Secrets of the Pirates' Inn (1969) (TV)

A real treat, 10 February 2017

I may or may not have seen Secrets of Pirates' Inn when it originally aired back in 1969 – I can't remember. My family watched the Disney show on Sunday nights (at least I remember it being Sunday night), so the chances that I saw it in 1969 are fairly high. However, even if I didn't, that doesn't affect the sense of nostalgia that filled me as I watched Secrets of Pirates' Inn a couple of days ago. It really took me back to my childhood – a time when kids played outside until dark, we looked for adventure in the wooded areas around the house, and dreamed of a mystery like the one the kids in this movie experienced. My friends and I would have jumped at the chance to go on a real treasure hunt, searching for pirate gold!

Getting back to the movie, Secrets of Pirates' Inn plays something like a toned-down version of The Goonies. Three average kids meet a sea captain who has inherited an old pirate haunt that may hide treasure. The kids agree to help the old man search for the gold. But someone else in town is also looking for the treasure. Can the kids help solve the clues, navigate the secret passages, and uncover the treasure first?

It's all great fun in that innocent sort of 60s Disney way. There's danger, but you know it's nothing that will cause any real harm to anyone. There's some drama and tension, but you know that in the end it will all be resolved in our heroes favor. The bad guys aren't all that bad and are easily apprehended. And the treasure is easy enough to find that you wonder why it wasn't found years ago. But, like I said, it's all fun.

I want to give a special mention to Ed Begley as Irish sea captain Dennis McCarthy. What a great and genuine performance!

7/10

The Champions "Shadow of the Panther" #1.16 (1969) (TV)

One of the best and most fun episodes I've seen so far, 10 February 2017

In Haiti, Sharron begins an investigation of a Nemesis scientist who, according to the local coroner, died of fright. Sharron soon finds herself knee-deep in voodoo and calls Tremayne for help. When Richard and Craig arrive, they discover Sharron in a zombie-like state and at the mercy of a voodoo cult.

Shadow of the Panther is one of the best and most fun episodes I've seen so far of The Champions. There's a lot here to like – an interesting plot with a couple twists, more Sharron than usual, voodoo, Donald Sutherland in a supporting role, and the able direction of Freddie Francis. I admit that a couple plot twists really worked on me. Until he unmasks, I had no idea who the cult leader was. Likewise, I thought the mystery of whether or not Sharron was really under the control of the voodoo cult was nicely done. Either I wasn't paying attention or the suspense was handled expertly. The voodoo/zombie hokum was also enjoyable. I've always liked this type of living zombie. Finally, in addition to Donald Sutherland, the supporting cast includes Zia Mohyeddin. The man plays the slimy, but knowing hotel manager flawlessly. Overall, a very good episode that I'm rating a 9/10.

A few new powers we learn of during the episode (without giving too much away) include: immunity to certain gases, the ability to predict a roulette wheel spin, and hitting a hole-in-one on a golf course.

9/10

The Champions "The Gilded Cage" #1.15 (1969) (TV)

The end could have been better, 8 February 2017

Richard is knocked on the head and kidnapped. He wakes wearing pajamas in a plush bedroom with a beautiful woman named Samantha. It seems that Richard's kidnapper is aware of his cyphering ability and wants Richard to decode a secret formula. If he doesn't, Samantha will be killed. All the while, Craig is searching for Richard.

Up to a point, The Gilded Cage is an excellent episode. There's a real sense of mystery to what's behind Richard's kidnapping. Although light on action, the drama and suspense work well. The relationships between characters is also interesting – both Samantha and Richard's relationship and Samantha and Symons' relationship. Does Richard care enough to save Samantha? Will Symons follow through and kill Samantha? Will Samantha turn on Symons? Good stuff. Also, the supporting cast in The Gilded Cage is strong. John Carson as Symons and Jennie Linden as Samantha are as good as you'll find in series. Very nice performances.

But, as I wrote, the episode is excellent only up to a point. There are two things about The Gilded Cage that I didn't care for that keep my rating from being any higher. First, and admittedly a small thing, there is no Sharron. Episodes with all three of members of the team are usually better. Second, and more importantly, as the other reviewer on IMDb wrote, the ending is weak. Craig just sort of shows up and everything ends. There is no gun play, no fighting, no chase – it just ends. Too bad because this one could have been a real winner.

