‘CHiPs’ Retro Recap: ‘Things That Go Creep in the Night’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

If there is one important lesson that the sixth and final season of CHiPs has taught television fans everywhere, it would have to be that the end of a popular television series is often related to multiple factors, instead of the prevailing belief. Which is that one incredibly bad episode or moment will bring a beloved television show to its knees. Instead, we now know that excessive casting changes and alterations from a formula that is loved and embraced, will help to drive audiences away from a show that they once would make a great effort to watch. But while it is fascinating to learn that particular lesson, the impact of a terrible, bottom of the barrel episode, cannot be ignored either.
 
Because that type of tale, not only serves as a fine reminder that the series in question has lost its way, but it can also be quite devastating to the legacy of the show. For now, fans will forget about anything good that came before that goofy story and they will in fact, view that particular episode as the cause of the show’s demise. For it is easy to tie failure to one specific moment, regardless of being armed with the knowledge that the end was cumulative in nature, and really… all of this relevant to our discussion today, simply because the next episode in this storied franchise, just so happens to be an embarrassing and devastating and downright damaging, bad story. The kind that a great deal of fans will likely point to as the episode that brought forth the end for this beloved franchise, and it is easy to see why folks would believe that.
 
For ‘Things That Go Creep in the Night’ simply doesn’t belong in the CHiPs universe, as evidenced by its plot. Because this particular tale revolves around a woman named Anna who is in complete and utter distress when we meet her here. For she’s running around the highways, screaming about being chased by a sea-monster and well… in brief, eventually Ponch and Bruce and Bobby come to discover that Anna is caught up in a strange kidnapping/extortion scheme. One involving a comic book artist/magic enthusiast who kidnapped Anna’s mother, in order to keep the truth about her mom’s involvement in the creation of a comic book character, a secret, so he could reap the benefits. Which, as you can see, is a ridiculous plot that absolutely belongs on another series, and the problems with this episode don’t end with its outlandish story.
 
Because this particular tale really wants to sell the audience on the possibility that what is happening to Anna, is genuinely related to the supernatural. Which means that a lot of horror themes and tropes and even camera angles in the style of horror movies pop up here, alongside a dude in a sea monster outfit and well… all of these elements are just as silly as the plot and they really make the audience feel uncomfortable and disjointed and irritated while watching this tale. Because we’re not here to watch a spooky show about cops that solve mystical mysteries. We’re here to see blue collar, good cops, solve crimes on the highway and try to make the world a better place, and while bad storytelling is nothing new to season six, the wasted opportunities here are what really make this episode so incredibly frustrating to watch.
 
For Sergeant Getraer himself, Robert Pine, directed this episode and his steady presence behind the camera actually does allow for some crisp visuals and decent pacing to take place, and if he was given a better, less outlandish story to work with, who knows what kind of episode we would have been treated to. Plus, this dumb plot wastes a bevy of solid guest stars since Kelly Preston, Rich Little and Elvira are forced to mug for the camera in the hopes of selling over-the-top moments and once again, you cannot help but wonder what could have been, if those exact same stars were given better material to work with. But alas, what’s done is done and, in the end, we are left with the worst episode in the franchise’s illustrious history. One that truly is the epitome of all of season six’s problems, and the sheer existence of this sloppy story, leaves little hope that this series will end, on a high note. Until next time.

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