Release the Kraken!All right, now that we have gotten the obligatory Clash of the Titans reference out of the way, let us get down to the plot of 'The Night of the Kraken." A diabolical genius has created a sea monster which has been destroying ships off San Francisco. I reality, the sea monster is a front for a new kind of torpedo with which aid diabolical genius is going to use to ill Adm. David Farragut. That is until Jim escapes from the villain’s undersea layer and out swims the torpedo in order to save the admiral’s flagship. Jim is assisted by Artie, who is posing as a Portuguese fisherman.
This plot is very different from the second season's "The Night of the Watery Death," because in that episode, A diabolical genius has created a sea monster which has been destroying ships off San Francisco. I reality, the sea monster is a front for a new kind of torpedo with which aid diabolical genius is going to use to ill Adm. David Farragut. That is until Jim escapes from the villain’s undersea layer and out swims the torpedo in order to save the admiral’s flagship. Jim is assisted by Artie, who is posing as a Portuguese fisherman.
If they were going to directly lift the plot of another episode, they should have chosen more wisely than the mediocre “The Night of the Watery Death.”
To be fair, there are a couple twists in “The Night of the Kraken” that were not around in the previous. But they are only improvements because of their absurdity. The first is pictured above. Jim wrestles and defeats the mechanical squid underwater. It has to be seen to be believed. Second, our heroes discover an experimental diving suit in perfect steam punk style. It looks as ridiculous as the Juggernaut a few episodes back, but fits in with the style o the series.
As does Ted Knight in a dual role as the villain arms dealer and a doomsday evangelist warning of God’s judgment on San Francisco. If only he had known what that city was destined to become, he would have known how quaint it was in the 1870’s. Opium dens are quite tame compared to what plagues the place now. I will bet he hates Jim’s spunk, too.
I gave “The Night of the Watery Death” an average rating. Even though ’The Night of the Kraken” is practically the same episode, the bonus elements I talked about above merit a higher score. They are dumb, but enormously amusing.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
