Recovery, May 1, 1996

We saw a slightly different Harm in this episode. He was more playful, cocky and even at times a teeny bit immature. This could be attributed to his meeting his old nemesis Mark Lowrey again. On the other hand, TPTB may be trying to lighten him up a tad.

Act One started off with a bang, with Harm and Meg flying into Vandenberg in a Tomcat. I loved their teasing conversation as they walked off the field.

Meg: Do you always fly like that, sir?
Harm: Well, I had to leave an impression, Lieutenant.

Impression indeed. I think Harm was just so happy to be flying that he indulged himself doing all those rolls and high-G turns. Besides, who can blame him for showing off to Meg, who appeared to have enjoyed every one of his Tomcat high jinks?

Meg wore many hats in this episode. She was the very attractive and beautiful junior female officer that Harm had to impress. She was the computer whiz who broke into Gallant's system. She played the good junior officer-type to Harm's deliberate bonehead in the interrogation. She listened and counselled him when he had doubts about his approach to the investigation and Lowrey. And above all, she was always there to support him, whatever the situation. She was truly a partner beyond compare.

The competitiveness between Harm and Lowrey was a new angle on Harm, although why it should come as a bit of a surprise I don't know. After all, we all know that Harm must have been aggressive and competitive. He was a top gun. I think it's just that aside from the episode with Keeter, we have not seen Harm with his naval aviator peers before, and Lowrey was not a friend. He was a rival, but nowhere near Harm's capabilities of course, as Harm miraculously landed the sabotaged "Flying Brick" when Lowrey would have ditched it. That having been said, there is cocky and there is cocky. Harm's brand of cockiness produces an indulgent smile; Lowrey's a glower. Meg knew the difference, and so do we.

I enjoyed the way Harm reminisced about the day of the first moonwalk and how he had childishly thought that if Armstrong were to look down on the earth at that particular moment, he would be able to see both Harm and his Dad at the same time. It was most touching.

Harm was definitely the hero of this episode. He saved the day, even to salvaging the space mission.
 

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