SEASON 2
EPISODE 1
DAYS OF SHINE AND ROSES
Jesse and Boss challenge each other to a car race.
A cracking start to the
second season and one of the comparatively rare 'car-race' episodes (there was
usually only one per season). Jesse is given plenty of character development
here, the whole story moves along at a frantic pace and it's often wildly
funny. Especially enjoyable to watch is the Sepia Footage at the start, which is a lovely touch.
ROSCO MOMENT His repeated
attempts to sabotage the race make him increasingly resemble Wile-E Coyote!
BEST STUNT The General
flies through a Tree.
****
EPISODE 2
GOLD FEVER
A con man attempts to swindle Boss out of his money with the use of lead
bars covered in gold paint.
Paul Baxley's first episode
as a Director isn't one of his best, although he manages to stage numerous
efficient action sequences. It's a shame Daisy's Roadrunner is taken out of the
final chase early on, as the Winnebago substitute is simply too implausible a
vehicle to chase a fast car with. The story is nevertheless watchable and
H.H.Harkness is a smooth piece of villainy. Interestingly, Jesse’s front tooth
(which is removed at the end of the show) grows back before Episode 3.
ROSCO MOMENT His
hopeless stakeout of the Duke Farm is a lovely moment.
BEST STUNT Luke blows up
the villain's Get-away car.
***
EPISODE 3
THE RUSTLERS
The Dukes need to safeguard a Racehorse.
If you like horses, this is the
episode for you. Unfortunately, the rest of us will find it dull. You simply
can't replace a car with a horse and expect the action to be as spectacular
(the jumps aren't nearly so big, for a start) and this episode seriously flags
as a result. Apart from Mel Tillis' stutter, the most enjoyable aspect is Lulu;
it’s always a pleasure to have her character on the show.
BEST STUNT Cletus runs his
car off the road. Not particularly thrilling, but there's little else.
**
EPISODE 4
THE MEETING
Boss uses the County Courthouse as a safe-haven for a Gangster's
convention.
The Mobsters are one big
Hollywood cliché and the story never recovers from that principle weakness,
despite the amusing schemes cooked up to defeat them. The final chase is funny,
but basically limited to a few cars driving around in circles; and the whole
episode seems to think it's a lot funnier than it actually is.
ROSCO MOMENT Absolutely
wrecking his car at the end, simply by driving into a parked patrol Car; he’s
incurred less damage in his time by doing far worse!
BEST STUNT The General gracefully jumps the Mobsters
car. You’d almost believe it was floating.
**
EPISODE 5
ROAD PIRATES
The Dukes break up a Truck hijacking scheme.
Action packed, but empty, outing.
The Gang is rounded up far too easily at the end, but there is a wonderful
chase sequence involving a reluctant Deputy Cletus in league with the Dukes
while experiencing an impromptu display of democracy in action. Eons is rather missed here, but Cletus makes the most of the
situation.
ROSCO MOMENT Attempting to emulate the Dukes and flying his car into the side
of a small hill.
BEST STUNT Garbade gets
his motorcycle comeuppance (via a tree trunk).
***
EPISODE 6
THE GHOST
OF GENERAL LEE.
Two crooks steal the General and crash it into a river. Everyone in
Hazzard believes that Bo and Luke were at the wheel and that they've
subsequently drowned.
Highly regarded by the fans,
this is indeed a memorable episode; but everyone seems to overlook the fact
that, despite having an excellent beginning, the story becomes ridiculously
silly around 2/3 of the way through. Nonetheless, the first 25 minutes ARE
extremely good, with James Best in particular giving a splendid performance.
It's just a shame that the writers altered the plot line toward the end and
substituted a Pantomime farce.
ROSCO MOMENT His talk with
Jesse in the Boars Nest is a rare dramatic moment for him; and all the more
effective because of it.
BEST STUNT Enos rolls his Patrol Car.
****
EPISODE 7
THE DUKES MEET CALE
YARBOROUGH
The Dukes help a racecar driver protect his secret turbo-charger.
Cale who? Presumably the name
meant something in the USA in 1980;in the UK a quarter of a century later, he’s
a complete nobody. Subsequently,this entire story feels forced and relies too
heavily on Mr Yarborough's non-existent charisma and acting ability. The
re-used jump footage from the 'Double Sting' leap is pitiful; and the use of
three General's for the Finale is a waste of a good idea.
BEST STUNT The final jump of the General; although even
this is spoilt by poor continuity, the sight of the stunt-driver's crash helmet
and the delayed cutting of the sequence which results in the sight of the
General's body work caving in before magically repairing itself by the very
next shot.
**
EPISODE 8
HAZZARD CONNECTION
Bo and Luke infiltrate a corrupted Demolition Derby.
The Director, Paul Baxley,
could hardly turn this one down! A story involving people who crash cars into
each other for a living could hardly be dull and it isn't. However, the crook's
scheme is so obvious that it's surprising that Bo and Luke take so long to work
it out. The Derby sequence is gripping and the final chase(despite an awkward
moment of dubbing)is big and destructive.
Nonetheless, you get the feeling that it could have been much better,
given the material.
