This episode has some very interesting scenes that are not out of place, just different from the normal operative pattern of 7 Days. The flashback to China during World War II is the main crux of this, it starts things out well enough, albeit somewhat weird.
Parker's immediate concern about his former Navy buddy was very much in character for him, but since it was a non-mission it made less sense for him not to take Donovan with him to help evaluate, or Olga to go along under the pretext of a friend to use her medical and psychological skills to figure out the problem. Dr. Isaac Metnor makes his first appearance of the season and is first appearance since "Space Station Down" in mid season 2. There is no mention of how unusual it is to see him hanging around with the rest of the staff again, he's simply back. This was a missed opportunity, perhaps to give some reasoning for his infrequent appearances. Isaac had a lot of responsibility for the storytelling, setting up an important aspect of the mystery, something that given the established background of the character and Norman Lloyds good performance, is a very strong part of the episode.
Once Parker, Olga and Donovan are rapped within the Quarantine Zone and believed to be lost forever, we see a good look into the thinking of Talmadge and Isaac about their futures in the backstep Program. Calling them The Future of Backstep, implying that they would want for them to take over their jobs once they move on or retire.
This episodes had the final appearance of Sam Whipple as Dr. John Ballard. It was a bit too brief and seemed to be more of a stepping stone to get to the introduction of Andrew Owsley.
This episode like "Rhino" had it's own points that should have made it a contender for being the Season Premiere episode. Despite the fact that they would have had to completely re do the exit of Dr. Ballard, there was a full introduction to the cast in the episode and the opportunity to see the Backstep program through a fresh perspective, albeit a juvenile one.
Overall an episode with a good mystery, it was very character driven with a good mix of the usual action sequences with a little less comedy than we typically get from the series.moreless
Episode Summary
EDIT
Mentnor's post-World War II experiments return to haunt him, as a virus that causes homicidal madness gets loose in an isolated New England village.
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GUEST STAR
Eric PierpointKoop
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GUEST STAR
Kevin McNultyClemens
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GUEST STAR
Stefan ArngrimFisherman
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Jonathan LaPaglia
Lt. Frank Bartholomew Parker
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Don Franklin
Capt. Craig Donovan
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Justina Vail
Dr. Olga Vukavitch
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Nick Searcy
Nathan Ramsey
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Alan Scarfe
Dr. Bradley Talmadge
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (2)
ADD TRIVIA-
Though FEMA said that the virus was airborne, the agents who puts out the bomb to blow up the city doesn't wear masks, and would be infected just like the townsfolk.
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Late in the episode Frank Parker cuts his hand by crushing a glass with it, but not long after his hand is fine with no cuts or bandages.
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QUOTES (5)
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Olga: You're getting married? Ballard: No, I, uh, I got married. Frank: So, uh, which one's the lucky lady? Ballard: (looks at twins next to him) Well, it's, uh, kinda hard to tell. I, uh, had a few banana daiquiris, right, and… and, anyway, I'm gonna be needing to take a little personal leave for a while.
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Olga: Psychotic breaks can happen for a number of reasons. Genetics, trauma… Donovan: Ex-wives.
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Mentnor: Olga tells me how much you helped her. You did good work, Andrew. Hooter: Call me "Hooter". Mentnor: I think not.
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Olga: Well there are rats in there. Frank: No there aren't. (Olga screams) Well maybe one or two. They're huge . . . huge, but friendly.
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Mentnor: (The sphere) was created with a metal alloy recovered from the Roswell crash. Hooter: Okay, okay, overload. You don't have any of those aliens around, do you? Mentnor: In the basement.
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NOTES (4)
ADD NOTES-
The title and some of the concepts are a homage on H.P. Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror."
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Sam Whipple is listed as a guest star, and only appears long enough to explain that his character now owns a tropical island, got married, is taking an extended leave of absence, and recommend his replacement, Andrew "Hooter" Owsley.
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Norman Lloyd is billed as Special Guest Star.
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Kevin Christy joins cast as Andrew "Hooter" Owsley
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ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.
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Bah, no series finale?
01/20/119
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dvd
11/22/1022
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The Way Parker Reads
04/06/109
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7 Days on the Sci Fi Channel
10/13/085
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7 Days on Spike weekly but not listed
07/23/083
Season 3 Episodes
See AllEp 22
Live: From Death Row
Ep 21
Born in the USSR
Ep 20
Sugar Mountain
Ep 19
The Brink
Ep 18
The Final Countdown
Ep 17
Kansas
Ep 16
Empty Quiver
Ep 15
Crystal Blue Persuasion
Ep 14
Revelation
Ep 13
The First Freshman
Ep 12
Raven
Ep 11
Head Case
Ep 10
Adam & Eve & Adam
Ep 9
Top Dog
Ep 8
Tracker
Ep 7
The Fire Last Time
Ep 6
Deloris Demands
Ep 5
Olga's Excellent Vacation
Ep 4
The Dunwych Madness
Ep 3
Rhino
Ep 2
Peacekeepers
Ep 1
Stairway to Heaven
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