The Professor has finally returned and reunites with someone he knew a very long time ago. Meanwhile, the rest of the team provides aid to regular clowns, victims of hatred.
What a super episode! So many things, of such great import, happening at once! 1) The Professor has returned! With long hair, which he now wears in a pony-tail. (I think he looks better with long hair. Perhaps he should get rid of the mustache, which he does not trim very precisely.) 2) Not only is he back, but we are learning even more about his curious…dietary needs. They can’t stay a secret much longer! In addition we learn about a Significant Other of his past life, who has an important connection somehow to his…affliction. 3) Moreover, we are confronted with an important social problem of our day: Anti-Clown Prejudice, otherwise known as: Klownophobia. (The word for “clown” in modern Greek is: κλόουν.) I must say, this episode really hit home for me, since I must admit that I fear and abhor all clowns. And it’s quite true that, like Roger, I have never spoken to one! 4) Liz is gone! The sequence of clips of her past heroic deeds and appearances was not nearly enough! Will Claire and Tiffany together be woman enough to replace her? 5) With all these serious things, there were nonetheless many humorous touches (as aficionados and connaisseurs will recognize). Splendid!
I should like to add that “Beginning of the End” was the name of a 1957 science-fiction film starring Peter Graves and featuring, as its threat to human existence as we know it, giant grasshoppers. One of the most salient things about the film was precisely this name, which was completely inappropriate to the story. (“How the Beginning of the End Was Stopped” would have been slightly better.)
What a super episode! So many things, of such great import, happening at once! 1) The Professor has returned! With long hair, which he now wears in a pony-tail. (I think he looks better with long hair. Perhaps he should get rid of the mustache, which he does not trim very precisely.) 2) Not only is he back, but we are learning even more about his curious…dietary needs. They can’t stay a secret much longer! In addition we learn about a Significant Other of his past life, who has an important connection somehow to his…affliction. 3) Moreover, we are confronted with an important social problem of our day: Anti-Clown Prejudice, otherwise known as: Klownophobia. (The word for “clown” in modern Greek is: κλόουν.) I must say, this episode really hit home for me, since I must admit that I fear and abhor all clowns. And it’s quite true that, like Roger, I have never spoken to one! 4) Liz is gone! The sequence of clips of her past heroic deeds and appearances was not nearly enough! Will Claire and Tiffany together be woman enough to replace her? 5) With all these serious things, there were nonetheless many humorous touches (as aficionados and connaisseurs will recognize). Splendid!
I should like to add that “Beginning of the End” was the name of a 1957 science-fiction film starring Peter Graves and featuring, as its threat to human existence as we know it, giant grasshoppers. One of the most salient things about the film was precisely this name, which was completely inappropriate to the story. (“How the Beginning of the End Was Stopped” would have been slightly better.)
Yes, poor Liz is gone, but her service as a member of the Scientific Method team will not be forgotten. I think Claire and Tiffany will do fine.
I once started Beginning of the End but never finished it. :-/