Watching this one right now...."piece of cake"! HAHA! Since the rest of the team didn't know Hannibal's plan, I wonder why Face said that the colonel expects them to take out the perimeter guard and rendezvous with Hannibal in 10 minutes?
I also wonder why the gal wastes Ramone's time by saying "They found something you should see" and having him go look at the place where the team took the stuff for the cliff...she could have just told him what was missing.
All in all, though, I do really like this episode. I love it when Face volunteers to drive the van while the rest of them have to push, apparently perhaps even Miss Teasdale, and how he gives that little wave of his hand to get them to push.
I love how nothing goes according to the apparent plan, even the escape from the cliff, and how Hannibal has to take the dive.
I don't really love Murdock saying "I wanna cry."
Mr. Teasdale is probably my least favorite client of all, but Karl from SEMI-FRIENDLY PERSUASION also comes close.
I love how the team always seems to know that what may seem unplanned may actually be part of Hannibal's plan.
I love HARDER THAN IT LOOKS. It's a great episode. I will always hate Hannibal knocking the 'hysterical' woman out. Sometimes I find it confusing. You know what confuses me? BA and the big dude. It feels like the second fight shouldn't have happened.
The first fight, they run into each other, and then they fight until both are exhausted. The second fight, I don't think was needed. It was just... Forced? It didn't feel natural or necessary. If they wanted it to be a joke, that they were fighting again, then there should have been more relevance. It just didn't flow. I'll turn it on later and try to be more precise with my comments.
I think I maybe see what you mean, but I think they maybe did the second fight so then the third time BA encounters that same guy (at the dam), it would be funnier that he just says "It's the bomb!" and they don't have to time to fight?
Post by cartoonlover on May 30, 2020 14:29:35 GMT -5
I didn't care this one ten years but from having rewatched it, my options of it have gone up. The lighthouse setting and the dam added some atmosphere which was a nice change of scenery. Wished more of the story was spent at the dam.
Post by sprout1883 on Jun 29, 2020 14:51:32 GMT -5
So just watched. Really like this episode
Nice to have an unlikeable client for a change. The A-Team delivering a bit of justice on both sides after this was supposed to be an easy money job for them and the mission changes.
Really like the end scene. Think it captures what the team is about when they are getting rid to run and Hannibal says its almost as if he planned it and B.A replies "didnt you?" With a big smile
Last Edit: Jun 29, 2020 14:51:52 GMT -5 by sprout1883
Post by Eclipse139 on Jul 21, 2020 15:52:11 GMT -5
Rewatched this one today, it's a really good episode. Again we don't see the whole scenario of the client hiring the team, we just go straight into the story which is fun. This one really highlights how crazy Hannibal is - he always has some kind of a plan, even if he has to change it as he goes along.
I liked the running joke with BA meeting his match and the payoff with the line about the bomb.
I'm a bit concerned that Hannibal decided to hit the girl to shut her up, though! (Was that scene cut from the DVD releases, or did it always happen off-camera? It wasn't edited very well so I'm not sure?) I know he's a man of action and she was being really annoying, but to be fair to her he hadn't really explained who he was - he just barged in, grabbed her, gagged her and threatened to break her neck! I can see why she wasn't being very cooperative after all that!
I loved the abseiling scene and Hannibal taking that outrageous dive into the sea was brilliant! We don't often get to see them doing anything like that. It makes a nice change from fighting and shooting things.
We've had LOTS of discussion about Hannibal hitting the girl! I don't remember him gagging her and threatening to break her neck, though!
He does! He bursts in, grabs Miss Teasdale without explaining who he is and she yells at him to get away from her, so he then covers her mouth with his gloved hand (quite aggressively!) to keep her quiet, forcing her head right back. At this point he tries to explain that he's here to rescue her, but she's still stuggling so he asks if she wants him to push harder, like he's threatening to break her neck!
It's a great ep otherwise, but this whole thing, especially after he knocks her unconscious, is very odd. I don't think I'm looking at it with modern sensibilities, I'm sure that treating women (or anyone) like that was not acceptable in the 80's either - unless they were a baddie who deserved it! Hannibal doesn't behave like this in any other ep as far as I remember?
Last Edit: Jul 22, 2020 17:01:05 GMT -5 by Eclipse139
Well, I think when we've discussed this before, we've mentioned Hannibal shoving Dr. Sullivan in the closet....but that isn't as bad as what he does to Miss Teasdale. I'll have to pay more attention to that scene next time I watch this episode. It seems to have just glided over me or something because I don't remember it being quite that threatening prior to Hannibal knocking out Miss Teasdale (does she have a first name???). Is it Jennifer (like many others seem to be named)?
Post by HoudiniDerek on Nov 21, 2020 10:14:22 GMT -5
Watched this one last night. Again, the older two stayed involved, but the youngest was so bored he went to another room entirely to do something.
I love how Face does the ultimate sin in TV. He told B.A. and Murdock that he agreed with Hannibal that this one would be a piece of cake. Then it all fell apart.
I had that initial question too, Amy, about Face knowing what Hannibal wanted. But then I remembered that Hannibal was supposed to have gone in with them. The plan was the same...just that Hannibal had gone in early. So they knew what to do. My problem is always the tracker. Why would you cock a gun if you aren't going to shoot? It seems chancy.
