Act of Terror, October 27, 1998

By Shirley

Let me say right off the bat that it would take an extraordinary episode to follow The Martin Baker Fan Club. We did not get the extraordinary with Act of Terror. We got a good run-of-the-mill JAG episode.

It was nice to have characters from old episodes back, like Admiral Morris. I liked the little bit of business with the weapon in court. Okay, it was predictable. As soon as we had the scene with the Admiral telling Harm he was a loose cannon, you could see it coming. But it was still funny. They set it up so well too, with Morris paying only partial attention to proceedings until Harm picked up the weapon. Then he was on full alert. I had a good chuckle.

Novak was another character that returned. I wonder if we'll have him again. Now that Harm's helped him, he can't still believe that Harm is a bad guy?

The issue of ethics and old-fashioned patriotism was handled very adroitly. I believe that JAG is not considered hip in the world of TV journalism. It was termed a 'paean' to patriotism by one critic. There are good and bad ways of handling this. Superman, for instance, did it in deadpan mode, and it was funny. Harm took a totally different approach which was even more effective. He did it with sincerity, but also with full awareness of the dangers inherent in 'my country, right or wrong.' That, plus the sheer good humour in his demeanor made it all palatable. I can still remember my high school history teacher saying that 'Patriotism is the last refuge of the rogue.' Harm talked in a civilized manner with Percival Bertram (that was cute, that dig '... call you Percy?') because he was a civilized man. Bertram was the savage rogue. Kudos to DJE for another job well done. This guy is good.

Poor Mac! She seems to be getting a bit of a makeover, but I personally think that TPTB are handling it rather awkwardly. Her little lecture to the Admiral and Harm about ethics came across as inappropriate. And in the scene in the kitchen, I do not believe for one single instant that Mac would not have had the slightest inkling that AJ still harboured feelings for her. Come on, she's a woman, and a smart one at that. Don't do that to her. As for the lap dancing, PUH-LEASE! The tussle with her former Prof gave us further insight into her troubled past, but the writers have to do better with the lines. It was most unsatisfactory.

I kept feeling that Webb should have been in this episode. It was his kind of thing. Oh well!

The ending was good, short and to the point. TPTB are getting good with endings.
 

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