The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers: Part 1

As much as it pains me,I must say this episode stinks. Worse yet,this is a 2-part episode,which makes it all the worse. As others before me have pointed-out,the main story behind this episode is not very plausible. The guest character is not particularly likable,and there is not much chemistry between him and anyone else. It is implied that this character is a saintly lover of nature that is living a 'Waldon pond' type of life. Which may indeed be the case. The thing is,the man is an old crabass and is very abrasive and annoying. Dragging this weak story out over 2 episodes is a strange anomaly for this usually awesome show. As much as I hate to even say it,this has to be the worst 2-part episode in the series. By all means watch it and see what you think,if you are skeptical of my opinion.

Not often that "Rockford" falls on its face but this appalling two- parter is one such occasion. The script is a preposterous mishmash of sentimental melodrama right from the start and the second half is worse than the first. In the story's one ironic touch, Rockford's police buddy Dennis Becker recaps for him early on just how idiotic the plot is. It seems every hand is turned against geezer Strother Martin in an attempt to further urban sprawl and convert his small suburban holding into apartments. The evil mastermind, a real estate developer, is built up into such a monster he'd give Simon LeGree a run for his money, and he's given a lot of help by a chorus line of corrupt doctors, bankers, lawyers, pharmacists, police and sundry other parties. Then there's some maudlin interplay between Martin and Garner and Noah Beery and an attempted suicide, and a dragged out eulogy, and on and on. Rockford fans can skip this fiasco with a clear conscience.

I suspect this episode was inspired by "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", one of the best films ever made. Evocative in that the empathetic viewer could be totally sane, yet evil powers-that-be could take away literally everything - terrifying! Strother Martin plays the part of the put-upon citizen admirably. The thugs sure appear to have the upper hand in this part one of two! Regarding the trivia items which mention the car horn: The car involved in the horn incident, a Ferrari Dino, had a two-tone air horn with mechanical compressor dedicated to horn air; true that the freon-powered horn that they pulled out after being planted by Rocky wouldn't sound as depicted, but it WOULD have sounded exactly like the Dino's horn with one trumpet not functioning. The freon-powered horn would NOT have lasted more than two or three minutes before freezing up and would have died at the most five minutes after being activated; that little can of propellant only holds so much. Great episode, nice to see "Braless Beth"in her nightie - so sexy!

Corrupt stockbroker, doctor, lawyer, and a mind-bogglingly evil land developer all conspire to take away the land from a beekeeper. American elites are corrupt, evil, ruthless and will crush anyone in the way of their fast buck.