User Reviews

Like "Point of Entry", similarly written by series creator Leslie Stevens (who also directed this episode), "The Weapons Man" has all the markings of a backdoor pilot: Stoney becomes a secondary character in his own show to make room for J D Cannon as investigator Mark Vickers (Ves and Red are heavily marginalised, whilst Cody virtually vanishes completely).

After Hollywood discovered that inclusion of martial arts could increased audience draw the results were often laughable. Zen master combat experts were frequently played as mystical supermen. Then combat forms themselves were overdone and stupid-looking. In this episode the villain is shown making an impossible arrow shot with what is purported to be a Japanese Zen bow, but isn't, using an overly elaborate, non-authentic draw technique. Aside from a typical Hollywood attempt to capitalize on something it doesn't understand, the episode, as drama, is OK. It's a simple story of revenge, love and betrayal. Jack Lord portrays the title character as rather stupid in his attempt to protect his rodeo friends. J. D. Cannon does an excellent job as the weapons expert brought in to catch the killer. There is a climactic fight sequence that should have been a showcase for Cannon's character to display his combat skills but is obscured in darkness and a lot of thrashing about. There again it's Hollywood trying to make you think you're seeing something wonderful, but it's all smoke and mirrors.