episode #29 - Deadly Ringer, Part 2

episode #16 of 2nd season / Air Date: 2/9/77 written by James D. Parriott directed by Alan J. Levi

In the 2nd part, Jaime advances from 'Jaime-Prisoner' to 'Jaime-Fugitive.' Recalling some low budget women-in-chains features and even stuff like Cool Hand Luke, the first couple of acts are a stark depiction of Jaime on the run, complete with hound dogs on her trail. Her problems are compounded in that Oscar Goldman is informed by the prison warden (Warren Kemmerling) that Lisa has escaped in a deluded state of mind, believing herself to be Jaime; hence, even if she contacts Oscar, he'll just think it's Lisa. The real Lisa, in the meantime, has become very immersed in her role of Jaime, surrounded by loving and admiring people which she never experienced as Lisa. She also seems to become addicted to Adrenalizine, the paste which augments her strength to bionic levels - perhaps because it makes her a virtual duplicate of the real Jaime. Unfortunately for her, the paste is poisonous...
The most compelling scenes in this episode involve Lisa/Jaime becoming further and further involved in Jaime's world, to the point that it reaches psychotic levels. It's fascinating to see how self-delusion might govern the actions and thinking of a person - it happens all the time in real life, though under less dramatic circumstances. As a new world opens itself up to Lisa and she sees all the possibilities, of things and virtues never before entering her view, the conventional plans of theft and money fade away into a background. Suddenly, she yearns for an entire new life - she needs it. As mentioned, the story veers into these unexpected directions and it's a refreshing example of a TV episode likewise veering away from the conventional (such as Lisa reverting to her criminal ways in the final act). Martha Scott returns as Jaime's foster mom and also offers a nice performance. BoG's Score: 7 out of 10