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Episode Summary
Written
by J. Cole Weston
Overlord
plots to capture scientists but when his plan goes awry, Bandit
has a chilling idea.
Episode
Notes
Written
by J. Cole Weston
In
depth: A woman tries to board a train full of Aerospace scientists
but is turned away due to M.C.C. orders. The Laser Express
train is misrouted by Duchess Dire and heads into the Zone.
Meanwhile, Tank in the Zone trips a laser beam which triggers
an announcement by Overlord to "Protect the Generator!".
They destroy the Generator with light resistance, freeing
the Phoenix Center for Disease Control.
M.C.C.
informs the Zone Riders that the Laser Express bullet Train
is heading to California and will stop at Mercadyne Aerospace
Plant, presumably to work on a new project. Eagle heads into
the Zone, dropping off the team who split up. The team jump
on board the train as it passes. Unfortunately Razorback is
on board with Duchess Dire. They command the Scientists to
stop them, but they escape onto the roof.
Evacuating
the scientists, Tank then attacks the Zone Generator and detaches
the car containing the scientists. Meanwhile Kat stops Razorback
with her freeze ray. At the Chrysler building, Bandit reminds
Overlord he still has control over where the train goes. Bandit
has a chilling plan - to unleash radiation from the old Escondido
Nuclear Power Plant to kill the Zone Riders and force others
to flee Southern California into the Zone.
Duchess
Dire fires on Tank, somehow disrupting or damaging his armor
and zoning him. A fierce battle takes place near Mercadyne.
Hiro on the train destroys the Zone Generator, but the Train
bypasses Mercadyne. Dr. Laurence reports that the train is
under Overlord's control. The train is heading toward a dead
end at the nuclear station where it will explode after ramming
the station.
Dire
captures Kat, but is in turn cornered by Hiro. Dire then pulls
another weapon and stuns Hiro, escaping from the train by
Helicopter pack. With Hiro stunned and Tank zoned, there is
no way to escape the train. Courage and Jones use the helicopter
they stole to attack Overlord and Bandit. Overlord decides
to destroy Escondido Routing Station, making the train unstoppable
seemingly. Hiro regains consciousness and frees Kat. They
then go to find Tank who is Zoned. Courage meanwhile fires
at the tracks ahead of the train. They have 90 seconds to
escape the train. Hiro knocks Tank out with a vicious kick
to the throat, but he is playing possum - and grabs a Needler,
separating the train car from the engine. Only it remains
while Hiro fights to save Tank. In the helicopter, Courage
and Jones wait to pick up the two Zone Riders. Courage hooks
Tank with a grapple line and saves Hiro as well. The train
jumps the tracks and slams into a generator which explodes,
ending the Zone in that area.
Items
Noticed: Duchess Dire is equipped with a personal helicopter
backpack - yet another great addition for year 2's toys that
would have been great. Notes:
Much of the major centers of population in California seem
to be zoned, including San Francisco and Escondido. What
do we learn? Part of Phoenix, Arizona was in the Zone but
is now free. The
Central California Zone takes up much of California including
the Mercadyne Aerospace Plant and San Francisco. The
Nuclear Power Plant in Escondido, California may have been
abandoned since it is only several hundred yards from the
Zone. Goof
ups: If Duchess Dire possesses such a weapon that can defeat
Neutron 90 suits, why isn't everyone equipped with one? When
did this get developed? A major inconsistency in SPIRAL
ZONE - one that usually does not happen. Later,
the gun fires a net. Why not just use the armor defeating
setting, or better yet, the backpack which contains a net? Tanks'
helmet is left on the train. Where exactly will they get more
Neutron 90 to replace that? Clearly a devastating loss of
equipment. The
train reaches the end of the tracks as Overlord wanted. And
yet the train hits a Zone Generator, and not the Power plant?
Someone explain to me how this happened! Commentary:
This episode is the most inconsistent so far, among a series
whose major pride can be placed in its relentless consistency
and realism. The ending is especially annoying considering
Overlord's plan is successful, yet the writer seemingly forgets
to have the train crash into the plant. Ultimately we see
a frightening vision that will NEVER be presented in a childrens
cartoon again - a Middle-Eastern terrorist seeking to blow
up a nuclear plant to spread radiation. Once more SPIRAL
ZONE is timely for 2007 and disturbingly accurate. Quotable
Quotes: "So, you ready to check your luggage or what?"
- Max to Commander Courage, waiting to board a helicopter
while under fire.
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