The Sixth Position (2.11)

[charybdis1966]

[zebra3]

The episode wasn't as bad as I thought, though I watched it late at night when I was tired, so that may have had an effect.

I have to compare it the the Starsky and Hutch episode where they compete for a hot foreign ballerina's affection and starsky is sore that Hutch wins and falls in love with her. It was one of the sad/romantic episodes, though no episode was sadder and more romantic than the one where starsky's lady gets shot in the head and they just have to wait until the bullet reaches her brain.

Got the girlfriend over? She wants to see "The Notebook?" Watch this instead. She might just cry and it's fairly romantic. Win for you.

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"Burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me."

[Steve]

[AmandaByNight]

I liked this episode, although I can't say I've seen it in awhile. I'm a big fan of Andrea Marcovicci and so I'm sure that helped. She's in the Harry O pilot as a model and I've only seen the beginning, but she's fantastic... especially in the photo shoot! I love my actresses who play models.

As far as casting, she perfect for the part, as she' built just like a dancer. I enjoyed their romance.

[ThomasMagnum]

Not sure if this has ever been pointed out but I was watching this episode today and I noticed something familiar in Mac's office





Notice the antique map on the wall?

[rubber chicken]

Good eye there ThomasMagnum.

[miltontheripper]

I actually found this to be a better episode than I had previously remembered. Not one of the best but still entertaining.

[MaiTaiMan]

Okay...I have never cared for ballet themed episodes in any show. They almost always have the same plot, involving Russians, KGB, defectors, and spoiled/irritating ballet dancers. "Sixth Position" was no different and I just don't care for it. This isn't the worst episode necessarily...it's just not very good.

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"It was more ironic than a Robin Masters novel--she thought he was dead, he thought she was dead...and only the chauffeur knew the truth! He should have been the butler!" "Lest We Forget"

[TheLads]

I wasn't sure if the writing was exceptional or terrible for this one in regards to the character of Kendall. On the one hand, the "spoiled ballerina at odds with bodyguard" is so overdone and cliched; on the other, I've personally known dancers and performers who behave just like that, so the characterization is actually quite spot-on. It's actually a bit uncomfortable seeing an accurate portrayal on screen of a personality type one knows so well.

I like the fact that the spies in the climax nearly cripple Kendall until TM saves the day. In most other dramas, they don't get close enough and there's no action to save the scene. There was a Starsky and Hutch episode called "A Body Worth Guarding" that fell short this way.

Also noticed how Magnum doesn't pass judgment on Kendall, or Kacy from "Wave Goodbye," after learning of their loose sexual preferences. The writers did a good job at always making Thomas sympathetic in that way, especially because he never consummates anything with either of those women himself. The show could easily have become preachy like so many others do.

That's what made this show work. Any other show of the day, the lead would've handed down some lecture to Kendall about right and wrong. Magnum's alternative is to tell Kendall she walks like a duck!

Good denouement in this one, too, because Kendall admits that maybe she needs to re-examine how selfish and self-centered and snobbish she's been. I think maybe Kendall starts to realize that just because someone isn't in the ballet world, they're still worth getting to know. That goes for Thomas, who doesn't know a thing about ballet; and T.C., who does, but puts on airs for the sake of impressing Kendall.

Great scene in the theater when Thomas breaks the bad news and Kendall breaks down. So wrapped up in herself, she never bothers to care that a person she's selfishly forgotten about has died.

[steveadl]

Just watched this one again. Can anyone read Magnum's lips in the final 20 secs - what's he's mouthing? Is it the price of the lens he just replaced needlessly?