The A-Team: Semi-Friendly Persuasion
episode number: season 2, episode 21 (1984)
viewing setting: home DVD, 7/18/05
episode synopsis: The team comes to the aid of a colony of pacifists who aren't welcome in the small town they've chosen to settle in.
impressions: I groaned throughout this episode, then at the end I realized that it was actually brilliant. It showed what might happen if the team got hired by a pacifist group, led by the most nonviolent pacifist of all! Watching the guys' reactions to the various BS they're forced to put up with - all while trying to fight off a bigot and his henchmen - makes for good entertainment.
notable guest star: Geoffrey Lewis (perhaps best known for his sidekick role in Every Which Way But Loose and its sequel) is the head bad guy. Sam J. Jones, who played the title role in the greatest musical fantasy sci-fi action adventure movie ever made, is one of the pacifists. Red West, who owned a general store in Road House, is an evil general store owner here. Oh, the irony!
what the team builds in this episode: Nothing real, though they do start to build build a meeting hall for their "clients."
Hannibal wisecrack highlight: He manages to beat the bad guys (the first time) with only words and threats; also, he tells the pacifist leader how life is at the end of the episode, before walking away shaking his head. Classic.
B.A. toughness highlight: Handily beats more than his share of bad guys when the time to fight finally comes.
Murdock insanity highlight: Talks to pecans, in the role of their doctor.
Face scam highlight: Talks/tricks the general store owner out of a truckload of lumber and some nails.
Tawnia usefulness highlight: None - she didn't appear in this episode.
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