Sunday, October 30, 2011

Adventures of Brisco County Jr. 14 - Mail Order Brides

Plot: Brisco and Bowler are on the trail of the Swill Brothers, who have been pillaging as they go. Their most recent victims are three young women on their way to Preacher's Head as mail order brides. Except, minus their dowries, they can't get married. So Meg, Sally, and Caitlin convince Brisco and Bowler to bring them along as they try to run down the Swills.

Meanwhile, Socrates has somehow wrangled a position as an enovy for the governor, as the city of Madrid, Spain is presenting a gift to the town of Madrid, California. A gift of the royal bull, El Magnifico Quinto, a bull so beloved that Spain will go to war if it is mistreated. Rest assured, eating the bull would qualify as mistreatment. As the Swills home in on the bull, the bounty hunters and the brides have to evade the brains (and I use the term loosely) of the Swill family, Lil Swill (Nan Martin).

Does Brisco use his gun? No.

Stuff Comet Does: Nothing in particular.

Kiss Count: 1, Meg (19 overall).

John Bly Spreads His Arms Dramatically Count: 0 (7 overall).

Is Pete Hutter in this Episode? No.

Pete Hutter Quote: N/A

Non-Pete Quote: 'No, you don't. . . don't. . . really believe you're going to eat the royal bull?' - Socrates.

Brisco's Coming Things: flamethrower.

Gang Count: N/A (6 overall).

Stuff the Orb Can Do: N/A

Other: The Swills are back for the first time since "No Man's Land", minus Gil, who apparently died when the mobile battle wagon got blown up.

Thre are dime novels being published about Brisco's exploits. They are not very accurate, and they refer to Bowler as Brisco's 'faithful companion'. Bowler is not amused.

I like how the minute Socrates sees Brisco he gets concerned, and he gets very concerned once Brisco mentions a bull. He's learned by now that if trouble doesn't follow County, it's because County's the one doing the following.

Senor Mendosa as Spain's envoy is very amusing, but I wonder if Castillian's really thay their "s" like thith? He's certainly a passionate fellow, which made him a fun foil for Soc. There's something that bothers me about this episode, as I don't enjoy it as much as I'd like. There are parts that are good. Lil Swill, as the aggravated, vengeful old broad that runs the Swills. Socrates and Mendosa, but the whole bit with the brides I don't care for. Perhaps I'm too much a romantic, like Bowler. Or it's the part where Meg keeps trying to be headstrong and do things herself, then needs Brisco to step in. She does save his bacon once, and bails him out of jail, but there's something that nags me about how she seems long on guts, but short on common sense.

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