User Reviews

Not usually a fan of the sappier episodes, but this one transcends the schmaltz, thanks to the cast and guest stars.

I couldn't place Anjanette Comer in her first scene, because she looked so much different just three years late in the Exploitation classic THE BABY (if you haven't seen it, watch it now!). It's weird how quickly actors seemed to age back in the day.

Edward J. Lakso wrote the "Sweet Child" song that is heard over the romance montage where Comer no longer needs the mobility aids to walk. The song was re-titled "Home", re-recorded and re-used in a Season 4 CHARLIE'S ANGELS episode ("Catch a Falling Angel" -- also penned by Lakso) where it was performed by Lynne Marta -- dubbing for Alyssa Leeds' backwoods porn star character Sally Storm.

Speaking of ANGELS, Bruce Watson plays Georgie -- one of the bad guys here, but is infamous for being "Margo" -- the deranged transvestite who stalks Kelly in Season 5's "Angel on the Line".

This episode has a great scene where Comer gets caught in the crossfire during the climactic shootout. Will she survive a second tragedy? Watch and find out!

Few television series episodes ever touched me as this one did. I watched it when it first aired and have not seen it since - but the song that Anjanette sang stayed with me - it seemed so beautiful to me at the time. The song definitely added to the poignancy of the story - the love between her character and Pete. This episode stayed on my mind for weeks or months after seeing it.

I would certainly love to see this episode and/or hear that haunting song again to see if it has the same effect on me forty years later. Could not find it on Youtube. Is there any other online source that anyone knows where it may be found?

A winning third season opener. Okay, I admit I groaned when I realized this was going to be a love story. I watch THE MOD SQUAD for mystery, adventure, and suspense, and to see our stalwart trio bustin' the bad guys. Well, all that was in here, too, along with twists and turns, a song, a dog, and a lot of plot for 51 minutes.

After the prologue best described as a bummer, there's a surprise awaiting: a reshot opening title sequence. The two biggest changes I noticed are Pete's swapping out that MANNIX sport coat for some wild and wide-collared seventies' styles, and the dropping of the article "the" from the title. From here on out it's just MOD SQUAD, baby. Solid.

Solid describes this story, as well, which puts Pete in the spotlight and allows him to demonstrate what a strong actor Michael Cole is. He says so much without speaking a word. He's very expressive without ever over-emoting. Pete's initial concern for Billie, the young woman he clipped with his car during the hot pursuit, was genuine, as was his falling in love with her. Events onscreen are telescoped, but one must assume weeks unfolded between the accident, Billie's recovery and physical therapy, to walking with crutches to walking without and finally her full recovery. More than enough time for love to blossom and bloom.

In addition to Pete demonstrating he has a big heart, even adopting Billie's dog King Arthur during her recovery, we see the love and concern Linc, Julie, and even Captain Greer have for Pete. They give him a lot of breaks and the space he needs, even though his presence is officially required by the police department. Greer is no imperious boss, even asking Linc and Julie if he's been too hard on Pete. They realize Greer is doing what he has to do, just as Pete is.

I want to write that the show never slipped into schmaltzy romance, but... that musical montage scene. Slow motion, laying in the grass, playing in the water, a dog bounding about, meaningful glances exchanged, and even her blowing on a dandelion. No cliché was left out. This is the kind of thing THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY was spoofing this very same season.

But to the producers' credit, and to the audience's delight, the crime drama is kept simmering and moved to the front burner regularly. Case and Georgy--Nashville's answers to Lenny and Squiggy--having narrowly escaped the last bungled heist, are drinking beer and plotting the next one. That Case can't even land his empty can into the waste basket two feet in front of him testifies to his ineptness at all endeavors undertaken in his miserable life.

This is Pete's show, but Linc gets a couple good undercover scenes, as a guy working on his car staking out Case and Georgy's fleabag apartment, and as the decoy driver of a fur truck. That latter scene is especially nostalgia-inducing as the truck drives through the airport and several TWA and Pan-Am tail fins fill the screen. Very cool.

The story draws to a fitting close, bringing onto the stage both the crime drama and the heartfelt romance storylines. It was a sad but satisfying finish to a fine story (they say the same about Shakespeare). I did mutter to myself as the credits rolled, Pete shoulda kept the dog.

PS: A highlight for STAR TREK fans will be spotting a whopping four veteran guest stars among the relatively small cast. The two bad guys were Bruce Watson (Georgy), who played Green in the first episode to air, "Man Trap," and Lou Antonio (Case), who as Lokai (looking like a human black-and-white cookie) ran himself ragged along with Frank "Riddler" Gorshin in "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield." Interestingly, Tige Andrews, our own Captain Greer, also appeared on STAR TREK opposite a BATMAN baddie--Julie "Catwoman" Newmar--in "Friday's Child." And finally, Garry Walberg (Billie's kindly Doctor) played a Romulan commander in "Balance of Terror" before going on to THE ODD COUPLE and QUINCY. Bonus trivia: This episode's scripter and songwriter Edward J. Lakso also wrote the STAR TREK episode "And the Children Shall Lead." Wow, we can call this third season opener a Trekta fivefecta!