Deadly Maneuvers - Episode 35

[amyk]

Just watched this one tonight....a definite 10 for me on the Sidney scale! I love this one. I've probably already said on old threads about everything I can say about it, but for me this is really the cream of the crop as far as TAT episodes go. I love the premise of the episode, I love how they get the team members by hitting them in their weak spots, I love the whole "just stick it out, BA" part, I love see Doc Sullivan again, I love Hannibal saving his team, and I like seeing them use tactics that I think they may have used in 'Nam when the mercenaries come to their training ground. And I think that Hannibal's line about not getting yourself a squad but getting a team is one of the best lines of the entire series. I also love the tag scene, with Face trying to take a shortcut to get out of more running, and how he gets pulled back out of the van just when he is so smug thinking he got away with that.

[sidney]

It's funny... I think this is a perfect episode, too, yet Murdock doesn't fly and Tawnia's in it and they are split up for much of the episode. But it's just SUCH A GOOD EP!!!

[amyk]

Although they are split up, since it is really a major plot point, it doesn't bother me in this one. They aren't just all off doing their own separate thing, but even though they are separated, it doesn't really feel so much to me like they are just all off doing their own thing. Plus, it's not like they want to be separated, but it is thrust upon them. And they keep referring to one another, like how Face and Murdock wonder how BA will be captured and then how they talk about Hannibal when it is the three of them (to the bad guys, and later when they recognize that what sounds like "World War 3" is Hannibal). I like Tawnia in this episode. She does her part well, even photographing cows, and she does drive well once again. (She's a good driver and I kind of wish we had seen her get to drive the van at least once during her run on the show.)

[quartermaster22]

Did Tawnia briefly drive the van in IT'S A DESERT OUT THERE?

Anyway DEADLY MANEUVERS is a 10 for me as well, and in my top ten episodes of all time.

[amyk]

I think Tawnia had to drive the van because the guys were all on the bus, right? Didn't Hannibal even give her that job to do so that she could feel included, like them all getting to play on the all-stars team?

As for DEADLY MANEUVERS, right now it is in the #4 position on my rankings list. It seems to usually end up as #4 or #5 for me. Ahead of it right now are RANGE RIDER, BEAST, and ONLY CHURCH.

[wizard19]

How often do you think they go on those training trips?

[mrlee]

I'm more preoccupied with how we were supposed to believe that Hannibal and Murdock were the most in shape! Face is obviously more athletic than all three, even BA. BA is all muscle but he wasn't made for timed obstacle courses.

[Face]

Face is only in shape for aesthetic reasons. Doing obstacle courses like that requires more than just body sculpting!

[amyk]

Apr 29, 2017 12:30:17 GMT -5 wizard19 said:

How often do you think they go on those training trips?

That's hard to say. Hannibal seems to imply that they need this extra training because they were sloppy on their last job. Presumably, that is a job that we didn't get to see on-camera. (What was the job the week before? Were they sloppy?)

[amyk]

Apr 29, 2017 18:38:06 GMT -5 mrlee said:

I'm more preoccupied with how we were supposed to believe that Hannibal and Murdock were the most in shape! Face is obviously more athletic than all three, even BA. BA is all muscle but he wasn't made for timed obstacle courses.

I think Murdock could be in as good of athletic shape as Face. But I agree that Hannibal would not likely be in better shape than either Face or Murdock. As for BA, it's hard to say, but I also think he would not be as nimble as either Murdock or Face.

[katiemarie1]

twania didn't drive the van it was a car she drove. she did drive the van once in an ep....can't remember the title , but it was when she hid under the prison bus.

[amyk]

Oh yeah, you're right....she didn't drive the van in DEADLY MANEUVERS, only that car. (Where did Hannibal get that without Face? I guess he's able to scam too when needed?)

She did drive the van in IT'S A DESERT OUT THERE, when the team was on that bus that they made to look like the prison van.

[sidney]

DEADLY MANEUVERS is one of those episodes that really focus on the loyalty between them. That loyalty... It's a dream. It doesn't exist in the real world. To see these characters - so diverse and with so many obstacles holding them back - be willing to sacrifice everything for each other, it's pretty wonderful.

There was no way Hannibal wasn't going to save his men.

Although, he did abandon a sick and unconscious BA... Maybe I should rethink this post!!!

[amyk]

I disagree about that loyalty not existing in the real world. I have known and do know some people that are willing to really sacrifice for me, and I am willing to really sacrifice for them. I know people who are willing to die for me if necessary.

I don't think Hannibal really abandoned BA....I think he is wise enough to know when to retreat, for the greater good. Had he stayed, he would have ended up captured with the others and been of no use to them at all. The way that he got out of there, and the way he knew when he needed outside help, was really the best thing so that he could later rescue all three of the team. He did what he had to do in order to save the team, even if it appeared momentarily as though he had abandoned BA.

[sidney]

My mom has true loyalty to me. And I have true loyalty to my kids. I think a mother's love is true loyalty. But other than that, there really isn't. People are too selfish.

I know - if Hannibal wasn't sick, he wouldn't have left. He would have went commando on those bad guys right there and then. Don't you think? Do you think he would have still retreated if he wasn't sick?