episode #18 - Kill Oscar
Base of Galactic Science Fiction :: SCIENCE FICTION in TELEVISION :: Bronze Age of TV Science Fiction
Page 1 of 1
episode #18 - Kill Oscar
episode #5 of 2nd season / Air Date: 10/27/76 written by Arthur Rowe Directed by Alan Crosland
This was the first part of a 3-part episode that crossed over to The Six Million Dollar Man show. It looks as if the writers and producers decided to go full bore into Westworld and Stepford Wives territory with the introduction of the dreaded Fembots in this 3-parter. Fembots are robots, of course, who are shaped like females. The term is coined by their creator, Dr. Franklin (John Houseman), another of those disgruntled ex-OSI employees. Franklin is another version of the famed Dr. Dolenz (who appeared in 3 6MDM episodes), another robot-maker; in fact, I wonder why they didn't just bring back Dolenz for these latest episodes. But, it may be that Franklin has an extra edge - he's very upset with OSI, especially Oscar Goldman & Rudy Wells, which prefers bionics over robotics. This therefore becomes a grudge match in determining what is superior: bionic people (cyborgs) or full machine robots. In the plot, a couple of key secretaries at OSI (including a returning Callahan, played again by Jennifer Darling) are replaced by robotic duplicates. Then they kidnap Oscar.
This was quite an entertaining first act to the whole Fembots 3-parter (I don't like the simplistic title, Kill Oscar; Fembots-something would have been better). This episode is like the 1st act of a Bionic-Fembots movie. The best scenes are when Jaime (Lindsay Wagner) begins to suspect that something is not right with Callahan; only she has these suspicions. Eventually, she confronts the fake Callahan in the real Callahan's apartment and we know what will happen then. Wagner is superb in this and the next 2 episodes; it's incredible how she portrays a fully-rounded character in the middle of what is, essentially, a loopy sci-fi action thriller. Her distress and concerns in these episodes, and just her reaction, for example, when she first sees an 'unmasked' Fembot, is so on the mark (instead of a non-chalant 'oh, so it's a robot' reaction).
I also like the whole atmosphere in this episode, as though things of great import are happening - the NSB gets involved and it involves more than just a couple of OSI operatives as has been done in past episodes. I'm not sure of what to make of Oscar's videotaped final orders (recalling a similar plot device with Capt. Kirk in a Star Trek TOS episode), since it's kind of defeatist, but it lent an extra stroke of suspense. I don't know if it's just coincidence, but Dr. Franklin's name is derivative of Dr. Frankenstein, and Franklin's character is like a modern day version of the famous doctor. Since this continues in Kill Oscar Part 2 on the 6MDM series (4th season), Lee Majors also appears here as Steve Austin; he gets called away to Alaska during the bulk of the episode but returns to play a larger role in the next episode, though his is more than just a cameo. BoG's Score: 7 out of 10
Bionic Trivia: Jack Colvin appears here as some sinister baron with a funny accent who funds Franklin; he had appeared earlier in 2 6MDM episodes, playing more routine American characters.
This was the first part of a 3-part episode that crossed over to The Six Million Dollar Man show. It looks as if the writers and producers decided to go full bore into Westworld and Stepford Wives territory with the introduction of the dreaded Fembots in this 3-parter. Fembots are robots, of course, who are shaped like females. The term is coined by their creator, Dr. Franklin (John Houseman), another of those disgruntled ex-OSI employees. Franklin is another version of the famed Dr. Dolenz (who appeared in 3 6MDM episodes), another robot-maker; in fact, I wonder why they didn't just bring back Dolenz for these latest episodes. But, it may be that Franklin has an extra edge - he's very upset with OSI, especially Oscar Goldman & Rudy Wells, which prefers bionics over robotics. This therefore becomes a grudge match in determining what is superior: bionic people (cyborgs) or full machine robots. In the plot, a couple of key secretaries at OSI (including a returning Callahan, played again by Jennifer Darling) are replaced by robotic duplicates. Then they kidnap Oscar.
This was quite an entertaining first act to the whole Fembots 3-parter (I don't like the simplistic title, Kill Oscar; Fembots-something would have been better). This episode is like the 1st act of a Bionic-Fembots movie. The best scenes are when Jaime (Lindsay Wagner) begins to suspect that something is not right with Callahan; only she has these suspicions. Eventually, she confronts the fake Callahan in the real Callahan's apartment and we know what will happen then. Wagner is superb in this and the next 2 episodes; it's incredible how she portrays a fully-rounded character in the middle of what is, essentially, a loopy sci-fi action thriller. Her distress and concerns in these episodes, and just her reaction, for example, when she first sees an 'unmasked' Fembot, is so on the mark (instead of a non-chalant 'oh, so it's a robot' reaction).
I also like the whole atmosphere in this episode, as though things of great import are happening - the NSB gets involved and it involves more than just a couple of OSI operatives as has been done in past episodes. I'm not sure of what to make of Oscar's videotaped final orders (recalling a similar plot device with Capt. Kirk in a Star Trek TOS episode), since it's kind of defeatist, but it lent an extra stroke of suspense. I don't know if it's just coincidence, but Dr. Franklin's name is derivative of Dr. Frankenstein, and Franklin's character is like a modern day version of the famous doctor. Since this continues in Kill Oscar Part 2 on the 6MDM series (4th season), Lee Majors also appears here as Steve Austin; he gets called away to Alaska during the bulk of the episode but returns to play a larger role in the next episode, though his is more than just a cameo. BoG's Score: 7 out of 10
Bionic Trivia: Jack Colvin appears here as some sinister baron with a funny accent who funds Franklin; he had appeared earlier in 2 6MDM episodes, playing more routine American characters.
Similar topics
» episode #63 - Kill Oscar, Part II
» episode #19 - Kill Oscar, Part 3
» episode #17 - Kill Two by Two
» episode 16 - Kill Straker
» #06 Play to Kill
» episode #19 - Kill Oscar, Part 3
» episode #17 - Kill Two by Two
» episode 16 - Kill Straker
» #06 Play to Kill
Base of Galactic Science Fiction :: SCIENCE FICTION in TELEVISION :: Bronze Age of TV Science Fiction
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum