"Flipper" Countdown for Flipper (TV Episode 1964) Poster

(TV Series)

(1964)

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6/10
Eating Fish
mitchrmp27 October 2012
In this episode, Porter Ricks gives his two boys a very important job. After all the trouble Bud and Flipper have recently gotten into, Po still trusts his youngest boy and pet to do the right thing. He sends them away without clearly stating that Flipper cannot go. Then when he's caught in the pin of a rare fish, the scientists announces Flipper will have to be opened up so he could get the fish back.

Of course if you take an innocent dolphin, a man who just got fired, two very anxious boys, and throw in good ol' dad, you have a pretty decent scene where the boys figure out a way to save Flipper. I was a bit shocked that Sandy practically threw Bud and the thief together the way he did and left the boat, but still...it was a good action scene.
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6/10
A very rare fish
wrxsti5423 June 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This episode begins when Porter's busyness precludes him from taking an important shipment to a Dr Koenig. Porter assigns the boys to go. In the early part of Season 1 when Sandy is only 15, he comes across as more boyish and childlike than obviously was the case as he (Luke Halpin) grew up so it was cute to watch him and Bud literally leap at the chance to run this errand.

Meanwhile a recently fired employee (Jim) of the nuclear research lab wants to exact revenge by stealing a rare fish (specimen 303). Bud meanwhile ensures Flipper sneaks along and Sandy can't seem to say no to his impish little brother. Flipper finds the tank to specimen 303 open after the theft and, right at the time Dr Koenig is showing the boys the tank and explaining about their unique radiation research, Flipper swims into the normally secure tank lending an easy accusation that he ate 303. The boys are staring down the barrel of a likely dissected Flipper!

In desperation they seek the help of Jim the very man who stole 303 and Sandy manages to radio Porter but Bud finds 303 on board his boat and Jim attempts to hold the boys but Sandy escapes and Porter picks him up and they both speed to chase Jim with Bud in quite an exciting chase scene. Porter leaps on to the fleeing boat at speed with Sandy at the wheel, stops the engine and fights with Jim eventually into the ocean. Sandy ties up the boats, leaps aboard and frees Bud. I love the grin on the boys' faces as they watch their Dad overpower Jim! Flipper is of course is exonerated in the nick of time and Porter once again tells his boys off.
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10/10
A rating of "10"
superstar4911 May 2010
I didn't take this episode as seriously as the previous reviewer did. Sure, I saw the obvious flaws in the writing. But if you love the three main characters as much as I do (Porter Ricks and the boys) then you don't pay much attention to such flaws and just enjoy the sheer pleasure of twenty-five wonderful minutes. There are many episodes of "Flipper" that I am enjoying immensely, some stories such as this one that could have been utilized for full feature films. Of course, the aforementioned flaws would need to be corrected but on the whole they would succeed. I am sorry there aren't more full feature films of "Flipper" that feature Brian Kelly and the two boys.
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2/10
Would Flipper Eat Specimen No. 303?
wes-connors26 September 2007
Ricks (Brian Kelly) decides to allow Sandy (Luke Halpin) and Bud (Tommy Norden) make an important shipment to Frank Schofield (as Dr. Koeing), since he's dismissed his regular gofer Jon Cypher (as Jim Lorman). The kids set sail for Schofield's island laboratory, with Flipper swimming along. Meanwhile, the dismissed Cypher steals Dr. Koeing's most prized possession - a fish named "Specimen No. 303". When Flipper gets into the fish tank, Schofield declares the dolphin has, "just eaten the most valuable marine specimen in the world!" To retrieve the fish, Flipper must be cut open within a half hour!

While the story is obviously far-fetched, it's the poorly executed kidnapping sequence involving Sandy, Bud, and Cypher that really brings this episode down (not that there aren't other problems). Frank Schofield is yet another "Flipper" guest star who later became a "Dark Shadows" TV regular; he played fisherman Bill Malloy, and his ghost.

** Countdown for Flipper (11/7/64) Herman Hoffman ~ Brian Kelly, Luke Halpin, Tommy Norden
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