I like B.A. and the big guy fighting. It was funny the first time because B.A. was exhausted and they had to carry him. The second time was funny because the bad guy was eager for the rematch and B.A. was just resigned to the fact that they were going to have to fight again. The third time was great because he had the bomb and there was no time to fight. (Does anyone else think that these guerillas are weenies? The big guy was there and knew they were going to bomb the place, but when B.A. shows up with the bomb, he runs off like a chicken. I guess he didn't get arrested at least...).
The cliff dive was fun, but weird. So they got the raft to float away, but ultimately didn't need it because they escaped on foot? Why take the raft at all? And I think the lady took Ramone to show them that the entire warehouse had been raided. As a grunt, she might not have known what they took, but Ramone did, so he could coordinate activities. That didn't bother me too much.
Hannibal was a little rough with Ms. Teasedale, but it was a tense situation. She probably thought they were more kidnappers to Hannibal's way of thinking and his plan did not call for a hysterical woman. I was surprised he threatened to push her head back, but less so that he socked her to keep her out of the way. I am not sure either would fly now, but for the time, it probably didn't seem that big of a deal.
The "piece of cake" gag was hilarious and I think all of the characters pulled it off well. I love Face's summarizing of the mission over the opening trailer as well as during the episode. Reminds me a little of how he and Hannibal interact in RANGE RIDER. I also love Face complaining about how why does Hannibal do this to him. But we see Face step up again and lead as second in command.
It doesn't bother me Murdock says "I wanna cry." To me, this was pure exhaustion from having ANOTHER wrinkle in the plan. It wasn't fear like DIAMONDS N DUST which I don't like either. To me, this felt more natural. My wife had a good laugh at it.
The client sucked here. To me, he should have made the return in the next episode and been the bad guy for the collaboration of those who had been hurt by the team. Would have been one of the few times of continuity in the series.
I love the tag scene with the money in the girl's name and B.A. giving that smirk to Hannibal. "Didn't you?"
Did anyone else see Murdock almost get shot by Face when they were saving the girl? Military protocol has a cover approach where one can run and another cover, but I have never seen it where it happened like this. It looked like Murdock got caught running the wrong way and Face had to hurriedly avoid shooting him. Hard to see Murdock's face, but it kind of looked like he was going "oops" as he ducked around.
Overall, a pretty good episode. Better than I remember. I think most of the fun comes from the main four's interactions, especially around the "piece of cake" lines. I don't think the plot was anything spectacular, but the interactions were good. Another quality contribution by Lupo.
Post by HoudiniDerek on Nov 21, 2020 10:19:35 GMT -5
Another thing I forgot to mention: It's interesting to see an episode where they don't have to build some sort of contraption to escape and/or beat the bad guys. The bad guys didn't capture them at all in this episode. Very interesting change.
I like your idea of Mr. Teasdale returning too lead the cohort of people who were angry with the team in the next episode - I'm assuming the next episode then is DEADLY MANEUVERS!
I love how Face does the ultimate sin in TV. He told B.A. and Murdock that he agreed with Hannibal that this one would be a piece of cake. Then it all fell apart.
You just know it's all going to wrong as soon as he says it.
I like B.A. and the big guy fighting. It was funny the first time because B.A. was exhausted and they had to carry him. The second time was funny because the bad guy was eager for the rematch and B.A. was just resigned to the fact that they were going to have to fight again. The third time was great because he had the bomb and there was no time to fight. (Does anyone else think that these guerillas are weenies? The big guy was there and knew they were going to bomb the place, but when B.A. shows up with the bomb, he runs off like a chicken. I guess he didn't get arrested at least...).
I agree, I like this as a recurring gag. I love how the guy is convinced he'll be able to beat BA next time, but BA just gets bored of him!
Hannibal was a little rough with Ms. Teasedale, but it was a tense situation. She probably thought they were more kidnappers to Hannibal's way of thinking and his plan did not call for a hysterical woman. I was surprised he threatened to push her head back, but less so that he socked her to keep her out of the way. I am not sure either would fly now, but for the time, it probably didn't seem that big of a deal.
I do understand why he knocked her out - it was a desperate attempt to keep her quiet - but I'm definitely surprised they had Hannibal being so menacing towards her.
It doesn't bother me Murdock says "I wanna cry." To me, this was pure exhaustion from having ANOTHER wrinkle in the plan. It wasn't fear like DIAMONDS N DUST which I don't like either. To me, this felt more natural. My wife had a good laugh at it.
I thought it was fun too and in character for Murdock after everything that had happened so far.
Did anyone else see Murdock almost get shot by Face when they were saving the girl? Military protocol has a cover approach where one can run and another cover, but I have never seen it where it happened like this. It looked like Murdock got caught running the wrong way and Face had to hurriedly avoid shooting him. Hard to see Murdock's face, but it kind of looked like he was going "oops" as he ducked around.
I don't remember this, I'll definitely look out for it though. I love it when they keep those little moments in. I always wonder if they just didn't have the time/budget to reshoot the scene, or it's just that no one noticed (and the actors assumed it was out of shot.)
Last Edit: Nov 23, 2020 2:29:06 GMT -5 by Eclipse139