Episode #85 "Hell Hath No Fury"

[RedDragon86]

1 hour ago, ViceFanMan said:

Perhaps a 9 is a little too high, but I’d still give it an 8. “Lombard” is amazing and definitely a good episode! “Forgive” is good too, but not sure it would get a 9 either.

Season 3 overall was still pretty good, but towards the end it started to “fail”. The writers were creating some pretty stupid & poor episodes—such as “Viking” and “Showbiz”. I’m not a fan of “Red Tape” either...basically a so-so filler. But, “Duty and Honor” (“Savage” was not the title they ended up using...although it probably would have been better) was awesome!

As for this episode...I’m sorry, but in reality sadly media and people do “camp” and converge outside peoples homes or businesses like this, if it’s a high profile case! People don’t care about harassment...society gets-off on the drama, lurid details, and the media attention. Sadly, this was/is realistic!

But, there’s several aspects to “Hell Hath” that make it a good one of Season 4...the wild & bizarre plot twists, suspense, the action & shootout, the visuals & colors of some pastels again, and I still say the woman playing Ellen Mason did a very good  & heartfelt job...in all honesty (as much as I love Trudy) she did a more realistic acting job than Olivia.

Overall I still really like this episode and stand by my review...it’s one I enjoy every time!  

The opening with the woman in the audience laughing and joking about how if one of them got raped they would hope it by him? wtf! it is an absolute joke. Dick Wolf is bad writer but was he reasonable for writing this when he was high on crack?

If she got harassed like that the cops would have escorted them off her property, she has rights.

A rapist standing there with a bullhorn spouting how sorry he is beyond ridiculous, show me any example of this happening in any decade. I wonder how it would play out if Harvey Weinstein and CNN were parked outside Rose McGowans home. Like I said ridiculous. 

These are the type of episodes that drags the show down.

 

Edited July 31, 2021 by RedDragon86

[Eillio Martin Imbasciati]

One thing I've recently thought about in terms of this episode was when Castillo admonishes the team for their handling of the Beaks case. I will stick up for Crockett though, as he tried to get Charles Hatch to surrender, so I think he tried to do right (I'm sure Castillo was speaking mostly of Trudy the whole time, but I loved her fire in this episode).

[ViceFanMan]

12 hours ago, RedDragon86 said:

The opening with the woman in the audience laughing and joking about how if one of them got raped they would hope it by him? wtf! it is an absolute joke. Dick Wolf is bad writer but was he reasonable for writing this when he was high on crack?

If she got harassed like that the cops would have escorted them off her property, she has rights.

A rapist standing there with a bullhorn spouting how sorry he is beyond ridiculous, show me any example of this happening in any decade. I wonder how it would play out if Harvey Weinstein and CNN were parked outside Rose McGowans home. Like I said ridiculous. 

These are the type of episodes that drags the show down.

 

There are serial killer, and rapist, and well known criminal groupies that for some sick reason get-off on being obsessed & attracted to them...I can’t explain it, but yes...it is realistic and does happen! There are those people who would say things like that woman at the beginning. 

Victims in high profile cases can also, and have been harassed by the media, their neighborhoods and spectators before. Perpetrators getting out & wanting media attention sometimes will write books to try and get money off it...or do weird shocking things to get that attention, sometimes harassing the victims—whether in the media, by phone, or even trying to see them.

 I agree that eventually Ellen could have had the cops remove all those people from her yard...but it would take time, and I think they were already trying to do that when Crockett & Tubbs arrived. However, media & paparazzi, or psychos, rarely ever follow or care about restraining orders. They’ll harass anyone they want to get as much drama & story they can...or till they kill or get what they want from the victim (if it’s the stalker). 

 One truly unrealistic part to this episode is when Beaks actually physically assaults Ellen at her school. Even though he didn’t actually have a weapon in his hands, when he took & and grabbed ahold of her & yanked her around, (I assume to try and force a  forgiveness statement out of her) that was assault! He was out on parole and that to me could have got him sent back to prison that day! So I agree that specific scene and that part was not realistic. Sadly, a good portion of the rest of it was and is realistic.

