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Reviews
The Rockford Files: So Help Me God (1976)
The episode where it's not funny anymore
During the course of the show, Rockford would always be pushed around and harrassed by just about anyone, from the police department to clients to some mobster with an italian-sounding last name. This extreme hostility towards him would often be used for comedic effect, with JIm having no idea why some mob muscle is roughing up his trailer (or him) for the upteenth time. So help me god, however, is the episode where it's just not funny anymore.
I mean that in a good sense. ''So help me god is probably the most serious episode of the show (perhaps tied with ''Return of the black shadow'') and really moving as a result. While not the main part of the show, the Rockford writers would never shy away from any societal injustice or problem. A huge flaw in the legal system is perfectly personified in Rockford's confussion and suffering throughout the episode. A compilation of most of the courtroom scenes (including the fantastic speech at the end) is avaible on Youtube and should be watched again and again.
as for this episode; I don't watch it as much as the others. Not because it's not excellent (it is), but because it's so depressing. It's a constant pile of mysery being dumped on our favourite hero, from beginning to end. This episode may not have the comedic or cinematic appeal of the other episodes, but will leave a huge impression on you nonetheless.
The Rockford Files: The Oracle Wore a Cashmere Suit (1976)
The Psychic who wasn't
Over the years, many similarities between The Rockford Files and Magnum, P.I. have been pointed out. The similar ''flawed'' character, who could easily lose its temper and wasn't always right, and the constant barrage of trouble they never really expected and sofort. This episode however, displays a clear difference between the two. Where the Psychic in the Magnum episode ''Fragments'' really had visions and used her gift to save lives, the Psychic in ''The Oracle wore a cashmere suit'' is obviously a self-serving fraud. Rockford is the more down-to-earth show of the two, where Magnum episodes often didn't shy away from the supernattural and somewhat flaky storylines.
I don't know If calling Clemente a fraud can even be classified as a spoiler (I did it anyway just to be on the safe side), because it's so obvious right from the get-go. Roman Clementi is brilliantly played by recurring Rockford-actor Robbert webber and the scenes between him and garner are just superb. In contrast with the rest of the episode, the last scene is something that could have appeared in Magnum. Rockford acts a bit childisch, frustrated by all the times the Swami got away with his nonsense. Seeing Clemente finally get his comeuppance in the end, fantasticly wraps up a near perfect episode.
Riptide: The Frankie Kahana Show (1986)
The weakest of all season 3 episodes
A trademark of many Stephen J. Canell shows, is likable main characters who weekly interact with one of the seven deadly sins. Just like with The Rockford Files, the clients of the Riptide agency are often caricatures of themselves. Most of the time, it makes for a funny and engaging adventure. This episode however, it doesn't.
One of Murray's female friends is responsible for bringing in Hawaiian singer Frankie Kahana as an act for a lounge, and her job is on the line when we learn he is in big trouble. So the Riptide Agency has to help this bumbling idiot escape his crooked former employee.
Frankie Kahana is this weeks' episode goof ball and he is so out of this world, so crazy, that it becomes more annoying than funny. I know Riptide is never meant to be taken that seriously, but this ''Lump of Lava'' is just so stupid and ignorant that even our main characters constantly insult him. Every time he is on screen, you wish he wasn't. He gets old so fast, that the First fifteen minutes feel like ages. He luckily disappears in the middle of the episode, finally giving you some peace and quiet. But when he re-enters the episode towards the end, the agony of the viewer continues.
All in all, this is a really shallow episode. They just roll into trouble, do some Rockford-like wisecracking, en BOOM! Episode over. You still have a cool car chase and our well written trio. The tag made me smile, and recognizing Branscombe Richmond, who would later co-star in Canells' Renegade was nice. But these small moments can't save it from being the worst episode of Season 3.