The Rat Patrol "The Blow Sky High Raid" #1.9 (1966)

A good moment can't save the rest, 15 August 2017

The Rat Patrol is given a new type of highly volatile explosive to be used against a radar installation. Time is of the essence as Allied bombers will be flying overhead very soon. However, the stuff is so volatile that getting it to the target is half the challenge. Moffatt has heard tales of an old, dry riverbed that runs through the mountains that may provide The Rat Patrol with a smoother surface to transport the explosive. However, Dietrich has also heard the same tales and is waiting for Troy and his men.

In writing about the previous episode, I doubted I would find an episode I disliked as much as The Fatal Chase Raid. Well, that didn't take long. The Blow Sky High Raid is just about as bad. The problem here is the utter stupidity of the writing. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I could list about four or five things in this episode that are completely ridiculous. But the most idiotic part has to be Tory walking into the German encampment without getting shot. There's no way in this world would that have happened. Sure, he's carrying an explosive, but the German's didn't know that. With all the heartache Troy has put Dietrich through, he would have had him shot on sight. Instead, Troy waltzes in with his explosive and takes out the German radar. Ridiculous.

There is one scene in The Blow Sky High Raid that I found very interesting. Dietrich's interaction with the blind native woman, Selhim, is an incredibly compelling moment. Here, Dietrich is presented as an actual human. Sure, he's using Selhim for information, but there's more to it than that. It's easy to see he likes this woman. It's a small thing, but something different from the ordinary.

5/10