Review S01E06- A Feasible Solution

michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
A British scientist, Colby, a specialist in rocket guidance, and a Russian, Yugarov, a specialist in missile propulsion are kidnapped in Cyprus.
Someone wants to be build a missile or two but who? Considering the huge problem in smuggling missiles out of anywhere Burnside thinks it may be the Cypriots themselves.
Number 1 suspects are the Greek/Cypriot National Front who would love to drive the Turks out of Cyprus, a guy codenamed Apollo runs this terrorist organization.
Burnside wasn't really sure about this theory, until SIS number 2 man in Nicosia is gunned down in broad daylight outside his home.
Burnside. " it's a crazy thing to do, points us squarely in the direction of Cyprus, but they've done it"
Willie Caine is sent and at Nicosia airport meets the new SIS officer who'll replace the gunned down guy. She is pretty brunette Jill Ferris.
Local intelligence suggests NF might be using a sanatorium in the hills as a base. It's an old fort, hard to access, has guards, and is a private clinic, and would make an ideal cover for the NF.
Willie and Jill while driving close by the sanatorium /fort come under sniper fire. They dive for cover and some nifty shooting by Jill kills one sniper and injures the other. Caine is impressed by Jill, a novice straight out of training school. Interrogation of the injured man reveals Colby and Yugarov are indeed in the fort. Next day they plan to get them out, but first they must work out how.

Sarah Bullen and Ray Lonnen in A Feasible Solution (1978)

Sarah Bullen in A Feasible Solution (1978)


Back in their apartment Willie makes a private call to Burnside, something isn't right, this Jill is too good for a novice.
Burnside checks the file , and gives a description of Jill Ferris, it doesn't match.
Burnside. " it makes sense. The Russians want Yugarov, and want you Willie to help them get him. They kill the Cypriot SIS number 2, to be sure we know where to go, and put their agent with you. We're running a joint operation with the KGB"
" And our Jill Ferris?"
" dead in a ditch somewhere . Be careful Willie"


Back to the previous episode
https://www.imdforums.com/threads/s01e05-always-glad-to-help.4840/

On to the next episode,
https://www.imdforums.com/threads/s01e07-special-relationship.4857/
 
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michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
A much less complex episode than most with lots of action.
Burnside would love to send Willie some help, official SAS help maybe, but this vetoed by the powers that be. It's up to Willie and *Jill* or whoever she really is.
They machine gun their way in to the sanatorium, terrorists returning fire. Jill gives Willie cover as he searches for Colby and Yugarov. He finds them locked up, but quite safe.

Donald Churchill and Ray Lonnen in A Feasible Solution (1978)

Ray Lonnen in A Feasible Solution (1978)


There's an ambulance parked in the grounds, Jill drives off , a dummy run fooling the terrorists who chase it firing, Jill leaps out and hot wires a car and picks up Willie and the scientists and heads for Willie's car. Willie and Colby get out.
Willie " okay , back to Moscow you go"
Jill " when did you know?"
W: " almost from the beginning"
J: " my orders were to get Yugarov, he wasn't kidnapped, he sold out . Goodbye Willie good luck"
Respect there between two agents. She drives off, and then we hear a gunshot.
Colby " what was that?"
Willie " I think the lady saved on an air fare"
Back in Burnside's office in walks a bedraggled Caine, bruised , cut and tired. But Burnside rips into him!
Burnside " Your report says she left you alone while she did a dummy run with the ambulance?"
C: "yep"
B: " you didn't think of putting a bullet into Yugarov and blaming the terrorists?"
C: " er..no"
B: " then you should have. She would have been forced to maintain her cover and we could have fed her false information"
C: " didn't think of it. In a life and death situation I just didn't think of it. Anyway I felt I owed her.."
B: (shouting) " you owe her nothing. You're SIS she's KGB"
C: " and never the twain shall meet"
B: " don't forget it again"
What a charming boss Burnside is! 8/10
 
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