saunders and his squad are wondering what the hell is going on, too. It's hard enough just to fight the Germans without a crazy mystery among your own men to unravel along the way.
It's also about family pressure, specifically father pressure, to serve in war and become a hero.
I thought this episode was as good as I've seen from Combat! That's why I gave it a "10".
- sambase-38773
- Jul 19, 2023
- Permalink
Shaggy-dog story with fine finish
Something of a shaggy-dog story: Vic and the squad have to deal with a straggler they pick up (played by Mart Hulswit, whose career peak came in TV soap operas) who is a phoney, lying to them about his identity and constantly disobeying orders.
There is plenty of action and battles, but precious little story beyond that simple fact of an imposter in their midst. It's finally explained what's going on, quite an anticlimax, followed by the corny switch of the kid proving himself in battle before fadeout. Ending does make up for the endless wait for something worthwhile to happen -I just didn't like being jerked around getting there.
There is plenty of action and battles, but precious little story beyond that simple fact of an imposter in their midst. It's finally explained what's going on, quite an anticlimax, followed by the corny switch of the kid proving himself in battle before fadeout. Ending does make up for the endless wait for something worthwhile to happen -I just didn't like being jerked around getting there.