‘CHiPs’ Retro Recap: ‘Rock Devil Rock’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Thus far, our journey through the sixth and final season of CHiPs has been frustrating to say the least. Because not only has our dynamic duo been dissolved, allowing for the magic and chemistry of Ponch and Jon to outright disappear, the series has been struggling to reclaim its voice. For instead of offering depth and commentary in the stories, the kind that allows for the audience to genuinely care about the case that the CHP is currently investigating; the series has opted to use gimmicks or packed episodes to try and captivate the audience. Which means that the end result has been a supremely hollow experience, one that leaves the viewer longing for the good old days. 

But while these strange and desperate storytelling decisions make it seem as though everything, we loved about this series is going to fade into oblivion, believe it or not, this show still has stories up its sleeve that invest the viewer and for proof… look no further than the next episode of this storied saga. For ‘Rock Devil Rock’ is the first episode in season six that actually feels like a traditional tale in this series. Simply because it actually takes the time to focus upon the victim and the villain in this tale, allowing for us to care about what happens in the story, which is quite the feat when all is said and done. Largely because at first glance it seems as though this particular tale is going to be an outright disappointment.

After all, it seems quite gimmicky out of the gate, since the California Highway Patrol, or rather, Ponch and Bobby are assigned to protect a hard metal rock star named Moloch who is reviled by some, since he sings music about the Devil and whilst dressed up like a second-rate Gene Simmons. But once we get past the silliness of that, it turns out that poor Moloch is being target for assassination by his agent/manager. Simply because this guy has had it with talent coming and going in this industry, to the point where he’s decided to create and kill a popular and immortal character. Which in this case is Moloch, all so that he can just sit back and collect endless paychecks and never deal with talent issues again and well… finally having some motivations for the villain in a season six story really does invest the viewer at last, as does getting to know the victim.

Because Moloch really is an innocent here. In fact, he’s just a musician looking to strike it rich and the odd realism of both of those storylines, since we’ve seen jaded people in their profession do horrible things to benefit themselves and take people for a ride in process, really does have you rooting for Ponch and Bobby to save the day. But while it is nice to finally feel a more traditional story play out for a change in season six, the wonder of this tale doesn’t end there. Because this is a story that also features an organic and quality cameo by way of Cassandra Peterson, who created the iconic character, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. And she is here in this tale to DJ the CHP Halloween shindig and her arrival in this tale, just works through and through and offers up some proper laughs as well. 

Plus, we would be remiss to not point out that a plot thread involving a kid named Flippy (one that seemed to be a throwaway moment), leads to a grand payoff. Since his noble actions lead to the most epic action sequence in this tale and well… in the end, it really is best to declare this episode as the finest that season six has offered to date. Because it is filled to the brim with heart and depth and the action we crave. However, while that should offer relief and joy, it sadly only brings about frustration. Because clearly the show could have stayed the course and offered up more episodes like this, but it consistently told tales that served as the anthesis to what made this series so great. But the good news, is that season six did finally give us something worthwhile for certain and it’s best we hang onto the wonder of this one before things go south again. Until next time.

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