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Post by billswoman on Oct 22, 2005 12:50:27 GMT -5
OK, if y'all know me on here, you know one key thing: I adore Robert Culp as Bill Maxwell.
With that said, I have to add this about this episode: I think it sucked. I mean, really, whether Culp wrote and directed it or not. I almost didn't watch it all, it was that bad. But, having heard about this stupendously stirring democracy speech by Ralph, I stuck with it (and I wasn't impressed by the speech, btw). Lawsey, what a way to end the series. Kinda reminds me of the POS that the original Star Trek ended with.
So, just cuz something's Robert Culp, doesn't mean I'm so blind that I automatically love it (heck, I don't even consider "Lilacs..." as my favorite ep of GAH... "Divorce..." has that honor).
Got lots and LOTS to say about other eps, over the next week or so. I'm OD'ing on all things GAH; still got several episodes to go.
Yep, got my money. Yep, got those DVDs I've been saying I was going to buy. Well, 'cept Season 1, they didn't have it; hoping to score it today. I've seen all of S1 but "Reseda Rose" any way.
Oh yeah, one other thing. I don't know how well y'all know Spanish, but I understood everything the gringo Culp kids were saying. I was really amused at this:
"Como se dice en ingles 'stupid.'"
He just asked, How do you say in Engish "stupid."
Well, he SAYS it in English, duh! It should've been "estupido."
I'm not fluent in espaƱol, but one thing I do know is the phrase "Como se dice..." "How do you say..." because in college Spanish, we had to ask that of the professor or he wouldn't answer.
One of the many things wrong in this ep. Phew.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Oct 22, 2005 14:01:23 GMT -5
I think this episode had a lot of potential. However, I think if it had been a two-parter or if the series had not been cancelled that they could have had more of a score with it. Ralph's speech was okay, but my favorite part had to be the comic book of Ralph. I know Spanish and most of it was elementary. I think my five-year-old nephew understood the dialogue.
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Post by billswoman on Oct 24, 2005 10:09:46 GMT -5
LOL the spanish I know IS elementary! But what I know, I know well, so it was cool following along with what the Culp kids were saying. As for the newsreel, that was Joseph Culp playing Daddy. I hadn't realized how much he looked like him, either. The ep of Star Trek: Deep Space 9 that Culp's in was just on recently, like only mere days ago, and I was thinking how he does NOT look a lot like Dad (okay, let's face it... Joseph's not nearly as handsome as Robert!) But in the early 80's, when he was playing the young Bill Maxwell, he sure does look like him. I'd kind of like to see what Joshua, the oldest Culp kid, looks like; he and I were born the same year. OK, Robert's old enough to be my dad... get over it I point out to my sis when she opines, He's OLD! That in GAH, he wasn't too old for me as I am NOW; he's only my sister's own age in GAH (early 50's). And in "I Spy," he's 5 to 7 years younger than I am now, in his mid 30's. Now I see why Mom had a crush on him too, way back when; Culp was born only 2 years before Mom (closer to her age than my father was!) She apparently loved "I Spy" almost as much as "Maverick," with her all-time favorite, James Garner, in it. No wonder we grew up watching those two shows, and listening to Cos! I kinda wish I could get "Trackdown" on DVD. Saw a collection called "TV Westerns" at Sam Goody I want to see, to check if it includes anything from that show. There I am, going OT again. Please to forgive.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Oct 24, 2005 17:09:16 GMT -5
Don't worry...we are used to it by now.
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Post by Maxwell - F.B.I. on Oct 25, 2005 10:06:45 GMT -5
Hey, billswoman. I just did a search for "Trackdown" on eBay and there WERE 2 DVDs out there, currently for sale. You might want to take a look there.
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Post by ZiggyChaos on Nov 28, 2005 13:53:33 GMT -5
...and I'm dumbfounded at the whole idea that Bill could have helped overthrow the government when they make it quite clear he can't even speak the language... Bill speaks the language. Where did they say this? I must have missed it. As for the episodes itself, I didn't understand the whole significance of the Green Guy showing up... except to bring everybody back to life and start fresh. Did everybody notice how they used footage from "Divorce..." when Bill's with the Green Guy?
