It has taken a while for this episode to grow on me. I remember that I thought it was missing something when I first saw it in the 70s. I thought the same recently when I watched it again. I gave it another chance and happened to watch it with the closed caption feature on. Surprisingly, that made quite a bit of difference and I enjoyed it more. Maybe I was just missing out on some of the dialog the first couple of times. Just by watching it with the captions made me increase the rating from a 6 to a 7.
It really should feel better, because the story and the situation are pretty intense, and Starsky and Hutch are trapped together, so PMG and DS have a lot of screen time together, and Bellamy directs - all qualities that should lead to a very good episode. Somehow, though, it doesn't quite click as well as it could.
Unknowingly lured into a deserted area and then trapped in a barn, Starsky and Hutch are going to be burned alive by a madman with a grudge against Hutch. If that wasn't bad enough, there is also an innocent bystander to save, a girl who stowed away in Starsky's car and is now trapped with them. Starksy and Hutch have to think outside the box to save her and themselves.
The presence of the girl is really needless and doesn't add anything much to the story; she doesn't need to be there. Maybe if she contributed something, that would have helped the story. She was a little kleptomaniac whom they had picked up earlier in the show. Maybe if she had had her pockets full of miscellaneous stuff that would have helped with the escape, it might have been more interesting having her in the story. As it was, she was just an unnecessary distraction. Once they get her out, she is immediately forgotten.
Starsky and Hutch spend quite a bit of time trying to work out an escape plan. I like the way Hutch manages to MacGyver the tractor to give them a way out. I like Starsky adding helpful advice to Hutch's mission. I don't like how Starsky seems to give up on beating the bad guys after he gets shot in the leg. Maybe that's the problem with the episode - Starsky gives up too easily. He's been in a lot worst shape than this before and still maintained a 'never say die' attitude. Here, he's giving his fancy watch to Hutch because he might not make it. That just didn't play right. And then Hutch didn't want to take, because he wouldn't know how to work it. THAT'S why you don't want to take it, Hutch? Because you don't know how to WORK it? That also didn't play right. Hutch needed to tell Starsky to keep the watch cause he was going to need it later. Starsky needed to be the one to use it to distract the madman so Hutch could capture him. And Hutch needed to express a little sympathy for Starsky and his bad luck with watches.
The final scene of Hutch making Starsky fall was not funny. I am not sure why anyone thought it would be. It just doesn't take much to throw off the critical dynamic that makes this show tick. And when it is off, you can pretty much feel it right away. At least, I can. My Starsky and Hutch gauge is very finely tuned.
It really should feel better, because the story and the situation are pretty intense, and Starsky and Hutch are trapped together, so PMG and DS have a lot of screen time together, and Bellamy directs - all qualities that should lead to a very good episode. Somehow, though, it doesn't quite click as well as it could.
Unknowingly lured into a deserted area and then trapped in a barn, Starsky and Hutch are going to be burned alive by a madman with a grudge against Hutch. If that wasn't bad enough, there is also an innocent bystander to save, a girl who stowed away in Starsky's car and is now trapped with them. Starksy and Hutch have to think outside the box to save her and themselves.
The presence of the girl is really needless and doesn't add anything much to the story; she doesn't need to be there. Maybe if she contributed something, that would have helped the story. She was a little kleptomaniac whom they had picked up earlier in the show. Maybe if she had had her pockets full of miscellaneous stuff that would have helped with the escape, it might have been more interesting having her in the story. As it was, she was just an unnecessary distraction. Once they get her out, she is immediately forgotten.
Starsky and Hutch spend quite a bit of time trying to work out an escape plan. I like the way Hutch manages to MacGyver the tractor to give them a way out. I like Starsky adding helpful advice to Hutch's mission. I don't like how Starsky seems to give up on beating the bad guys after he gets shot in the leg. Maybe that's the problem with the episode - Starsky gives up too easily. He's been in a lot worst shape than this before and still maintained a 'never say die' attitude. Here, he's giving his fancy watch to Hutch because he might not make it. That just didn't play right. And then Hutch didn't want to take, because he wouldn't know how to work it. THAT'S why you don't want to take it, Hutch? Because you don't know how to WORK it? That also didn't play right. Hutch needed to tell Starsky to keep the watch cause he was going to need it later. Starsky needed to be the one to use it to distract the madman so Hutch could capture him. And Hutch needed to express a little sympathy for Starsky and his bad luck with watches.
The final scene of Hutch making Starsky fall was not funny. I am not sure why anyone thought it would be. It just doesn't take much to throw off the critical dynamic that makes this show tick. And when it is off, you can pretty much feel it right away. At least, I can. My Starsky and Hutch gauge is very finely tuned.