This specific episode isn’t necessarily based on an actual case...it’s just an example to show where our media, talk shows, society, etc...were headed. I’m sorry but I can sadly see this happening even more now, than in 1988. But, this was an early indication of how things were starting to become.

 I get it, you don’t like this episode. I do!  But, it’s more of opinion...and I doubt either of us are going to change the other’s mind.   There are many other episodes that started to bring the ratings & popularity of the show down (even towards the end of Season 3). But, this wasn’t one. It’s not a famous episode, but it’s not one that helped destroy ratings and cause viewers to jump-ship. We’d already had a few of those before this episode...and sadly there were more to follow at the end of this season & on into 5. 

Edited August 1, 2021 by ViceFanMan

[Eillio Martin Imbasciati]

3 minutes ago, ViceFanMan said:

There are serial killer, and rapist, and well known criminal groupies that for some sick reason get-off on being obsessed & attracted to them...I can’t explain it, but yes...it is realistic and does happen! There are those people who would say things like that woman at the beginning. 

Victims in high profile cases can also, and have been harassed by the media, their neighborhoods and spectators before. Perpetrators getting out & wanting media attention sometimes will write books to try and get money off it...or do weird shocking things to get that attention, sometimes harassing the victims—whether in the media, by phone, or even trying to see them.

 I agree that eventually Ellen could have had the cops remove all those people from her yard...but it would take time, and I think they were already trying to do that when Crockett & Tubbs arrived. However, media & paparazzi, or psychos, rarely ever follow or care about restraining orders. They’ll harass anyone they want to get as much drama & story they can...or till they kill or get what they want from the victim (if it’s the stalker). 

 One truly unrealistic part to this episode is when beaks actually physically assaults Ellen at her school. Even though he didn’t actually have a weapon in his hands when he took her and slammed her against the wall and got into her face, (I assume to try and force a  forgiveness statement out of her) that was assault! He was out on parole and that to me could have got him sent back that day! So I agree that specific scene and that part was not realistic. Sadly, a good portion of the rest of it was and is. 

This specific episode isn’t necessarily based on an actual case...it’s just an example to show where our media, talk shows, society, etc...were headed. I’m sorry but I can sadly see this happening even more now, than in 1988. But, this was an early indication of how things were starting to become.

 I get it, you don’t like this episode. I do!  But, it’s more of opinion...and I doubt either of us are going to change the other’s mind.   There are many other episodes that started to bring the ratings & popularity of the show down (even towards the end of Season 3). But, this wasn’t one. It’s not a famous episode, but it’s not one that helped destroy ratings and cause viewers to jump-ship. We’d already had a few of those before this episode...and sadly there were more to follow at the end of this season & on into 5. 

I agree, there's a lot of people that have odd notions about things, and are also attracted to danger ("The Night Stalker" & Ted Bundy had HUGE  followings, they were like serial killer rock stars), so I feel the view expressed in the opening of the show isn't uncommon. I think, just like 'Vote of confidence', that there's a strong reality demonstrated in the episode, and like you said ViceFanMan, it was where we were headed (and arrived to) in both media or society.

[ViceFanMan]

3 minutes ago, Eillio Martin Imbasciati said:

I agree, there's a lot of people that have odd notions about things, and are also attracted to danger ("The Night Stalker" & Ted Bundy had HUGE  followings, they were like serial killer rock stars), so I feel the view expressed in the opening of the show isn't uncommon. I think, just like 'Vote of confidence', that there's a strong reality demonstrated in the episode, and like you said ViceFanMan, it was where we were headed (and arrived to) in both media or society.

Exactly...very well stated!

Edited July 31, 2021 by ViceFanMan

[RedDragon86]

Demented Manson groupies yes, but not the random public though VFM who are suddenly appeased to a rapist scumbag, who commited the third worse act in life imo. What is there to follow anyway? A guy who raped a woman so? there is no cult, its retarded.

Far fetched bunkum is what it is. 

I am out. 

