Episode Report Card Shack: C- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Jock Trap
By Shack | Season 4 | Episode 26 | Aired on 07.23.1998
Meanwhile, a beat-up old car -- one of those cars with the fake pick-up bed in the back -- pulls into the lot. It's Ratcatcher Porno. Officer Cox wants to know what Porno's doing there, and he blithers and babbles about rats and I. Just. Don't. Know. What. He's. Saying. He waves a dead rat around for emphasis. This whole movie is like somebody took a Tales Of The Crypt script and sucked out all the bad jokes and puns (and deaths), but didn't replace it with a better story. While Ratcatcher babbles on (something about Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous), Rachel surreptitiously starts her engine in the hopes of making an escape. Officer Cox isn't having any of that, though. He orders Rachel out of the car, then grabs her and tosses her into the back of his police car. Steve gets out to try to stop him. Cox punches him in the gut, then tosses him in the car as well. But then Porno sneaks up behind Cox and bashes him on the head with the Boombox Ex Machina. He goes down. Porno lets the kids out and hurries them on their way. It's a good thing he happened to come by and knew the kids were in trouble. And he knew that because…? Uhura must have warned him through the Boombox. They drive back to Steve's place. Rachel waits in the truck while Steve runs in to fetch Lindsay. I guess he thinks his parents won't believe him. Though I don't know why he thinks Lindsay will. But she does. Unfortunately, they get busted by the parents as they try to make their escape. Steve explains to Ma and Pa Clark that he's taking Lindsay and going back to Chicago. He tries to get the parents to be supportive and come with them back "home." But that's not going to happen. From behind Steve, Dr. Caldicott, who has been standing in the doorway, tells him that the family is home, and that they'll be happier here in Cradle Bay. Steve accuses his parents of selling him out. Mom claims that she just wants him "back." I guess they decided not to make Steve appear all that troubled in order to make the parents' decision to brainwash him seem even more extreme, but it probably would have been even more effective if Steve had ever shown some sort of typical teen maladjustment signs. I mean, it's not like the viewers are going to see Steve being sullen or depressed or experiment with drugs, and then conclude that they're okay with the idea of shoving a chip in his eye. Steve grabs Lindsay and makes to leave, but Dr. Caldicott tries to block the exit. Steve punches him in the gut and walks out.Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20Next