1/3 Season 1, Episode 4: Magic Bus

I’m looking forward to seeing this in lovely clear colour.. all the other times I have watched it, the quality was pretty fuzzy!! What goodies will I find that were too blurry to see before??!! Ohh Warners.. Thank you for releasing SMK on DVD!!!

Ok, starting off with the baddies this week… Hmmm let’s hold up the water truck.. “hand over all the water or your a dead man!” eh???? The delivery man’s ‘huh?’ expression to camera says it all for us (the bell when he pulls that face is pretty funny..).. hijacking water? eh??

Haaaa.. How many baddies does it take to change a lightbulb errr I mean hijack a water truck driven by ONE man???? SEVEN!!!! LOL!!!!!! too funny…

Next thing we see Billy, Francine and Lee going for a little buggy ride with 2 men.. Ahh they are there to view a new military weapon… Hey! Lee get your arm away from Francine.. you shouldn’t be sitting with your arm around her on that weird buggy.. Grrrr…. I won’t take a pic of it.. I don’t want to look at that!!

Twice Billy directs a comment or question to the congressman, only to have his aid answer for him.. shut up and let the boss speak Holt! Live up to your name! Halt Holt!!!!  He is annoying – first sign he is a baddie..

Holt: The congressman never feels satisfied. His job is awesome. But his spirit is tireless.

Who talks like that?! The congressman is sitting right next to you. the congressman can speak for himself..  Billy Brags about Lee’s proven driving skills- proven in Le Mans and Monaco..

Congressman Fremont: Gentlemen, Lady.. I give you the vigilant!

Err cancel that.. the congressman just called Francine a Lady- the man clearly has a screw loose.. Don’t let him talk!

Dig the music for the RV reveal..and the lights – ta da!!! (almost beats the harp for the golden circle reveal- almost!!) Yep.. the next generation of weapon… an RV! hehehehee.. it is pretty funny!

Lee and Francine are stunned by what they see.. haaaa..

Fremont: What Teflon did for pots, the Vigilant will do for battle.
Lee: Ooh. Oh, just what I like. A war you can throw at a minute’s notice with no messy cleanup.
This Lee seems to be keen to impress… but he still cracks a joke with Billy..

The introduction movie is too funny! What a person to choose to introduce the TWU (total weaponry unit)… That lady looks like her previous job was Connie Beth Girl! “Is that a bazooka ahead??!!!” the woman, the music (flute??) and the happy tone of voice she is using is too funny- it is all so wrong!

“This thick-skinned beauty is a fortress on tires… She can fire over a thousand rounds per minute and launch multi-targeted missiles.” – oh isn’t it just wonderful??

“So, for combat you can count on, look to this plain-looking little van that you move unobtrusively from one hot spot to the next.”
Do RV’s look unobtrusive at a hot spot?? really??? haaaa… I love how she finishes off looking lovingly at the vigilant all around her.. I love it- fantastic delivery!!

“Yes, the vigilant, gives brand new meaning to the word: assault.” ROFL!!!! -you just shouldn’t be that nice and friendly when talking about crowd control!

Ok, being an Aussie.. I had to google John Paul Jones! Discovered he is the father of the American Navy… well that little fact is going to leave my head in ohhhh less than 2 seconds I’ll bet……

.. err.. where was I? oh yes.. whooooooo pretty little statue.. who is that? John Paul Jones? who is that? Never heard of him! Or was he in the partridge family?

Ok, so the fake TWU is going by air and the real one,  is to be driven by Lee across the country to Arizona, while he pretends to go on holiday.Where it will then be revealed to the ‘top brass and the press’ . The press? They are going to tell the press about the vigilant? Won’t it be hard to be unobtrusive when the press has told everyone what it is? I don’t get it.. Or.. were they just going to try and pass it off as a replica of Ben10’s RV- the rustbucket??

Where were they planning on Lee sleeping in that thing? and making meals? and going to the toilet? bummer of a job Lee.. and.. what does the TWU run on? Plutonium?

From the looks of Lee’s face when Billy tells him how clever the deception is- I don’t think he gets it either.. I’m with you Lee.. So the mock up will leave from there, and the real one will be at Amanda’s? Were they just looking at the mock up? eh???? They couldn’t have been-  so how do they get the real one to Amanda’s from there without it being seen or followed? .. weird. kinda defeats the purpose doesn’t it?    Besides all the baddies know Lee ( haa) it would be obvious he would be driving the real one.. I wish they had given Lee the dummy one to drive that would have been funny.. (and why exactly does Francine need to be there??!!!! ) oh well I’ll go with it..

Love Billy’s delivery when he lovingly describes where the real bus will be! Like sprouting poetry..

