The Fugitive Episode Guide - Season 3 Part 2

Grade A

1) Ill Wind (John McIntire & Barry Morse) Gerard captures Kimble while working with a gang of migrant workers, but a Hurricane puts all their lives in jeopardy. A well acted, action packed episode. Flaws: the villain is the standard “white male bigot” and once again Kimble has to save Gerard’s life.

2) Wife Killer (Janice Rule & Kevin McCarthy) The one-armed man is caught in a police magnet and Kimble and Rule kidnap him to exact a confession. A good episode except - AGAIN - St. Kimble has to save a man who’s wronged him. Not Gerard this time, but the one-armed man!

3) This Will Kill You (Micky Rooney & Nina Talbot) An ex- comic (Rooney) on the run from the mob hopes to reconnect with his former wife. More of a standard drama than usual. The acting by Talbot (as the amoral ex-wife)and Rooney make this an “A” episode.

4) The 2130 (Melvyn Douglas & Barry Morse) A prominent doctor contacts Gerard about Kimble. He's convinced a computer can predict Kimble's every move. Another suspenseful, well acted episode. But its a little unclear as to how Gerard has so much data on Kimble’s where abouts or how the computer could predict his next move any better than a human. The old timey computer (2130) is a real hoot, occupying a whole room with punch cards and a staff full of nerds. Its computer power probably didn’t exceed an 1986 IBM PC.

Grade B

5) Shadow of the Swan (Joanna Pettet) While working at a Veterinarians office, Kimble gets mixed up with a troubled, beautiful girl. More of a drama/character study than a Fugitive episode. Joanna Pettet shines as the guest star.

6) Echo of a Nightmare (Shirley Knight) A Policewomen with a violent past tries to take Kimble prisoner but finds the tables turned. Throughout much of the episode Knight and Kimble are handcuffed together. Knight is excellent but her character was too smart to stupidly handcuff herself to Kimble.

7) Chinese Sunset (Laura Devon) Kimble tries to educate a bookies girlfriend while working at a Beverly Hills Hotel. A comedic episode that works.

8) With Strings Attached (Donald Pleasance) Working as a Chauffeur, Kimble begins to suspect his employer (a violin prodigy) is plotting murder. A somewhat silly story made entertaining by Donald Pleasance as the bald, bug-eyed Max and Rex Thompson (a complete Ham).

Grade C

9) A Taste of Tomorrow:(Fritz Weaver) Kimble meets a fellow fugitive and tries to convince him to forgo revenge and turn himself in. Fritz Weaver is excellent as the sick, hate-filled man who’s been wronged. But the episode lacks suspense and believability. Michael Constantino seems very out of place as a Western sheriff.

10) Running Scared (Joanne Linville) When Kimble's father dies, a neglected politicians wife arranges a reunion between Kimble and her Sister. Another curiously un-involving Kimble-visits-his-family story.

11) The White Knight (Steven Hill) Kimble rescues a politician and his mistress from a small plane crash. Kimble tries to remain anonymous but they draw him in to their sordid affairs. A little over-the-top and somewhat silly at times. Steven Hill does well with a character that is a little too evil.

Grade D

12) Not with a Whimper (Laurence Naismith) A visit to his former mentor puts Kimble in the hands of a madman who’s planted bomb. At the end, when cornered by the cops, Kimble pretends he has a bomb, and the cops absurdly let him escape. An underwritten episode. The last 20 minutes are drawn out and padded as Kimble runs around the factory trying to defuse a bomb. The whole episode lacked suspense and was full of gimmicks. The acting is good. A weird conversation at the end that somehow planting a bomb wasn't that bad because Naismith's cause was good. It made me think of the left-wing bombings of the 60s and early 70s.

13) In a Plain Paper Wrapper (Lois Nettleton). Kimble starts a relationship with a young waitress unaware that her nephew and teenage friends are out to capture Kimble. A lackluster episode full of bad child actors.

14) Coralee (Antoinette Bower) .A young diver is drowned and Kimble has to deal with a Boss trying to cover up the accident and a young waitress who’s considered a jinx. A dull episode where everyone -except Kimble- behaves like an idiot. Kimble makes another implausible escape – this time by scuba diving. Also, S.O.P, the “bad guy” is small businessman, the “good guy” a women who falls for Kimble's Basset-hound looks.

