Soap: Episode 69

Soap: Episode 69
ABC
March 27, 1980
Dramedy
DVD
B-

Harris & Silver wrote this one-hour season finale, which has everyone, including both Benson and Saunders.  The former shows up at Jessica's deathbed, where the various men in love with her are gathered, but the love and friendship between Jessica and Benson feels more real.  And there's a sweet segment where Mary and Jessica talk about their relationship, including arguing over whether Jessica is a year younger or older than Mary.  (Mary just seems like an older sister.)  Then Mary, who earlier in the episode tries to tell Burt about the uncertain paternity of her baby, goes into labor.

I would've gone with a B or B+ but other threads are weaker, and yes, Dutch sobs and Leslie threatens suicide and homicide.  Elmore Tibbs (Hamilton Camp in his first of two appearances) has his two goons rough up Burt and Danny because the new sheriff closed down Tibbs's massage parlors, and he's going to have the unconscious Burt and Danny posed for blackmail pictures with "the girls."  I like Camp but, as I said before, this is one of my least favorite plot threads.

Meanwhile, Danny proposes to Polly in a restaurant, but she doesn't think he can handle people's reactions to their relationship.  Corinne and Eunice want Dutch to decide between them.  These are OK threads, although I didn't like how they were resolved.

The custody trial thread remains strong, with Carol's mother (whose name turns out to be Earlene) joining in on the perjury.  Jodie is so shocked and angry that he throws a fit in the courtroom and then storms out.  And between the two David women's testimony, he maintains his dignity while the opposing lawyer makes personal remarks about his sex life.

Sheldon Feldner, who plays a Bailiff here, would be Deputy Perkins for five episodes in the next season.

As for this season, I gave B-s to 19 out of 22 episodes, C+s to the rest, so I'd say it's not a bad season at all, despite its flaws.  The fourth season is, as I recall, where the sharks swarmed, but maybe it'll turn out to be not as bad as I think, just not as good as what came before.