Ares, May 22, 1996

I found this episode to be strange in a lot of ways. First of all, why do we have Kate Pike back? Andrea Parker still cannot convince me that Kate and Harm were lovers, and that they would again be lovers. The words were there, but something is seriously lacking. Perhaps it's her acting, or lack of. There is a deficiency when all AP can do is close her eyes to denote concern and deep emotion as the two Tomcat pilots ejected into the deep blue sea. There was no contribution by Kate to the episode. She was not necessary to the storyline at all.

Kate's presence was made all the more aggravating because it diminished Meg's onscreen time. Now Meg was making a contribution and she was necessary to the story. She helped unmask the spy, and got computer control back in the nick of time. She also clearly showed that she was a more competent officer than Kate. No flapping around for Meg; she calmly went about finding a solution to the problem. Kate, on the other hand, went panting up to the Captain to report that Camposano had killed the chief!

As for Kate's fling with Brockman, all I can say is that it is totally incomprehensible. One only had to look at Harm, and then Brockman! Well! 'Nuff said!

Harm is cockier and more youthful than we have seen him thus far. The way he faced off against Brockman is quite amusing, and showed a side of his character that we have suspected, but have not seen much of. Of course he would be totally self-confident and ready for anything, after all, he was a top gun. But to see that is most gratifying. I enjoyed immensely all those scenes when Harm is showing up Brockman big time.

I would venture to guess that TPTB are working hard to show us that Harm is every inch a hero, and Brockman is the standard against which Harm's heroics shine even brighter. Not only is Harm gorgeous ("the JAG poster boy" as Brockman sarcastically called him), he is able to get around the lawyer-hating Captain, and he saves the day with his brains and his brawn. That was quite something to see him coolly line up for the shot at Camposano, and then just as coolly get the computer diskette with the vital information from Camposano's dead body, while Brockman was fluttering around quivering in shock.

Act One started off humorously with Harm in a loud tropical shirt (the same one he will lend to Annie in Season Three in lieu of pajamas) trying to get away from it all. We have not seen him as an ordinary guy doing routine things like having a good time and trying to make out with any pretty girl he happens to meet. I liked that. I also liked it when he tried out his Japanese on the said pretty girl beside him. The regret on his face as he got up to deplane was more than shared by his erstwhile seatmate.

I didn't even mind the ending, back at the plane, this time with Harm again trying to get away, but now with Kate. It was funny, and DJE played it perfectly. A different shirt, but equally loud, and he looked just as gorgeous in it.

If there are still doubts out there that Harm and Kate were just good friends who happen to sleep together now and then, this episode settled them. Harm showed not even a smidgen of jealousy over Kate's fling with Brockman (his brash attitude, on the verge of obnoxious, was just reaction to Brockman's very real jealousy of him, both as Kate's former lover, and as a man whom Brockman could never hope to match). Harm's 'cross-examination' of Kate on the details of the affair (Kate: "Why are you so curious?"; Harm: "It's my nature.") was entirely on the brotherly level - "When did it start? How did it start? Why did you dump him?". He seemed more surprised and amused by Kate's choice than anything else.

Ares was a mostly fun action episode. Not quite top notch, but fun to watch.

previous episode review//next episode review