Avenger

DVD, Starsky & Hutch S4 (Avenger)

Now and again they would do a horror episode. Often these were a bit rubbish, with things like 'Vampire' or 'Quadromania', but unlike these 'Avenger' is realistic and actually scary. Maybe they should have explained schizophrenia, as I'm not sure how well known it was in those days.

It's a good episode, but there are some huge holes in it - you'd think the police would have made a thorough check of Monique's house after the first murder, and certainly after the second, and found the suit and hat! Likewise, how did the police get an illustration of 'Harry Ashford'? Presumably from Monique, so might they not have been a little suspicious at the time - Hutch eventually notices the resemblance between Harry and her so why wouldn't the police when she's sitting right in front of them giving an ident? And her sister says she's a brunette like her, but Monique has black hair under the wig. And she seems remarkably calm for someone who just had two murders happening in her house - and doesn't mind going back there! (You'd think it'd be a crime scene for a bit, too).

Monique was played by Joanna Cassidy who later played T'Pol's Mum in 'Enterprise'!

Look out for the aftermath in the conservatory, where Hutch helps Starsky to sit down and pushes his head back into a lampshade! Cassidy is terrifying as Harry, growling out that one word "You!" which is somehow very creepy - like a predator singling out it's prey, with great hate and bile, but child-like too, in a murderous simplistic rage. When she flips between the two it's even more disturbing.

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