(TV Series)

(1977)

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6/10
Perhaps a slam at Janov?
planktonrules5 April 2013
Quincy in love with Monahan? based on Primal Scream--bull by Janov Perry Mason ending 2x disclaimers In the 60s and 70s, Dr. Arthur Janov created 'Primal Therapy'--an odd new form of treatment for psychological problems that involved forcing patients to scream to release their hidden pain. It was very trendy and was, briefly, rather popular. However, over the years, folks have begun questioning the efficacy of this and most today would consider it to be disproved. While the writer of this episode never referred to Janov or his treatment, in this show you see what appears to be Primal Therapy--though, oddly, it's done in hot tubs! It makes you wonder if perhaps they were trying to say something about this sort of pop psychology.

A dead man is found at a clinic doing this therapy. Monahan thinks the treatment is bogus and immediately suspected that the people at the clinic were responsible for the death. Quincy considers this but is even more motivated to get to the truth because the TIME of death could determine whether or not his widow will receive an insurance settlement.

This is a moderately interesting episode but suffers from a 'Perry Mason ending'. In other words, Quincy has a great theory--a theory that relies on one of the perpetrators incriminating themselves when being interviewed. Without this, there may have been no case at all against anyone. Weak, very weak...but also rather entertaining up until this point.
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6/10
Bizarre therapy episode
rayoflite2422 August 2015
A Question of Time begins at an alternative therapy health spa where patient Tom Holloway (John Alderman) is seen being forced into a hot tub against his will by an unidentifiable assailant. The next morning, Tom's dead body is found lying on a solar bed when a therapy group comes in. Quincy (Jack Klugman) is called to the scene and later determines that Tom possibly died from drowning which doesn't make sense since he was found lying on the bed. Monahan (Garry Walberg) is very suspicious of those running the health spa and does not believe their story leading Quincy to investigate further. In addition to finding out the truth about Tom's death, Quincy must also pinpoint an exact time of death because a $40,000 payout on an expiring life insurance policy for his widow and kids is on the line.

I would characterize this as a mediocre Quincy episode with a few oddities and problems. First of all, the therapy method featured is just bizarre and the scenes are very awkward and uncomfortable to watch. To me, the idea of sitting in a cramped hot tub with a bunch of strangers screaming in your face about all the things they hate about their lives does not sound relaxing or therapeutic in any way, rather, I was getting stressed out just watching it! This is also another episode where a friend of Quincy's, Dr. Ruth Thaler (Irene Tedrow), is involved as the co-owner of the health spa, and as usual Quincy handles his friend with kid gloves while going after everyone else like a barracuda. This includes him screaming at Tom's doctor for renewing his prescription without seeing him in over a year, but meanwhile Dr. Thaler has let corrupt, unqualified staff run her health spa where a death has occurred and this does not warrant Quincy's wrath?? Very hypocritical.

I would say that the highlight of the episode is that there is a murder investigation featured, but the resolution is kind of a letdown as well in that those responsible fold like lawn chairs at the end and simply confess everything which was pretty anti-climactic and weak.
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5/10
Average Quincy episode.
poolandrews15 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Quincy M.E.: A Question of Time starts as LA coroner Quincy (Jack Klugman) is called to the 'Thalep Clinic' alternate mental therapy centre where a patient named Tom Holloway (John Alderson) has been found dead, back in the lab after the autopsy Quincy comes to the conclusion it was either heatstroke or drowning but the body was found on a sun-bed so he couldn't have drowned. Lt. Monahan (Garry Walberg) feels the clinics manager Bridges (Rudy Solari) is lying about the circumstances surrounding Holloway's death & Quincy agrees with him, despite pressure from the Thalep groups slimy lawyer Walter Kingman (Peter Mark Richman) who doesn't want any bad publicity for the organisation Quincy sticks to his guns & is determined to discover the truth..

Episode 4 from season 3 this Quincy story was directed by Ray Danton & is a fairly average Quincy episode, I didn't think it was amongst the show's better stories. The main problem I have with A Question of Time is the basic plot, it's just not that interesting & there's not much of a mystery to solve either. The bad guy's fold like a cheap suit far too easily at the end & admit the truth when if they kept their mouth's shut they might have gotten away with it. The whole issue of alternate therapeutic programs is brought up but nothing is done with it & surprisingly for an episode of Quincy it doesn't really try to say anything either way. Also, the medical science used in A Question of Time is pretty ropey & a single hair in a bath tub only proves someone was in that tub & not that they specifically drowned in it, right? The one bright aspect of A Question of Time is the humour, it can be quite funny at times & there's some amusing sparring between Quincy & Monahan as they argue various points. I also liked the scene when Quincy gives it both barrels to a lazy Doctor who has been issuing repeat prescriptions without seeing the patient, the guy is just great at delivering passionate speeches & criticizing bureaucrats!

Unusually just after the opening credits there is an on screen disclaimer that says the events, people & places in A Question of Time are entirely fictitious & not based on any real person or organisation which I have never seen in an episode of Quincy before, I suppose the makers were covering their backs. There is a hilarious scene in this where there are various hot-tubs with people inside them who are told to shout as loud as they can everything which makes them feel bad, from people shouting they hate their lives & jobs to their bodies & daughters this is an unintentionally funny moment & it's no wonder Quincy looks so puzzled when he witnesses it! Also during this scene there are several men in the same hot-tub together which gives it a certain awkward gay feel. The acting is good by the regulars, the guest stars do alright & experienced actor Peter Mark Richman who plays a lawyer in this appeared in Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989), the only reason I mention it is because I need to pad this comment out a bit & I'm one of the few people to actually like Friday the 13th Part VIII.

A Question of Time is an average Quincy episode saved by some nice humour, the actual mystery elements of this story just aren't that good.
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