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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2016 8:05:37 GMT -5
Original Air Date: April 5, 1983
Written By: Guy Magar
My Score on Sidney's Rating Scale - 9
Love this episode - Billy , Murdock is beyond adorable , he gets to fly , great dialogue
what do you all think?
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amyk
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Post by amyk on Oct 2, 2016 18:22:50 GMT -5
Just finished this one a little while ago. I give it an 8 on the Sidney Scale. I really enjoyed it this evening. One thing that I don't really know whether I like or not is the thing at the end with Billy. Another thing that I think is kind of dumb is that Amy doesn't recognize Hannibal at the hospital.
Some things I love....I love having Billy along for a whole episode (except perhaps at the very end him dragging Murdock). I love how Penhall talks about the "lunatic" leader of the A-Team. I love it that they don't show us that BA is going to be driving the other truck full of the major load of watermelons until after the bad guys discover they've been duped, although I suppose maybe we would suspect that. I just love Hannibal's plans in this episode and think that he did a really good job. I also love how Face thought that it was best not to have the police car exactly like a real police car so that if they did get found out they could say that it was for a movie. Reminds me of how he purposely had that permit or license or whatever it was in IT'S A DESERT OUT THERE purposely be expired so he could produce the new one. Face's scams are so well-thought-out. And I also love how Miss Penhall (whose first name I don't remember for sure...was it Ellen?) told Face "no" when he asked her if she didn't agree that he had a flair for the watermelon markets....but then how she adds that she likes the guys anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2016 18:28:46 GMT -5
The end with Billy pulling Murdock was the one part in this whole episode that I did not like. It was just too silly for me. And I know that was something Dwight wanted in there. But I love everything else. I did love the end with Amy fretting about her car -saying she felt like she was waiting for a baby. And then Hannibal says here comes the little darling now - haha
For some reason though - I did not like Ellen - I can't put my finger on why but there was something about her that bugged me
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amyk
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Post by amyk on Oct 2, 2016 19:56:30 GMT -5
The only thing I did not like so much about Ellen was her initial reaction to BA. I don't know if she was scared of him or what. I know he is a rather unique kind of man, but it can come off as though people are prejudiced if they react like that to him. And it also seems like by now maybe Amy would have described each of the team members a bit, once they had agreed to take the case.
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Post by quartermaster22 on Oct 3, 2016 1:21:29 GMT -5
Is this the first A-Team episode that qualifies as a "helping the underdog business" episode? I generally don't like those episodes as much (except of course "Taxicab Wars"), largely because they're not soldier-of-fortune-type adventure episodes. Remember, their mission in this episode was to drive watermelons to market.
I still rate this episode above-average, relative to the rest of the series. It's one of the funniest episodes in Season One, Murdock is hilarious, and I love B.A.'s reactions to Billy. But that bit at the end with Murdock being pulled by Billy is too ridiculous. What do you think this is, Dwight? A kid's show???
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amyk
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Post by amyk on Oct 3, 2016 23:34:45 GMT -5
Sometimes I think they still weren't really sure what this show was supposed to be. If Dwight really was the one who pushed for this, as well as to do the chicken thing in BAD ROCK, then maybe he was wanting the show to be more of a kids' show.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2016 15:00:55 GMT -5
Wasn't it meant as a kids show back then though? I remember that being said in a couple of interviews by different actors from the series Also, people getting out of car accidents, simply a bit shaken. It's almost as ridiculous as Billy in a way I think
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2016 16:09:08 GMT -5
To quote Face " in a practical sense, Billy does exist. He represents a love fixation that bridges a relationship gap Murdock had when he was a child " So my question is - is there any validity in what Face said abd if so what is the relationship Murdock is missing? What need is Billy filling for him? Or is this just a case of Face and Murdock messing with BA ?
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amyk
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Post by amyk on Oct 4, 2016 20:57:34 GMT -5
Since Murdock's mother died when he was so young, maybe that love fixation is something about his mother, although I don't mean to imply that Billy (or even a real dog) replaces Murdock's mother. But maybe Billy represents a faithful, loyal relationship that will always be there for Murdock. That's what mothers typically are for their children when they are kids, and since Murdock's mother died when he was 5 years old, perhaps some of Murdock's psychological issues stem from missing out on that.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2016 2:11:49 GMT -5
Reviewing this epsiode, I think to me it's a 9 or even a 10. I really enjoyed this one and love that they don't always go for the combat/soldiers of fortune thing, but also don't mind doing something (sort of) simple as getting melons to the market.
