From Ice Cream to Revolution

Edited together with the story about Thomas Edison's electric car for the home video release of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles is an episode where Indy goes to Mexico and falls in with Pancho Villa. Indy goes from being a soda jerk in a cosy relationship with a pretty redhead to learning some of the hardships of warfare with a new Belgian companion. Along with the constant appearances by famous historical figures, the complete reshuffling of the deck every episode really undercuts the tension. Otherwise, though, this is a really good episode.

It turns out Pancho Villa is unknowingly working with an Egyptian whom Indy remembers from an earlier episode, both for having murdered an acquaintance and for lifting a valuable artefact. This episode feels more like a proper Indiana Jones story than any other.

And it works as a story about him as a younger man. We see him learn lessons about killing and fighting to survive. I wish he'd known better than to wear a black coat with a brown hat, though.

The climax of the episode even sees him getting another impromptu lesson in using a whip in a fight. I didn't mind Sean Patrick Flannery so much in this episode but I still wish it could have been River Phoenix instead. You could look at River Phoenix and imagine him growing up to be Harrison Ford. I can't see that at all in Sean Patrick Flannery. He has a completely different kind of face and voice.

George Lucas came up with the story for this episode and executive produced without directing or writing. Which may really be the best role for him, most of the time. Whatever his own faults, I think he was good at steering other people away from theirs.

Twitter Sonnet #1473

The spinning disk accepts a novel flame.
The scarpered cattle caved the wakeful eye.
A winning whist exempts a naval game.
A harper battle saved the baker's pie.
Renewal lifts the light from street to house.
Restraining cups compete with pushy tea.
Amoral shifts are tight for NEET and louse.
Disdaining pups repeat a hush and plea.
Where rotten nuts collude with spoiled dates,
Where ugly wigs conceal the screaming skulls.
Forgotten ruts preclude the royal fates.
So soggy figs congeal in steaming bowls.
To cut a pizza slice the wolves would run.
To gut a piece of ice they'd hold the sun.