6/10

The Champions "The Search" #1.14 (1969) (TV)

How to steal a submarine, 9 December 2015

The Champions are called in to help find a stolen submarine carrying four nuclear missiles. A ransom demands $5 million in gold or London will be destroyed.

Overall, The Search is a good, exciting episode. We see The Champions use several of the abilities we've seen before - super-strength, super-hearing (tracking the guy through the woods at night was great), and telepathically communicating trouble. A couple new skills are presented: super-cipher (the ability to quickly calculate and change a missile's course) and, what I'm calling, super-hunches (the ability to locate a missing submarine by intuition without a shred of real evidence). The episode features some real drama in The Search as the nuclear missile is actually fired at London. At the time, I wasn't sure how they were going to work that out. A nice supporting cast, decent looking sets, and quick-paced direction make this one a winner.

I'm not sure why The Search has a low rating compared with some of the other episodes. I'm giving it a 7/10.

7/10

The Champions "Twelve Hours" #1.13 (1968) (TV)

Richard and Sharron go underwater, 3 December 2015

Richard and Sharron are asked to serve as bodyguards for an Eastern European leader, Drobnic, and his wife. Their schedule of activities while in the UK includes a submarine tour and ride. Richard and Sharron are unaware of the fact that a group hostile to Drobnic have placed explosives on the sub. The explosives are detonated sending the stricken sub to the bottom. With a limited oxygen supply, The Champions have just 12 hours to save everyone on board.

As my rating clearly indicates, I do not agree with the other IMDb reviewer when it comes to Twelve Hours. My biggest problem: I found much of the plot rather boring. After a great set-up where the terrorists plant the explosives, it doesn't work too well for me. The attempts to create suspense and drama felt forced. For example, after the sub sinks, almost every crew member immediately begins calling for Richard's head. None act as if they've received crises or disaster training. In reality, I would think more would have been on Richard's side. It all has a very manufactured type feeling to it. As a result, I cannot call Twelve Hours anything better than average - hence my average 5/10 rating.

5/10

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015) (TV)

The Positive: My 4 year-old likes it. The Negative: Everything else., 30 November 2015

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar tells the story of Kion, Simba's son. Simba commissions Kion to put together a new Lion Guard to protect the Pride Lands and preserve the Circle of Life. However, Kion's idea of a Lion Guard (consisting of a cheetah, bird, hippo, and honey badger) isn't quite what Simba had in mind. 

Oh my, how can you take something like The Lion King and come up with this mess? I was going to go through a long list of negatives, including: the lame hyenas and their treatment by the superior lions; the ridiculous fur patches (I agree with the other reviewer - it's like something out of The Power Rangers); kids able to take on tasks they couldn't realistically handle; Rob Lowe's voice work; the complete change in Simba's character; farts as weapons; and on and on. But, ultimately, why bother? I'm not in the target audience for this Disney offering. The key thing here is that as much as I may dislike The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar, my 4 year- old likes it and won't stop talking about it. I think he's watched it at least a dozen times since it originally aired. And he's constantly singing one of the songs from the show - Zuka Zama. So, I may think it's a mess with a twisted message, but it brings him so much joy that I have to rate it at least a 6/10 for doing what it was intended to do - entertain kids.

6/10

The Champions "The Fanatics" #1.12 (1968) (TV)

Richard goes undercover as an assassin, 28 November 2015

In The Fanatics, a string of assassinations brings Nemesis in to investigate. Richard goes undercover as an assassin, hoping to gain entry into the secretive group behind the killings. Richard discovers the name of the group's next intended target - Tremayne. Can The Champions act quickly enough to save the head of Nemesis?

As my rating would indicate, while I enjoyed The Fanatics, I don't consider it one of the better episodes. It has too many problems that I can't overlook. Still, it's an enjoyable enough experience.

A couple of things I liked: 1. Gerald Harper's Croft makes a perfect leader of the assassins. He's smart enough not get his hands dirty. Unlike those who work for him, he's in it for the money. 2. Richard gets a real chance to shine in The Fanatics. Whether its opening a booby-trapped safe, absorbing extreme punishment, or outsmarting Croft, Richard is the star of this episode. 3. The final showdown with Tremayne's life on the line is exciting. I wasn't sure how it would turn out.

A couple of things I didn't like: 1. For a secretive group like The Fanatics, they're awfully easy to find and infiltrate. And they don't have much in the way of security. Sharron and Craig just walk in after Richard incapacitates the only two people in the building. 2. While the group is called The Fanatics and a big deal is made in the pre- credit sequence, the whole "Fanatic" thing is never explained and just kind of drops. They seem more like your garden variety assassins.

