I do love the cheesy, comforting nostalgia of this series and have done repeated viewings. This episode is definitely not one of the better ones. Obviously you've got the super annoying performance of the wannabe-actress-with-a-famous-dad playing Sharon. But the writing is the real problem. It seems like just a few tweaks could have made this so much better. After all, the mysterious craft in the sky menacing drivers has been done a zillion times by now and often quite well.
As others have pointed out, Frank immediately buying Sharon's story is ridiculous. She met a guy a few times but only at the same bar who then ghosts her. Why would anyone not react like the sheriff? Like maybe he's married and out to have an affair? Why not just have a Frank and Joe approach it like they'll find the guy who was a jerk to their friend and give him a piece of their minds? Yet the sheriff is portrayed as incompetent and sexist so we know he's wrong. Dun dun dun.
Then you have the "rangers" who told the guys to take a different route after the fire. If I was driving though an area that just had a huge fire and some ranger said "that way's unsafe right now", of course I'd thank him and turn around. But Frank says he'll drive it anyway. And when he got pushback, it's instantly telegraphed to viewers something mysterious and sinister is going on.
It's all super illogical nonsense to get us to where the boys find the guy in the radar station (a welcome cameo by Tony Dow) then find a fenced facility that Frank decides to break into. That's when the show actually gets going but it's almost halfway through the episode. By that time it's hard to buy into it. It's a shame because everyone does a good job, besides the whiney, neurotic Sharon who mercifully shows up less in the second half. Many of the actors were familiar faces in the seventies. The mountain scenery is gorgeous. The idea for show was decent. It's just the details of the plot and the execution that sucked.
I do love how it seemed like almost every show in the seventies took place outside, with natural sunshine, and often a country setting as opposed to controlled, artificial and sterile looking sets and actors shot with controlled lighting. Everyone's hair back then was shiny from the sun and they looked healthy and natural. Not caked in makeup with a face full of injectables. I really miss that on current tv.
It's a shame the far below average opening for the episode hurts its great setting and fun cast. I do wish more time was spent in the first half letting the guys come to the alien conclusion themselves, with more creepy moments before finding the facility. Also more of a part for Tony Dow. What a wasted opportunity. Anyway, just when the episode had become its more usual, fun self, it's over.
As others have pointed out, Frank immediately buying Sharon's story is ridiculous. She met a guy a few times but only at the same bar who then ghosts her. Why would anyone not react like the sheriff? Like maybe he's married and out to have an affair? Why not just have a Frank and Joe approach it like they'll find the guy who was a jerk to their friend and give him a piece of their minds? Yet the sheriff is portrayed as incompetent and sexist so we know he's wrong. Dun dun dun.
Then you have the "rangers" who told the guys to take a different route after the fire. If I was driving though an area that just had a huge fire and some ranger said "that way's unsafe right now", of course I'd thank him and turn around. But Frank says he'll drive it anyway. And when he got pushback, it's instantly telegraphed to viewers something mysterious and sinister is going on.
It's all super illogical nonsense to get us to where the boys find the guy in the radar station (a welcome cameo by Tony Dow) then find a fenced facility that Frank decides to break into. That's when the show actually gets going but it's almost halfway through the episode. By that time it's hard to buy into it. It's a shame because everyone does a good job, besides the whiney, neurotic Sharon who mercifully shows up less in the second half. Many of the actors were familiar faces in the seventies. The mountain scenery is gorgeous. The idea for show was decent. It's just the details of the plot and the execution that sucked.
I do love how it seemed like almost every show in the seventies took place outside, with natural sunshine, and often a country setting as opposed to controlled, artificial and sterile looking sets and actors shot with controlled lighting. Everyone's hair back then was shiny from the sun and they looked healthy and natural. Not caked in makeup with a face full of injectables. I really miss that on current tv.
It's a shame the far below average opening for the episode hurts its great setting and fun cast. I do wish more time was spent in the first half letting the guys come to the alien conclusion themselves, with more creepy moments before finding the facility. Also more of a part for Tony Dow. What a wasted opportunity. Anyway, just when the episode had become its more usual, fun self, it's over.