This episode is certainly in my top ten favorites, even though there is quite a bit that I don't care for in it. The scenes between PMG and DS, and David Soul's quiet intensity playing Hutch, are so good that the other stuff can be mostly ignored. I just don't care for the side story of the comic and his lady assistant. Most of the dialog going on there is just somewhat embarrassing and I don't care anything for their characters. I think a side story was a good idea for the episode, but I just didn't like that story or those characters.
That said, the scenes between Starsky and Hutch are wonderful. The guys go to dinner at the wrong place at the wrong time and interrupt some hit men waiting for a mark. Starsky is shot right from the get-go, and Hutch and the others in the restaurant end up as hostages until the mark arrives. Now it's a waiting game, and most of the pressure is on Hutch. He has to figure out how to save Starsky, himself, and the innocent bystanders.
I like that Hutch won't back-down in demanding to take care of his partner. He makes clear that nothing short of killing him is going to keep him from helping Starsky. And even though Starsky is mostly out of commission, I like how Hutch still keeps him in the loop, telling him what's going on, having him help with a plan to distract the bad guys, giving Starsky updates on the situation. I like how Hutch tries to spin things to seem not so bad to keep Starsky calm, and how Starsky pretends to believe him. There is an urgent intensity in their scenes, but they aren't rushed and they keep the viewer on edge. The dialog is smart and engaging. The emotions going on for Hutch are conveyed beautifully by David Soul. When he steps away and leans against the wall, trying to hide his fear and worry from Starsky, you can feel that he is just about out of options and ideas and is afraid he can't save either Starsky or himself. PMG and DS were both really, really good at getting a lot of feeling into non-verbal segments. When they have a good story and good direction, no one can beat them. (Which makes it more difficult to watch when they don't.) I like Hutch teaming up with the waitress and how she helps him. Jess Walton plays that part just right. I can watch this one over and over and still enjoy it (fast forwarding thru the side story scenes, of course.)
The tag is awful. Truly awful, and also makes no sense. (Starsky would not have met the comic - he was already shot when the guy came into the restaurant.). I can easily think of a much better tag: have a couple girls take them to dinner at their favorite restaurant, which is either an exact replica of or the same one where this all took place. Starsky and Hutch can then opt for Chinese.
That said, the scenes between Starsky and Hutch are wonderful. The guys go to dinner at the wrong place at the wrong time and interrupt some hit men waiting for a mark. Starsky is shot right from the get-go, and Hutch and the others in the restaurant end up as hostages until the mark arrives. Now it's a waiting game, and most of the pressure is on Hutch. He has to figure out how to save Starsky, himself, and the innocent bystanders.
I like that Hutch won't back-down in demanding to take care of his partner. He makes clear that nothing short of killing him is going to keep him from helping Starsky. And even though Starsky is mostly out of commission, I like how Hutch still keeps him in the loop, telling him what's going on, having him help with a plan to distract the bad guys, giving Starsky updates on the situation. I like how Hutch tries to spin things to seem not so bad to keep Starsky calm, and how Starsky pretends to believe him. There is an urgent intensity in their scenes, but they aren't rushed and they keep the viewer on edge. The dialog is smart and engaging. The emotions going on for Hutch are conveyed beautifully by David Soul. When he steps away and leans against the wall, trying to hide his fear and worry from Starsky, you can feel that he is just about out of options and ideas and is afraid he can't save either Starsky or himself. PMG and DS were both really, really good at getting a lot of feeling into non-verbal segments. When they have a good story and good direction, no one can beat them. (Which makes it more difficult to watch when they don't.) I like Hutch teaming up with the waitress and how she helps him. Jess Walton plays that part just right. I can watch this one over and over and still enjoy it (fast forwarding thru the side story scenes, of course.)
The tag is awful. Truly awful, and also makes no sense. (Starsky would not have met the comic - he was already shot when the guy came into the restaurant.). I can easily think of a much better tag: have a couple girls take them to dinner at their favorite restaurant, which is either an exact replica of or the same one where this all took place. Starsky and Hutch can then opt for Chinese.
