The Six Million Dollar Man: Stranger in Broken Fork
episode number: season 2, episode 10 (1974)
viewing setting: home DVD, 1/31/11
episode synopsis: After amnesia sets in due to malfunctioning bionics, Steve ends up in some small mountain town, involved in a local dispute.
impressions: Steve has bionic issues which result in his one-man plane crashing and him having amnesia. Then he gets befriended by a blond chick who also happens to be some sort of doctor or psychologist. She runs a home for some sort of mentally-impaired people, though they all look like regular old people. One local doesn't like these people being around, and when Steve beats him twice, the local decides it's time for murder. This is the sort of thing that, when the time comes, merits an execution. It really wouldn't be so tough; Oscar could just walk up and say something like "Say there, friend, I couldn't help but notice that you were about to use your shotgun to execute my pal - and your government's top agent, and military officer, and astronaut - Steve. And we can't have that. Say hello to my little friend." (BLAM!) That's one way this could have gone. The ending was powerful but lacked any real guts. This isn't the first time that some idiot let his temper get the better of him and was shooting people, or shooting at people, or thinking about it. There needs to be some punishment.
notable guest star: Noted TV and movie bad guy Robert Donner is the evil local. Noted TV actress Sharon Farrell is the psychlogist-chick.
significant bionic antics: Steve breaks a tire jack, loosens the rusted lugnuts with his hand, hurls several people around during several fights, and runs really fast to save the day. Also, his bionic arm has some malfunctions.
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