76: The Phenom (5.01)

1981; 49 minutes

Director of Photography Edward Rio Rotunno 
Written by Reuben Leder; Produced by Jill Sherman, Andrew Schneider 
Directed by Bernard McEveety

After befriending an up-and-coming baseball pitcher, David accompanies him to a couple of trials to support him in making it into the bigger games.  David is warned that an unscrupulous agent has his eye on the player but the distracted traveller inadvertently allows the agent's female friend to beguile the titular 'phenom'.  David of course runs into trouble with the agent's heavy associates.

A reasonable start to the ill-fated season five, featuring a moderately engaging story, a sexy femme fatale (Anne Lockhart) who unexpectedly becomes attracted to the man she's supposed to screw over (no pun intended of course), and a suitably nefarious bad guy (nicely played by Robert Donner, who was also in Sideshow the previous year).  Lockhart of course also brought additional appeal to season three's Captive Night.

Number of Fists: ***

75: Patterns (4.18)

1981 (see below); 48 minutes

Director of Photography Edward Rio Rotunno 
Written by Reuben Leder

Produced by Andrew Schneider, Karen Harris, Jill Sherman
Directed by Nick Havinga

Working at a struggling clothes factory, David is dragged by his well-intentioned boss into a plan to borrow money in order to fund a fashion show, which should bring multiplied returns.  David is unaware that he has been labelled as the boss's partner when the debt collectors show up.

The narcissistic world of fashion does not make for my favourite theme, although had they done something satirical with it then this could have turned into something better.  1981 was probably given to the kind of perceptiveness for that kind of approach.  The performances of the debt collectors are quite good, and there is a slight tension in the drama the unfolds between them and the factory boss, but on the whole this episode is a continuation in season four's decline that began directly after Interview with the Hulk, which was the last decent show of that season.  Even the title here lacks any kind of inspiration, although I suppose inadvertently it does reflect the series' trend on ending each season with a mundane closer.

Oddly, this one concludes with a 1980 date stamped after the credits, though it definitely aired first in the midst of 1981.

Number of Fists: **½