Somebody is trying to kill Joe. After the third attempt, even Mannix, at home with mortal danger, takes the hint. For those who tune in just for the action, it's all upfront in this episode. And those first hit men! Even in an era when men dressed every day, how fun to see paid killers stalking their prey in hats, coats and ties!
I enjoyed this one, but its flaws didn't escape me. Only two took me out of the flow -- first, the hole in Joe's reasoning about why someone was out to get him. The most likely suspect, Frank Bauer, is presumed dead at the episode's start, but Joe theorizes that he was fingered because he knew the secret location of a huge haul from a robbery Frank pulled. Although Frank was caught and jailed, no one ever found the stash. Why kill Mannix before he gave up the location? Mannix helped put Bauer away -- the vengeance motive was more than enough. The second? As others have cited, Frank could have killed Mannix many times over but rather allowed him to talk away until Mannix saw his moment and got the jump on him. Will these killers never learn?
The story was easy to follow this time, if you can get past Bauer's stupidity. He had the perfect cover, purportedly dying during a prison escape. Rather than seizing the moment to escape with the cash, Bauer pursed a vendetta when money would have been the better revenge. Joe didn't manage to save the two other victims in this episode, but while he didn't get to play the hero, he did save his own skin.
And Joe had good chemistry with a very young Loretta Switt, seen in her tv debut as the gangster's moll. (What with Larry Linville and Mike Farrell, Mannix's guest starts were a veritable "Who's Who" from MASH.) Switt refers to herself as a 'big girl' in this episode, and she was easily twice the size of Hot Lips Houlihan, her signature role. The scene with him fumbling around Switt's boutique is priceless. Joe is never above using his looks and charm to seduce females into giving him the information he needs. He always stays inside the line, though, and in this case, she was playing him as well, so it seems they were well matched. Except no woman is ultimately a match for Joe. She lingers wistfully at the end, trying to entice him back with the prospect of all that cash, but Joe doesn't buy it. He does turn her in, albeit gently, and you half expect him to say, "I hope they don't hang you precious, by that sweet neck...."
I enjoyed this one, but its flaws didn't escape me. Only two took me out of the flow -- first, the hole in Joe's reasoning about why someone was out to get him. The most likely suspect, Frank Bauer, is presumed dead at the episode's start, but Joe theorizes that he was fingered because he knew the secret location of a huge haul from a robbery Frank pulled. Although Frank was caught and jailed, no one ever found the stash. Why kill Mannix before he gave up the location? Mannix helped put Bauer away -- the vengeance motive was more than enough. The second? As others have cited, Frank could have killed Mannix many times over but rather allowed him to talk away until Mannix saw his moment and got the jump on him. Will these killers never learn?
The story was easy to follow this time, if you can get past Bauer's stupidity. He had the perfect cover, purportedly dying during a prison escape. Rather than seizing the moment to escape with the cash, Bauer pursed a vendetta when money would have been the better revenge. Joe didn't manage to save the two other victims in this episode, but while he didn't get to play the hero, he did save his own skin.
And Joe had good chemistry with a very young Loretta Switt, seen in her tv debut as the gangster's moll. (What with Larry Linville and Mike Farrell, Mannix's guest starts were a veritable "Who's Who" from MASH.) Switt refers to herself as a 'big girl' in this episode, and she was easily twice the size of Hot Lips Houlihan, her signature role. The scene with him fumbling around Switt's boutique is priceless. Joe is never above using his looks and charm to seduce females into giving him the information he needs. He always stays inside the line, though, and in this case, she was playing him as well, so it seems they were well matched. Except no woman is ultimately a match for Joe. She lingers wistfully at the end, trying to entice him back with the prospect of all that cash, but Joe doesn't buy it. He does turn her in, albeit gently, and you half expect him to say, "I hope they don't hang you precious, by that sweet neck...."
