In Praise of Pip is notable for being one of the first TV shows to mention the war in Vietnam. Pip is a young soldier seriously injured in the conflict. His father, Max Phillips (Jack Klugman) is a drunken, two-bit bookie who works for ruthless gangster Moran (S. John Launer). When Max learns that his son is dying, he makes a last ditch effort for redemption that leaves him with a bullet in his gut. Stumbling into a deserted fairground, Max asks God to let him see his son one more time; shortly thereafter, he sees Pip as a ten year old (Bill Mumy) and spends some precious time with him, after which the boy disappears. Max then offers to trade his life for that of his son.
A tale of regret, a tale of redemption, a tale of fatherly love, this is typically saccharine schmaltz from Serling that is saved somewhat by a strong performance from Klugman and the fact that it only runs for 25 minutes, the show returning to the shorter format after season four's hour long episodes. Serling's sentimental story seems to have done the trick for American viewers, for whom the Vietnam war will always be an emotive subject, but it didn't hit me in the feels as intended, possibly 'cos I'm from the other side of the pond and not quite old enough to remember the war, and possibly because I'm dead inside.
A tale of regret, a tale of redemption, a tale of fatherly love, this is typically saccharine schmaltz from Serling that is saved somewhat by a strong performance from Klugman and the fact that it only runs for 25 minutes, the show returning to the shorter format after season four's hour long episodes. Serling's sentimental story seems to have done the trick for American viewers, for whom the Vietnam war will always be an emotive subject, but it didn't hit me in the feels as intended, possibly 'cos I'm from the other side of the pond and not quite old enough to remember the war, and possibly because I'm dead inside.