User Reviews

It's Max's turn to go on vacation. They kid him a bit about being so predictable as he always goes to Vegas, when he leaves, when he calls to check in, etc. They give him a Cuban cigar, which he decides to save it for when he wins The next day, after Max leaves, the Harts find out the cigar has pesticides and the cigar store owner, who had smoked one, dies.

To make things worse, they find that Max has decided to get out of his rut and go somewhere else. So the hunt is on to find him before he smokes his winning cigar.

It's a different kind of Hart to Hart where there aren't any nefarious bad guys wanting to kill Jennifer, Jonathan or both. But Max isn't easy to find as he's joined a private porker game in a secret location. Amanda Blake (Miss Kitty in Gunsmoke) makes an appearance although it's short and not a lot of lines. It's nice to see her, never the less.

The Hart's give Max an expensive, exclusive cigar that turns out to kill people, and the whole episode is a mad race to find Max before he smokes it. BLOOPER ALERT --> About nine minutes in, the "Milton Charles" character goes to shake Jonathan's hand, but RJ doesn't remember that direction and misses it; then he makes good immediately thereafter. Some nice backstory with Max & Jonathan. He made Jonathan his first omelet, took out his first bank account for him, and took him to his first ballet. And RJ does a nice impression of Lionel's Max, too. When they think Max is dead, their devastation is pretty well-played. So many interesting observations going on here. Like: * Ah, the days when a fill-up would cost you $15.40.

* Some strange lingering closeups of Jennifer for no real reason.

* Max is such a loved member of the family. Then why do they have to rent him such an old, beat-up car? And, in fact, why would he not just buy himself a car? They've gotta be paying him enough. Strange little detail that takes nothing to deal with; it's just odd.

* I know it was the early '80's, seat belts were more of a suggestion and not a brain-splat-prevention device; but, if ever there was a time for seatbelts, this one was it.

Max stumbles away from the poker table, clearly altered. So, that's right, give the car to the drunk guy.

At least Max debuted a new apron today. Serious pair of lips.

This one reminds me of the episode "Passing Chance", where the Harts run around needing a phone. This one, they are frantically searching for Max. Both episodes could be solved with a 30 second cellphone call had those existed back then...Its fun to watch these old episodes and appreciate the technology we have today!