The Rockford Files (TV Series) Black Mirror (1978) User Reviews

Private eye from the beach

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 17 September 2014]

If there was one thing The Rockford Files did the best was introduce some endearing characters you never forgot. In addition to the second part of this two part story Kathryn Harrold as Megan Daugherty appeared in two subsequent episodes in this series.

A chance meeting on a beach where Stuart Margolin goes long and drops a football on a sunbathing Harrold is James Garner's introduction. The sight of Kathryn Harrold in a bikini would make any redblooded American not take notice of the fact she's blind.

She's also a working psychiatrist and very successful despite the fact that Harrold is robbed of one important diagnostic tool, the ability to see patient's reaction to questions. Still she has her assortment of fruits and nuts as patients.

We get to meet them all in this episode because one of them is putting on a campaign of terror and Harrold remembers she knows this private eye from the beach. Garner even gets Leo Gordon as a bodyguard for her.

It's a story with quite a twist which is resolved in part 2.

Decades before the Dystopian series of the same name

[safenoe · 8/10 · 17 September 2020]

This double-length episode of The Rockford Files sees Jim fall in love with a sexy psychologist who happens to be blind. Kathryn Harrold plays the psychologists, four years before she appeared opposite Luciano Pavarotti in Yes, Georgio. This is Rockford Files at its peak, and it's a shame it ended the following season, way too soon.

One of the more balanced episodes.

[mm-39 · 8/10 · 22 March 2019]

Black Mirror is written like a detective novel. One of the more balanced episodes. Black Mirror has a love interest. Jim mixes love and business when Jim's soft side is following in love with a client. She is a blind independent psychiatrist , who is very intelligent and can match Jim's wit. The story develops when Jim's soft sides feels for the scared blind women who is being tormented by a smart sickie. There is great story of what the stalker does. Why the stalker chose her? The mystery is a slow burn. Giving small turns of the screws as the heat simmers warmer and warmer. Part one has one of Jim's muscle guys stabbed by a real pro- what a story turn not the usual stalker. Part two will ask the question is the guy ill? What is this guys profession? Jimmy's old jail time plays a 3 dimensional insight role in memorable episode. Needs to be a 2 parts for this story. 8 out of 10 stars.

Rockford gets mushy

[stones78 · 28 December 2012]

While this episode isn't close to being one of my favorites, the acting is very strong, as James Garner and Kathryn Harrold(Dr. Dougherty)carry this episode with solid performances and have decent chemistry together. This is more of a mushy episode, with too many kissing scenes between the 2, but it did have a tinge of suspense as the blind doctor is being stalked by someone. It turns out that Danny Green/Jackie Tetuska(John Pleshette)is the stalker, but we find this out much too soon in the episode, and I'm still not positive of the motive, but Rockford beats the guy up in a decent scene. Rocky, Dennis, and Angel all have cool scenes, and I have to admit I enjoyed the scenes Rockford had with these 3 more than those with Harrold. The best scene to me was the opener, which had Rockford and Angel walking on the sunny beach while tossing a football to each other; Angel wanted to borrow the Firebird, but was rebuffed because the mess he left in the car the last time he borrowed it. Also, the weasel Angel wanted to steal the football for his nephew, but Jim would have none of it. I've gotten slightly off track here, but this was still a typical solid episode in the latter years of this great show, and while it's not a favorite of mine, I think the majority of folks would still enjoy it.

20 years later. Sopranos.

[cakilcullen · 9/10 · 31 July 2022]

After seeing part 2 when Jim outlines the mafia member seeing a psychiatrist I immediately looked up the writer. David Chase wrote this article. When Jim is going through all this with her a lot of things sounded familiar. From Danny Green saying he has fainting spells to the end of the sopranos when Dr Melfi realizes that Tony was just using her. It is different of course but the similarities are absolutely there.

Minimal spoilers - One of the best Rockford Files yet.

[CoastalCruiser · 9/10 · 22 April 2012]

Wow. As I write this there is only one other review for this episode. Surprising, as I find it to be on of the best shows yet in this great series.

This show is a thriller in the truest sense of the word. A blind woman is put in jeopardy, and the actress portraying her, the stunning Kathryn Harrold (played the wife of Larry Sanders), turns in a performance reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn in the famous movie 'Wait Until Dark'.