Edited August 1, 2021 by RedDragon86

[ViceFanMan]

3 hours ago, RedDragon86 said:

Demented Manson groupies yes, but not the random public though VFM who are suddenly appeased to a rapist scumbag, who commited the third worse act in life imo. What is there to follow anyway? A guy who raped a woman so? there is no cult, its retarded.

Far fetched bunkum is what it is. 

I am out. 

The point is, there are weirdos and groupies who like and/or are attracted to serial killers, rapists, criminals, etc...not just Manson (as Ellio Martin Imbasciati stated). In this episode it was Alan Beaks, who was the criminal that the weirdos, media, and society were obsessed with (whether sexually or to get drama & a story). 

What is there to follow? The rapist getting out (way too early) and trying to re-contact the victim for a supposed apology. When she refuses & attempts to ignore it all, the perpetrator pushes further...causing harassment, fear, pain, and torment (that Beaks probably wants to cause for sending him to prison). It’s the sick kind of crap the media, talk shows, and even society gets-off on, and get obsessed with. 

This episode is actually not that far fetched, & definitely not retarded, at all...how everyone (media, spectators/society, neighbors/neighborhood, etc...) responded & reacted to the whole situation was one of the realistically portrayed, yet disturbing aspects to the episode! But, we all like or dislike different episodes for different reasons...to each his or her own.  

Edited August 1, 2021 by ViceFanMan

[RedDragon86]

12 hours ago, ViceFanMan said:

It’s actually not that far fetched at all...that’s one of the realistically portrayed, yet disturbing aspects to the episode. But, we all like or dislike different episodes for different reasons...to each his or her own.  

Fair enough.

I hate arguing with posters I like  believe it not but I think you are one of the nice ones on here and I have full respect for you.

 

Edited August 1, 2021 by RedDragon86

[ViceFanMan]

8 minutes ago, RedDragon86 said:

Fair enough, if you like it all power to you

I hate arguing with posters I like  believe it not but I think you are one of the nice ones on here and I have full respect for you.

 

I don’t like arguing either...especially with other posters I like, too. For the most part I think we agree or have similar views on episodes, and I also have great respect for you & how you comment & respond. I love all the pics & artwork posters/photos you post & provide, too!  

But, sometimes there’s differences of opinion...and that’s part of it as well. But, even if I disagree with someone or something, I always try to be respectful (no rude or condescending tones, no name calling, no insults, etc...). Although there are those that do respond that way...it’s  ridiculous & let’s be honest...it is just a television show from the 80s. 

We all have the episodes we like or dislike, and explaining & discussing/digressing those can be interesting & fun, too. I think most everyone here can agree that MV was one of the best & most iconic shows in TV history! 

[ViceFanMan]

Some cool artwork for this episode!  

[Jack Gretsky]

Casualties of War's Don Harvey stars as a released, apparently reformed rapist.  John Michael Higgins co-stars as his usual unctuous self as a Phil Donahue type.  This episode takes on important and serious subject matter, but it feels more like Law and Order or something like that rather than Vice.  There aren't even any cool pop tracks!  This isn't really why I watch MV.  

[Augusta]

On 8/2/2021 at 8:12 PM, ViceFanMan said:

Some cool artwork for this episode!  

I can LIKE arguing.  It can be done well, and have everyone stay cool.  A little heat shows you believe in what you're saying, and not just throwing a card down to shake up a game.  

Picking from Season 4 is always rough.     No matter what episode it is, our various comments will almost always reveal those same cardinal flaws in the Dick Wolf influenced MV versus the rigid Michael Mann driven MV.
Not enough music singles to establish the audience's mood, not enough Miami background on camera to remind us that the rest of the city really walks right over these party-pooper police while they're doing their job.  Season 4 and 5 were definitely not what I tune it to MV to watch.... and though I always love Olivia Brown, this episode doesn't pass my MV requirements either.
And with this episode you have what Dick Wolf staff love to include for police subject matter:  the double-standard abuse society dumps on special victims.  
GUARANTEED to make someone in the audience get off a lewd joke, and cause 80% of the viewers to get upset with other 20% of the viewers.

