SGriffin-6

With this episode, the major plot threads of Season 3 basically wind up so that we can move onto what they have cooked up for Season 4. Dan Duryea as Eddie Jacks shows promise--a con-artist magnetism that he brings to most of the roles he playes. But: the conclusion of Jack Chandler/Jack Forrest is pretty perfunctory--somewhat the equivalent of "oh, we need to be done with this." Further, we are being asked to believe that Steven Cord has been sexually hypnotized by Adrienne Van Leyden in the course of only a few episodes. (I will grant you that Gena Rowlands is a GREAT actress and is a beautiful woman--but she ain't Rita Hayworth in "Gilda," so the immediate attraction seems somewhat forced.). And speaking of "Gilda," Hayworth's co-star in that film, George Macready, is replaced here with Wilfred Hyde-White now playing Martin Peyton. Surprisingly, Macready brings more charm to the role than Hyde-White (I would've thought the opposite after Hyde-White's triumph as Col. Pickering in "My Fair Lady"). And whomever is creating the end credits is running out of ways to distinguish performers: Dan Duryea is a "Guest Star," Wilfred Hyde-White is a "Special Guest," and Gena Rowlands is a "Special Guest Star." If they have to cast anymore unique performers, I guess they will have to be an "Extra Super Special Guest Star"...

The seven stars is mainly because there isn't anything amazing in terms of performance or camerawork or anything... probably the biggest creative statement is the debut of Lee Webber's new haircut, where they've gotten rid of the greasy-kid-stuff 50's motorcycle rebel look (it is June 1967 after all, the Summer of Love is occurring!).

BUT: the script does a major left turn in this episode--totally giving an alternate explanation to Rachel's backstory that flips our understanding of both her and Chandler...and it also finally reveals how the two of them interacted with Alison (Mia Farrow's character). No spoilers here--but the synopsis here on IMDB kinda already gives everything away. While this pretty largely upends what the viewer has thought was going on with these characters, the reveal DOES kind of work--so kudos to that. I cannot say though if this plot twist was always planned, or if they felt the need to rewrite things due to outside factors going on with Leigh Taylor-Young...