I was aware of THE MOD SQUAD from a very early age, but the show ended in 1973 when I was barely five, so my memories of it are from when it first went into late afternoon reruns. Of course, the iconic intro was etched permanently in my brain, but this is the only specific episode that stood out all these decades.
Watching it again for the first time in 50 years, "Survival" did not disappoint, although I remembered Julie's rattlesnake bite as being way more serious than it actually was.
On her way out of the desert, Julie picks up a mysterious blind hitchhiker and his guide dog. Her attempts at conversation are met with coldness and hostility. Turns out this guy has a score to settle and is also in possession of a handgun. A flat tire, a snake bite and an unfortunate encounter with a hot jailbird who's just flown the coop with help from her two goons make for a dire situation for Julie and her passenger - but an above average episode for us.
This one has a lot going for it. John Rubinstein, who guested on every single crime drama of the '70s, plays the vengeful hitchhiker and he was no stranger to playing jerks. I didn't even recognize him at first with the sunglasses on. You start off by hating him for being so mean to Julie. But in the middle of the episode, in a scene without dialog - it's just him against nature - you really do start to have sympathy for his plight. He merely wants to right a wrong and it's not just himself he's avenging.
Julie also has a change of heart towards him. "I can't put it into words. Maybe I've just gotten used to you" she explains. In my review of the previous episode, I dissed the cast for their wooden performances, but darned if Peggy doesn't up her game for this one. I guess the old "if it's not on the page, it's not on the stage (or in this case, screen) applies here.
I do wish the trio of baddies figured more into the plot. They seemed way more interesting than many characters I've seen in the countless Exploitation flicks of this era. Their whole presence in this reminded me of 1973's THE CANDY SNATCHERS. Karen Huston -- who is the one calling the shots in this and orders her two henchmen to abandon Julie and Rubinstein - even bears a strong resemblance to B-Movie Queen Tiffany Bolling.
There's an awesome scene transition in this one too. Rubinstein's stroking Julie's hair as she whispers, "I think I'm going to die. If only I could get some water". The scene then cuts to a big splash of water - but it's Karen Huston frolicking in the motel pool where her and her goons are de-stressing with some good 'ol aqua therapy to forget their fugitive status for awhile. I should mention that she refers to the stockier guy as Lard Can (today's snowflakes would have this episode 'canceled' for that) and the tall, lanky, menacing one ended up appearing in several Grindhouse flicks after this appearance - no surprise there once you've seen him.
Pete and Linc are mostly in the background, as they are on track down duty here. So, this is Peggy Lipton's episode all the way but Rubinstein gives her a lot to play off. One of the SQUAD's best. 9/10.
Watching it again for the first time in 50 years, "Survival" did not disappoint, although I remembered Julie's rattlesnake bite as being way more serious than it actually was.
On her way out of the desert, Julie picks up a mysterious blind hitchhiker and his guide dog. Her attempts at conversation are met with coldness and hostility. Turns out this guy has a score to settle and is also in possession of a handgun. A flat tire, a snake bite and an unfortunate encounter with a hot jailbird who's just flown the coop with help from her two goons make for a dire situation for Julie and her passenger - but an above average episode for us.
This one has a lot going for it. John Rubinstein, who guested on every single crime drama of the '70s, plays the vengeful hitchhiker and he was no stranger to playing jerks. I didn't even recognize him at first with the sunglasses on. You start off by hating him for being so mean to Julie. But in the middle of the episode, in a scene without dialog - it's just him against nature - you really do start to have sympathy for his plight. He merely wants to right a wrong and it's not just himself he's avenging.
Julie also has a change of heart towards him. "I can't put it into words. Maybe I've just gotten used to you" she explains. In my review of the previous episode, I dissed the cast for their wooden performances, but darned if Peggy doesn't up her game for this one. I guess the old "if it's not on the page, it's not on the stage (or in this case, screen) applies here.
I do wish the trio of baddies figured more into the plot. They seemed way more interesting than many characters I've seen in the countless Exploitation flicks of this era. Their whole presence in this reminded me of 1973's THE CANDY SNATCHERS. Karen Huston -- who is the one calling the shots in this and orders her two henchmen to abandon Julie and Rubinstein - even bears a strong resemblance to B-Movie Queen Tiffany Bolling.
There's an awesome scene transition in this one too. Rubinstein's stroking Julie's hair as she whispers, "I think I'm going to die. If only I could get some water". The scene then cuts to a big splash of water - but it's Karen Huston frolicking in the motel pool where her and her goons are de-stressing with some good 'ol aqua therapy to forget their fugitive status for awhile. I should mention that she refers to the stockier guy as Lard Can (today's snowflakes would have this episode 'canceled' for that) and the tall, lanky, menacing one ended up appearing in several Grindhouse flicks after this appearance - no surprise there once you've seen him.
Pete and Linc are mostly in the background, as they are on track down duty here. So, this is Peggy Lipton's episode all the way but Rubinstein gives her a lot to play off. One of the SQUAD's best. 9/10.