But a piece of film or tv that makes people argue about a subject AFTER the program is over,... is GREAT ART.  Every sculptor dreams of being able to do that with his pieces, as well as nearly every photographer, painter mural artist, etc.  Leave the spectators walking away arguing about something social or controversial that may never reach a solution unless we argue about it... and your art has just rewarded you for all the labor you put into it.
I am seldom satisfied by Season 4 and 5 episodes, but I have to give this episode some respect for achieving that in us.  

[ViceFanMan]

5 hours ago, Augusta said:

I can LIKE arguing.  It can be done well, and have everyone stay cool.  A little heat shows you believe in what you're saying, and not just throwing a card down to shake up a game.  

Picking from Season 4 is always rough.     No matter what episode it is, our various comments will almost always reveal those same cardinal flaws in the Dick Wolf influenced MV versus the rigid Michael Mann driven MV.
Not enough music singles to establish the audience's mood, not enough Miami background on camera to remind us that the rest of the city really walks right over these party-pooper police while they're doing their job.  Season 4 and 5 were definitely not what I tune it to MV to watch.... and though I always love Olivia Brown, this episode doesn't pass my MV requirements either.
And with this episode you have what Dick Wolf staff love to include for police subject matter:  the double-standard abuse society dumps on special victims.  
GUARANTEED to make someone in the audience get off a lewd joke, and cause 80% of the viewers to get upset with other 20% of the viewers.

But a piece of film or tv that makes people argue about a subject AFTER the program is over,... is GREAT ART.  Every sculptor dreams of being able to do that with his pieces, as well as nearly every photographer, painter mural artist, etc.  Leave the spectators walking away arguing about something social or controversial that may never reach a solution unless we argue about it... and your art has just rewarded you for all the labor you put into it.
I am seldom satisfied by Season 4 and 5 episodes, but I have to give this episode some respect for achieving that in us.  

Everyone has their likes & dislikes...and I stand by my thoughts & statements regarding this episode.  By no means is this one a famous or best-episode-ever one...but it isn’t as horrible as some make it out to be.   

It was perhaps a little ahead of its time...but it was a realistic precursor of where our society was heading, as all of that could totally happen nowadays. But, as to whether you like it or not...to each his or her own.  

[fakespyder]

I liked the late night scene at OCB with Tubbs asking Crockett how he'd feel if Kaitlyn was the victim. S4, for all it's godawfulness, had some key character building moments.

Also, Castillo admonishing the unit for being unprofessional in their handling of the case.

He has the best line in the episode "That's why we have rules. So you don't have to think"

Edited November 13, 2021 by fakespyder

[Glades]

While watching and listening  to this episode I noticed 2 things. Did anyone else notice them as well?

While listening: Alan and Ellen's first names sound to me very similar, almost the same. That's probably no coincidence, I think. Maybe it's to suggest that both are more similar than it seems at first glance. They are both perpetrators and victims in this story.

While watching: Already in the first few minutes of the episode one can discover, no, better could discover, that it is not Alan Beaks who is threatening Ellen Mason on the phone, but another man. It's presented very subtly, so you probably won't notice it unless you already know the story:

Here are the 2 screenshots: The second one shows Alan walking down a hallway to his hotel room, loosening his tie.
In the scene immediately following, you can see, rather blurry, the caller. The first impression from the editing sequence is, that's Alan calling Ellen and threatening her. But the caller definitely has a perfectly tied tie, unlike Alan. It also appears to me that he does not have a mustache. I'm not entirely sure about that, though. The picture is quite blurry after all.

I love details like that, they make even repeated watching still exciting!

Edited March 5, 2022 by Glades

[ViceFanMan]

2 hours ago, Glades said:

While watching and listening  to this episode I noticed 2 things. Did anyone else notice them as well?

While listening: Alan and Ellen's first names sound to me very similar, almost the same. That's probably no coincidence, I think. Maybe it's to suggest that both are more similar than it seems at first glance. They are both perpetrators and victims in this story.

