The Professionals could be fairly pot-boiler stuff: the routine story of Viva Zappata moustachioed baddies chasing our two heroes in then current Ford cars which, presumably for reasons of cost, never suffer visible damage either in the chase or inevitable hail-of-bullets shoot-out. Bodie gets the girl, Doyle doesn't. Cowley can relax and pour himself a whiskey.
This episode however moves up several gears - chases are impressive: good action shooting and satisfying destruction. But also the plot - the tension, double-dealing, the moral dilemmas. Cleverly the episode subtly signals that it will be no ordinary one - regular viewers will note that Cowley shakes hands with B&D before despatching them on their mission. He's never done that before. They don't know what to make of that gesture. Is it a farewell or a profound apology - or both? Either way it's ominous.
The only thing wrong with it? That it wasn't shot in 35mm, given a few tweaks, somewhat bigger budget and made as a feature film.
This episode however moves up several gears - chases are impressive: good action shooting and satisfying destruction. But also the plot - the tension, double-dealing, the moral dilemmas. Cleverly the episode subtly signals that it will be no ordinary one - regular viewers will note that Cowley shakes hands with B&D before despatching them on their mission. He's never done that before. They don't know what to make of that gesture. Is it a farewell or a profound apology - or both? Either way it's ominous.
The only thing wrong with it? That it wasn't shot in 35mm, given a few tweaks, somewhat bigger budget and made as a feature film.
