This episode seems like a combination of two earlier episodes-- the one in the fourth season where Brian Kerwin was a man with multiple personalities; and a second season episode where the Simons transport an unstable mental patient to a hospital. This time we have a female scientist whose research has led to an important discovery, but her progress is hindered when she is stalked by someone out to claim her findings. The stalking triggers a mental relapse; so while suffering from DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), she is checked into a psychiatric hospital. Her boss, played by Linden Chiles, then hires the Simons to keep tabs on her. This of course means A.J. will go undercover as an athletic instructor at the facility, while Rick will pose as a fellow patient. We even have scenes of Cecilia checking Rick in for his stay at the funny farm.
I did not have a problem with the basic set-up. But I think the plot relies on too many stereotypes about the mentally ill. In group therapy scenes, we see a woman talk about making soup and thinking it was blood and guts; we have another guy who believes he's sort of a comic book hero; we have Rick going ballistic and attacking someone to prove how nuts he can be; and then we have the main guest character (Fionnula Flanagan) switching in and out of her three separate personalities. One of them is her true self; one is a sexual deviant; and one is an innocent girl. It was a bit overdone, and despite Flanagan's skilled acting, it still seemed a bit ridiculous in spots.
While the Simons do get to the bottom of who is stalking the lady scientist, they also manage to help cure her of the psychosis that ails her. There is a very dramatic finale on a bridge where one of the woman's personalities wants to commit suicide. To prevent such a tragedy, the Simons have to convince the deviant personality to protect the innocent personality. It seemed very contrived, but I do have to admit the stunt work on the bridge was nail-biting. Obviously a stunt woman was used for the long shots when it looked like she'd go over the edge; but it was seamlessly matched with the shots of Flanagan literally hanging on the other side of the rail. The boys eventually pull her to safety, and in the process, they have successfully helped bridge her transition to a saner and healthier mindset.
I did not have a problem with the basic set-up. But I think the plot relies on too many stereotypes about the mentally ill. In group therapy scenes, we see a woman talk about making soup and thinking it was blood and guts; we have another guy who believes he's sort of a comic book hero; we have Rick going ballistic and attacking someone to prove how nuts he can be; and then we have the main guest character (Fionnula Flanagan) switching in and out of her three separate personalities. One of them is her true self; one is a sexual deviant; and one is an innocent girl. It was a bit overdone, and despite Flanagan's skilled acting, it still seemed a bit ridiculous in spots.
While the Simons do get to the bottom of who is stalking the lady scientist, they also manage to help cure her of the psychosis that ails her. There is a very dramatic finale on a bridge where one of the woman's personalities wants to commit suicide. To prevent such a tragedy, the Simons have to convince the deviant personality to protect the innocent personality. It seemed very contrived, but I do have to admit the stunt work on the bridge was nail-biting. Obviously a stunt woman was used for the long shots when it looked like she'd go over the edge; but it was seamlessly matched with the shots of Flanagan literally hanging on the other side of the rail. The boys eventually pull her to safety, and in the process, they have successfully helped bridge her transition to a saner and healthier mindset.