Director of Photography John McPherson
Produced by Nicholas Corea/James G Hirsch
Written and Directed by Kenneth Johnson
Learning of the pioneering hypnotherapy being conducted by Dr Caroline Fields, David pays a visit to the hospital where she carries out research. It turns out that she is giving up her work to focus on finding a cure for her own degenerative cellular condition, which is advanced enough to leave her only weeks to live. After administering aid to the woman during a seizure David's knowledge comes in useful enough for him to stay to help with her self-focused work, with the eventual hope that she can assist him in controlling the monster with hypnotherapy treatment. During their time together they develop an affection that leads to marriage, but Fields' condition is bringing her own demise ever closer.
This strong season 2 opener is steeped in both optimism and tragedy. David obviously feels a powerful connection with Fields early on because this marks the first time that he reveals to anyone that Banner (who she has heard of and admires) is not dead, along with the reasons why. It's a tingling moment that leads on to Banner and Fields helping one another with their respective illnesses - the Hulk's regenerative flesh they theorize may be used to reverse the degenerative affliction that is pushing Fields gradually closer to death via seizures akin to epileptic fits, while Fields repeatedly puts David under hypnosis with the aim of facilitating control over the creature, a control initially imagined but ultimately to become practical. The opportunity is smartly utilized to reiterate the events of the pilot, given the fact that back in the seventies audiences were unlikely to be able to re-watch something since original broadcast (in this case about a year prior), as well as allowing a hypnotized David to articulate his experience of metamorphosis, something hitherto always shrouded in memory loss.
This episode marks a rare instance where Bixby and Ferrigno actually get to share screen time together - David's mental state takes place in a (mentally realized) desert where his imaginary means of enslaving the creature are stimulated by Fields' hypnotic suggestions. In fact Hulk is given a lot more to do in this story than in anything prior, a particular highlight being when he virtually demolishes a house in effort to get Fields away from a group of playboys/girls. There are lulls in activity, slowing things down a little too much as the romantic elements are brought to the fore, but the result is a climax of some poignancy.
Produced by Nicholas Corea/James G Hirsch
Written and Directed by Kenneth Johnson
Learning of the pioneering hypnotherapy being conducted by Dr Caroline Fields, David pays a visit to the hospital where she carries out research. It turns out that she is giving up her work to focus on finding a cure for her own degenerative cellular condition, which is advanced enough to leave her only weeks to live. After administering aid to the woman during a seizure David's knowledge comes in useful enough for him to stay to help with her self-focused work, with the eventual hope that she can assist him in controlling the monster with hypnotherapy treatment. During their time together they develop an affection that leads to marriage, but Fields' condition is bringing her own demise ever closer.
This strong season 2 opener is steeped in both optimism and tragedy. David obviously feels a powerful connection with Fields early on because this marks the first time that he reveals to anyone that Banner (who she has heard of and admires) is not dead, along with the reasons why. It's a tingling moment that leads on to Banner and Fields helping one another with their respective illnesses - the Hulk's regenerative flesh they theorize may be used to reverse the degenerative affliction that is pushing Fields gradually closer to death via seizures akin to epileptic fits, while Fields repeatedly puts David under hypnosis with the aim of facilitating control over the creature, a control initially imagined but ultimately to become practical. The opportunity is smartly utilized to reiterate the events of the pilot, given the fact that back in the seventies audiences were unlikely to be able to re-watch something since original broadcast (in this case about a year prior), as well as allowing a hypnotized David to articulate his experience of metamorphosis, something hitherto always shrouded in memory loss.
This episode marks a rare instance where Bixby and Ferrigno actually get to share screen time together - David's mental state takes place in a (mentally realized) desert where his imaginary means of enslaving the creature are stimulated by Fields' hypnotic suggestions. In fact Hulk is given a lot more to do in this story than in anything prior, a particular highlight being when he virtually demolishes a house in effort to get Fields away from a group of playboys/girls. There are lulls in activity, slowing things down a little too much as the romantic elements are brought to the fore, but the result is a climax of some poignancy.
Number of Fists: *****
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