User Reviews

"The Loose Connection" is an excellent episode of "Barnaby Jones". This is because it's so original and unusual....though I also must admit it was a bit farfetched.

Some heroin dealers come up with an odd way of transporting smack over the border from Mexico. A woman pays Barnaby Jones to take her to Mexico, supposedly to find her lost father. However, as they're searching, thugs put drugs into Barnaby's car's water reservoir. The thinking is that since he so often drives to Mexico to fish, border guards will know him and never suspect his car is transporting heroin.

The method for retrieving the drugs is FAR more complicated when you see the show...so complicated you wonder if it's even worth it. However, as I said above, the story is very original and has a neat ending....and is one of the better episodes I've seen.

I always enjoy it when a show is set in a foreign (not USA) country, even if we know it's usually the well-used studio backlot. This time Barnaby needs to go to Mexico and gets into a heap of trouble! We get to see the cool thinking under pressure which is a hallmark of his character. Also, in this episode, we don't know until late who is really behind the set-up. Christine Belford and Lloyd Bochner will be familiar faces from 70's shows. They both do a good job in their roles. Lee Meriwether's Betty is a warm and likeable presence. I always want to see Lee in more scenes! Kind of funny to see Barnaby driving this huge American sedan--hey, I had one of those babies! Felt as long as a battleship! All the elements are here that "Barnaby" fans like. My score of 8 equates to a B+ letter grade. Buddy Ebsen conveys real if understated moral strength as Barnaby. He's a hero--not an anti-hero. I find that very refreshing!

This is a great episode of Barnaby Jones, with a couple of interesting plot twists. Sure, some of the story is highly improbable. For example, that amount of heroin, even 100% pure, was not worth one million dollars in 1973. But that can be overlooked, afterall this is a television show.

Actor Nico Minardos does a great job portraying Mexican cartel drug lord "Raul Felipe". Actor Michale Blodgett is perfectly cast as "Kirk", Actor Lloyd Bochner is spot-on as drug buyer "John Stevens", and Actress Christine Belford does a convincing performance as the daughter who lures Barnaby Jones into a setup.

Lots of action, including a car crash, a shootout, and Barnaby getting seriously whacked on the head, make for an engaging episode. I rate "The Loose Connection" 10 stars.