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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 259221" data-attributes="member: 23">Canyon Of Death <img src="http://www.televisionofyore.com/uploads/9/3/0/3/9303799/season1-episode10-inside_orig.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Well, the men in silver spacesuits with bacofoil accessories had me a bit worried. Thank goodness it was quickly given a sensible real-world explanation.The struggle between tradition and technology learning to live together seems most appropriate for a series about a schoolteacher with bionic implants. And what better way to juxtapose the clash between the new and the old than to have the airbase and its testing ground for space suits surrounded by Native American burial grounds. And in a timely move, Jaime’s new student is a Native American keen to follow traditional ways. Paco is openly derided by Jaime’s students, with the most aggressive casual racism coming from the smallest, fairest - and perhaps whitest - kid in the class, Andrew: who happens to resemble the Milky Bar Kid. Far from the stereotypical image of a class bully, Andrew actually looks like the kind of kid who would be the target of bullies. Which perhaps gives a more nuanced picture. It’s also interesting to note that Andrew’s behaviour isn’t explicitly shown to be negative. His smart-mouthed quips are presented as some of the episode’s lighter moments, with no real repercussions for the persecutor. Which, again, is perhaps more truthful than another approach. There are also solid elements of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Paco is a compulsive liar, as his aunt discusses with Jaime (his aunt is none other than Cha-Cha from Grease. Though I convinced myself she was P. K. Kelly from Knots Landing). So when Paco sees genuine suspicious activity it naturally takes some convincing for people to believe him. Which is an opportunity to show Oscar and Jaime for the wise souls they are. They see the truth when not even Jaime’s nice co-worker Karen Stone would. Paco becomes the latest addition to the lengthy list of people who know Jaime’s secret. In fact she performs bionic feats in front of numerous people here, not least the bad guys. And since their raison d’être during the whole episode is to sell secrets about technology to some very dodgy people, I can’t help wondering why nobody was more concerned. As far as long-lasting effects from the episode: I don’t believe Paco will be seen again, which is a bit of a shame. The premise feels very much intended for a young audience to enjoy. Despite some welcome layers that keep it the right side of watchable, it doesn’t really rise above that. And for all its good intentions, any attempt to explore the complexities of Native American heritage in a fifty minute action show is going to be found wanting, particularly when episodic television demands a resolution. It’s not a failure, though. When it comes to the question of living in harmony, things are left decidedly open-ended. Which is certainly preferable to being spoon-fed answers. As for the battle between tradition and technology. Well, the scoundrel in the spacesuit is brought down. But only due to Jaime’s bionics. Perhaps the message is one of compromise: that technology can only be a good thing when tempered by human wisdom and understanding. </blockquote>

Verification: Who played Sue Ellen in Dallas?