User Reviews

This is the second part of a two part episode focusing around the hijacking of the family vacation. Aside from the interest modern audiences would have in seeing Burt Reynolds in this cameo but convincing role, the real highlight is the stunningly beautiful island they have become stranded on. The location of "Flipper" in the Florida Keys is one of the various reasons why it was so popular. For the Ricks family to have such deserted paradises so close to them was part of the allure of "Flipper" to me as a child - I was jealous of the lifestyle Bud and Sandy had. I'm sure its all so built up, commercial and crowded now that it doesn't have the same wilderness feel that was such an integral part of the show.

The plot revolves around a holiday campout on a deserted island that is disrupted when escaped prisoner Al Bardman captures first the launch stranding the Ricks on the Island without food and then capturing Ulla's sub and trapping her below on the launch. Flipper of course saves the day and guides Porter to the launch rescuing Ulla who is returned to the island with Bud while Porter and Sandy search for the sub. Bardman is goaded to the surface with some subterfuge from Porter after Sandy muses about having a depth charge.

This episode showed how independent and reasonably well prepared these teen-aged boys were for the wilderness. They can fish and take care of themselves whilst their Dad takes off to retrieve the stolen vessel. Most modern city boys of the age portrayed would freak out and not cope. The boys are also used to the law enforcement aspect of their Dad's job and seem to cope well with dramatic violent incidents that involve the pulling of guns and knives.

There were some plot deficiencies. After being stranded from the food on the boat for 6 hours you'd think Poeter and Sandy would've taken some of the food they gave to Bud to take ashore. At the end when Porter is trying to subdue the now disarmed Al Bardman you'd think that Sandy now aged 16 and almost adult sized would've jumped in the water to help his Dad wrestle Bardman and subdue him more quickly.

Finally I've often wondered why the script writers did not explore a romantic connection between Porter and Ulla. Various episodes feature a number of eligible and beautiful women in Porter's life that in a more modern show likely would've progressed to romance. Perhaps it was seen as too much of a distraction from the central Flipper and Ricks family rescuing/assisting story lines.