By Geno McGahee
David Banner (Bill Bixby) keeps getting questionable jobs. No matter what gig he gets, there is always some sort of trouble, but at least he’s looking for work. He could easily have this entitled attitude and just wait by the mailbox for a check. If being the Hulk doesn’t qualify you for a disability, I don’t know what would.
In FAST LANE, Banner landed a job driving a car to New York, but there is a secret stash of money in the trunk that he has no idea about. Two goons at a garage, find the hidden cash, and make the decision to steal it, but they don’t do it at the garage where there’s plenty of opportunity. They decide that they should wait for the car to be picked up and then jump the driver and take the cash. Joe (Robert F. Lyons) wants to be a racecar driver again and convinces his friend, Leo (Lee de Broux), to assist in the heist.
In the meantime, Banner picks up a hitchhiker for some company. Nancy (Victoria Carroll) is a waitress that is headed for Los Angeles, but she has a secret. She is running from her life. She has a young daughter and doesn’t have much money and has opted to avoid the girl altogether. As Banner drives, he and Nancy begin to click, but there can’t be any sex going on. If you have seen any of these episodes, you know that David is all heart and a gentleman and if he Hulks up during intercourse, he’s going to wake up to a partner that has been split in two. I feel bad for him. He could have definitely gotten some from Nancy.
Callahan (Dick O’Neill) is a drunk and set up the job for Banner, which enrages the mobster, Clyde (Alex Rebar). He wanted Danny (Frank Doubleday) to be the driver and now things are all screwy. Danny and Callahan hit the road to track down the cash and make things right, but Danny has plans of his own. He’s going to screw over Clyde, kill Banner and Callahan, and take the money and run. Why can’t Banner have one freaking easy job where nothing happens? I guess it wouldn’t make for a good episode if he just sat there all day folding pants at the Gap. There could still be things going on…like nasty customers that sexually harass him or maybe the boss short-changes him. Not everything has to be as dramatic as the life and death situations that David is constantly put into.
A big showdown happens at the garage that leads to a car chase through a junkyard. Banner flips the car, but Callahan and Nancy escape. Like most shows, Banner gets the worst of it and is stuck in the car, which really really makes him mad. I don’t blame him. He just got this job and he fucks up the car on day one. They will most likely not have him work another day. He Hulks up as Danny stands outside and stuffs money into his shirt. Unfortunately for Danny, he pissed off the Hulk and gets tossed over some cars and knocked silly. Hulk runs off and nobody dies. Well, Danny may have died. He did look rather lifeless.
FAST LANE is a decent episode. The acting of Victoria Carroll was over the top and distracting at times, but I give Frank Doubleday all the credit in the world. His overacting was tremendous! Bixby, as always, was charming and blue-balled at the end and the episode was interesting enough to keep me watching. I recommend this one.
Rating: 6.5/10