#529778
Camikazi Kid
Original Air Date: May 10, 1989
Written by: Alan J. Levi
Directed by: Paul Brown
Leap Date: June 6, 1961
This time: Sam leaps into a teenager during a race. As Cam Wilson, he takes a loss then goes to a local burger joint where he runs into some hooligans who call themselves the Impalas. Cam’s sister Cheryl shows up, elated at being accepted into the Peace Corps. She will go with her fiancé Bob after the wedding. The Impalas, at their leader Bob’s instruction, strip Sam and throw him into a dumpster, but he is later helped out by Jill, a local tomboy.
Al arrives and says that Sam is there to break up Cheryl and Bob. She doesn’t make it to the Peace Corps and he becomes a mean drunk. While speaking to Cheryl later, Sam finds out that Bob has already been abusive.
At the wedding rehearsal, Sam makes an impassioned speech at how amazing Cheryl is. He also finds out that Bob has no intention of joining the Corps, being offered a job and a house from Bob’s dad.
At Al’s suggestion, Sam races Bob for ‘Pinks’ as a show of dominance. With a little help from Jill and Al, he wins. Bob responds by trying to run over Sam, wrecking his car in the process. Cheryl gives him back the ring.
Sam sees Cheryl off and then sees Jill all dolled up. They smooch and Sam leaps …
… into a detective with a gun over a dead body.
Stop talking to yourself: Sam ponders the preparations that leaping requires. He later laments being the adult at the kids table, though there are several other teens there.
Only Sam can see and hear: Al is unable to help Sam get free from the dumpster and get clothed. Sam returns the favor by offering Al a bite of a burger.
Mirror images that were not his own: Sam looks in the side mirror of his car and isn’t impressed with what he sees.
Brush with history: Sam and Al unknowingly show a young Michael Jackson some moves.
Something or someone: Despite making sure Cheryl does not marry Bob, Sam doesn’t leap until he kisses Jill, at least a day later.
It’s a science project: Al’s secret weapon in the race? Nitrous oxide.
Let’s up the rating: Sam is stripped then thrown into a dumpster.
One more time: “A person brave enough to answer President Kennedy’s call, to ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. I’m so proud of you for having the courage to go out and make a difference in the lives of people less fortunate than ourselves.”
Sam/Cam offering a toast to his sister.
The Rainbow Treknection: Remember Commander Harkins of the Pathfinder Project? He was played by Richard McGonagle who guest starred here as Cam’s dad.
Trivial Matters: A Pre-90210 Jason Priestly is one of the Impalas. He makes no impression.
The writers have not determined that young kids can see Al as there are several kids who are in Al’s area but do not mention him at all. Heck, young Michael Jackson does not even see him!
Put right what once went wrong: “It’s the Mom-mobile!” Years ago, I was chatting with a principal about a production at his high school. He described the show as ‘Grease Uncut’ dealing with a lot of the hardcore issues the musical all but glossed over. Sometimes, the details were intense. This episode does not go quite that far, but it takes its cues from Grease.
There are so many great moments in this episode. There is a great scene early on with Cam’s parents. Dad is teasing his son, adding some authenticity to their relationship and Mom is stern with Cam, though she is later as stern with Cheryl. She chastises him for hiding a Playboy and demands a kiss. She is also fantastic later devastated when Cheryl wears a wedding dress from Bob’s mother. These would normally be bit parts, but it allows the actors more moments to explore their characters. They are time fillers, but well-acted
The wedding rehearsal is a fantastic scene, too. Bob’s dad running late, Sam’s speech, getting pudding thrown at him, eavesdropping in the restroom, running into Michael Jackson, challenging Bob; there is a lot but it all works. Sam’s speech, quoted above, is fantastic as the music swells. Bakula does great work along with composer Velton Ray Bunch. Almost the entire cast is involved, and they all make their mark, particularly the asshole teens being asshole teens.
So much more works, from Sam giving Cheryl a talk about how awesome she is in yet another great scene, the burger joint scene where Sam is teased and fed. It helps ground the episode and while it is filler, it does not feel like it. There is enough in the environment and from the actors to sell the era.
As to the main plot, it is a little thin, but offers the great moments mentioned above. The one point that sticks out is when Cheryl lets Bob and Cam duke it out over a race. She has been established as a strong woman, having already worked on Kennedy’s campaign and going off to help the less fortunate. This is not the character who will sit by and let the Strong Men fight for her future. She almost disappears from the scene entirely when the challenge happens. It does not entirely detract from a very entertaining hour but seems to be there because the plot requires it.
