Co-starring: Edward Winter as Johnny Royce, Daphne Ashbrook as Patty Sullivan, Frank Marth as Jim Sullivan, Kaz Garas as Meeks, Lance Le Gault as Colonel Decker, Carl Franklin as Captain Crane
Written by Stephen Katz
Directed by Nicholas Sgarro
The team is hired by a woman whose foster home is under threat due to her father’s gambling debts.
A typically solid entry in the third season, this is an entertaining episode that incorporates a good mix of story, comedy and action elements. Face carries much of the story as he goes undercover early on to work for the gang and Benedict shines in his expanded role. Posing as a sort-of Italian wideboy looking to make good, Face never quite gains the trust of his new employers which keeps the story on the edge at all times.
It’s a fairly low-key episode for Murdock with Hannibal upstaging him in the comedy stakes when the two of them have to pose as tailors (Hannibal’s is somewhat effeminate, Murdock’s is like something out of an old horror film) in order to obtain information from Face. Further scenes in which you expect Murdock to come into his own don’t quite turn out that way, notably when BA delivers a good laugh when he cuts short the traditional helicopter scam.
The episode marks the shortest appearance by Decker in any episode until his cameo in ‘Trial by Fire’. He appears for only one brief scene at the halfway point and then is not seen again, something completely brushed over at the conclusion given that Decker states he will stay around for a while in case the team return.
Winter makes for a strong villain and works well with Benedict throughout the episode, ensuring the undercover scenes aren’t lacking for only including one member of the team. The episode builds to an excellent four-vehicle chase finale with an articulated lorry and car facing off against the A-Team van and a helicopter. It’s a dramatic and exciting end to an above average episode. 8/10
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