Route 66 (TV Series) What a Shining Young Man Was Our Gallant Lieutenant (1963) User Reviews

With a Heavy Heart...

[lrrap · 9/10 · 14 January 2020]

The crew was lucky that the sun was shining and the scenery looked beautiful during filming of this episode, since the idyllic warmth and pastoral sheen only intensify the sadness and emotional weight of this tale of war-related tragedy.

The plot takes quite a long time to get started, as Tod and Linc drunkenly debate "the Meaning of Life" --which actually helps "set the scene" and create the feeling that their journey into the countryside is some sort of mythical quest, an encounter which will test their humanity almost to the breaking point--at least in LInc's case. It is quiet and understated, and very sad---especially so considering Linc's idolization of his former officer.

The subplot involving the neighbor girl Beth pushes things even further into the emotional crucible, as we see the Lieutenant about to lose his only friend--a 12-year old girl whom he relates to as his peer. Hers is also a story fraught with sadness, as we first see her consigning her favorite childhood toys to a 'ceremonial' immolation in the woods, in preparation for her departure for school.

Again, as seems to be the pattern thus far with Linc, Tod plays the hardhearted voice of reason.

A complex and slightly overwrought episode that still manages to tie everything together neatly at the end, thanks to the "mantra" which Lieutenant and his mother recite to one another--hence, the importance of the old car he restores for her as a birthday present.

And just when you thought that the heartbreak might become totally overwhelming, Mrs. School (mother) unexpectedly lifts everyone from the emotional depths into an upbeat but bittersweet resolution that poses as many questions as it answers. But who cares? At least our "Shining Young Man' has been rescued, if only in his own mind. LR

PS-- Interesting casting of Jane Rose as the mother, an actress with whom I was unfamiliar. Her bio indicates she was a well-respected NY stage actress, who was active in theater programs for the blind. The producers must have felt that her sensitivity to people suffering from disabilities was especially helpful to her portrayal.

To admire and respect Linc

[sawznhamrs-1 · 9/10 · 5 December 2019]

We first see Tod and Linc looking to get paid one morning for work they had done the previous night. They quickly learn this employer frequently pulls this stunt and stiffs the laborers for their wages. The next scene reveals the boys have decided to get drunk in a local bar to drown their sorrows. They explore the deeper questions of life the next morning as Linc considers the life of Lieutenant School in Vietnam whom he admired. Having called the lieutenant's mother to announce his visit, Tod and Linc arrive at the house. Linc quickly learns upon arrival that his former friend is not what he once was because of a serious head injury that has left him with the mind of an eight year old. Linc is brought to tears after this realization. Though School asks Linc to be his friend, he says that he can't. Tod tries to reinforce to Linc that he cannot join School in his world. But Linc is drawn in and gives him a pocketknife then follows him to see what Lieutenant wants to show him--an old car he had been working on to restore. He proudly explains to Linc all he did to restore it and that it is a surprise gift to his mom. Linc is further drawn in to the Lieutenant's world as he watches the joy his former boss obtains from the car with no wheels. It runs but it can't move. Meanwhile, Tod discovers young Beth involved in her own play and she is able to lead Tod to where School has taken Linc. They arrive at the old car and join Linc and School. Beth tells Lieutenant she is going away to school, and the Lieutenant begs her not to. She and School leave to have a conversation about it. Linc tells Tod he is going to stay and help Lieutenant with the car, to get wheels for it and get it on the road. Linc wants to help School's success. Linc shows his devotion to the Lieutenant being so willing to invest time and money in the old car. But once Linc obtains wheels and mounts them, he says he will take him anywhere in the world he wants to go. The notion of Linc driving the car begins to threaten the Lieutenant's ownership of it and his plan to present it to his mom. Again, Tod intervenes to halt Linc from interfering in Lieutenant's world, even wrestling him to the ground and forcing him to admit his age to the Lieutenant. He takes the wheels off because they are not right and Linc allows the Lieutenant to go back to his world. The Lieutenant proudly presents the car to his mom who promptly runs back to the house, seemingly because she is upset. But she quickly returns in her best dress and hat, telling the Lieutenant that she wanted to be dressed right to ride in such a shiny car. The whole family piles in, the Lieutenant at the wheel. He gleefully pretends to drive away as he starts the car and all is well. The events of this episode allow for some genuine bonding experiences for Linc and Tod--in commiserating over lost wages, and the shared experience of the dramatic reunion of Linc and his former Lieutenant. The writers get an A+ from this reviewer.

4/26/63 "What a Shinning Young Man was Our Gallant Lieutenant"

[schappe1 · 11 December 2015]

This episode is highly regarded by most fans of the show. I find it a little uneven but memorable in a sad way. Linc finds out his old Lieutenant, (Dick York), for whom he had much respect, is living nearby and decides to pay him a visit. He finds him in his lieutenant's uniform. But something is missing. He doesn't recognize Linc. It turns out he's sustained a brain injury that deprived him of all his memory after the age of 8. In fact he thinks that he is age 8 and has the personality of a child, even if he retains some of the skills he learned as an adult.

His dream is to refurbish an old, wheel-less car that sits on cement blocks. He has succeeded and he dreams of driving around the country in it. It represents something he can control. When Linc obtains some tires, the lieutenant doesn't want them to be put on the car. Once someone else had put something on it, it's no longer his. Tod, again playing the skeptic rather than the dreamer, recognizes this and tries to convince Linc not to be "drawn into his 8 year old world", even threatening to drive off and leave him there. Eventually they drive off down the road the lieutenant will never see as he sits in his car with his proud, sad family and runs the engine for the car that can't go anyplace, except in his mind.

It's another episode you can hardly see any other show presenting.

Above All Loyalty

[AudioFileZ · 6/10 · 29 April 2012]

In the process of Linc's healing from the scars of war he seeks out his platoon's lieutenant. Unbeknownst to Linc "The Lieutenant" has suffered brain damage and is left with the mental faculties of eight-year old. Though unreachable except on the terms of child Linc learns how to show his loyalty to the lieutenant who means so much to him. It isn't an easy compromise as Linc seeks to be his savior.

This is somewhat of a melodramatic episode. It is a bit light on entertainment value but rich in emotion. As Linc struggles to supplant himself back into civilian life he stumbles thinking he may find a bridge in doing so with his commanding officer. At first, not accepting that fate has dealt a harder blow to one he looked up to for strength and direction, Linc falters. As he seeks to be the lieutenant's friend he actually harms the fragile state in which the lieutenant is now trapped in. Linc sees the error he has made and retreats to a state where he can accept what he can't fix. It's a hard lesson, but ultimately one where Linc begins to understand that the past is behind him. He moves on for both his own good as well as his friends.

This particular episode is fairly dark. It is clear from what we have gathered so far regarding Linc that he has plenty of baggage which weights him down. The story here is definitely woven with that weight. While not a particularly entertaining story, the episode seems to be a point in Linc's journey of healing. Dick York, best known from his stint as Darren in Bewitched stars as "The Lieutenant". He brings a fragile vulnerability that is key to the story and is excellent in his role. Not a must see episode, but a revealing part of the character that is Tod's new sidekick.