Richie comes across Mikey, an autistic immortal who loves anything about trains. Mikey's immortal protector friend, Alan, is killed by another immortal, Tyler King. While they are fighting, Mikey and Alan's wife, Helen, hideout on a bus. Alan told them to be quiet. When Helen gets distraught, Mikey tries to quiet her but ends up killing her accidentally. Richie and Duncan take Mikey in. In the meantime, Tyler King is after Mikey.
The actor that played Mikey, Pruitt Taylor Vince, deserved an award for playing Mikey. He was that good. I see later in his career that he did win an Emmy award. He should have been nominated back then for this role. Those were the days when sci-fi and fantasy shows were not mainstream enough to get nominated. Not like today when 'Game of Thrones' and other sci-fi and fantasy shows dominate the noms.
I love that Richie so badly wanted to help Mikey. You can see the adoration and concern on Richie's face. Later you can see the sadness and hurt on his face. Great job by Stan Kirsch.
Duncan flashes back to trying to help an Indian in the old west, Chaske. Duncan came off as arrogant and frankly full of himself as he guards Chaske, as if though he's right in his decision of how to help. I think he recognizes that now and is concerned about history repeating itself, with Richie.
The problem with Mikey is that he tends to get distracted by "that shiny thing" over there, so-to-speak. Also, he doesn't realize his own strength. When he gets upset and lashes out, he accidentally hurts people. They need to contain him. Duncan should have taken him to the island, or to the house he is fixing. Oh well, some selective amnesia as suddenly these things are forgotten about in this episode.
I didn't mind when Chaske killed the racist pig. It was an accident, but hey the scum deserved it.
There are some plot holes at the end regarding the police that are never resolved.
It's an incredibly sad episode. What Mikey did at the end struck me as Mikey saving Richie. He sacrificed himself because he could see the hurt in Richie's face and didn't want him to suffer the guilt of killing him. I think Mikey also knew he was a handful and no longer wanted to burden Richie and Duncan. It's a sad thought thinking a person feels so badly about himself that he is willing to die. Yes, in a way, this is about suicide. The feelings about oneself not being worthy enough, and thinking everyone one else would be better off without him.
Mikey loved trains. I guess it was poetic that he lay down and let himself be beheaded by one. But it also struck me as cruel to have the thing that you love kill you.
I gave this a 9/10. But I've gotta be honest, sometimes I skip this episode in re-watches. People with autism already have a tough break in life. But to have one that was also the target of another immortal just seems so unfair and frustrating. The ending is so sad. I just find it hard to watch sometimes. I wish that Mac and Richie could have saved him. But it definitely is a good story and worth watching for the magnificent acting by both Stan Kirsch and Pruitt Taylor Vince.
The actor that played Mikey, Pruitt Taylor Vince, deserved an award for playing Mikey. He was that good. I see later in his career that he did win an Emmy award. He should have been nominated back then for this role. Those were the days when sci-fi and fantasy shows were not mainstream enough to get nominated. Not like today when 'Game of Thrones' and other sci-fi and fantasy shows dominate the noms.
I love that Richie so badly wanted to help Mikey. You can see the adoration and concern on Richie's face. Later you can see the sadness and hurt on his face. Great job by Stan Kirsch.
Duncan flashes back to trying to help an Indian in the old west, Chaske. Duncan came off as arrogant and frankly full of himself as he guards Chaske, as if though he's right in his decision of how to help. I think he recognizes that now and is concerned about history repeating itself, with Richie.
The problem with Mikey is that he tends to get distracted by "that shiny thing" over there, so-to-speak. Also, he doesn't realize his own strength. When he gets upset and lashes out, he accidentally hurts people. They need to contain him. Duncan should have taken him to the island, or to the house he is fixing. Oh well, some selective amnesia as suddenly these things are forgotten about in this episode.
I didn't mind when Chaske killed the racist pig. It was an accident, but hey the scum deserved it.
There are some plot holes at the end regarding the police that are never resolved.
It's an incredibly sad episode. What Mikey did at the end struck me as Mikey saving Richie. He sacrificed himself because he could see the hurt in Richie's face and didn't want him to suffer the guilt of killing him. I think Mikey also knew he was a handful and no longer wanted to burden Richie and Duncan. It's a sad thought thinking a person feels so badly about himself that he is willing to die. Yes, in a way, this is about suicide. The feelings about oneself not being worthy enough, and thinking everyone one else would be better off without him.
Mikey loved trains. I guess it was poetic that he lay down and let himself be beheaded by one. But it also struck me as cruel to have the thing that you love kill you.
I gave this a 9/10. But I've gotta be honest, sometimes I skip this episode in re-watches. People with autism already have a tough break in life. But to have one that was also the target of another immortal just seems so unfair and frustrating. The ending is so sad. I just find it hard to watch sometimes. I wish that Mac and Richie could have saved him. But it definitely is a good story and worth watching for the magnificent acting by both Stan Kirsch and Pruitt Taylor Vince.