Sunday, January 29, 2012

Adventures of Brisco County Jr. 27 - High Treason, Part 2

Plot: As you might expect, the execution of Brisco and Bowler does not goes as planned. Wickwire made some rubber bullets, Viva, Whip, and Pete pretended to be the undertaking detachment to pick up the guys. Socrates has no idea what's happening, but that won't stop him from waving his coat over his head wildly in joy.

The quintet splits up again, with Brisco and Bowler heading south to find Jennifer Hart, since she's the only one who can clear their names. Unfortunately, General Quarry has sent Colonel March (still played by Terry Bradshaw, BOOOO!) after Jennifer and Carlos Falco. He captures Falco, but Hart escapes with the good guys. They aren't out of the woods yet, though, because March has himself an elite squad to pursue them. Aldo Bertucci (Ken Norton Jr.), who can track a man over solid granite. If only they could get his subtitles to match what he's saying. Yes, they gave him subtitles even though he's speaking English. Gristle Wallens (Carl Banks), who once carried his horse across the Colorado River. Cowboy (Jim Harbaugh), who um, uh, well, he's good at menacing defenseless peasant women. I shouldn't be surprised at such behavior from the future coach of the 49ers. Bill Walsh used to steal oversized lollipops from babies in strollers (Note: May not be true). Anyway, they doggedly pursue as Bowler, Brisco, and Jennifer try to arrange for a pick-up, from the last direction March would ever expect.

Meanwhile, Pete, Viva, and Whip's attempt to flee didn't go so well, and they wind up in jail. Thus are we presented with a situation where Whip Morgan is the most mature person in the room. Frightening, I know. They do manage an escape, just in time to save the President from an assassination attempt by March (disguised as Falco). And so, the day. . . is saved. Thanks to the Powerp - er, thanks to Brisco County Jr., and his faithful companion Lord Bowler!

Does Brisco use his gun? No.

Stuff Comet does: Knows Morse code - sort of. Can lead other horses. Can get himself a ticket for a train.

Kiss Count: 0 (22 overall). I forgot to mention this last week, but just before the execution, Brisco asks Socrates to tell Dixie he was thinking of her at the end. That's sweet.

Is Pete Hutter in this episode? Yes. He also nearly dies. Again. And he loses his piece. Again.

Pete Hutter Quote: 'I scoff at your moronic interpretation of hoosegow architecture.' Screw it, it's the last episode, let's do a twofer. 'Ergo, when fleeing, I suggest you follow the flight of the flea who knows how to flee the fastest. And that would be me.'

Non-Pete Hutter Quote: March - 'Aldo, follow that thing.' Aldo - 'But that thing, it don't lay tracks, do it?' Subtitles: The situation seems intractable. Don't you agree?

Coming Things: Wickwire's airship, now with helium!

Other: With it being the season finale (they didn't know it would also be the series finale), they went all out on the humor. Jokes about helium in the airship, several football related jokes (but how can you both blitz someone, and burn them deep? One's defense, the other offense!), Brisco and Comet arguing over Morse Code, Aldo's subtitles, the whole bit in the jail cell. You will believe Bradshaw can quote Patton!

Pete and Viva play so well off each other. Pete has a tendency to speak with an air of authority or knowledge, and even though he'll inevitably be proven wrong, Viva can't help needling him. But Viva's an easygoing guy, so it doesn't feel too mean.

Not all the gags were winners. I couldn't believe they spent 2 whole minutes on a bit about Bowler's ears being jammed because of the pressure change.

There is a sequence where Cowboy tries to give orders and March cuts in. Cowboy - 'Everybody spread out, wide formation.' March - 'I give the orders here. Everybody spread out, wide formation.' A classic dick move, but they're both quarterbacks, and Bradshaw's the one with 4 Super Bowl rings. Titles talk, losers walk, so get steppin' Harbaugh. Also, Bradshaw had the single most accurate line he's ever spoken: 'I'm a little slow'. Yes, you are. For some reason I made a note that "Andale" is the extent of Harbaugh's Spanish.

Oh, Bowler said "Damn!" twice. Which brings the Unofficial Bowler's Damn Count up to 9. Those are the first ones I have for him since "Bounty Hunter's Convention". Also, Bowler will not remove his hat when getting his picture taken with the President, which I find amusing somehow.

I do love this two-parter, and it makes me sad this was the end of the series. The extras on the DVDs indicate they were considering making Brisco the sheriff of a particular town for Season 2, which could have interesting. If he still works for the President from time to time, there's nothing to prevent him from continuing to travel. I do wonder what changes to the cast that might have brought about. Would Dixie have settled there, or only passed through occasionally? I can't imagine Bowler's going to move out of his nice house on Nob Hill, or that Socrates would move to whatever place Brisco chose. Oh well, the world may never know.

So, next Sunday, a new series begins. Likely not the new series I was planning on originally, but it'll be some show, I can practical guarantee that.

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