Written by Kenneth Johnson; Produced by James Parriot/Chuck Bowman
Director of Photography John McPherson
Directed by Kenneth Gilbert
Arriving in New Orleans David is welcomed to the city with a partially successful mugging, which is fortunately (for the muggers?) interrupted by a passing jogger who turns out to be a wannabe world champion boxer. 'Rocky' lets David stay at his apartment for a few days and gets him a job at the gym, taking advantage of David's medical expertise. However, Rocky is essentially being led along by the gym's owner, who knows the fighter doesn't have the talent to make it to the top but keeps a carrot dangled so he can keep him making local drug deliveries. Once David clicks on to what's happening his attempts to stop Rocky being deliberately killed in a boxing match attract the unwanted attention of the manager.
Once again Banner's tendency to do what's right at all costs brings him into conflict with those who have a diametric approach to life. The boxer himself is a character worthy of sympathy and actually exhibits a trait common to many people - he thinks he knows what's best for himself, blind to the truth. Everyone around him who cares about him can see what he should and shouldn't be doing, but there is no telling the guy until tragedy looms.
The two appearances of the Hulk are very good here. Throughout the episode the lighting is harsher than episode 2, producing a highly contrasted image (somewhat akin to how The X Files would often look twenty years later), and this in turn enhances the creature's arrival, first in a back alley brawl, and second in the boxing ring itself. The latter is a great sequence - McGee has been invited along to the fight to see Rocky in action (although he is really there after gossip of the first Hulk sighting has obviously made its way back to his ears), while David has been knocked out and gagged before being left in a cage suspended above the ring in order to be dealt with later on. When the Hulk breaks out there's a brilliant moment of silence across the crowd before hell explodes, bringing Hulk and McGee momentarily face to face. This is nicely played by Jack Colvin, whereby McGee's excitement clearly exceeds his fear. The Final Round is a nice episode that embraces the now-established conventions of the series.
Directed by Kenneth Gilbert
Arriving in New Orleans David is welcomed to the city with a partially successful mugging, which is fortunately (for the muggers?) interrupted by a passing jogger who turns out to be a wannabe world champion boxer. 'Rocky' lets David stay at his apartment for a few days and gets him a job at the gym, taking advantage of David's medical expertise. However, Rocky is essentially being led along by the gym's owner, who knows the fighter doesn't have the talent to make it to the top but keeps a carrot dangled so he can keep him making local drug deliveries. Once David clicks on to what's happening his attempts to stop Rocky being deliberately killed in a boxing match attract the unwanted attention of the manager.
Once again Banner's tendency to do what's right at all costs brings him into conflict with those who have a diametric approach to life. The boxer himself is a character worthy of sympathy and actually exhibits a trait common to many people - he thinks he knows what's best for himself, blind to the truth. Everyone around him who cares about him can see what he should and shouldn't be doing, but there is no telling the guy until tragedy looms.
The two appearances of the Hulk are very good here. Throughout the episode the lighting is harsher than episode 2, producing a highly contrasted image (somewhat akin to how The X Files would often look twenty years later), and this in turn enhances the creature's arrival, first in a back alley brawl, and second in the boxing ring itself. The latter is a great sequence - McGee has been invited along to the fight to see Rocky in action (although he is really there after gossip of the first Hulk sighting has obviously made its way back to his ears), while David has been knocked out and gagged before being left in a cage suspended above the ring in order to be dealt with later on. When the Hulk breaks out there's a brilliant moment of silence across the crowd before hell explodes, bringing Hulk and McGee momentarily face to face. This is nicely played by Jack Colvin, whereby McGee's excitement clearly exceeds his fear. The Final Round is a nice episode that embraces the now-established conventions of the series.
Number of Fists: ****
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