Airdate: 1/19/77
Polish professor Peter Wycinski is staying at a California
chalet to deliver an anti-Communist speech intended to press forward a UN
resolution – the same locale lodged by the vacationing Angels. But Sabrina is
goo-goo eyed over the professor, he longtime idol, and her would-be vacation
becomes an exercise in paranoia when she suspects his life may be threatened by
some suspicious-looking men. One of them attempts to detain her, but she wrests
loose and infiltrates Wycinski’s FBI-protected speech venue by posing as a
klurzy waitress. Meantime Jill and Kelly spy on the bad duded and give chase
when they notice a hostge – who turns out to be… Wycinski! A doppelganger had
been arranged, by pro-Coms, to give a bogus, agenda-sabotaging oration, but the
Angels step in just in the nick thwart such nefarious, anti-American scheming.
Three cheers for the blonde, brown and brunette!
Another political entry (see “Angel Trap”) is mostly
intrigue – precious little is revealed about what’s actually going on until the
end – leaving Sabrina as the sole protagonist, the only one who suspects foul
play and must orchestrate a scheme to uncover a web of conspiracy that seems to
get larger and larger. In this way I was reminded of Hitchcock’s classic “one
man” movies (usually starring Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant); pretty lofty
comparison, I might add, but for the most part, the film earns it. Classic
actor Theodore Bikel is perfectly cast: his esteem as an actor aptly informs
his equally venerable character, and Sabrina’s idolatry of him feels natural
(although why she all of a sudden has a thing for political theorists is a bit
bewildering).
I also appreciated seeing one Angel take the lead for a
change, as opposed to the usual even-handed teamwork. It gives the viewer a
chance to explore the psyche of a single character in greater depth; here, we
get that in Sabrina’s lengthy opening tête-à-tête with Wycinski, revealing the
softer, more intellectual side of a regularly brazen, no-nonsense persona.
The chalet, the setting for most of he episode, is an
absolutely sublime example of 70s style and architecture. Take note of all
those awful greens and that woodsy, faux-cottage scenery. Fantastic!
A bit slower than average, but well-worth the required
patience. Another winner!
Client: none (the Angels are actually on vacation).
Plot difficulty level: 6
Rating: ***1/2
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