"Harry O" Accounts Balanced (TV Episode 1974) Poster

(TV Series)

(1974)

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9/10
Accounts Balanced
MissClassicTV15 February 2016
Harry's ex-girlfriend Anne wants Harry to help her find out why her husband Paul has been acting so strangely lately. On Paul's last trip to New Orleans, Anne called him at the Regency where he was staying, but he wasn't registered under his own name there. However, if he's cheating on her, Anne doesn't want to know. She wants Harry to follow Paul on his next trip to Los Angeles. The next day, Harry instead follows Paul to downtown San Diego. Harry sees Paul with another woman.

Harry meets Anne and tells her that Paul met someone in San Diego, wined and dined them, but stops short of saying that Paul was having an affair. Later that woman is found dead of an apparent suicide. It turns out Paul's secrets are much more serious than an affair. It's a great mystery that unfolds unexpectedly.

This episode's standout moments are the lighter moments. It featured some really funny scenes between Sgt. Frank Cole and Lt. Manny Quinlan. Frank and Harry also had some great interactions. Frank, played by actor Tom Atkins, is hilarious. There's also a funny scene with Harry and Manny at a Mexican restaurant where Manny tells the waitress in Spanish that Harry's a dangerous man.
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8/10
Well done mystery
susanleslie213 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I found this to be a very satisfying story that works on a number of levels. It's a tight, clever script with good dialogue, is true to the character of Harry Orwell, the detective genre itself, and has some lighter moments of comedy.

But at its core it's ALL mystery. This story starts out in a very obvious direction and then out of nowhere throws a sharp curve to Harry O and the audience.

I'm a big fan of Robert Reed. I always enjoy seeing him playing against type and portraying shadowy and complicated characters. He did some extremely good work in the 70's that allowed him this freedom. This role would be among them. Reed's 'Paul Virdon' is a compelling enigma and Reed nails him.

I was impressed with the subplot and staging of the story that had Harry O attempting to track down the family origins of Reed's character. It leads Harry Orwell to a small town and a graveyard and is very well done.

However, this scene did remind me of the movie 'Family Plot', (which hadn't been made yet). I would guess these writers must have read 'The Rainbird Pattern', the book 'Family Plot' was loosely based on.
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