Jim Rockford falls in love in this episode in a way I have not seen him fall before as I work my way chronologically through the series. His performance is wonderful, as is a turn by Rocky, Dennis, and Angel... in other words the usual suspects. Harrold I think brought out the best in her fellow actors for this engaging two-parter. Besides totally nailing her part as a blind person, her captivating beauty and winning smile also helped ease the pain of losing attorney Beth Davenport this season.

Rockfish with a David Chase(r)

[eellsrichard · 9/10 · 26 August 2022]

David Chase was one of the writers of this two-part Rockford Files, and his fingerprints are all over it. Just like some of the other more complex episodes, with good character development in the good doctor. Not up to Sopranos level, but you can see the early evidence of a future mobster-in-the-making. Now I'm just trying to get a little too clever. Watch this one!

Oh, that lovely Kathryn Harrold.

[retep_bk · 9/10 · 17 November 2021]

Watched part one just yesterday evening. Quite a different tone, compared with the other episodes, but this is possibly one of the best to date. An almost John Carpenter style score, as well. Kathryn Harrold brings so much to her role.

Satisfactory conclusion

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 17 September 2014]

Hiring Leo Gordon as a bodyguard did no good as he got assaulted by someone who is stalking blind psychiatrist Kathryn Harrold. Time now to bring in the police in the form of Joe Santos. Stuart Margolin helps also, one of the rare times you'll see James Rockford, Angel Martin, and Lieutenant Dennis Becker all working together.

Investigation by both the police and private eye James Rockford dig up the fact that John Pleshette one of Harrold's patients is a contract killer and wanted for questioning in a recent homicide. But she knows him by a different name and a different persona. Schizophrenic, multiple personalities, or one deadly shrewd killer.

This is the question needing to be answered for Kathryn Harrold's stalking problems to be resolved. A fine conclusion to a nice two part Rockford Files story and we would see more of Kathryn Harrold in future episodes.

Love is Blind

[zsenorsock · 6/10 · 18 August 2006]

Jim Rockford is walking on the beach with his friend and crony Angel Martin when he meets Dr. Megan Dougherty (Kathyn Harrold) on the beach. She resists Jim's efforts to pick her up but then calls on him when she finds herself being threatened by an unknown stalker. Dr. Megan is particularly vulnerable to attack in that she is blind. She doesn't help Jim much in his investigation by refusing to violate patient-doctor confidentiality, in looking for leads as to who might be after her. This is one of the more serious Rockford episodes and gives Garner a chance to do some straight dramatic acting as well as some love scenes. A two-parter.

Blinded by Love Part II

[zsenorsock · 6/10 · 18 August 2006]

Part two of the story in which Jim Rockford tries to find the psycho who has been stalking and threatening the pretty blind psychologist, Dr. Megan Daugherty (Kathryn Harrold), whom he met on the beach in part one. This is a rather dramatic and more serious episode than many in the Rockford Files. However, it is done well and gives James Garner a chance to play both dramatic and romantic scenes with Ms. Harrold. Although at times he seems to be playing it a little bit too goo-goo-eyed for a guy like Jim Rockford, all in all he carries it off. Twenty years later, Dr. Daugherty (and Kathyn Harrold) would return to Rockford's life in the TV movie Rockford Files: Crime and Punishment.

Terrible

[hipchecker20 · 4/10 · 25 January 2022]

One of the worse Rockford Files ever. Originally aired as multiple episodes. Not even Angel could save this junk.

Who can believe that the Rockford we know could fall for this woman?

Below par episode(s)...

[ronnybee2112 · 7/10 · 6 May 2022]

Sometimes this episode is shown in 1 part,sometimes it is split into 2 parts. After seeing it a few separate times,I strongly suspect it was cut into 2 parts in order to further-muddy the undeniable impression of it having a very weak and convoluted plot. Just the law of averages gives us an occasional dud and I am afraid this is one of them. For example the part about the lady client of Rockford's being blind does not really add anything to the episode in my opinion,it is actually rather pointless as far as I can tell. The whole episode is hard to follow,hard to understand,and it just doesn't ring true. The acting is decent to very-good,by everyone as always,but they just don't have a whole lot to work with here. Story-plot 6/10; Acting 8/10,Overall 7/10.