Diamonds 'n' Dust - Episode 15

[Deleted]

Here we are one the first episode of season 2 - the 15th episode of the series

Original Air Date : September 20, 1983

Written By: Patrick Hasburgh

Sidney's Rating Scale - 7   I am going to let others share their thoughts and comments first 

What I do want to share is this - I honestly remember very little of what I thought of these episodes when I originally watched them  - it was 30 plus years ago - for example when this episode aired I would have been 9.  But I distinctly remember my reaction to this episode.    I have very few items from my childhood but I have saved my favorite stuffed animal for all these years.  It is a stuffed bear named Ubu.   When I first saw Bogey the Bear come on the screen, I remember being so incredibly excited because Ubu and Bogey are the same stuffed bear.   I was thrilled that I had the same bear as Murdock.    Now my Ubu is 30 plus years old so he is showing his age - but it is the same bear.     Thus proving I was destined to be a Murdock girl.
Also major bonus points for anyone that can tell me where I got the name Ubu from 

[Deleted]

"Sit Ubu Sit-good dog!"-the production company from Family Ties right? I just remember that part at the end of every episode.

[Deleted]

How did I know that you would be the one to get it, Vettegirl - yes, that is exactly it. I loved Famliy Ties and would always watch the credits to the very end to hear "Sit Ubu Sit - Good Dog". Bark!

[Deleted]

Oh yes, the barking too! I think that's why I remember it, waiting for the bark like you did.

[amyk]

I cheated again and already watched this one last night. I give it a 5 on the Sidney scale.

I also knew "Sit, Ubu, Sit" but I had forgotten the "good dog" part of that.

Back to this episode....well, the main part I do love about it (and which perhaps keeps it a bit higher in my rankings than it otherwise would be) is the whole scam scene. Such a great scene. The rest of it is sort of so-so. I guess I also have a bit of a problem with the white foreigner coming into the African country and laying claim to the diamond mine, which is also most likely worked by poor Africans. If they had made a big deal that he paid the local workers extremely well and thus earned their loyalty or something like that, then maybe that would sit better with me. Anyway, I don't really feel so motivated to see Toby be able to mine that diamond mine and make a fortune. Again, if she would promise to give a certain percent of the proceeds to the "Zulabweans" or something, then I would be more sympathetic to her plight. However, her dad certaintly did not deserve to be murdered in cold blood like that, so I am glad they caught the guys responsible.

[Deleted]

I agree Amyk - there are two reasons that I ranked this episode a 7 or it would have been lower for me as well ;
1) absolutely adore the scam - one of the best of the series, I think
2) I love the ending with Murdock getting the bad guy in the helicopter ( I don't even remember the bad guys name which shows you how much I cared) and Hannibal's confidence that Murdock would indeed not let the bad guy get away

Plus this episode has a small scene that I really hate and that is Murdock's " Can we go home now" when they first get to the mine. I just think that comment is so out of character for him

But Amyk - you also bring up a very good point about diamond mine and it is one I never thought about - Yes, it is horrible that he father was killed and if she had hired the team to catch her father's killer that would be one thing - but she hired them to get dynamite to the mine. Just doesn't seem as noble a case, does it?

[Deleted]

I agree with you both-their scam is one of my all time favorites even if the episode itself ranks quite a bit lower.

While I hate the small scene with Murdock that you mention, there is one with Face and Hannibal that I just love: the scene when Face is SO exasperated with Hannibal for being on the jazz. With DYNAMITE. The looks between them, and Face's line back, are priceless: "Don't you smile at me like that. That isn't even a real smile! It's just a bunch of teeth, playing with my mind!"

[Myrtle Groggins]

Kristen Meadows' accent was great - as far as generic British-y accents go, I know it's not Australian. I was surprised that she's from the US.

Naturally, so is DS's accent, I agree, that scene is a highlight of the series.

[amyk]

The scene about Face "getting to help" BA is also one of the highlights of the episode. If the whole episode were as good as that scene and the scam scene, it would likely be in my top ten!

Also, does anyone else have the issue that only this thread and one called "Episode Posts" show up under Season 2 on this forum now? What happened to all the other threads under Season 2?!?

[Deleted]

Nov 8, 2016 0:33:13 GMT -5 amyk said:

Also, does anyone else have the issue that only this thread and one called "Episode Posts" show up under Season 2 on this forum now? What happened to all the other threads under Season 2?!?

They were archived - you can find them under the Declassified File thread 

[amyk]

Oh, thanks for that info!

[kellie]

Is the woman in this the same one as In CRYSTAL LAKE? She looks the same, but in this she’s British, in Crystal Lake she’s American, that’s just what made me not so sure.

[amyk]

Yes, same actress. Actually in this episode, she said she's from Australia. Also, it's funny that you posted about this episode, because this is the last episode that I watched! I think I watched it on Sunday. Never one of my favorites, but the scam for the dynamite is so classic that I can forgive the rest of the episode for being not-so-great (in my opinion).

[kellie]

I thought that was strange about her saying she was Australian. Sometimes a British accent & an Australian accent are seen as a bit similar, can’t hear it myself!
The scam for the dynamite is one of the best they do, the guy in the shop with the cockney accent does well to hold them off for a while aswell, but they getthe better of him in the end!

[HoudiniDerek]

Watched this last night too.

The scam scene might be my favorite one run by Face and Murdock. I can almost quote it word for word. I love Face looking at Murdock about the "Hey Jude" reference. Such a perfect scene.

I love Face in the truck. "That's not even a smile. It's justa buncha teeth messin' with my mind!" I have to agree that those two scenes make this episode great overall.

Fixing the truck was a good scene. I liked B.A. talking to the client.

The boys were mainly concerned about the dad being shot at the beginning. And calling out all of the animals they saw during the episode. My oldest was super confused about what they were building in the mine. He was also worried Murdock was going to fall out of the chopper.