I thought it was fun that Face thought he had a niche for the melon market, but hadn't really, even though he seemed to enjoye that part of the business. Had a laugh at poor Amy's le car that burned to a metal crisp. Also loved how Face and Murdock climbed out of that car after the crash, Murdock adjusting his neck joints (ouch). Billy was great, and I think it's heartwarming seeing them all acknowledging Billy, except for B.A. of course. I was astounded by the sound Dwight can make when imitating horses. I mean, yikes, I can't do that with my voice even if I tried. Of course it could be a director's cut, but the fact that those horses seemed to nervously respond to his whinnies made it awesome to me. Crazy & weird moment. Really enjoyed Hannibal's Jazz with the water melon throwing from the helicopter. "Face, you are doing it wrong.." For me it was a great episode with lots of laughs.
Regarding the Billy dragging Murdock thing. It's not my favourite bit of the episode either though, but got me thinking. Even though I know that part was put in by Dwight, it seems to have been a sort of running gag during the seasons that Murdock sometimes seems to 'know' a bit more then the others. Things that make no sense. Like some things that were waved away as being silly or a joke were suddenly becoming real. I am not sure if this episode is one of the first ones. There are a few samples. From the top of my head: when M uses his Ouija board in one episode and suddenly says 'Decker is coming', before even hearing any sirens. And there is one in the episode where the A-team is on trial (last season?), B.A has a dream in which he promises Murdock a couple of things before Murdock will resque him from the firing squad with his helicopter. In the end of the episode, after B.A. And the others were indeed resqued, Murdock reminds him of one of the promises that B.A. made in that dream. But he couldn't possibly have known because it was only happening in the dream. And M does this scary knowingly laugh, creeping B.A. out. Of course it could just be that he knew B.A so well, he guessed it, and guessed it right. (I think he promised never to call Murdock a fool again? Not a 100% sure) I know there are a couple more of these funny details during the whole show in which M sometimes knows something or does something with knowledge he couldn't have had. Or when something happens that can't be explained. To me it suggests that his craziness might give him an extra heads up every now and then. Does that make sense?
Edit: One more I remember; The Maltese cow. M keeps talking about the Maltese cow in his 'detective phase', and then accidentally they find out that a microfilm was hidden in a statue of a cow. Which knocked even Murdock off his socks for a bit.
I've been watching a lot of the episodes lately, and my interest in the series had grown, which made me find this forum. I really enjoy reading the discussions here. Some interesting insights from everyone.
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amyk
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Post by amyk on Oct 5, 2016 19:08:26 GMT -5
Oh, you have some really good thoughts about the Billy thing at the end of the episode. Yes, maybe it is really real! In addition to the things you mentioned, where Murdock sort of is part of an alternate reality, remember the white paper thing in one episode? It seemed like Murdock really had become invisible to the waitress at the table. So maybe Murdock's crazy things are somehow are not so crazy after all. In that case, maybe there really is an invisible Billy!!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2016 1:41:37 GMT -5
Haha, oh yes! I forgot about the invisible Murdock. Great sample too! I love that it always creeps B.A. out when these things happen. There seems to be a thin line between the Murdock universe and the real world from time to time But it could very well be possible that everyone humors him a bit. We will never know.
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Post by Nance on Oct 10, 2016 13:37:01 GMT -5
I liked this episode very much. I liked the scene in the kitchen when Ellen asked how she could repay them and you could see Face thinking about ways she could do just that. Naughty boy! I liked the plan and how both Face and Murdock didn't want to be paired with Hannibal but with BA. They really huddled together. I thought the horse scene was creepy. I could only think about what Face did with the 'bit', would do to an actual PoW. Good acting on their parts however, both Dwight and Dirk! I keep tellin' ya. Billy is real! Murdock never said he wasn't, just that he is invisible haha
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Apr 1, 2020 16:42:57 GMT -5
The boys loved this episode overall. They really thought that Billy was real, but invisible. 7 year old: Daddy, is Murdock's dog invisible? Me: Not that I've seen. Wife: (Laughing) That was awful. They were worried for Penhall in the original accident. They loved the fight at the farm. They enjoyed the helicopter dropping watermelons. Overall, I have always enjoyed this episode. Hannibal was great ragging on the bad guy and getting punched out. Face was great with the horse routine and Murdock playing along. Poor Amy and her car. Definitely a great episode.
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amyk
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Post by amyk on Apr 1, 2020 22:13:42 GMT -5
That's so cute that your boys think Billy is real, but invisible.
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