The Surgeon

The one thing Galen's missing is a girlfriend or wife, especially since we all know McDowall's Cornelius character as being matched with Kim Hunter's Zera in the original films... and here a ladyfriend is introduced - well actually, she and Galen are former lovers, and Kira's a surgeon who holds the skills, along with a discovered forbidden book on human surgery tactics, to save Virdon: who's been shot by Gorillas.

But first, the one thing he needs before the operation is the transfusion from a put-upon teenager, whose father thinks she's cursed: and he'll do everything to stop the surgery...

Has that time-is-running-out intensity throughout, and is thus as aggravating as suspenseful, but a cool episode giving Galen more depth than usual. And last but not least, CHARLEY VARRICK actress Jacqueline Scott (quoted at the end of this article from an interview) plays the surgeon aka the Galen's ex, and is wearing Kim Hunter's (from the first three films) same mask. And behind another ape mask is James Naughton's brother, David Naughton, who would be a (Dr.) Pepper before starring in the John Landis classic AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON.

One of my favorite series ever, firstly because make part of my teenage years, second for Roddy McDowall brings the same character Cornelius from the original picture, Galen is the fax simile, Ron Harper and Naughton were great neither, this episode Alan is wounded by gunfire and Galen decides takes him to his former girlfriend who is a Doctor, despite all danger they reach on her, although has a problem, no one on Planet of the Apes know anything about human bodies, then Galen suggest to borrow it from Zaius's house which has a book from the past of human race, further Alan will need a blood transfusing, sadly this medical procedures still unaware for the Apes yet, actually they already tried it before, but failed, due they don't have the knowledge over many blood types, meanwhile Ursus is coming......

Resume:

First watch: 1978 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.25