While watching: Already in the first few minutes of the episode one can discover, no, better could discover, that it is not Alan Beaks who is threatening Ellen Mason on the phone, but another man. It's presented very subtly, so you probably won't notice it unless you already know the story:

Here are the 2 screenshots: The second one shows Alan walking down a hallway to his hotel room, loosening his tie.
In the scene immediately following, you can see, rather blurry, the caller. The first impression from the editing sequence is, that's Alan calling Ellen and threatening her. But the caller definitely has a perfectly tied tie, unlike Alan. It also appears to me that he does not have a mustache. I'm not entirely sure about that, though. The picture is quite blurry after all.

I love details like that, they make even repeated watching still exciting!

Interesting details! I’ve never thought about their names being that similar...but they can sort of be tongue twisters when trying to say them fast together, lol! 

As for the caller...there’s a few theories out there, but I tend to go with the one where it was a whole different psycho that had gotten obsessed with Alan, Ellen, and the case itself from the media. Alan was a perv, and a sexual deviant...but he wasn’t the new caller/stalker. He was the original one. But, I can’t really blame Ellen for thinking it’s Beaks. I would too! 

[RedDragon86]

Like most of season 4 what happened this remarkable show?

Season 3 lost its Mann style but it was still high quality stuff, S4 and the rest is a mirror of itself.

Edited March 6, 2022 by RedDragon86

[Glades]

4 hours ago, ViceFanMan said:

As for the caller...there’s a few theories out there, but I tend to go with the one where it was a whole different psycho that had gotten obsessed with Alan, Ellen, and the case itself from the media. Alan was a perv, and a sexual deviant...but he wasn’t the new caller/stalker. He was the original one. But, I can’t really blame Ellen for thinking it’s Beaks. I would too! 

  

Surely it must actually be 2 different people? Finally, Ellen receives another phone call after Beak's death.
For a while I thought that Beaks actually called Ellen in the beginning and that the other caller/stalker only started calling after Beaks death. Sort of, by committing a crime ( trying to have Beaks killed) you don't get what you want. Crimes cause problems, they don't solve them.
Now I would say it must have been as you describe.

[ViceFanMan]

14 minutes ago, Glades said:

  

Surely it must actually be 2 different people? Finally, Ellen receives another phone call after Beak's death.
For a while I thought that Beaks actually called Ellen in the beginning and that the other caller/stalker only started calling after Beaks death. Sort of, by committing a crime ( trying to have Beaks killed) you don't get what you want. Crimes cause problems, they don't solve them.
Now I would say it must have been as you describe.

I agree...two different callers/stalkers. Beaks was the original one with Ellen. Then when the media went nuts with his release from prison & wanting to supposedly apologize to her publicly, some other psycho became obsessed with the whole case & situation itself...and he began stalking, calling, and tormenting Ellen. He seemed to almost sympathize with Beaks, and blamed Ellen for everything.  

I don’t care what some people say, I really enjoy this episode...very psychologically “dark” and creepy! Wild “Hitchcock-ian” style twist at the end, and I thought both Olivia Brown & the woman playing Ellen gave superb performances! 

[Glades]

11 hours ago, RedDragon86 said:

Like most of season 4 what happened this remarkable show?

Season 3 lost its Mann style but it was still high quality stuff and magical, S4 and the rest, is a mirror of its self.

 

8 hours ago, ViceFanMan said:

I don’t care what some people say, I really enjoy this episode...very psychologically “dark” and creepy! Wild “Hitchcock-ian” style twist at the end, and I thought both Olivia Brown & the woman playing Ellen gave superb performances! 

Seasons 1 and 2 are definitely different from season 4 and 5. Season 3 has something of both aspects. I like all 5 seasons in their own way and don't think any is fundamentally worse.

Seasons 1 and 2 are very creative, in every single episode. And that for 44 episodes, a remarkable achievement! People who are capable of something like this are not capable of just repeating something 111 times according to whatever formula. I think that's why the changes of S 4 and S 5 came about, which are less episodic and tell more of a coherent story. That's creative again in a new way. S 3 is a transition.

