Zorro 1.12 - Zorro, The Luckiest Swordsman Alive

Plot: We finally learn the name of the hotheaded stranger from last week, and it's Martinez. We learn it because he was killed trying to escape by the crack marksmanship of Sergeant Garcia?! As it turns out, Martinez isn't dead, only in hiding as part of Monastario's latest plan to discredit Zorro. Martinez is to once again impersonate the outlaw, and this time he's going to steal some jeweled crown off a statue of the Virgin Mary from Padre Felipe's Mission. Since the fake Zorro is believed dead - they even had a public burial of a rock-filled coffin - everyone will believe it was Zorro. Martinez actually balks at it, but as his other option is a trip to Hell with a rope around his neck and a price on his head, he agrees. Besides, Monastario promises him passage on a ship leaving at the end of the week, and the authorities will never be looking for a dead man.

So he infiltrates the mission, but his horse is observed by Inocente, one of the Native Americans at the mission, and Inocente winds up dying trying to prevent the theft. And "Zorro's" flight is observed by Father Felipe. At the de la Vega hacienda, Benito brings word to Alejandro and Diego that Zorro was seen riding toward the mission. Diego excuses himself and goes to investigate as Zorro, only to narrowly escape all the Native Americans at the mission outraged at the death of their friend. He returns home to find Felipe discussing the matter with Alejandro. Apparently all those times Zorro saved people's lives count for nothing, as the whole countryside is up in arms against him over the theft of a religious relic.

Catholics, man.

Diego is stymied, but he's sure Monastario has something to do with this, and there is the question of what the thief will do with the jewels. And Diego just so happens to have some fake jewels he bought in Mexico, so it's off to the tavern, where he drops the jewels surreptitiously, and they produce quite a commotion, especially in Monastario's old ally Licenciado. The lawyer rushes to tell Monastario, who rides to Martinez' hiding place, planning to kill him in his sleep if he is there. Martinez is there, but not so stupid as to sleep where's he's expected to be, and the two quickly set to fighting. Monastario loses, but Martinez would rather run than stay to kill him. Diego and Bernardo trailed Monastario, but there's no time to change to Zorro, so Diego has to face Martinez as himself, and triumph while pretending to be an incompetent swordsman, lest the Capitan become suspicious. He manages to set Martinez on his heels, but Monastario takes the opportunity to shoot the fleeing criminal, who then falls to his death. But the jewels are recovered, and with Diego as a witness, Monastario will have to admit that Zorro did not commit the robbery. He does, however, once again blame Martinez' escape from jail on Sergeant Garcia.

Quote of the Episode: Martinez - 'I have never seen a man so awkward live so long!'

Times Zorro makes a "Z": 0 (7 overall). I'm still not counting Zs made by imposters.

Other: That was a heck of a shot by Monastario, considering the type of pistol and the distance. Very impressive. I did expect Monastario to win the swordfight, though. It wasn't as though Martinez did well against Zorro last week, and the Capitan really ought to be improving from all the times he's fought Zorro.

Though the gap between Diego and either of them must be immense if he can still win a fight while pretending to be a clumsy oaf. He was doing some absurd faces and swings against Martinez. He defeated him by getting his sword stuck in a crack in the rock they were fighting on, and when Martinez went for a finishing thrust, Diego was able to finally pull his sword free with an uncontrolled jerk and accidentally knocked Martinez' sword out of his hand.

Despite his performance, Monastario's suspicious now, and he's not the only one. When Benito delivered his news, Diego was playing his guitar for his father. He feigned being tired so he could go change to Zorro, but left his guitar behind. Alejandro picks it up and something about how it was tuned caught his attention. I think he suspects Diego is not as bad a guitar player as he lets on, and now he's going to wonder just why that's the case. But that is probably not going to come to a head for a while.