Plot: There is a wax cylinder out there, that recorded a conversation where John Bly promises to help a possible presidential candidate. That cylinder is in the hands of one Dixie Cousins, which makes her a person of interest to a great many people. Brisco is sent after her by one such group. Bowler is appointed as a special government agent by U.S. Attorney Breakstone to bring her in as well. Then there's Bly gang member Winston Smiles (David Warner), an assassin who enjoys fine dining, but doesn't tolerate failure. . . or poor manners.
This leads to an episode long game of cat and mouse, as Brisco pursues Dixie, Bowler, pursues them both, and then Smiles hunts all three. There's also Socrates' romantic pursuit of his boss' personal secretary, Ms. Rita Avnet (Andrea Parker). Or is it the other way around?
Does Brisco use his gun? In the opening sequence he shoots a man trying to abduct Dixie in the leg. Later he uses it to cut the ropes holding up some nets blocking the road.
Stuff Comet does: Nothing of note, other than express displeasure at being left behind when a train comes along.
Kiss Count: 6 (17 overall). Brisco and Dixie were clearly making up for lost time.
John Bly Spreads His Arms Dramatically: 0 (5 overall).
Is Pete Hutter in this Episode? No.
Pete Hutter Quote: N/A
Non-Pete Hutter Quote: Dixie: 'Brisco, put me down!' Brisco: 'Alright, you look bad in a wig and were too easy to find!'
Brisco's Coming Things: He forsees hard copies of music, when he talks about how with the wax cylinders and the player devices, one could listen to a piece of music whenever they wanted.
Bly Gang Count: 1, Smiles (5 overall).
Stuff the Orb Can Do: N/A
Other: As I mentioned last time, Breakstone's going to become a more frequent supporting character.
Dixie appears for the first time since "Riverboat". I agree with Brisco that it isn't much a disguise for her to add a wig, but otherwise go on singing in saloons as she heads south. She was on her way back to Jalisco, and over the course of the episode, we learn she has been immortalized in a coin in Mexico, as Dixie Cousins, Lady of Liberty (see "Brisco in Jalisco")!Dixie, in her lifetime, has lived with Cherokees (after her family was raided on their way west), been rescued by Mennonites (who died of yellow fever), and lived in a convent for 15 years. I know, I had a hard time picturing Dixie in a convent, too.
It's been a few episodes, but Bowler said "Damn!", which brings the unofficial count for that up to 5. We also learned he has several names. Pierre Lamont, Ervin Paults, and Joe Echohawk. I like that last one, myself. Bowler used a green apple (the horse's weakness, establish in the pilot) to enlist Comet's help.
This episode was some good, some bad. Brisco and Dixie are always fun together (I can't believe they actually went with multiple "train as a metaphor for sex" visuals. That may have violated their "just under over the top" credo), and there are some amusing scenes and fun narrow escapes.
But it's hard for me to figure why Bly cares about a presidential election, though that's doubtlessly my knowledge of future revelations regarding him affecting my perceptions. Also, Smiles makes too many food-related witticisms, and it started to grate. I also couldn't understand why, after he planted a bomb, he made no attempt to escape to a safe location. And is Dixie's testimony on its own, without the cylinder, going to be any good?
Apparently Brisco and Bowler hadn't entirely learned their lesson from "Pirates!", because Dixie has to give them grief about how much better they'd do if they worked together instead of against each other.
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