“The Night of the Two-Legged Buffalo” is another highlight of the first season. The characters are colorful without being too over the top, the plot twists are actually surprising, and the adventure is laced with much humor. There is a underlying poignancy I some behind the scenes drama I will get to in a moment.Jim and Artie are assigned to protect a spoiled South Seas prince util he can sign a treaty with the United States. The price is an amoral brat who plotting to take over his father’s kingdom. At first, he just seems insufferable, but then it turns out he is in cahoots with a group of kidnappers. He plans to make it look as though American bandits kidnapped him, but his cohorts saved him. His father would refuse to sign a treaty with the United States because of the crime, leaving the prince free to eliminate the American missionaries on the island and rule unencumbered by American influence.
Artie portrays the price after his “kidnapping” in order to keep things running smoothly. He dresses in full bone necklace ad feathered poncho glory. There is no unga bunga or bone through the nose, but he does not miss it by much.
The prince himself is betrayed by his associates when it is revealed all they want is his jewels. In spite of the act he has attempted multiple times to kill Jim and Artie, they save him and he signs the treaty. He remains without a hint of remorse for his actions. A great ruler he is going to make one day.
It is made clear that the missionary influence is what has civilized the prince’s island and he resents the heck out of it. What I cannot put my finger on is whether the tone of the episode is implying evangelism has ruined other cultures or if, since the price is such an obnoxious jerk, evangelism has been a change for the better. I am going to cast aside my cynicism and say it is the former. You have to take the increasingly rare opportunities to be positive whenever they come around.
As for the background I mentioned, the prince is played by Nick Adams. He is best known for portraying Johnny Yuma in The Rebel. Adams became close friends with James Dean when he took a bit part in Rebel without a Cause and became part of Elvis Presley’s entourage during the filming of Love Me Tender. As well as Robert Conrad. (Adams was once roommates with Dennis Hopper, too.) Dean’s death affected him deeply. He began acting erratically, being arrested for reckless driving three times in one year. Persistent drug use resulted in dwindling acting opportunities.Conrad got him the role as the prince during the time his star was fading. Adams was given another role on the series in the fourth season just a few months before he died of a drug overdose. Some fans are inclined to speak of the urban legend of Rebel without a Cause being cursed, but I take note that Adams felt devastated by the death of Dean and abandoned by Elvis when his profile dropped in the mid to late ’60’s. but like when Conrad got Richard Kiel a speaking role in his last turn as Voltaire, he was looking out for his friend Adams right up until the end.
“The Night of the Two-Legged Buffalo” is one of the most entertaining episodes of the first season. Much of the high concept gadgetry an wild villainy is kept to a minimum, but the plot is engaging as far as this show goes and is a lot of fun to watch.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