In the end, I'm rating The Fanatics a 6/10.

6/10

The Champions "The Dark Island" #1.11 (1968) (TV)

Stopping WWIII, 27 November 2015

The Dark Island is an excellent episode with a plot and a band of bad guys worthy of The Champions' talents. I've complained in the past that The Champions abilities weren't necessarily needed in some of their missions. But here, they face an enemy with a plan to start World War III - sounds like a pretty worthy mission, huh? As for the baddies, The Champions are only up against a small army controlled by China - not too shabby. With lots of action, some spy type stuff, and a realistic threat, The Dark Island is a winner.

The plot sees Nemesis send The Champions to a remote Pacific island where other agents and aircraft have gone missing. Once there, The Champions find forces from the Chinese government bent on launching a nuclear missile at the United States. The US will blame the Russians and retaliate in kind - thus setting off WWIII.

Overall, a very strong 8/10 from me.

8/10

Nova "The Secret of the Wild Child" #22.2 (1994) (TV)

Heartbreaking Story, 21 November 2015

The neglect Genie suffered as a young child boggles the mind. Locked in a dark room, tied to a potty-chair, Genie never learned basic concepts like walking and talking. The shots of her walking through the grass immediately after being rescued are heartbreaking. Her walk reminds me of a new born dear getting its feet underneath. But this wasn't a newborn, Genie was more than 10 years-old before she took her "first" steps. Her story is amazing and riveting. I know that some of her caretakers were trying to do what they thought was best, but more than a few were in it for themselves. I'm not sure Genie could have ever been "saved", but I wish she had been given more of a chance.

Anyway, Genie's story is nicely presented. The film includes a number of interviews with many of the people actually in charge of Genie's care. The addition of the film clips showing Genie's progress nicely reinforces the interviews. The effect Genie had on everyone who came into contact with her is easy to see. Without the film clips, you don't have much of a show. The story of the French "wild child" from the early 19th Century, while interesting, often felt like padding (hence my 9/10 and not 10/10). I was also impressed by the film's pacing and timing. I remained glued to the screen throughout. It's a very nicely put together documentary.

9/10

The Champions "The Ghost Plane" #1.10 (1968) (TV)

Plain Old Fun, 21 November 2015

The Ghost Plane isn't the best episode I've seen so far, but it sure is a lot of fun. In this episode, The Champions are asked by Western governments to investigate a mysterious high-speed plane encountered off the coast of Hong Kong. Have the Chinese developed a plane that can outdo anything the West can throw up? And is there a connection with a disgruntled English scientist? The Champions are on the trail.

As I indicated, if I used one word to describe The Ghost Plane, it would be fun. Lots of espionage, scientific mumbo-jumbo, a bunch of interesting bad guys, explosives, and a trail that leads from England to Austria to Germany to Albania. Add to that the always rock-solid Andrew Keir, and you've got a nice episode.

The Ghost Plane isn't perfect. One problem I have with this episode really highlights one of the big weaknesses in the entire series. The Champions are too powerful and, as a result, there are often contradictions and plot holes that make no sense. For example, when the two guys put Sharron in the freezer, she could have easily prevented it form happening. We've already seen her fight and defeat tougher opponents. But had she done so, the episode would have ended right there. When the writers gave The Champions their powers, they gave them too much. The Champions would have had real problems with this kind of thing had the series extended past the first season.

7/10

The Champions "The Iron Man" #1.9 (1968) (TV)

A weak episode, 16 November 2015

In The Iron Man, The Champions are sent to protect a deposed South American dictator who may be the target of assassination. 

I hate to rate an episode of The Champions this low, but I really didn't enjoy The Iron Man all that much. In fact, I had trouble paying attention it was so uneventful. The problem - the plot set-up felt tired. It felt like something I've seen a dozen times in a dozen different television shows. There's just not much new ground covered here. And the assignment is hardly worth the talents and abilities of The Champions. A good, well-trained security team could have easily handled the mission. Other than a couple of instances where superhuman hearing comes in handy, there's really not much for our heroes to do. Finally, the poor attempts at humor also hurt the episode. From the moment El Gaudillo appears on screen, you can pretty much guess what kind of character he is - a braggadocios, lecherous blow-hard with an over-inflated ego who will undoubtedly be the first to run at the sign of danger. Funny stuff (not).

