Lease With an Option to Die - Episode 64

[amyk]

Watched this one tonight. I'm giving it a 9 on the Sidney scale. I could possibly give it a 10, but I really don't like Murdock acting like the little boy or whatever he is doing in this one. But I do really love Mrs. B and also think this episode is so nice to depict the team as really a family.

[juniberry]

It’s a really lovely episode. Mama B is just the most perfect character and for one episode she just seemed to fit into the dynamics you could imagine she’d been part of the groups adventures since back in nam as she got letters from her scooter and felt like she knew all the men, even if she though BA was CO.

I agree Murdock acting like an adult with learning disabilities is very none PC thou quite acceptable in TV shows back then. I still cring when Hannibal ‘blacks up’ I think the The Rabbit who ate both scenes wouldn’t be allowed now even after watershed

[amyk]

I also really like the plot in this one. I also think it is neat that apparently the elderly people whose names were forged are going to get to keep the apartment buildings, although in real life, I would assume those deals would be null and void if signatures were forged.

[Eclipse139]

I rewatched this one today, it's a great episode! Like we've said in another thread recently, this is one of the few episodes with strong links to any of the team's childhoods - BAs in this case, of course.

I love that he has exaggerated his position in the team to make his mum proud of him - but of course she would be proud of him anyway. And I really love that she calls him Scooter! Mrs B is a wonderful character. It would have been lazy writing to make her an older, female version of BA - with a 'bad attitude' - but instead the writers created a lovely, warm, maternal character, but showed that she can stand up for herself when she needs to.

I agree with your comment, Amy, about the character Murdock takes on who seems to be an adult either with a learning/developmental disability, or on the autistic spectrum. Viewed with our modern sensibilities it does seem an uncomfortable choice, but like so many things at the time people wouldn't really have thought there was anything wrong with it.  I do love Hannibal's voice when he's playing Murdock's mother though!

I think it's the only time the show makes use of the old cliche of having a bomb that can only be stopped by cutting the right wire - red or blue. I really like that it's BA who has to make the choice though. And I love how Face and Murdock move away, while Hannibal stays right there with BA, completely convinced that BA will choose the right wire and they'll all be fine. It shows how much faith he has in his team.

It's really a beautiful moment when we learn that BA has openly referred to the team as his family and that his mum is comforted knowing her son is with them.

[Bert]

Boys cry when Iron Man sacrifices himself in Avengers Infinity End Game Whatever.

Men cry when BA's mama talks about receiving the card that says he's not alone that Christmas.

[amyk]

Yeah, that's a great scene. So heartwarming.

The bomb scene is really a terrific scene and I love how BA changes his mind at the last moment and cuts the other color wire.

[amyk]

I was just watching an episode of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE and the whole time this one guest character was on, I kept thinking "I know that woman!" but could not think where from.....so I looked for her name in the credits. It was Wendy Schaal. I still did not know how I knew her, but finally found out by looking her up on IMDB. She's Karen in this episode of TAT!!