This episode has a whole lot going on, but it all seems to work and fit together nicely to keep the story exciting. There is a lot to enjoy.
Starsky and Hutch are introduced by Huggy to a psychic, who gives them obscure information that turns out to lead to a dead man. Who turns out to be involved in a kidnapping. When the psychic won't offer any more help, Starsky and Hutch try to track the kidnappers using their sources and old-fashioned police work. But they run out of time. Now Hutch has to try to deliver the ransom. But then that fails when the kidnappers see unexpected cops and think it's a set-up. Starsky kills the kidnappers (mostly accidentally) while trying to stop them, so it's back to the psychic for one last attempt to save the kidnapped girl.
This whole story is done really well and is very sharp. I'm not sure what makes it work so well, as it's not necessarily a unique plot. Maybe because things keeps going wrong as they try to solve this crime and save the girl, but Starsky and Hutch keep adjusting and thinking and working and never give up. It lends urgency and realism when their work and their plans don't just lead to an easy result.
I really like the scenes with Hutch running from phone to phone to get instructions from the kidnappers. DS does such a good job showing Hutch feeling the pressure of this responsibility he has taken on. I also like the part where Starsky forgets Hutch has on a bullet-proof vest and thinks he's been killed. That seems like unique writing, to have your character forget something like that (which feels like it might happen that way in real life) and also to have them fail to get the kidnappers on the first or second try. I think the more successful shows of this series are the ones where everything doesn't seem to fall into place and Starsky and Hutch have to work harder and smarter to win the day.
There is a very short exchange when Starsky and Hutch flip a coin. They don't say why they are doing it, and it's obvious Starsky loses. You don't really know, until the next scene when Hutch is gearing up to take the money to the kidnappers, that the winner of the coin toss got to do the dangerous job. It's little details like that which give the show something special.
I like it when PMG and DS get to play Starsky and Hutch as smart and capable but not always perfect. Mostly perfect. Perfect enough.
Starsky and Hutch are introduced by Huggy to a psychic, who gives them obscure information that turns out to lead to a dead man. Who turns out to be involved in a kidnapping. When the psychic won't offer any more help, Starsky and Hutch try to track the kidnappers using their sources and old-fashioned police work. But they run out of time. Now Hutch has to try to deliver the ransom. But then that fails when the kidnappers see unexpected cops and think it's a set-up. Starsky kills the kidnappers (mostly accidentally) while trying to stop them, so it's back to the psychic for one last attempt to save the kidnapped girl.
This whole story is done really well and is very sharp. I'm not sure what makes it work so well, as it's not necessarily a unique plot. Maybe because things keeps going wrong as they try to solve this crime and save the girl, but Starsky and Hutch keep adjusting and thinking and working and never give up. It lends urgency and realism when their work and their plans don't just lead to an easy result.
I really like the scenes with Hutch running from phone to phone to get instructions from the kidnappers. DS does such a good job showing Hutch feeling the pressure of this responsibility he has taken on. I also like the part where Starsky forgets Hutch has on a bullet-proof vest and thinks he's been killed. That seems like unique writing, to have your character forget something like that (which feels like it might happen that way in real life) and also to have them fail to get the kidnappers on the first or second try. I think the more successful shows of this series are the ones where everything doesn't seem to fall into place and Starsky and Hutch have to work harder and smarter to win the day.
There is a very short exchange when Starsky and Hutch flip a coin. They don't say why they are doing it, and it's obvious Starsky loses. You don't really know, until the next scene when Hutch is gearing up to take the money to the kidnappers, that the winner of the coin toss got to do the dangerous job. It's little details like that which give the show something special.
I like it when PMG and DS get to play Starsky and Hutch as smart and capable but not always perfect. Mostly perfect. Perfect enough.