I hate to do it, but a 4/10 from me.

4/10

The Champions "To Trap a Rat" #1.8 (1968) (TV)

The Champions go up against a drug syndicate, 13 November 2015

The Champions put their considerable abilities to use as they go up against a drug syndicate dealing tainted narcotics and death on the streets of London. 

To Trap a Rat is a different sort of episode. It's more "realistic" than the others I've seen so far. There aren't any nuclear devices or Chinese spy missions or old Nazis in a cave. The drug dealers presented here probably aren't that far from what you'd find on the streets in mid-1960s London. When the episode started, I wasn't too sure how it would work for me. Usually, the more outlandish the plot and set- pieces in something like The Champions, the better. But I quickly realized I was wrong. To Trap a Rat is probably my favorite episode far. 

A couple other things I liked: 1. Tracking the baddies – The way Sharron and Richard tracked down the bad guys by listening to sounds on the phone was really sweet. 2. Edina Ronay – Wow! 3. Let's go outside – not only were the plot themes realistic, but the extensive use of outside locations throughout the episode added to the realism. It's always cool to see shots of swinging 1960s London. 

A couple of things I didn't like: 1. Too many powers - It seemed to me that there were several new powers presented in To Trap a Rat that hadn't been hinted at before the episode. It just seemed so random. 2. Actually, there's not a #2. 

Overall, an 8/10 (verging on a 9/10) from me.

8/10

Poirot "Mrs. McGinty's Dead" #11.1 (2008) (TV)

"But I am afraid, Madame, that your female intuition; it has taken the day off.", 6 April 2011

James Bentley has been arrested, charged, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to hang for the bludgeoning death of Mrs. McGinty, a charwoman from whom James rented rooms. Almost immediately, however, the Superintendent in charge of the case starts to have doubts. He contacts his old friend, Hercule Poirot, to look into the matter. Poirot discovers that a crime committed long ago may have played a part in Mrs. McGinty's death. Has someone from the past come forward to commit murder? A couple of old photographs may hold the key.

It's hardly surprising I enjoyed this version of Mrs. McGinty's Dead so much. I've always enjoyed the book and I almost equally enjoyed this dramatization. It makes for a solid mystery plot. While it may not be entirely faithful to Agatha Christie's work, enough of the good stuff is still here. And really, what Christie adaptation could ever hope to be 100% faithful? The writing, the attention to detail, the cinematography, the lighting - all are what I've come to expect from the better episodes of the Poirot series. I've run out of superlatives to use when describing David Suchet. He's about as perfect for the role of Poirot as anyone could hope to be. Some of the other actors, including Zoe Wanamaker as the apple-eating Adrian Oliver and Mary Stockley as the uber-secretive Eve Carpenter also made significant impressions. Other than the botched and confusing handling of the pair of murderous backstories, Mrs. McGinty's Dead is about as good as I've seen in the entire series.

8/10

Jonny Quest "Terror Island" #1.24 (1965) (TV)

Giant bugs run amuck, 12 March 2010

Jonny, Hadji, and Race are desperate to find Dr. Quest after he's been kidnapped. Dr. Quest has been taken to the secret lab of Dr. Chu Sing Ling – a scientist working on a secret formula that turns insects into giants. Dr. Ling wants Quest's assistance. Naturally, Dr. Quest refuses and faces the prospect of being fed to one of Dr. Ling's creations. Will the rest of the gang arrive in time to save Dr. Quest?

While Terror Island is reasonably fun and feels something like an homage to the 1950s era giant bug movies I love so much, for whatever reason, I don't care for this episode as much as some others. Sure, I enjoyed the rampaging giant bug action, but I have a couple of problems with Terror Island. First, this may sound silly when talking about Jonny Quest, but Terror Island lacks the "real" feeling I enjoy in other episodes. This one is sci-fi all the way - with an emphasis on the fi part. I can go along with all the spy stuff, the robots, and even the prehistoric creatures you usually find in Jonny Quest, but this episode pushes credibility too far. (Please remember, when I use words like "real" or "credibility", I'm using them in the context of the Jonny Quest world – not the world you and I live in.)

My second problem is with Dr. Ling's rather sketchy plan. I'm not sure he ever says why he's trying to create an army of giant insects – he just is. Even the most deranged of the Jonny Quest baddies has some sort of explanation for what they're up to. Again, it takes away from the realism (relatively speaking once again).

