Buried

Today's clipset is called Buried and it comes from the early part of 1985, while Reva is still married to H.B. The set is actually just one full episode, February 12, 1985, and it's very accurate taste of GL during this period, complete with the requisite "Cavalcade of Regional Dialects" in every scene. H.B., Reva, and Lewises are just as southern as southern can be while Lujack sounds like he wandered away from the set of WELCOME BACK, KOTTER.

Aside from that, the drama here is very effective as Reva deals with losing her and H.B.'s baby after being run over by a drugged-out Vanessa. There are other storylines visited too as Lujack and Beth plan to over come the Spauldings (He's got a plan, man!) and Fletcher and Claire journey to Beirut to examine Fletcher's past (On a side note, with apologies his fans, I have never been able to get past Jay Hammer's self-consciously "actor-y" portrayal of Fletcher. It just doesn't ring true to me. Just my opinion.)

The really striking thing about this episode for me is the sad, sad state of the Katie character. It's so disappointing for me to witness how the brilliant, vivacious Denise Pence was squandered as Katie languished as barely more than an extra (albeit an extra in the sleekest, most flattering nurses' unform I've ever seen! LOL!) during her last months on the show. It's frustrating to see her reduced to bit player status this way as the glam/adventure wave swept over this once achingly human show.

As many know, I tend not to be a huge fan of this period. Headwriter Pam Long really hacked away at what the show had been for its entire life (most notably ditching most of the Bauers, including Mike, Hillary, and Kelly), transforming GL into something completely different and, to my mind, not in keeping with the show's historical tone. Having said that, these years are considered by quite a few to be the best in the show's history. I may not agree, but what went on then is, in essence, not so different from what's happening now. It might not be meeting the public's taste in quite the same way, but the effect on the show is about the same. Just something to think about.

Meanwhile, enjoy Buried--

clip 1 , clip 2 , clip 3 , clip 4 , clip 5

clip 6 , clip 7 , clip 8 , clip 9

Note: parts 2 and 5 were posted two years ago as a two-part set, also under the title Buried.