“The Night of the Druid’s Blood” is the first of a significant number of episodes which will hint the supernatural exists within the reality of the series. The theme will be done much better later on. During the revolving door that brought in a grand total of seven executive producers, the series took had ups and down with the supernatural, but the best occurred with the hammer horror homage I the second and third seasons. But until then, we have to trudge through episodes like this one.I do not want to sound too harsh. “The Night of the Druid’s Blood” is an amusing episode which posses a good red herring midway through that throws the story I a new direction. Such an effective story element is rare in the series. There is also a cool gadget/stunt combination I which Jim uses an explosive device under a bucket to propel himself out of a pit. Both are high points in the episode’s favor.
As are some mythological references. Don Rickles plays a master of the black arts named Asmodeus. Asmodeus appears in a number of ancient texts, including the Kabbala, the Book of Tobit, and the Talmud. The myths vary, but in general, Asmodeus had connections with king David or Solomon and became a king among the demos himself. Anothercharacter is named Astarte, the Greek goddess of love, sexuality, and war.
It is Asmoeus who dominates the episode up until it is revealed he is the red herring. Chalk it up to the lingering effects of Bob Jones University fundamentalism throughout my pre-college education, but I still get a twinge of discomfort when full blown Satanism is featured in popular entertainment. Hollywood flirted with a far less cartoonish version of Satanism I the late ’60’s and early ’70’s. I have an unease about witches’ mass and ritualistic sacrifice being depicted even now.
In some ways, I wonder if that is why Rickles was cast to play Asmodeus. He has a reputation for nasty humor that other people could not get away with, but most are not bothered by when he does it. Somehow, he can perform the dark arts without anyone getting upset. There is another way you cannot take him too seriously--he has a log sword fight with Jim in which it is painfully obvious the stunt man is fighting instead. For one the stunt man has head full of hair!
With Asmodeus out of the way, we get to the real pot--a doctor has been murdering scientists, but keeping their brains alive in order to utilize their intellects. The censors apparently would not allow “brains”--strange sine grave robbing had just been depicted in the previous scene--so they are actually fluid in beakers. Jim convinces them to resist in a move reminiscent of James T. Kirk’s extraordinary ability to talk a computer to death. Remember which Jim did it first, folk.
“The Night of the Druid’s Blood” is worth watching even through the combination of occult elements and over the top science fiction. The episode can be disturbing in places, yet it is also so goofy at times, it mustbe seen to be believed. I leave it up to you whether to take the challenge.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
