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Post by prometheus74 on Apr 24, 2011 1:55:19 GMT -5
I did a search, but there doesn't appear to be a thread about this episode.
Anyway, I watched it a few hours ago. This is another strong episode, in which Ralph discovers a new power (invisibility), and practices his flying some more (without much improvement).
We also get to meet Pam's parents in this one.
All in all, a fun ep.!
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Post by greenguy on Apr 24, 2011 10:04:11 GMT -5
and don't forget Ralph and Bill are pretty much at each others throats during most of the episode. Conflict still at it's best early in the series run.
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Post by prometheus74 on Apr 24, 2011 15:03:11 GMT -5
Yes, indeed! The dialogue is so well-written, too. Some very witty lines coming from Maxwell's mouth, and some good ones coming from Ralph, too! The series was blessed with some fine writers.
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Post by herald7 on Apr 25, 2011 8:37:45 GMT -5
Great example of an early episode that has a simple premise but sets up the series nicely. 1. Another Welcome Back, Kotter parallel with the High School students wanting to run for school elections, using threats as their campaign platform, lol. 2. About the scene where the cop sees Bill apparently talking to himself. Nowadays, the cop would probably just assume he was talking through his ear piece, lol. And also later when Ralph is on the bus talking to Bill from their communicator device and all the people get freaked out. Today they'd just tell him to turn off his speaker, lol. 3. Funny to see how much Ralph initially hates being invisible, when later in the series he's often quite eager to use the power to outwit people, lol. 3. Like how at the end all the kids moan when Bill comes in to talk to Ralph. I mean they have to be wondering by now just why their teacher keeps being called away by this weirdo, lol.
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Post by prometheus74 on Apr 25, 2011 21:28:48 GMT -5
Good thoughts, Herald7! ;D
Yes, it just goes to show how times have changed, regarding Bill apparently talking to himself and Ralph talking on the communicator device-----this is a normal, everyday thing today.
That really cracks me up, that whole idea that the kids have to use threats as a campaign slogan. They deserve points for creativity, anyways. LOL
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Apr 25, 2011 22:04:00 GMT -5
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Post by MelMac on Apr 25, 2011 22:14:50 GMT -5
One thing I love about this episode is the gradual reappearing of Ralph - or just parts of him. There's not another episode that I know of where he had say his boots show and not the rest of him.
There are also quite a few little bits here and there - many mentioned, that make it quite fun.
The other neat thing is that it and the pilot I think are the only two times you really see the holographs as such - where you're looking through it and seeing Ralph on the other side. It had a nice charm to it and added to the reality. While I'll always remember the stories with the black wavy lines a bit clearer from my earlier days watching the show (when it first aired), I think the rainbow edged holographs felt more real to what Ralph probably could've been experiencing when he got a holograph.
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Post by herald7 on Apr 26, 2011 0:03:30 GMT -5
That really cracks me up, that whole idea that the kids have to use threats as a campaign slogan. They deserve points for creativity, anyways. LOL " That's what you got out of Civics class?!" Lol, love that. I also liked how Ralph is genuinely a little surprised that Bill thanks him in the end. And it shows that Bill's main priority is getting the job done, even if he gets help from this former hippie type, lol.
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Post by prometheus74 on Apr 26, 2011 17:42:42 GMT -5
Whoa! I did a search and nothing turned up. Nada! (Try it and see for yourself.) Sorry about that!
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Post by prometheus74 on Apr 26, 2011 17:47:26 GMT -5
One thing I love about this episode is the gradual reappearing of Ralph - or just parts of him. There's not another episode that I know of where he had say his boots show and not the rest of him. There are also quite a few little bits here and there - many mentioned, that make it quite fun. The other neat thing is that it and the pilot I think are the only two times you really see the holographs as such - where you're looking through it and seeing Ralph on the other side. It had a nice charm to it and added to the reality. While I'll always remember the stories with the black wavy lines a bit clearer from my earlier days watching the show (when it first aired), I think the rainbow edged holographs felt more real to what Ralph probably could've been experiencing when he got a holograph. I like all those thing you mentioned too, Mel. You're right----the rainbow edged holograph looks neater, somehow.
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Post by prometheus74 on Apr 26, 2011 17:49:25 GMT -5
I also liked how Ralph is genuinely a little surprised that Bill thanks him in the end. It's not only Ralph who was surprised---- I was surprised! ;D
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Post by greenguy on Apr 26, 2011 19:35:43 GMT -5
Out of the three holograph depictions (interlocking ovals, rainbow edge, wavy black line) Put me down for liking the rainbow edged holograph too.
I'll take a stab and guess that the wavy black line was cheaper to do than the rainbow colors.
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Post by herald7 on Apr 26, 2011 21:22:51 GMT -5
It's not only Ralph who was surprised---- I was surprised! ;D I guess it's one of the first times we get a hint that Bill isn't just this gruff loner type; he actually does sort of want someone around him, though he wouldn't want to admit that, heh.
