Personally, I preferred Rita - at least she gave Spenser an 'IN' at the DA's office. Apparently, most folks wanted Susan back. To each their own flavor! When push comes down to shove, it isn't really all that important. I believe that the primary purpose of the female role was to allow Spenser to show a more human, tender side to his aggressive, he-manly persona, while avoiding the typical P. I. image of bedding a different girl in every episode.
It is hard to say what the main plotline is here - the one described in the plot summary or Susan's return. A few minutes into the episode, Spenser finds Susan in his apartment, followed by an extensive scene outlining what happened and what the two expect to happen going forward. Okay, a little dragged-out, but we got that out of our way. NOT TO HAPPEN! Soon we have a scene with Hawk welcoming her back, then another with Frank's surprised, but warm greeting. Maybe because they missed Quirk, they stuck in a scene with Spenser and Hawk on stakeout discussing Susan. Then, as if they haven't flogged this to bloody shreds already, they felt it necessary to inflict upon the viewer in the closing scene, Spenser and Susan, on a serene walk, professing their eternal love etc. All-in-all, Susan's return is, if not painful, at least borderline nauseating!
Now that I've gotten that off of my chest, let me say that, though I consider this to be the worse, by far, episode of Spenser, the story of the Cavanaughs versus the Harleys was half decent. For that reason, I was able to bring up my rating to four stars.
It is hard to say what the main plotline is here - the one described in the plot summary or Susan's return. A few minutes into the episode, Spenser finds Susan in his apartment, followed by an extensive scene outlining what happened and what the two expect to happen going forward. Okay, a little dragged-out, but we got that out of our way. NOT TO HAPPEN! Soon we have a scene with Hawk welcoming her back, then another with Frank's surprised, but warm greeting. Maybe because they missed Quirk, they stuck in a scene with Spenser and Hawk on stakeout discussing Susan. Then, as if they haven't flogged this to bloody shreds already, they felt it necessary to inflict upon the viewer in the closing scene, Spenser and Susan, on a serene walk, professing their eternal love etc. All-in-all, Susan's return is, if not painful, at least borderline nauseating!
Now that I've gotten that off of my chest, let me say that, though I consider this to be the worse, by far, episode of Spenser, the story of the Cavanaughs versus the Harleys was half decent. For that reason, I was able to bring up my rating to four stars.