Ta Da!!! we see Amanda’s little slice of paradise.. Amanda is scrubbing at the kitchen sink- Ohh they’re jeans.. Amanda wants to ‘thank’ Dean for.. letting the boys play football in their good jeans? Well! sounds like a fight was about to happen! dump him Amanda!!!

Phillip: Is this Dean?

Phillip tells Amanda the guy answered: Not in a thousand years. !!!

Hmmmm Lee.. that is not a neutral kinda thing to say.. He is affected- wouldn’t you say? not jealous, but not professional and business like!! .. it is an interesting response.. why not just say no? cos he is stirred up by the question… ha! Love how Amanda immediately knows who it is!

Isn’t Lee Mr Cool.. feet up on the desk…. talking to Amanda’s kids on the phone.. what a pain he is!

Amanda: Hellooooo is this who I think it is?

Lee: well who do you think it is? ( oh yeah that is professional! haaa!! my my.. he is in a playful mood calling Amanda.. tee heee..)  I love that she tells him not to call.. and that normal people wouldn’t understand him! (hmmm carrying on from their conversation in there goes the neighbourhood?) Grrr he doesn’t even ask her if it is ok..or give her a chance to speak.. haa very cheeky Lee! Hey at least he said thanks right?! So at this point does she work for the agency or not? I am confused.. so is she gonna get paid for however long the thing is in her driveway??!!! I was always a bit confused in the beginning about how she works for them, since it is not fulltime or anything.. hmm..  Loved Dotty walking in and telling Amanda Herb is there with the RV she is thinking of buying – like Amanda buys RVs everyday! LOL!

So Amanda gets off the phone from Lee and rushes out the front to see – we see her randomly pulling up her hair as she turns to leave the kitchen.. why? weeeell looks like they already filmed the outside scene – with Amanda’s hair up! Haaa guess it is good they (for once) made an attempt to fix continuity   ) but duh duh duuuuuhhhhhh now her hair is up the hairband is more obvious…
 

BTW- it looks like Amanda has gone for the 80s perm to go with her 80s ‘let’s get physical’ headband! LOL!!!

Ahhh we see the baddie who robbed the water guy again.. only we find he has an office at a golf course – and has really lousy taste in decor! It seems someone is leaking info to him, and updating him on where the Vigilante is now..

We hear a male voice but are not suppose to know yet who it is.. err unless you watch the show with the subtitles on dvd.. then they very helpfully tell you that the guy leaking the information on the telephone is Holt! Rofl!!! Makes it farcical later when he has his big reveal! tee heee..

Why is Amanda making a picnic lunch for a spy??? as she put it??? which spy? Lee? “he’ll never appreciate it. “ – awh.. one day he will Amanda.. it just a long time coming!!! (why does she? my guess is.. she feels an irresistible urge to nurture Lee..)

Diaper service? what kind of a lame cover is that?! They don’t hang around for long with all those smelly diapers in the back if they’re for real! hehehe…  That paper boy is one top shot throwing that newspaper with the gas right next to the surveillance team’s air supply…

Ok, how does Amanda see the weasel faced man take off with the RV from all the way over there? .. must suspend disbelief.. this is smk.. !

You can see the weasel face man in this pic?you’re better than I am!!

So the weasel faced man just gets in and drives off? for all it’s capabilities – it didn’t have you know.. like umm what do you call it? a err ummm car alarm?! A kill switch? A siren that goes off and requires an iris scan or it will eject you from here to eternity?? nope.. nothin…

What Amanda’s super eyesight saw..

On to IFF.. or is it not IFF yet? oh well.. there is no sign yet..

They have received a ransom tape..Billy, Francine and Lee listen to the tape with the congressman and his mouthpiece..  they have 72 hrs to return Gary and Gertrude (oh the names!!!!).

Ok, so the survivors think America is not ready for disaster, and they are teaching people to be self sufficient, fit and healthy, Gary took the stewed tomatoes hostage! but was busted… these survivors believes America shouldn’t be giving stewed tomatoes to foreigners but storing them for disaster.. Gary’s a gum man? gee thanks for that little tidbit Billy.. errr.. this is kinda weird!

There have been a series of robberies involving trucks carrying food, bottled water and portable toilets.. hmm that explains the water from the beginning.. gee how many trucks carry portable toilets??!! if they are so self sufficient and want to ‘suck cactus’ – why do they need portable toilets? wouldn’t they be getting back to nature in that department too??!!!

It seems we are back to slouchy colombo style Billy here.. he was looking dapper last week.. and in the last scene.. weird…  I guess we are suppose to think they have been called in ( Lee is a bit more casually dressed than usual too).. Lee makes a crack about how the survivors sound like a healthy bunch and Holt smiles and says if disaster comes they may be the healthiest of us all.. Hmm then Amanda pops up in the background haaa! which totally distracts us – and Lee- from the fact that Holt just made a comment which was positive about the survivors ( a clue for us: he could be the leak!)