In the end, despite the problems I have with the episode, this is still Jonny Quest and its still fun. I'll give Terror Island a 6/10.

6/10

Jonny Quest "The House of Seven Gargoyles" #1.23 (1965) (TV)

What an episode!, 11 March 2010

The Quest Team heads to the fjords of Norway to pay a visit to one of Dr. Quest's old friends, Dr. Ericson. Dr. Ericson has invented an anti-gravity device that may have drawn some unwanted attention. Even though no one will believe him, Jonny is sure he spotted a submarine in the nearby fjord. Next, once at Dr. Ericson's, Jonny is certain he's seen one of the stone gargoyles that guard the castle move. Again, no one believes him. Opinions on Jonny's eyesight change, however, when Dr. Ericson's discovery is stolen from the castle by foreign agents.

Based mostly on recollections from my childhood, there are what I would consider to be three iconic Jonny Quest episodes. These three episodes represent not only what I call the best of Jonny Quest, but they're filled with moments and images I'll never forget. The three episodes in question – The Curse of Anubis, The Robot Spy, and The House of Seven Gargoyles. I've already written about the first two, so now I'm on to third. To begin with, what a name – The House of Seven Gargoyles! How cool is that? It just evokes mystery and suspense. And what about the human gargoyle? I'll never forget the first time I saw this episode – it gave me chills for days. The image of the gargoyle coming to life and creeping through the castle corridors is the stuff of nightmares. Add to that clandestine meetings in a graveyard, spies in a submarine, and a stolen anti-gravity device and you've got one rock solid Jonny Quest episode. With no hesitation, I rate The House of Seven Gargoyles a 9/10.

Another thing that always creeps me out about this episode is the gargoyle Jonny is given in the final scene. Looking at the statue sitting between Jonny and Hadji in the backseat of the car, I'm always waiting for its eyes to open. Creepy stuff!

9/10

Jonny Quest "The Quetong Missile Mystery" #1.22 (1965) (TV)

I can't believe it - an episode I've never seen!, 5 March 2010

While visiting some unnamed Southeast Asian country, Dr. Quest is asked by the local authorities to look into the strange happenings in the nearby Swamp Lake. None of the police patrols that have gone into the swamp have returned. What lurks in these murky waters? How about a band of ninja types guarding a secret missile installation. Things could get quite tricky for the Quest Team.

A few random things about The Quetong Missile Mystery:

- To my utter surprise and delight, I realized almost immediately that I had never seen The Quetong Missile Mystery. I'm not sure how I missed it either when I was younger or when I went through the episodes when I bought the DVDs. But how cool – a new episode!

- The bad guys in The Quetong Missile Mystery are great. The black clad ninja-types in the trees, the traitor Lt. Singh, and the head baddie General Fong are an impressive cast of villains. One of my favorite bits comes near the end when Gen. Fong barks the orders to catch and kill the Quest Team. You wouldn't see anything like that in today's overly PC cartoons. Fong is just awesome.

- I knew I recognized the voice of Commissioner Wah and was delighted to discover Keye Luke's name in the credits. How cool is it that Keye Luke provides some of the voices for this episode? To me, it's just about the coolest thing I've run across in a Jonny Quest episode. I know he did a lot of things, but as a huge fan of Charlie Chan, Keye Luke will always be #1 son Lee.

Overall, The Quetong Missile Mystery is another great installment in the Jonny Quest series. I'll give it an 8/10.

8/10

Jonny Quest "The Devil's Tower" #1.21 (1965) (TV)

Von Duffel is as mad as a hatter, 5 March 2010

Dr. Quest and Race set out to retrieve a scientific balloon that has crashed atop an escarpment known as The Devil's Tower. Race leaves Dr. Quest and returns to camp to pick-up the boys. Back on top of the escarpment, Dr. Quest is no where to be found. Instead, Race, Jonny, and Hadji run into a tribe of cavemen. They also run into a Nazi war criminal known as Von Duffel who has been using the cavemen to mine a load of precious diamonds. Can the whole gang escape the mad Von Duffel or, using Race's plane, will Von Duffel make his own escape?

