‘CHiPs’ Retro Recap: ‘Fast Company’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It is definitely safe to say, that the sixth and final season of the police serial, CHiPs, has been a supreme disappointment. Simply because just about everything we came to love about this storied series, is outright missing from this particular season of storytelling. For Jon Baker and a great deal of the supporting characters that brought us joy in seasons one through five, aren't present in year six’s adventures, and the episodes themselves simply aren’t the same in the slightest. For stories that once featured meaning and tackled topics that were ahead of their time, were instead replaced with episodes full of gimmicks and notions that were relevant to the times.
 
But while that has made this re-watch quite difficult at times as we slog through some rough entries, this journey hasn’t been a total loss. Because from time to time, classic elements from prior seasons found their way into the framework of a particular tale, allowing for a wonderful sense of nostalgia to arrive as we reflected upon wonderful days gone by, the kind that could never be reclaimed. Or rather, so it seemed. Because believe it or not, the next episode in this storied franchise actually managed to perfectly recapture the magic of the seasons that came before it. A feat that ‘Fast Company’ accomplished, by first offering up a little late season shakeup when it comes to the cast and also by providing the audience with a back-to-basics tale, one that genuinely embodied the spirit of the past.
 
One that saw Ponch and Bruce head out to investigate a slimy car theft ring that was operating far away from the city of angels and well, it takes all of two minutes to make it clear… that Bruce and Ponch should have been partners from the get-go. Simply because these two actors share genuine chemistry, and their dynamic gives Ponch the chance to slip into the mentor role and grow his character whilst Bobby takes on the role of the eager student and that really works like a charm here, and it allows for the two of them to operate as a genuine team when things get hairy. Because while they are in the middle of the boonies, they come to learn that the Sheriff of the small town they’re visiting, is connected in all the wrong ways and he’s willing to put down a couple of real cops if it means he can benefit financially.
 
Which is where the classic elements come into play. For now, Ponch and Bruce are forced to not only think in a creative manner to save their hide, but they also have to do what they can, in order keep a couple of witnesses to a murder, safe. Since the sheriff lured said witnesses to this town as well, in the hopes of turning them over to a drug kingpin and well… this was just amazing. Because once again we saw noble officers, going above and beyond and risking their lives in order to keep these women out of harm’s way, and to bring a true Creep of the Week to justice and seeing them figure out ways to make all of that happen, was downright thrilling and engaging and quite frankly… inspiring. If anything, it was just wonderful to see those elements return to the forefront of this show, since they are true staples of this franchise and well, that makes this episode bittersweet in a way.
 
Because while it was nice to once again enjoy everything that makes this franchise so great and so compelling, it is disappointing that this wasn’t the direction that season six took to begin with. Because this episode makes it one hundred percent clear that this series could have gone to new heights if it had taken this route storytelling wise. But instead… it opted to take the easy way out and that’s heartbreaking in retrospect. But all reflection aside, make no mistake about it, this is hands down the finest episode that season six has to offer and it really is nice to enjoy one last quality tale from this dynamic series. Because what awaits us next is supremely disappointing for certain and the next episode in this storied franchise, is likely what put the final nail in the coffin for this once proud series since it is the perfect and unfortunate foil to this wonderful tale. Until next time.

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