Black Sheep Squadron (TV Series) Forbidden Fruit (1978) User Reviews

Misguided Change of Direction for Black Sheep Series

[Mirella77 · 6/10 · 5 February 2022]

In episode 7 (series 2) Baa Baa Black Sheep made a series of major cast & plot changes that destroyed the previous tenor of the series. All of the changes are corny and it is little wonder that the series lasted only until episode 13 before being pulled.

What a shame as series 1 was excellent and mostly stuck to the formular of a group of misfits who form the impressive 214 in the Pacific. The storylines were based mostly on WW11 & the camaraderie of the 214. . . . From S2 Ep7 onwards the series attempted to emulate Charlies Angels & base attempts to steer the series into a form of soap opera . . . In re-watching this series, I do not recall these episodes being aired in my country (Australia)

Also worth commenting are the fashions (including skimpy clothes for the nurses) and hairstyles that are clearly from the 1970s rather than the 1940s. These also denigrate the series & render it as something that in series 7 ended up changing direction from a classy series to a bottom of the barrel series of corny stories with little of substances.

If I were to rate series 1 it would be 9/10. From episode 7 of series 2 I am being extremely generous by rating it 6/10

If you are new to this series, make sure you watch series 1. It's a rare gem. Sadly, it lost it's way in series 2.

What NOT to do.

[robertdlar · 3/10 · 24 December 2021]

So I watched this series as a child but was at the whim of my father and he lost interest before the second season so this is the first time I have seen this episode. So first some background. Back at the beginning of the season they dropped Captain Jim Gutterman (James Whitmore Jr.) without any explanation. No, 'he was shot down' or 'transferred' MASH, would always offer explanations when characters left or were replaced.

Well in this episode they axed 2 more likeable characters; TJ (Robert Ginty) and Bob (Played by the brilliant John Larroquette) again without any explanation to where they went or if they were KIA only to replace them with a 17 year old kid (who couldn't act). In the Trivia section here it says this was an attempt to bring in a younger audience, but news flash for you, the younger audience wanted more Air Combat. When I was a kid watching, I could give a damn about all the stuff on the ground. I was too young to understand half of it anyway. I watched the show to see them flying around shooting down Zeros. The plot was written specifically to try and 'Sell' the viewers on the new kid, giving him his moments of heroics to try and sell him as a worthy successor, but his poor acting ended up ruining the moments.

The addition of new girls, running around half naked was a lame attempt as well to get more 'men' to watch. Had they introduced the nurses at the beginning it would have worked but I feel it was too late and they had lost too many viewers for it to matter.

Now lets address the elephant in the room. Times sure were different back in the 70s, apparently drugging women and taking advantage of them is hysterical. Apparently the writers thought it was hilarious to have the Black sheep give new nurses a drink with ether in it to knock them out. Luckily there was no mention of what they would do after but still, this is like WOW. Who thought this was a good idea?!

Then to have Casey pretty much molest the new girl was just so wrong. All in all this whole episode was a lesson in how NOT to write. I am very dissapointed.

Seems rather silly...

[sleeper54 · 23 May 2021]

Not a full blown review, just an observation.

Seems rather silly for new nurse Samantha Green to be parading around the base in a pair of short shorts and an open, summery blouse. Really..??