While not the greatest of episodes, The Devil's Tower is still highly entertaining. Von Duffel is as good a baddie as the Quest Team face in any episode. And by good, I mean he's so stark raving mad that he seems quite capable of anything. Von Duffel's appearance is also a highlight. His stark skeletal features are nicely drawn. He reminds me quite a bit of the Crypt Keeper in appearance. The only real weakness of the episode comes in the final chase scenes as Jonny and family attempt to escape while Von Duffel attacks from overhead in the plane. It's exciting and all, but it feels too much like the finale of an earlier Jonny Quest episode, Shadow of the Condor. Still, a quality entry in the series that I rate a 7/10.

7/10

Jonny Quest "The Invisible Monster" #1.20 (1965) (TV)

Scared the pants off me as a child, 28 February 2010

Dr. Isaiah Norman, an old friend and colleague of Dr. Quest, calls with a frantic request for help. His latest experiment involving molecular energy has gotten out of control with devastating results. Somehow, Dr. Norman has created an invisible creature made of pure energy. It exists solely to consume more energy. The Quest Team quickly boards their plane to head off on another adventure. But will they get there in time to save Dr. Norman?

Finally, my run of bad luck with Jonny Quest is over. The Invisible Monster is one of those episodes that stands out. And why not? An effective monster, cool jet packs, and characters that actually die – it's got all the makings of a first rate Jonny Quest episode. It was the kind of episode that 40 years ago would have had my lights on all night. It was that scary! Watching today, I may have slept comfortably, but I can still recognize class when I see it. It's truly one of the most memorable of all of the Jonny Quest episodes. One thing I noticed looking at it today, the monster doesn't have the same polished appearance of the other artwork from Jonny Quest. It's a simple design with colors that change from frame to frame. But I guess with a creature made of molecular energy, you could do almost anything with it and it would look okay. And that solitary eye – creepy! And that noise – even creepier. I love it! The Invisible Monster easily gets an 8/10 from me.

8/10

Jonny Quest "Attack of the Tree People" #1.19 (1965) (TV)

A ruddy average episode, 25 February 2010

When compared with the previous three episodes, Attack of the Tree People isn't half bad. But, when compared with some of the better episodes of the Jonny Quest series, it doesn't look so good. In this one, after an accident at sea, Jonny and Hadji are separated from Dr. Quest and Race and end up in a thick, jungle type setting. The boys aren't alone for long as they are quickly befriended by a band of friendly apes. Unfortunately, there are also two gun-runners lurking nearby who see ransoming the boys as a way to make a quick buck. In the end, it's not Dr. Quest and Race who save the boys – instead, the apes save everyone.

Okay, first for the good – I really enjoyed the two would-be kidnappers, Silkey and Topper, and their thick cockney accents. The two sound like they're straight out of the chimney sweep scene in Mary Poppins. I think every sentence they utter includes the word "ruddy". As for the bad – look no further than the apes or "Tree People" of the episodes title. The fact that these wild apes act nothing like wild apes is just too silly. It might not have been so bad if there had been some explanation for their behavior, but there's nothing to indicate why these apes act as they do. The rest of the episode is pretty uneventful. As with the other recent episodes I've watched, there's nothing worth getting overly excited about. In the end, the best I can say about Attack of the Tree People is that it's a thoroughly average episode of an excellent series. A 5/10 seems about right.

5/10

Jonny Quest "Pirates from Below" #1.18 (1965) (TV)

I'm in the middle of an awfully dry stretch, 25 February 2010

Dr. Quest newest invention is an underwater vehicle (sorry, I can't remember what they called it) that sort of rolls across the bottom of the ocean floor. The invention becomes the target of a group of baddies who want the vehicle for themselves to sell off to the highest bidder. Race and Jonny get mixed-up in the hijacking and it's up to Dr. Quest and Hadji to save the day.

I hate to have to give another Jonny Quest episode such a poor rating, but I don't have much choice. Pirates from Below just isn't that good and has very little to recommend. In a word, it's pretty dull. I've had similar problems with the previous two episodes. When I think about these three episodes, they all suffer the same weakness – the lack of a compelling or interesting villain or other threat. The pirates in this episode, the loggers in Werewolf of the Timberland, and the nondescript bad guys in The Fraudulent Volcano can't begin to compare with the spider-like robot of The Robot Spy, the threatening mummy from The Curse of Anubis, or the dragon pit found in Dragons of Ashida. Those episodes presented adversaries and situations that were suspenseful and frightening. I know things pick-up later on in the Jonny Quest series and there are some really good episodes to come, but right now, I'm in the middle of an awfully dry stretch.

4/10