The second season opener, "Mork in Wonderland" concludes with a microscopic sized Mork caught in an alternate universe where nature comes in different colors, Mindy, Bickley and Exidor all present in different guises. Three oddballs are introduced, with Jerry Looney (Jeremy Vernon) channeling Jerry Lewis, Danny St. Tommy (Johnny Haymer) doing Danny Thomas, and Bob Faith (Ronnie Schell) working as a go between for Mandy, Mindy's clone. She doesn't recognize Mork, and wonders if he's a spy for despotic king Xidon aka Exidor, whose party outlawed laughter. His financial adviser is Marvin the Evil aka Bickley, who welcomes Mork as the new court serious (as opposed to jester), trying out his future Popeye voice. The extremes of watching Mandy die before reuniting with Mindy simply misses the mark, concluding with a meaningless report to Orson. If nothing else, this storyline demonstrated the depths to which the show could sink, many more to come.
2 Reviews
Crazy manic multi-homage fun with a powerfully bittersweet kick
Lian8 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The plot device, set up in part one, that saw Mork shrink to Ant Man level size and into another dimension is actually pretty clever as well as funny (though the writers seemed to make Orkan physiology as fluid and flexible as needed). While Wonderland is in the title, in fact once in this new dimension he actually ends up in kind of pseudo homage to Danny Kaye's classic The Court Jester (by way of Wizard of Oz where people from the 'real world are there too), and on the behest of rebel leader 'Mandy' infiltrates the evil 'Kings' court as an anti-Jester, in an attempt to overthrow him and restore happiness (and electrical power!) to the people.,
While its fun to see regular actors play different roles, the world itself is pretty half baked. More often than not it feels like a showcase for some (fairly average) impressions of other current major comedy forces, and not so subtle political commentary on the U.S of the time. It does however take an interesting 'tragic' turn you wouldn't normally expect of a sitcom like this one, one that feeds into the main characters relationship arc.
And for all its ups and downs (no pun intended) it is (as always) Williams and Dawber who carry this two-parter, giving emotional resonance to the storyline, the characters and their relationship. Never more so then in the final scene, which is simply one of the most affecting, emotional, beautifully acted scenes in any sitcom.. Pam Dawber giving a genuinely stunning turn as a completely distraught Mindy reuniting with a grieving Mork. A scene given even more emotional punch post Robin William's own tragic death, with his final lines to her.
While its fun to see regular actors play different roles, the world itself is pretty half baked. More often than not it feels like a showcase for some (fairly average) impressions of other current major comedy forces, and not so subtle political commentary on the U.S of the time. It does however take an interesting 'tragic' turn you wouldn't normally expect of a sitcom like this one, one that feeds into the main characters relationship arc.
And for all its ups and downs (no pun intended) it is (as always) Williams and Dawber who carry this two-parter, giving emotional resonance to the storyline, the characters and their relationship. Never more so then in the final scene, which is simply one of the most affecting, emotional, beautifully acted scenes in any sitcom.. Pam Dawber giving a genuinely stunning turn as a completely distraught Mindy reuniting with a grieving Mork. A scene given even more emotional punch post Robin William's own tragic death, with his final lines to her.
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