Thursday 20 February 2014

21: Stop The Presses (2.09)

1978; 48 minutes
Director of Photography John McPherson 
Written by Susan Woollen; Produced by Nicholas Corea
Directed by Jeffrey Hayden

At the National Register newspaper headquarters competition between reporters is rife, while McGee's weekly reports on Hulk sightings are beginning to lose respect with the chief editor.  One of the less scrupulous reporters, determined to make his way into the elite, fabricates stories to attract attention, and his most recent endeavour is a vendetta against fledgling restaurant Brunos, where he and a colleague plant trash in the kitchens, photograph it, and then print a 'horrifying' story about the lack of hygiene.  David has actually obtained a job there in the kitchens and is accidentally caught on photograph by the invading reporters.  The two lady owners of the place are determined to stop the story and retrieve the photos before their business is ruined, but David, whilst all too happy to assist the women, has his own reasons for wanting to stop those pictures being printed.

Played partly for laughs the story itself is a strong concoction of unfortunate circumstances that lead David into a situation that he truly doesn't want to be in.  This involves the National Register premises, where David and the women have to make several trips in order to initially persuade the unwilling reporter to drop his story leading to actual attempts to steal the photographs.  Of course McGee is heavily present, much more so than the average episode.  His own reputation is deteriorating over his obsession to capture the Hulk.  What is especially unexpected is that McGee is displayed here as a reasonably decent person, who actually objects to less than ethical techniques, even within the sometimes questionable profession that supports his means of living.

Aware that Hulk is in the vicinity McGee borrows a tranquiliser gun from an odd English (?) hunter where a fantastic showdown occurs in the basement of the presses themselves.  Both Hulk and McGee are shot (by McGee!) before a progressively slower chase leads to a transformation back to Banner occurring just feet away from the relentless journalist, but of course he is lapsing into unconsciousness himself as the moment of revelation nears.  Aside from some oddly handled Hulk-outs, this is an exciting episode with some pivotal moments for both the hunter and the hunted.

Number of Fists: ****

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