episode #31 - The E.S.P. Spy

episode #18 of 2nd season / Air Date: 3/2/75    written by Lionel E. Siegel    Directed by Jerry London

We're back to mysterious E.S.P. (extra sensory perception) powers here, first broached in the 1st season episode Operation Firefly. One of Austin's buddies (Dick Van Patten), a theoretical engineer, seeks his help because he's being pursued; but his pursuers turn out to be  U.S. government agents. Oscar Goldman is convinced that the man gave up state secrets, but Austin's buddy insists he just thought about the secret formulas, never telling anyone. This gives Austin the idea: it's E.S.P.      Yes, it's quite hokey. Goldman is only convinced after a demonstration with a young girl (Robbie Lee) who has the top-rated E.S.P. powers in the nation.
This episode has an action-packed finale as Austin takes out several henchmen and there's the reveal of, yet again, the inside man who is betraying Goldman's whole operation, but it's lacklustre overall. In addition, I didn't buy into this E.S.P. stuff at all, though Robbie Lee has an odd, interesting appeal - her interaction with Lee Majors is cute and even touching. But, at the same time, when the two of them are driving past houses and she reads the minds of each home's inhabitants, it gets into silly territory. She is yet another civilian who  gets to know about Austin's bionics    BoG's Score: 5.5 out of 10