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Post by herald7 on Jul 21, 2011 8:47:18 GMT -5
You know it just occured to me...did anyone from that restaurant actually try to go and see that "Man and Swoooooper Man" show the next day? Lol
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 28, 2011 21:00:39 GMT -5
I liked the rainbow colored ones too, but the black line ones did not bother me.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Aug 1, 2011 18:36:02 GMT -5
Great example of an early episode that has a simple premise but sets up the series nicely. 1. Another Welcome Back, Kotter parallel with the High School students wanting to run for school elections, using threats as their campaign platform, lol. 2. About the scene where the cop sees Bill apparently talking to himself. Nowadays, the cop would probably just assume he was talking through his ear piece, lol. And also later when Ralph is on the bus talking to Bill from their communicator device and all the people get freaked out. Today they'd just tell him to turn off his speaker, lol. 3. Funny to see how much Ralph initially hates being invisible, when later in the series he's often quite eager to use the power to outwit people, lol. 3. Like how at the end all the kids moan when Bill comes in to talk to Ralph. I mean they have to be wondering by now just why their teacher keeps being called away by this weirdo, lol. I have to agree about the cop and seeing Bill talking to nothing. Anymore, that would be nothing. Even Bill's excuse was a good one because a lot of people do that. I think Ralph would have continued to hate being invisible if he couldn't control it.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Oct 4, 2011 20:16:43 GMT -5
James Whitmore Jr. has two amazing guest appearances in this series and I love how hard it is to realize it because of how different the characters are. (And Red West as a bad guy is great...all the time). I like Chaffey, but the new Rhonda is awful! Bill looks really tan in this episode. I hate the inconsistencies about Pam's family. They are from Michigan originally and here they are from Minnesota. They were coming the week after the pilot, but that got pushed back or the timeline is messed up. If I ever get a super suit or design one, I'm putting pockets in the thing. That way I can carry my little communicator without having it up my sleeve. "Ralph, are you pilin' up out there again!?" I think it would have been neat to see Bill be able to fly as the suit wearer once early on. I think he might have been a little more lenient on Ralph's flying. You hear him barking orders, but it's not like Ralph has a remote control. I like the Angola reference in the holographic image. It was a very relevant situation that might have used mercenaries. I like that it was a sign of the times. I like the trip to the hardware store. My wife gets mad at me when I travel around looking at different things in my field. My parents give me the whole seriousness talk too about my jobs it seems. ;D "Try not to knock me down." I love Ralph's little smile after that line from Bill. I didn't realize until this watching just how much Ralph whines early on. I understand that it is a shock, but you think that he would be speechless or working to think of a way to become visible. There was an awful lot of whining and complaining though. Even the INVISIBLE MAN enjoyed it at first before it drove him crazy. Bill getting away from the cop was great. ;D Ralph's not a very covert individual by opening his car door. The whole check comment by Pam's dad was spot on, but I think it was a little overdone. I think that when Ralph called for the champagne, he should have given the credit card information too. That way no one had to pay. Pam playing to invisible Ralph is great! She is a great comedic actress. I didn't really care for Ralph leaving the restaurant. I think he could have been more creative. Why not say something about just getting back from cheering kids up at the hospital or something? And how did the parents not recognize him at the school later on? The excuse on the bus was much better than the one in the restaurant. He should have sat in the back of the bus though so he was more secluded. Trying to act like he fits in is never good for him. I love how upset Bill is that Ralph is on the bus. That might be my favorite moment of Bill angst in the episode...definitely up there for me in the whole series too. ;D "Please get off the bus." I still wonder what consulate this guy was supposed to be representing. I love the security guy stopping the report on Ralph because he thought he was going crazy. ;D I like how Ralph was willing to try and use the power to save Bill. Even though he still didn't have control of it by the end of the episode, it was still nice to see him trying to be invisible. "I'm working with the Chesire Cat." ;D Did the Consulate by Nelson Corey's estate after he went to jail? It would have been neat to know the identities of all the potential bidders. I wonder if some of them could have actually bid that much. And why was it in Swiss Francs? I am not a fan of either sub-plot: the kids or the Davidsons. But I do like the scene where the mayor is with the kids. It's nice that they are getting involved, but I still think it would have been better to not be in it or at least have it be more central to the episode. I like Pam and Bill's reactions to Ralph disappearing in the hallway. I wonder if he had it on under his clothes there or not...? Overall, probably one of my least favorite episodes. It has some great character interactions with Bill and Ralph, but I didn't like much else. I did like the new power and his lack of ability to control it, but I hated how he overcame it relatively easily throughout the rest of the series. Flying was really the only thing he had trouble with all of the time. While I realize he could master some things quickly and it showed adaptation by his character, I think some things would have been better to have a longer lead time.
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Post by herald7 on Oct 4, 2011 22:32:24 GMT -5
I didn't really care for Ralph leaving the restaurant. I think he could have been more creative. Why not say something about just getting back from cheering kids up at the hospital or something? Because that wouldn't have been as funny. Actually I always figured that they did recognize him, we just didn't get to see the scene where Pam and Ralph explain it all, lol. Well the difference is the Invisible Man actually set out to become invisible, lol.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Oct 4, 2011 22:38:12 GMT -5
I think having Ralph have to sit down with Pam and her parents for a few minutes and try to explain it would have been hilarious...more so than what took place.
I figured they did not. As uptight as Mr. Davidson came across, I think he would have been loathe to be so forgiving. Plus, that was another scene that could have helped the episode if they had to explain the situation to Pam's parents.
True on the Invisible Man, but still...Ralph was a whiny baby at the start of this. He could have at least realized that there might have been some fun things he could do while invisible...even tormenting Bill. ;D
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Post by herald7 on Oct 5, 2011 0:33:03 GMT -5
Oh yeah no question, lol. But that's his character's recurring theme; Ralph doesn't rush into danger like a conventional hero. He first gets a little neurotic and freaked out before finally being convinced to save the day.
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