User Reviews

I can't recall how many, but Burr's first big series, Perry Mason, had a few episodes with the plotline where a family member would return after being thought dead and then the mystery is whether it's the real deal or a scammer. That's the case in this Ironside, where Kim Hunter's daughter returns "from the dead" after years of being gone, saying she was in a drug haze for many years. Along with that mystery is the mystery for the Ironside gang as to who killed Hunter's son. I won't spoil it for you, but there's a very cool twist at the end, made possible by the acting of the inimitable Kim Hunter.

If you're any sort of movie buff at all, just close your eyes and listen to Hunter. Yes, it's Zira from the Planet of the Apes classic movies! Probably the best performance behind a mask by any actress in history? Gretchen Corbett is also particularly good as Hunter's possible daughter. It's really not a spoiler to say that her angst at the facade gives away that part of the mystery. She had a very memorable role in the classic Columbo episode, "An Exercise in Fatality." Whit Bissell joins us again, as the lawyer, and it's fun to see his face. He was all over the movies and tv from the 50's onward, usually playing doctors and lawyers. He serves our Ironside/Star Trek connection, appearing in the classic Star Trek episode, 'The Trouble with Tribbles." I think you'll like this episode. Hunter plays it well and it leaves you with the thought, wonder how this turned out over time....?

I rather enjoyed this episode and not only because of the great actress Kim Hunter but the supporting roles of Gretchen Corbett, Scott Hylands, Whit Bissell, and Anne Seymour One of the most highly rated of episodes although for the most part all were better than most schlock we have on network TV these days.

It starts out typical as Ironside is visiting another endearing friend; this time a rich widow played by Kim Hunter and her son who both share a horrible loss in death of the daughter years ago. Unbeknownst to Ironside and the mother, son has been hiding postcards that are coming from the supposedly dead daughter over a matter of months. The son asks Ironside to investigate which leads to tragedy soon after and the surprise arrival of the supposedly dead daughter!!

I felt the writing in this one was expertly done as I kept guessing on what was the real truth since there were so many red herrings you had to really see who was pulling the strings. The ending was a bit of a surprise on who the killer turned out to be as was the last scene between Ironside, the widow, and the daughter and husband. Also it was nice to see Fran involved more in this episode than Mark or Ed for a change. She discovered a few of the mysteries that goes to solving the case.