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Post by Maxwell - F.B.I. on Nov 28, 2005 16:14:48 GMT -5
Yeah, well no budget to speak of (final episode and all) - notice also how Ralph stays in the background for the most part (and completely whenever the 'face' of the alien is on screen). A shame they weren't able to finish this episode 100% they way they would have liked, but it IS awfully close to the script that Culp wrote however.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Nov 30, 2005 17:58:16 GMT -5
I hate how they used the same scenes over again. It was not so bad in the flying scenes, but it got maddening during the green guy scenes. If they show up, at least film them again for crying out loud. It seemed like the green guy was not there for a real reason at first. The more I watch the episode, the more I can see the purpose...although subtle.
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Post by billswoman on Dec 2, 2005 6:01:22 GMT -5
Oh yeah, I knew there was something I wanted to ask about this one. When I got my season 3 set, the very first thing I popped in was "Vanity...."
I was surprised when PAM touched Ralph and saw what he was holographing on. When did this ability come through? I've watched them all leading UP to this ep, and don't recall them discovering this.
Or is it something Culp wrote in for the show?
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Post by silverhammer on Dec 2, 2005 6:07:20 GMT -5
I was surprised when PAM touched Ralph and saw what he was holographing on. When did this ability come through? I've watched them all leading UP to this ep, and don't recall them discovering this. I know it worked in the pre-cog visions in "Now You See It" - that seems like the first use of the shared-sight thing, but someone else may have a better memory.
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Post by billswoman on Dec 2, 2005 7:25:22 GMT -5
That was only with Bill, though, not with Pam. When I saw her sharing in on it in "Vanity..." I was wondering, what did I miss? I hadn't seen much of season 3 yet, and didn't recall anyone mentioning this ability in other threads.
The whole holographing thing isn't consistent any way. I've seen him holograph on people without touching anything they'd touched recently, and other times he can't if it's too old and the vibes have faded... then there's "Lilacs, Mr Maxwell" where some of that stuff's been in the tombs for decades, and he homes in on people. But that's a different topic, lol, sorry!
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Post by silverhammer on Dec 2, 2005 8:02:47 GMT -5
The whole holographing thing isn't consistent any way. I've seen him holograph on people without touching anything they'd touched recently, and other times he can't if it's too old and the vibes have faded... then there's "Lilacs, Mr Maxwell" where some of that stuff's been in the tombs for decades, and he homes in on people. But that's a different topic, lol, sorry! Yeah, I was generalizing, you're right. I don't recall that specific use of the "vibes" with Pam before. And I know what you mean about the inconsistency. It does bug me from time to time, the way the availability of Ralph's powers seems so situationally (read: plot) based. Not that I haven't been guilty of that myself... This is the wrong thread to mention it, but one of the things I liked best about "Lilacs" was the doggie-control power. That could have been interesting to explore more (although it no doubt would have led to more raggedy old nature stock-footage ala "Lost Diablo").
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Post by Ms Boku on Dec 2, 2005 8:09:13 GMT -5
Oh yeah, I knew there was something I wanted to ask about this one. When I got my season 3 set, the very first thing I popped in was "Vanity...." I was surprised when PAM touched Ralph and saw what he was holographing on. When did this ability come through? I've watched them all leading UP to this ep, and don't recall them discovering this. Or is it something Culp wrote in for the show? I think with the holographing it didn't haooen till lter was because Ralph was still new to the suit. It's kind of like gaining a level when you game. You get more skills when you get more experience.
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Post by silverhammer on Dec 2, 2005 8:25:40 GMT -5
I think with the holographing it didn't haooen till lter was because Ralph was still new to the suit. It's kind of like gaining a level when you game. You get more skills when you get more experience. Yeah, that makes sense, Ms. Boku - I hadn't really thought of it that way before, but I like that explanation a lot. I still play "wizards and warlocks" and the cool feeling you get when you earn enough experience to add a new spell or talent is very much like the excitement Ralph shows when he discovers a new "gee whiz" skill. Wow, that really adds something to the show for me - I'm voting for Ms. Boku in the "Best Insight" category if we ever get the Jammies off the ground.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Dec 2, 2005 11:49:01 GMT -5
I just presumed that since Bill had done it in NOW YOU SEE IT that Ralph had told Pam about the new suit power allowing Bill to see things. So, when she wanted or needed to see something, she was able too because she knew the power existed.
