This is a clip show; it's difficult to rate. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the choice of clips, so I rated it a bit higher, and enjoyed it more, than I may have otherwise.
For some reason, Hutch decides to complain incessantly about Starsky's driving during this episode's opening car chase, and wouldn't you just know, Starsky does go ahead and crash them up. (There was nothing subtle about 70s TV. We apparently were dolts, because all gags had to hit us over the head so we would get them.) Now hospitalized for their respective injuries, Hutch appears to have amnesia and can't remember anything about who he is or what he does, and has no memory of this Starsky guy in the next bed over. Hutch adopts an over-the-top, rude and dismissive attitude toward Starsky and even Captain Dobey and Huggy (see above note.) Starsky tries to get Hutch to remember by talking about events of their history together and we get the flashback clip show.
My surprise was in the choice of clips they brought up for Starsky to talk about with Hutch. I really expected a series of all of the most silly things they had ever done, all their stupid undercover costumes and weird personas. Instead, the chosen clips were some of their best, most serious and emotional times together. Hutch, who is faking his amnesia because he is mad at Starsky for crashing, can't help but soften as Starsky talks about the tough things they have been through together. Finally, when Starsky talks about his lost love, Terry, and how he wouldn't have gotten through such a dark time without Hutch, Hutch can no longer keep up his pretense and comes clean.
So, we do end up getting emotion from both characters, making it a little bit nicer than a typical clip show. And, significantly to me, someone did really know what Starsky and Hutch was all about in order to have picked the clips they used. For the most part, they picked the most emotional times where they needed each other the most and their supportive relationship was on full display. If only this knowledge had transferred into Season 4, we may have had a lot more golden moments, a little longer run or at least a less painful demise.
For some reason, Hutch decides to complain incessantly about Starsky's driving during this episode's opening car chase, and wouldn't you just know, Starsky does go ahead and crash them up. (There was nothing subtle about 70s TV. We apparently were dolts, because all gags had to hit us over the head so we would get them.) Now hospitalized for their respective injuries, Hutch appears to have amnesia and can't remember anything about who he is or what he does, and has no memory of this Starsky guy in the next bed over. Hutch adopts an over-the-top, rude and dismissive attitude toward Starsky and even Captain Dobey and Huggy (see above note.) Starsky tries to get Hutch to remember by talking about events of their history together and we get the flashback clip show.
My surprise was in the choice of clips they brought up for Starsky to talk about with Hutch. I really expected a series of all of the most silly things they had ever done, all their stupid undercover costumes and weird personas. Instead, the chosen clips were some of their best, most serious and emotional times together. Hutch, who is faking his amnesia because he is mad at Starsky for crashing, can't help but soften as Starsky talks about the tough things they have been through together. Finally, when Starsky talks about his lost love, Terry, and how he wouldn't have gotten through such a dark time without Hutch, Hutch can no longer keep up his pretense and comes clean.
So, we do end up getting emotion from both characters, making it a little bit nicer than a typical clip show. And, significantly to me, someone did really know what Starsky and Hutch was all about in order to have picked the clips they used. For the most part, they picked the most emotional times where they needed each other the most and their supportive relationship was on full display. If only this knowledge had transferred into Season 4, we may have had a lot more golden moments, a little longer run or at least a less painful demise.
