The A-Team: Cup A' Joe
episode number: season 3, episode 13 (1985)
viewing setting: home DVD, 2/13/06
episode synopsis: The team helps a small family diner that's being pushed to sell by a larger chain with a hidden motive.
impressions: This one was decent - my only gripe was that the bad guys were nasty and deserved worse than they got from the team. The final fight was prefaced by an 18-wheeler cab smashing through the bad guys' diner, which was a lot of fun to watch. Other general observations: B.A. seemed to be angrier than usual toward Murdock, and Face seemed a little more obsessed with women this time (and also exceptionally lazy when it came time to do real work.) Maybe midway through this season, the writers decided to shake things up.
notable guest star: None.
what the team builds in this episode: They bring a dead 18-wheeler back to life and weld armor plating to its front to create a gigantic battering ram. It's actually kind of cool.
Hannibal wisecrack highlight: Nothing stood out, really.
B.A. toughness highlight: Beats up 3 of the 4 bad guys in the first confrontation at the diner.
Murdock insanity highlight: Thinks he's a French chef, then becomes a NY-style short-order cook, later talks to the dog. His funniest moment, though, comes when he and Face are at the Army base and he's all armored up with a metal helmet and starts acting like Darth Vader. Classic.
Face scam highlight: Poses as an insurance agent in order to plant a bug in the bad guys' office, later poses as an Army colonel in order to borrow an explosives-sniffing dog.
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