The possibility of having the MV of S 1 and S 2 in 111 episodes simply doesn't exist. What we got is the best possible.  
You have to make a choice: Creativity in a limited number of episodes (though 44 is a really great number!) or merely repeating a formula. You could do that almost as many times as you want. But that wouldn't be MV, in my opinion.
Fortunately, thanks to DVD, we can watch the episodes we particularly love over and over again.

 

Edited March 6, 2022 by Glades

[ViceFanMan]

9 hours ago, Glades said:

 

Seasons 1 and 2 are definitely different from season 4 and 5. Season 3 has something of both aspects. I like all 5 seasons in their own way and don't think any is fundamentally worse.

Seasons 1 and 2 are very creative, in every single episode. And that for 44 episodes, a remarkable achievement! People who are capable of something like this are not capable of just repeating something 111 times according to whatever formula. I think that's why the changes of S 4 and S 5 came about, which are less episodic and tell more of a coherent story. That's creative again in a new way. S 3 is a transition.

The possibility of having the MV of S 1 and S 2 in 111 episodes simply doesn't exist. What we got is the best possible.  
You have to make a choice: Creativity in a limited number of episodes (though 44 is a really great number!) or merely repeating a formula. You could do that almost as many times as you want. But that wouldn't be MV, in my opinion.
Fortunately, thanks to DVD, we can watch the episodes we particularly love over and over again.

 

The biggest problem was changing of the writers & producers...they did away with several of the aspects that made MV famous & popular. They could have continued some of these things & I think the popularity would have lasted longer. Also, even over color or fashion changes, by mid to late Season 3 they also started to seriously drop the proverbial ball with the plots & quality of episodes. 

[dragon48]

I found the talk show parts and the moral dilemma themes hard to take, but they were probably signs of the time and just didn't age well.  Otherwise, I liked it, but didn't love it.  I gave it a six.

I do want to discuss Hatch, the hitman.  Hatch is a terrible hitman!  He should have ambushed Beaks outside the elevator with a gun, which would have finished the job quickly, but instead, he chose to try strangulation.  There were two problems with his plan.  First of all, that was a pretty bad garrote. Looks like it was a rope garrote with a leather or plastic covering.  If hatch was determined to use that method, a piano wire garrote, or anything thinner would have been a much better tool, since it would simply sever the carotid arteries and thereby very quickly cause death.  Hatch's plan to kill Beaks by cutting off the flow of oxygen to the brain was a much slower method, and ended up failing when he dropped the weapon and fled after the bystanders showed up.  In addition, Hatch's strangulation technique was awful!  Beaks was able to resist, because he had control of the rest of his body.  There's an MMA term, "position before submission."  Had Hatch known what he was doing, he should have first restricted Beak's movement.  Legs wrapped around the torso is a recommended technique.  In addition, his ski mask like disguise was awful, as it showed too much of his face.  Had he disguised himself better, Hatch could have risked sticking around to finish the job, after the bystanders arrived.

I also want to discuss the scene where Hatch shoots into the apartment and ends up killing Beaks.  I don't get this at all.  It's abundantly clear that a single shot hit the top of the lamppost.  Hatch missed his target completely.  He's a pretty bad shot for a hitman, missing a clear, stationary target.  See the last attachment as proof.  How the heck does Beaks end up dead after this?

I think the ending has a simple explanation.  Beaks wanted Ellen Mason to be terrified for the rest of her life.  He knew the attempts on his own life wouldn't stop, so as a contingency, he hired another criminal and left recordings of threats with him, with instructions to phone them in, in the event of his death.

Edited January 31, 2023 by dragon48

[ViceFanMan]

19 hours ago, dragon48 said:

I found the talk show parts and the moral dilemma themes hard to take, but they were probably signs of the time and just didn't age well.  Otherwise, I liked it, but didn't love it.  I gave it a six.