15) Stroke of Genius (Telly Savalas & Barry Morse) Tragedy strikes when Kimble hitches a ride with a small town pastor. Telly Savalas is the father of Beau Bridges a troubled young man who snipes at passing cars. This episode had promise and Gerard shows up to add some interest but Savalas is miscast and unbelievable as a simple country tow-truck operator. Also, Bridges overacts & his character is cliche.

The Fugitive Episode Guide - Season 1 Part 1

Grade A

1) Fear in a Desert City (Brian Keith & Vera Miles) Kimble is an innocent man accused of murdering his wife. The first episode which introduces us to Kimble. Keith shines as the nasty Sheriff.

2) See Hollywood and Die (Brenda Vaccaro) Kimble is taken hostage by two trigger happy hoods. A very taut, well written, well acted episode with Kimble pretending to be crook and killer in order to escape.

3) Never Wave Goodbye-part 2 (Barry Morse) A match is the only thing standing between Kimble and permanent freedom. Kimble tries to find the “one-armed” man but finds only Gerard is hot on his trail. Once again Gerard is so intent on getting Kimble he never even removes his tie, despite almost drowning.

4) Nightmare At Northoak (Barry Morse) Kimble's heroics during a school bus accident may cost him his freedom. While the supporting “Small Town” actors are mediocre at best, this episode was suspenseful and provides us with some background on Gerard thinking.

Grade B

5) The Other Side of the Mountain (Sandy Dennis & R.G. Armstrong ) Kimble teams up with a young girl in a dangerous mountain trek. The episode is rather patronizing and unrealistic regarding West Virginia but Dennis and Armstrong are both excellent in their roles. Morse shows up and comically Armstrong asks him if he ever takes off his tie.

6) Never Wave Goodbye-part 1 (Robert Duvall & Susan Oliver) Kimble tries to hook the one-armed man in Los Angeles. This is the first part of a two part series. The second part is stronger. I would’ve rated it higher but Lee Phillips is simply awful as the "kindly old immigrant" in a wheelchair while Duvall’s ‘Norwegian’ accent is even worse. The writing and Susan Oliver, however, are very good.

7) The Girl From Little Egypt (Pamela Tiffin) A freak automobile accident puts Kimble's secret in jeopardy. This episode flashes back to the murder of Kimble’s wife and the one-armed man. It also includes a rather excellent story about a young girl having an affair with a married man.

8) Decision in the Ring (James Edwards & Ruby Dee) Kimble lands center ring when he gets involved with an ailing boxer. Some excellent acting by all concerned. One of those 60s TV shows where blacks are shown as white middle class people with dark skin. A good show that makes subtle propaganda points in favor of Civil Rights.

9) Smoke Screen: (Beverly Garland) A forest fire turns up the heat for Kimble. Again we get the subtle liberal propaganda sandwiched into a good drama. The illegal aliens are shown as “good people” who just want to work and be good Americans. An excellent story where Kimble has to choose between helping someone and risking exposure.

10) Glass Tightrope – (Ed Binns & Leslie Nielsen) The wrong man is accused of murder and only Kimble can clear him. Another show where Kimble must choose between doing right and risking being caught. Ed Binns is good as the tough amoral detective, Nielsen shows he was better than average at drama.

Grade C

11) Ticket to Alaska – Geraldine Brooks Kimble is aboard a luxury liner for murder on the high seas. More of a Agatha Christie “whodunit” than the typical Fugitive Episode. A murder occurs aboard ship, and the Captain must find the culprit. Kimble has plenty of screen time but its more of an ensemble piece.

12) Home Is The Hunted (Andrew Prine) Old family loyalties could mean the end for Kimble. He returns home to visit the old man who’s sick. Seeing Kimble’s family was interesting, but the episode is curiously slow and un-involving. Somewhat Soap operaish.

Grade D

13) Fatso (Jack Weston). Kimble finds friendship on the run with a kind. A Fugitive episode where Kimble plays social worker and tries to Fix a dysfunctional family. A soap opera.

14) Terror at High Point (Jack Klugman) A construction boss tries to patch up his marriage with Kimble's help. Klugman is miscast as the macho Utah construction boss. Kimble plays the liberal hero trying to protect a mentally challenged kid from a lynch mob. Boring.

15) The Witch (Pat Crowley) A Vicious child's play could cost Kimble his life. An overheated melodrama. Boy those small towns in the 60s sure liked to form lynch mobs. Good thing people like Kimble were around to stop ‘em.