Original Air Date: May 10, 1989
Written by: Alan J. Levi
Directed by: Paul Brown
Leap Date: June 6, 1961
This time: Sam leaps into a teenager during a race. As Cam Wilson, he takes a loss then goes to a local burger joint where he runs into some hooligans who call themselves the Impalas. Cam’s sister Cheryl shows up, elated at being accepted into the Peace Corps. She will go with her fiancé Bob after the wedding. The Impalas, at their leader Bob’s instruction, strip Sam and throw him into a dumpster, but he is later helped out by Jill, a local tomboy.
Al arrives and says that Sam is there to break up Cheryl and Bob. She doesn’t make it to the Peace Corps and he becomes a mean drunk. While speaking to Cheryl later, Sam finds out that Bob has already been abusive.
At the wedding rehearsal, Sam makes an impassioned speech at how amazing Cheryl is. He also finds out that Bob has no intention of joining the Corps, being offered a job and a house from Bob’s dad.
At Al’s suggestion, Sam races Bob for ‘Pinks’ as a show of dominance. With a little help from Jill and Al, he wins. Bob responds by trying to run over Sam, wrecking his car in the process. Cheryl gives him back the ring.
Sam sees Cheryl off and then sees Jill all dolled up. They smooch and Sam leaps …
… into a detective with a gun over a dead body.
Stop talking to yourself: Sam ponders the preparations that leaping requires. He later laments being the adult at the kids table, though there are several other teens there.
Only Sam can see and hear: Al is unable to help Sam get free from the dumpster and get clothed. Sam returns the favor by offering Al a bite of a burger.
Mirror images that were not his own: Sam looks in the side mirror of his car and isn’t impressed with what he sees.
Brush with history: Sam and Al unknowingly show a young Michael Jackson some moves.
Something or someone: Despite making sure Cheryl does not marry Bob, Sam doesn’t leap until he kisses Jill, at least a day later.
It’s a science project: Al’s secret weapon in the race? Nitrous oxide.
Let’s up the rating: Sam is stripped then thrown into a dumpster.
One more time: “A person brave enough to answer President Kennedy’s call, to ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. I’m so proud of you for having the courage to go out and make a difference in the lives of people less fortunate than ourselves.”
Sam/Cam offering a toast to his sister.
The Rainbow Treknection: Remember Commander Harkins of the Pathfinder Project? He was played by Richard McGonagle who guest starred here as Cam’s dad.
Trivial Matters: A Pre-90210 Jason Priestly is one of the Impalas. He makes no impression.
The writers have not determined that young kids can see Al as there are several kids who are in Al’s area but do not mention him at all. Heck, young Michael Jackson does not even see him!
Put right what once went wrong: “It’s the Mom-mobile!” Years ago, I was chatting with a principal about a production at his high school. He described the show as ‘Grease Uncut’ dealing with a lot of the hardcore issues the musical all but glossed over. Sometimes, the details were intense. This episode does not go quite that far, but it takes its cues from Grease.
There are so many great moments in this episode. There is a great scene early on with Cam’s parents. Dad is teasing his son, adding some authenticity to their relationship and Mom is stern with Cam, though she is later as stern with Cheryl. She chastises him for hiding a Playboy and demands a kiss. She is also fantastic later devastated when Cheryl wears a wedding dress from Bob’s mother. These would normally be bit parts, but it allows the actors more moments to explore their characters. They are time fillers, but well-acted
The wedding rehearsal is a fantastic scene, too. Bob’s dad running late, Sam’s speech, getting pudding thrown at him, eavesdropping in the restroom, running into Michael Jackson, challenging Bob; there is a lot but it all works. Sam’s speech, quoted above, is fantastic as the music swells. Bakula does great work along with composer Velton Ray Bunch. Almost the entire cast is involved, and they all make their mark, particularly the asshole teens being asshole teens.
So much more works, from Sam giving Cheryl a talk about how awesome she is in yet another great scene, the burger joint scene where Sam is teased and fed. It helps ground the episode and while it is filler, it does not feel like it. There is enough in the environment and from the actors to sell the era.
As to the main plot, it is a little thin, but offers the great moments mentioned above. The one point that sticks out is when Cheryl lets Bob and Cam duke it out over a race. She has been established as a strong woman, having already worked on Kennedy’s campaign and going off to help the less fortunate. This is not the character who will sit by and let the Strong Men fight for her future. She almost disappears from the scene entirely when the challenge happens. It does not entirely detract from a very entertaining hour but seems to be there because the plot requires it.
New places for old(er) keywords: Continuing Mission
Cardassians and Federation posturing it out: Showdown: Four Lights
Cardassians and Federation posturing it out: Showdown: Four Lights