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Post by billswoman on Dec 3, 2005 1:09:11 GMT -5
I ain't convinced yet. I think Culp just wrote it in. And I don't think Bill's seeing what Ralph's seeing was a conscious effort on Ralph's part; I think it's a "gift" to the non-suit wearing partner, so he or she can share in the fun. But that's my opinion (as I wrote into one of my stories too, lol).
On the other hand, at the time, Ralph's trying very hard to point out to Bill what he's "seeing," not knowing it's a precognition incident, so when he takes Bill's shoulder, that concentration of SEE WHAT I'M SEEING is there... so Bill sees it.
See? I just refuted my own argument. I'm not so closed to other interpretations, after all. Also, I'll admit maybe if he could do that with Bill, he and Pam could too; maybe if he thinks about it, Ralph can make ANYONE see what he's seeing in a holograph or precognition.
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Post by MelMac on Dec 3, 2005 1:27:48 GMT -5
Considering he gets a holograph off Debbie in "There's Just No Accounting" by touching her hair and shoulder and she saw nothing, I think Ralph had to decide (at least most of the time) if someone was to share a holograph with him. That way, if he had to holograph off someone who is evil, they can't see what Ralph sees, keeping Ralph safe. You look at "Lilacs," and Ralph puts his hand on Bill's shoulder. Same happened the first time with "Now You See It." Pam of course got to experience it in "Vanity" when Ralph puts his hand on her shoulder in the car. Now, when Bill does the hand on, off bit on Ralph's shoulder while the latter is talking with the firefighters later on in "Now You See It," I feel it was more of either an unconscious response from Ralph or the suit itself. For example, Ralph might have believed in his mind the wreckage before him was real, but not his heart, so unconsciously wanted Bill to find out for himself when Bill touched the suit again. Or, the suit picked up on Ralph's thinking it was real and wanted Bill to know it wasn't so he could convince Ralph it wasn't and keep him from getting taken to the hospital as being crazy. Just my two cents, but it's fun to wonder why.
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Post by silverhammer on Dec 3, 2005 1:55:48 GMT -5
I ain't convinced yet. I think Culp just wrote it in. You bring up another point I've wondered about - was there a "Bible" for GAH like they had for Trek? I think most shows with complex mythologies have some sort of guidelines to ensure writers don't screw up the continuity. I'm guessing the answer's No. But, on the positive side, the "hey, cool new power"/"hey, whatever happened to that power?" thing wouldn't be such a rich topic of conversation now if there was more internal consistency. Now, when Bill does the hand on, off bit on Ralph's shoulder while the latter is talking with the firefighters later on in "Now You See It," I feel it was more of either an unconscious response from Ralph or the suit itself. For example, Ralph might have believed in his mind the wreckage before him was real, but not his heart, so unconsciously wanted Bill to find out for himself when Bill touched the suit again. Or, the suit picked up on Ralph's thinking it was real and wanted Bill to know it wasn't so he could convince Ralph it wasn't and keep him from getting taken to the hospital as being crazy. Just my two cents, but it's fun to wonder why. Now, this is interesting, too. I've never really thought about the suit having its own intention - sure, the green guys had an agenda, but to think the suit was somehow, I don't know, bio-metric or something, is a cool line of speculation.
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Post by deadzoneleaperhero on Dec 3, 2005 2:08:41 GMT -5
Maybe the suit has Little Green Guy A.I. built into it (in the insignia or the belt buckle perhaps...something I want to explore in some fanfiction concerning the logo on Ralph's chest...perhaps it has a function other than decoration...)...but since "humans have different DNA" it might not work as perfectly but it kicks in from time to time...thus, letting ppl share the powers with Ralph at its own choosing...
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Post by Ms Boku on Dec 3, 2005 8:53:39 GMT -5
We'' I still say as he gains experience more powers manifest or broaden.
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