I do want to discuss Hatch, the hitman.  Hatch is a terrible hitman!  He should have ambushed Beaks outside the elevator with a gun, which would have finished the job quickly, but instead, he chose to try strangulation.  There were two problems with his plan.  First of all, that was a pretty bad garrote. Looks like it was a rope garrote with a leather or plastic covering.  If hatch was determined to use that method, a piano wire garrote, or anything thinner would have been a much better tool, since it would simply sever the carotid arteries and thereby very quickly cause death.  Hatch's plan to kill Beaks by cutting off the flow of oxygen to the brain was a much slower method, and ended up failing when he dropped the weapon and fled after the bystanders showed up.  In addition, Hatch's strangulation technique was awful!  Beaks was able to resist, because he had control of the rest of his body.  There's an MMA term, "position before submission."  Had Hatch known what he was doing, he should have first restricted Beak's movement.  Legs wrapped around the torso is a recommended technique.  In addition, his ski mask like disguise was awful, as it showed too much of his face.  Had he disguised himself better, Hatch could have risked sticking around to finish the job, after the bystanders arrived.

I also want to discuss the scene where Hatch shoots into the apartment and ends up killing Beaks.  I don't get this at all.  It's abundantly clear that a single shot hit the top of the lamppost.  Hatch missed his target completely.  He's a pretty bad shot for a hitman, missing a clear, stationary target.  See the last attachment as proof.  How the heck does Beaks end up dead after this?

I think the ending has a simple explanation.  Beaks wanted Ellen Mason to be terrified for the rest of her life.  He knew the attempts on his own life wouldn't stop, so as a contingency, he hired another criminal and left recordings of threats with him, with instructions to phone them in, in the event of his death.

Good points about Hatch’s dismal career as a hitman, lol!  I’ve not thought a lot before about these points, but you’re right! He obviously was not that “professional”. 

As for the ending...it is somewhat strange to me. It almost leaves the question and/or solution up to us as viewers: was Beaks actually Ellen’s phone stalker this time around, or did he hire someone to do it for him to appear innocent, or was it a totally different psycho that became obsessed with the case & decided to be a copycat of sorts?

I don’t think it was supposedly just in Ellen’s mind (although that idea has been proposed before), as Trudy was present with Ellen when a couple of the calls came in. I tend to go with the scenario that it was an all new and/or different person that was copycatting Beaks, and decided to get-off tormenting Ellen himself. But, that’s just me. 

As for the talk show scenes...although they may have been a little ahead of their time, to me they were realistically showing where our society & mind-set were sadly headed. I could totally see that happening nowadays, let-alone the late 80s! And let’s face it...we know there’s serial killer fans & groupies of all kinds.  The talk show parts were disturbing, but they were supposed to be. Society is sadly & “sickly” much more obsessed and interested with the killers & psychos, than the victims and their trauma.

This episode lots of times gets negative feedback and/or reviews...but this is one of the few times when I’m in the minority with this one. I really like it...the performances & realism of where society & media were as a whole, as well as how the victim/s are treated & further traumatized, were realistically & truthfully portrayed! 

I feel for Ellen & Trudy...yet the rest of everyone else (in the episode) seemed to be more concerned with Beaks and the hype around the original case.  

[RedDragon86]

Trudy's "you never forget my name" was so cringe, that whole scene when she bursts out the door and kicks off was embarrassing and before that the actress who attempt to look upset when looking out the window was some of the worst acting. That actress is the worst in the series, she makes Sheena as good as Deborah Kerr.  

This could have been a good episode if they recruited better actors and setup it up in the same way they did "Bought and Paid For" 

If they got rid of the talk show, journalistic circus and better control it would have worked.

Edited February 1, 2023 by RedDragon86

[Swevicus]

Now this is an anomaly in MV, as it has no popular music (that must have made licensing the episode for DVD and Blu-ray Disc easy ). Plus, everyone getting a dressing-down from Castillo in the end? Wow. The team really smegged up. I think Season 4 gets way too much smeg (and, to a lesser extent, Season 5) - it feels like the most experimental (this episode feels like a neo-Hitchcock thriller, "Vote of Confidence" feels like a political conspiracy thriller at times, "The Big Thaw" and "Missing Hours", despite their reputations of being total smeg, actually verge on sci-fi, which I think is a direction MV could have taken to keep things interesting).