BEST STUNT The henchmen's car gets knocked off the road and into
the air.
***
EPISODE 9
WITNESS FOR THE PERSECUTION
The Dukes shelter Boss in their Farm as part of a Protection Programme;
while Roscoe takes over Boss' duties.
This one's a minor classic.
It's a rather thin plot, but it's chock full of memorable moments. Jesse and
Boss together in the Farm's Living Room; Rosco transforming himself into Boss'
image; and, most of all, Daisy putting on a baby-doll Nightdress and getting
into bed with Boss. The former is an immortal moment and one, which, in terms
of audacity, the series never got close to approaching again. To cap it all,
the action sequences appear at just the right moments to propel the story along
and are tense and well conceived.
ROSCO MOMENT Tar spoils his Boss Transformation.
BEST STUNT The Car to Cadillac Transfer.
****
EPISODE 10
GRANNY ANNIE
A nice old Dear turns out to be a counterfeiter and Boss is determined
to acquire her engraving plates.
This is one of the most
entertaining episodes of the entire series, although not particularly good in
its own right.
It moves along at such a
speed that you would have thought Paul Baxley was the Director, but that's not
the case. The problem with the story is that it changes direction a little too
often and the episode only really becomes involving during the final 15
minutes, when the storyline shifts to the 'Boss is kidnapped' sequence.
However, you’re unlikely to notice the disjointed effect much, as the action is
unsurpassed(some of the greatest car stunts ever put on film!)the humour is
charming, the pace is fast and there's even a musical interlude. Cooter's
absence is noticeable.
ROSCO MOMENT Explaining to
the Dukes why it is their responsibility to take his side and go to Boss'
rescue. A charming sequence, similar in style to his speech in 'The ghost of
General Lee'.
BEST STUNT The Dukes leap the freight train and Rosco tries to
emulate them. Simply outstanding.
****
EPISODE 11
PEOPLE'S CHOICE
The Dukes help an old friend to campaign against Boss in an upcoming
re-election
The biggest weakness of this
story is that you know full well that, even if T.C.Rodgers were to be
successful in winning, she will gone by the very next episode and Boss' power
would remain undimmed. A sweet little plot twist at the end of the episode is a
nice payoff, however.
It's still an entertaining
ride; and the character of Emery Potter is a nice addition to the cast. It’s
just a pity he wasn't used more often.
BEST STUNT The General
jumps the Farmers wagon. That tarmac landing must have hurt!
***
EPISODE 12
ARREST JESSE DUKE
Jesse is wrongfully arrested for a series of car-stripping crimes.
The first of many episodes
this season not to feature Rosco and his absence is painful and obvious.
Despite the sympathy engendered by seeing Jesse behind bars, this story never
comes alive. The idea of glamorous female car-strippers seems to be an idea that's stuck in the past;
Hughie Hogg(although a terrific character)is wasted; and the concept of the
General having all-terrain tyres added to it is ludicrous - the whole point was
that the General already was an all-terrain vehicle!
BEST STUNT The Jeep chase
is acceptable and the destruction of the third and final vehicle is cathartic,
albeit unoriginal.
**
EPISODE 13
DUKE OF DUKE
The Dukes English cousin, Gaylord, turns out to have a sinister side.
This being an American
programme, the inevitable English character was either going to be a villain or
a buffoon; the former, in this case. Simon MacCorkindale looks rather uneasy
throughout(as would anyone, playing a character with such an absurd name)but
there are some charming jokes made on the differences in attitudes between one
nationality and the other. It’s also encouraging to learn that there actually
is an English Duke family(despite Gaylord turning out to be a sham)and that Jesse
is apparently in regular contact with them. The 'surprise plot twist' is
signposted with a big arrow from about 1/3 of the way in.
BEST STUNT Jumping the haystacks.
***
EPISODE 14
THE RUNAWAY
The Dukes help the Daughter of a millionaire to elope with her less
well-off Fiancée.
There is nothing of interest
anywhere here apart from Bo's peculiar over-reaction to the Ferry and the
destruction of the Roadrunner and subsequent donating of its replacement, the
Jeep 'Dixie'.
ROSCO MOMENT "Come into my parlour; said the Spider to the
Bee"
BEST STUNT It's a pity that the Roadrunner's finest hour should
also be its last. The wheelie between the two police cars is superb.
**
EPISODE 15
FOLLOW THAT STILL
Boss uses an old Army tank to hide Contraband.
It's clear that someone on
the production Team had managed to do a 'good deal' on the services of a Tank
for a week or two and had instructed the scriptwriters to write one in. The
result is this forced and plodding story. You can't have a rip-snorting chase
involving vehicles plodding along at near walking pace and this lumpen episode
proves it. It's the sort of story that thinks it's far more entertaining than
it actually is.
ROSCO MOMENT The one gem of a sequence is the destruction of his
Patrol car by the Tank. Worth waiting for.
BEST STUNT With stunts involving an old Tank being impossible to
achieve, it’s up to the other vehicles to provide the thrills. Rosco's first
crash is particularly good.
