Review of 5106 "Flight on a Dead Pigeon"

"Flight on a Dead Pigeon" B+

MIXED BAG. On the one hand you've got an original plotline, and an interesting guest character. On the other you've got a mostly uncompelling cast, not much teamwork from the central duo and one or two other annoying facets.

The plot is good. A man gets deep in debt, and ends up mixed up with some guys who plan to move drugs into the country via pigeon. After the guy is (accidentally) killed, the crooks have to go ahead with the plan anyway, not really knowing where the homing pigeons will come back to!

Another definite plus for the episode is the little girl who is both well-written and well-played. She pretty much avoids all the cliché behaviour for cute kids in action shows and is nothing only charming & likable when she's on screen. Her characterisation is quite interesting, and is helped by the two well-cast cameo's from her foster uncles.

Sadly, the casting is not as successful throughout. The episode's three bad guys fail to engage the viewer in any meaningful way. Part of this is definitely the casting (which falls short of the standards set by Brian Dennehy, Bo Svenson or Vincent Bagetta), but part of it is the writing, which never really allows the ring-leader to rise above the level of "thug" despite the fact that he gets a lot of screen-time.

Another poorly cast character is the "woman from Child Services" who's lack of on-screen charisma brings things to a grinding halt when she appears.

Hunter & McCall are off their game, too. There's not much in the way of team-work. He takes the lead at one point, shoving McCall over to the side-lines, and the issue is never addressed by either character.

There's also a scene where the duo are trying to stop a plane, by driving out onto the runway during take-off. But, as filmed, the impression is given than (a) the car is nowhere near the plane, and (b) McCall is actively speeding away from the plane!

Strange.

So, all in all, you are left with an average episode, with only the nice plot & good casting (of the little girl) being sufficient to raise it to a "B+".

9-12-03