Zorro 1.14 - Shadow of Doubt

Plot: A carriage pulls up outside the inn, and out steps Enrique Rojas, son of Don Domingo, returned after several years away. He is somewhat put out to learn all the decorations at the inn are not for him, but to welcome the incoming new Comandante, Captain Melendez. Inside the cuartel, Garcia is trying to get things ready for Melendez' arrival by telling Corporal Reyes all the wonderful things he should say about Garcia to Melendez. This attempt to help Garcia's career is interrupted by the arrival of the Magistrado (the king's magistrate), who orders Garcia to send a man out to keep watch for Melendez' arrival, and to bring word as soon as he sees him. With that, the Magistrado departs for the inn, where he is offered a seat with Alejandro and Diego, both eagerly awaiting the new Captain, who has a fine reputation. About then, Rojas almost gets in a fight with another patron, only for the Magistrado to boldly break it up, and Rojas strides up to his room to pout.

The Captain arrives, and everyone piles into the street to greet him with genuine warmth, as opposed to the phoney stuff Monastario tried on the Viceroy. Melendez begins a speech promising he will restore law and order, and is promptly shot by Rojas, who dashes down the stairs and sets his rifle in the hands of Josofat, a local man with an impaired mind. One problem: Maria, the serving girl at the inn, saw Rojas. He deals with this by convincing her he is actually Zorro, and thus, if he killed the Captain, it was for a good reason. And he promises Josofat will be rescued.

Meanwhile, Garcia has tried to convince the Magistrado Josofat is innocent, to no effect. But Diego agrees to help the sergeant question people in town to find the true killer. At the inn, Diego is confused by Maria's insistence that there is no reason to worry about Josofat, and when she steps outside to deliver food to Rojas' driver (played by Jack Elam), he sends Bernardo to keep watch. Unfortunately, the Magistrado has convinced Rojas it would be safer to kill her, so they tie her up and throw her in the carriage. Bernardo observes this, and his attempt to play dumb doesn't save him from Jack Elam clubbing him on the head. Diego soon enough finds Bernardo and is able to piece things together. swiftly, Zorro is on the move, and somehow finds the carriage and gives chase. He is able to save Maria from falling over the edge of a cliff, but Elam escapes. Rojas is not so lucky, as Zorro finds him dead in his hotel room, clutching an eagle feather. What it means, Diego and Bernardo can't figure, other than it's not a good sign.

Quote of the Episode: Diego - 'Perhaps we have not finished with Zorro after all.'

Times Zorro marks a Z: 0 (8 overall)

Other: I'll just tell you now, this thing with the eagle feathers is going through the remainder of the first season.

I didn't remember Jack Elam being in this series, probably because I didn't know who he was the last time I watched these episodes. But having seen the Support Your Local Sheriff/Gunfighter films, it was a pleasant surprise to see him, even if he doesn't have his typical drawl.

So with Monastario and his pet lawyer out of the way, we now have a different threat: the King's magistrate. This might pose a different challenge for Zorro, since this foe is less likely to present the Fox with opportunities to defeat him directly. Not that Zorro is generally trying to find evidence to bring to trial, but he might be more hard-pressed to win this time with his blade.

It isn't brought to much attention in the episode, but one of the more significant additions to the cast is Corporal Reyes, who will be a foil for Garcia through the remainder of the series. He gives Garcia someone to get flustered and angry with, as Monastario did with the sergeant, but also serves as a good way to poke fun at Garcia in a more light-hearted manner. Monastario did so out of cruelty, safe with the privileges of rank and status. Reyes is a subordinate, and it's more fun to watch those guys tease the boss when he gets to full of himself.