Cheesy! The Soprano's meets an attack helicopter! Random Target has it all for an 80's action adventure show. Hawk and Dom do some aerial footage work for competitor in Hollywood, and take photo's unknowing to the duo of a mob hideout. There is a mystery element. Why? What? Where? as murders and fires happen! We get the type cast mob guys in the middle. Well written and directed with the usual over the top Airwolf feel. What works for Random Target is the plot twists with the ending! There is a St Valentine massacre plot twist and awesome Airwolf action. Cheesy but in a good way. My buddy Tony got a huge laugh at the massacre, and always pointed out the plot holes. Hey it's a tv show I would reply. Random Target is fun to watch! 7 stars.
3 Reviews
Airwolf - Random Target
Scarecrow-8819 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I think what makes "Random Target" an especially worthwhile episode is its story remaining "at home", including a purposed arson of Santini's hanger at his helicopter company. String and Santini agree to help a rival aerial photographer out with some sky footage of the desert, unknowingly recording a mobster-in-hiding named Langhorn (Len Birman) while he's chilling at the palatial compound of a wealthy associate. When the rival, Sam Kowal (James Ingersoll), is killed by Langhorn's thugs, sent to find the footage, String and Santini make an effort to find out why their buddy was targeted...and Langhorn's men will do whatever they can to make sure his whereabouts aren't disturbed while a big meeting of like kingpins is in the works. A tough detective, Sgt Anne Brennen (Anne Lockhart), is assigned the case of Kowal's death, immediately at odds with String due to her attitude, feeling that he was a "random target" of junkies looting buildings for items that could afford their next fix. What String can't anticipate is just how close to Langhorn Brennen is.
I was happy to see Lockhart, a favorite of mine since I watched her on Battlestar Galactica as a kid and 80s television. Later she starred in Law & Order (and Criminal Intent) and is currently on Chicago Fire. Here she has friction with String over her passive approach to Kowal's case, seemingly stretched thin by a precinct's lack of duty officers and increase in crime/death/violence. I really thought Vincent and Lockhart had surprisingly good chemistry with Brennen actually getting String to smile and their conversation about "lost parents" and growing up without them is a really nice development between them. While she later is tied criminally to loathsome Langhorn, Brennen is still actually given some good characterization and dimension thanks to the sincere portrayal by Lockhart and strong focus by the plot. That String cannot prevent her fate makes sense: because of her criminality, Brennen must pay for her sins. I consider the revelation of Brennen to be such a downer, mainly because she is presented so effectively as a cynical detective in need of someone (ultimately, String) to challenge her. She comes to her senses, firing at Langhorn's gunmen while riding shotgun in String's car, but it's too little, too late. It is quite a tragic, sad moment in the episode. Langhorn's turning on his associates (who want him to serve them instead of functioning as his own kingpin) is no surprise and the weaponized choppers are of no consequence when Airwolf takes care of them easily. But seeing the thugs trying to steal evidence of Langhorn's live status, assaulting Caitlin with a strike to the head, burning Santini's hanger, and setting fire to a film lab makes up for the conclusion's lack of real punch. However, Airwolf causing Langhorn's suitcase of cash to scatter all over in a propelled windfall is quite a satisfying visual before the police arrive to take him away. The opening chase of and rocket fire to a rock-collecting little old lady in a jeep because she happened upon accidentally Langhorn's arrival is quite an introduction to just what kind of villain the episode would highlight...the ending, after Brennen exits the episode, doesn't quite equal or match the intensity of the attack on the jeep. Still, for fans of the show who rarely see the plot so involved in where Santini works and lives, this should be a treat. Also important: Caitlin is allowed to start operations within the Airwolf, as Santini's strict limits towards her start to loosen. What the show has done well is invest in Caitlin's dynamic with String and Santini, serving as a valuable asset not a detriment, becoming a vital part of the team.
I was happy to see Lockhart, a favorite of mine since I watched her on Battlestar Galactica as a kid and 80s television. Later she starred in Law & Order (and Criminal Intent) and is currently on Chicago Fire. Here she has friction with String over her passive approach to Kowal's case, seemingly stretched thin by a precinct's lack of duty officers and increase in crime/death/violence. I really thought Vincent and Lockhart had surprisingly good chemistry with Brennen actually getting String to smile and their conversation about "lost parents" and growing up without them is a really nice development between them. While she later is tied criminally to loathsome Langhorn, Brennen is still actually given some good characterization and dimension thanks to the sincere portrayal by Lockhart and strong focus by the plot. That String cannot prevent her fate makes sense: because of her criminality, Brennen must pay for her sins. I consider the revelation of Brennen to be such a downer, mainly because she is presented so effectively as a cynical detective in need of someone (ultimately, String) to challenge her. She comes to her senses, firing at Langhorn's gunmen while riding shotgun in String's car, but it's too little, too late. It is quite a tragic, sad moment in the episode. Langhorn's turning on his associates (who want him to serve them instead of functioning as his own kingpin) is no surprise and the weaponized choppers are of no consequence when Airwolf takes care of them easily. But seeing the thugs trying to steal evidence of Langhorn's live status, assaulting Caitlin with a strike to the head, burning Santini's hanger, and setting fire to a film lab makes up for the conclusion's lack of real punch. However, Airwolf causing Langhorn's suitcase of cash to scatter all over in a propelled windfall is quite a satisfying visual before the police arrive to take him away. The opening chase of and rocket fire to a rock-collecting little old lady in a jeep because she happened upon accidentally Langhorn's arrival is quite an introduction to just what kind of villain the episode would highlight...the ending, after Brennen exits the episode, doesn't quite equal or match the intensity of the attack on the jeep. Still, for fans of the show who rarely see the plot so involved in where Santini works and lives, this should be a treat. Also important: Caitlin is allowed to start operations within the Airwolf, as Santini's strict limits towards her start to loosen. What the show has done well is invest in Caitlin's dynamic with String and Santini, serving as a valuable asset not a detriment, becoming a vital part of the team.
Random Target
Prismark1029 August 2022
A mobster is hiding out in the desert. Any innocent passerby who sees him gets wiped out.
One of them is Sam Kowal, a rival of Hawke and Santini. They helped to take some aerial footage and caught the mobster on camera.
When Kowal is found dead. Detective Anne Brennan thinks that it was local junkies who killed him.
Hawke is certain that someone is targeting them especially when Santini's air hangar is set on fire.
I did like how Hawke had a weird feeling as to who might have betrayed him. That was a good twist.
The mobster angle was cheesy, especially as to how he took out his rivals. The Godfather type theme was a nice touch.
The junkies in the desert hunch for the rising crime spree was a laugh.
One of them is Sam Kowal, a rival of Hawke and Santini. They helped to take some aerial footage and caught the mobster on camera.
When Kowal is found dead. Detective Anne Brennan thinks that it was local junkies who killed him.
Hawke is certain that someone is targeting them especially when Santini's air hangar is set on fire.
I did like how Hawke had a weird feeling as to who might have betrayed him. That was a good twist.
The mobster angle was cheesy, especially as to how he took out his rivals. The Godfather type theme was a nice touch.
The junkies in the desert hunch for the rising crime spree was a laugh.
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