It is too funny when Amanda shows up and starts signalling through the blinds, and then the man looks at her and she looks away pretending not to be looking….
Holt: what is with that woman?
Francine: the million dollar question. ( ahh Francine.. I love to hate ya!) Billy has a quiet little smile… 

Then while he is still holding up the blind, she signals Lee to hurry she has to go again and he mouths “alright!” amazing he can mouth it and you just know it was a cranky tone of voice! man Lee looks mad at her..

Billy explains Amanda reported the vigilant missing and he suggests Amanda might have something important to add- so he goes to let her in and she starts off on one of her rants about Jamie and the fish waiting in the car that are going to die and so she really needs to get home ( the fish, not Jamie- I hope!).. Lee’s reaction is too funny.. you can practically see the steam coming out of his ears – hmm interesting, he has a VERY strong reaction to her!!! She seems to have that affect on him right from the start where others don’t… you see him turn away from her to look at the wall and start furiously shaking his head ???!!!!

Back to Amanda’s kitchen, and Dotty asks Amanda if she is having an affair.. !!!(Love how Dotty can’t look at her when she is asking..) Amanda bangs her head on the cupboard in reaction to this..

Dotty continues: other than the one you’re having with Dean.
Amanda: mooooootttther.
Dotty tells how much Dean loves Amanda, and the boys, lists all his positives as a future spouse and Amanda says: I know.. (notice, not I love him too!) …. Dean is the only man in my life. ( too right.. at this point Lee is a little boy ) ok? I promise!

As soon as she says that- Lee pops up in the kitchen window behind Dotty! ahh I love it!!! The subtext? Amanda has a new man in her life!!! the look on Amanda’s face is really cute when she notices Lee in the window.. oh dear.. I hope Lee can’t hear what they are talking about!!! I actually think she looks mad at Lee for that- pretty furious with him for being so blasé with her family around.. She leaves Dotty as soon as she turns her back on Amanda.. LOL.. Dotty and the vacuum salesman with the longest eyelashes in Tokepa eh?!!

Amanda: When I told you not to call, I didn’t mean you could come sit in my bushes!

‘we’ve got a job’ – ‘we’ huh??.. Love that Amanda doesn’t just immediately jump at it.. it has to be Billy’s idea for her to do it.. they both seem to hide behind that to start with.. Oh well if it is Billy’s idea ‘we’ can do this.. they are both in denial! Lee seems remarkably calm hiding in her bushes.. yep, now he needs her he is nice to her.. grrrrr…

Lee pulls out the ‘ this is a simple case’ line.. yeah you said that about the suburbs Lee.. look how that went down!

Lee and Amanda are under the open window talking in the bushes, why can’t Dotty hear them? They are far too close for her not to.. wouldn’t it be funny if in season 5 it was revealed that Dotty knew the whole time what Amanda was up to?? 😉 and that she went along with it because she knew Amanda couldn’t tell about it or something?

Amanda: The weasel-faced man! Are we gonna smoke him out?
Lee: Actually, we’re playing golf.

Dotty hands Amanda the watering can and asks her to water her geraniums.. Whoa… look how high waisted those jeans Amanda is wearing are!! They look so high compared to the fashions nowdays!

I love how Amanda is driving Lee nuts in this dialogue in the bushes. He starts out all calm,  fully intending to be a professional… the way she keeps bringing up the weasel faced man is a riot!!!

Amanda excitedly explodes: The weasel-faced man!!!! (I love how she says that!! It’s almost like she was trying not to laugh in RL!)
Lee growls: I’ll get to him!!!!!

Amanda:Okkkkaaaay!
She is all happy and excited.. and he just growls at her!!! hehehee.. but it doesn’t put her off.. she knows by now he is all bark and no bite when it comes to her! (and she knows he is scared of needles )

Amanda: While you pose as a reporter and I look for the weasel-faced man. . . . What am I supposed to be, your secretary or something?

Lee: No way, I wouldn’t think of it.
Amanda: What, then?

Lee: My caddie………

After a pause, Lee continues: I’m joking!!

He needs her.. as angry with her as he sounded 2 seconds ago he is joking with her about her being his caddy.. He can’t help himself, he can’t seem to stay mad at her!!! Or stay completely professional! heheheeee.. !!!!

I wonder if during this little exchange the whole idea of Amanda playing his girlfriend ‘or something’ is on her mind.. and if he is maybe teasing her a little with whether or not that sort of cover would be needed.. After what happened in There goes the neighbourhood.. I wouldn’t be surprised.. her concern over what her role will be.. his intentional pauses making her squirm a little.. hmmm.. it could be.. at least- I like to think so! Anyone??

Thanks for reading!! I will be back with the next part soon! Please share your thoughts I’d love to hear them!!! byee