**
EPISODE 16
TREASURE OF HAZZARD
Boss Hogg, the Dukes and various other characters embark on a Treasure
Hunt.
The first of many episodes
this Season without the services of James Best as Rosco (due to a dispute),this
would be bad enough with the ineffective addition of Lester Crabb(played by Clifton James, who had
previously been so good as Sheriff Pepper in the Bond series; presumably why he
was chosen),but it adds insult to injury by also removing the automotive
action. A crocodile fight might have seemed like a good idea on paper, but it
isn't a spectacular enough substitute for cars flying through the air. This
episode is actually worth missing.
ROSCO MOMENT He's gone. And he won't be back for a while, either.
The void created by his absence is painful and un-fillable.
BEST STUNT There isn't
one. Clearly a Budget-saving exercise, this is a Dukes episode without
automotive action. Pointless.
*
EPISODE 17
OFFICER DAISY DUKE.
Daisy resigns from her waitress job at the Boars Nest and is accepted
into the Hazzard Police Department.
A lovely story idea is put
into effect with only partial success. Catherine Bach actually shows what she's
capable of, given a good enough script; and there are many really splendid
moments. However, the viewer is constantly thinking "I wonder what this
would have been like if only Rosco had been around?". The comparative lack
of action is also a handicap, although there's a lot of story to be told and
only 44 minutes to do it in! One of
those episodes that's well remembered and fondly recalled; but not actually as
good as one would expect.
BEST STUNT Enos' chase of
the suspects, ending in the 'crashing through some old wooden crates'
sequence. Old fashioned, but still fun to watch.
***
EPISODE 18
FIND LORETTA LYNN
The Country Music star is kidnapped while passing through
Given the cost of securing
ROSCO MOMENT He's back for one episode and his ripping apart the
two Patrol cars is a classic.
BEST STUNT Without a doubt, the wiping-out of the General. A real
" What the ****! " moment.
***
EPISODE 19
JUDE EMERY
A roguish Texas Ranger arrives in Hazzard, to round up an outlaw gang.
A 'back to its roots' story(somewhat of an anachronism by this point in the
series),this episode has a First Season flavour(characters are unshaven; cuss
and spit tobacco all the time)but it's all the better for that. The scrappy
Direction and the wrong Sheriff hold it back a little, but it's otherwise
entertaining, raucous and amusing, with some genuinely big action sequences.
BEST STUNT Loads to choose from here and they're all superbly
orchestrated. My vote is for Snake's wiping-out of his car.
****
EPISODE 20
RETURN OF THE RIDGERAIDERS
Jesse has to try and restrain some of his old 'Moonshine buddies' from
seeking revenge on Boss Hogg.
An amiable
jaunt, with the assistance of a whole collection of veteran
BEST STUNT
The automotive destruction
that results from the 'smoke-blinding' gag
is one of the few instances in the series of a 'multiple pile-up' of
3(or more)vehicles. This was actually comparatively rare on The Dukes and is
impressive to watch.
***
EPISODE 21
MASON DIXON'S GIRLS
The Dukes assist a Private Investigator in his quest to catch a powerful
crook.
Thank goodness for James
Best's return. The first few minutes of this episode are a triumph, as it's
made quite clear that Rosco has returned for good; thankfully an unchanged man
after his spell at the Police Academy. Without him, this episode would have
fallen into the same rut of many in the second half of the 2nd season: thin
story, boringly executed.
Mason Dixon and the two girls
are uninteresting characters and the plot doesn't involve as a result. Only the
spectacular final ten minutes compensates.
ROSCO MOMENT His appearance at the start of the episode is
outspokenly triumphant, while his mispronunciation of 'Marijuana' is almost legendary.
BEST STUNT Enos wipes out his Patrol Car.
**
EPISODE 22
R.I.P. HENRY FLATT
An old enemy of Boss(and therefore a friend to the Dukes)is believed
dead, but is in fact only in hiding.
Denver Pyles
directorial debut is quite effective, mixing character, humour and action quite
effectively. The episode has a shaky start(the time difference between the
scene of the General's crash and the walk through the clichéd cemetery being
far too implausible)but settles down into a fine display of (frequently black)
humour. The scene where Flatt bluffs the Mortuary Attendant is hilarious.
Nice to see Audrey Landers in
a non-villainous, girl-next-door role, too.
BEST STUNT The Truck chase is good, but it's the General's jump
at the beginning, which takes the honours. 'Rosco's car in a Tree' is too
obviously faked to be included.
***
EPISODE 23
SOUTHERN COMFURTS
More Duke cousins turn up, this time as new millionaires; until their
money is stolen, that is.
One of the least memorable or
noteworthy episodes of the 2nd season; an unfortunate choice for the final
instalment. There's the usual clichéd English character(they had a villain
earlier, so this one is a buffoon; naturally)and a rather listless feel to the
whole thing, which betrays it's 'final episode of the Season' origins. The best
moment comes when the Duke's orange car is painted green, but you have to wait
quite some time for that to happen.
BEST STUNT Nothing of real note, although the final chase(despite
being a "they all just come to a halt at the end" sequence) is fast
moving and well put together.
**