Upon hearing about the death of their friend, Ray Brenner, the A-Team travels to his hometown Barlow Creek to pay their respects. They quickly discover that Ray's death wasn't an accident as they had been told; he was murdered by the insane Watkins family who have the entire town at their beck and call thanks to bullying fear tactics. The team stands up to the Watkins to free the town and achieve justice for their murdered friend.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- 21-Gun Salute: At Ray Brenner's funeral... sort of. The only people there are the team themselves, Ray's widow, and a priest since everyone else was too scared to go. As a result they don't have quite enough rifles for a full 21-gun salute.
- Berserk Button: B.A. is livid about damage to the van, especially when he sees it stripped.
- Big "SHUT UP!": B.A. in the final scene, in response to Murdock looking on the bright side and peppering him with requisite euphemisms.
- Car Fu: Vehicular homicide seems to be the Watkins' preferred method for killing. It's how they killed Ray and how they try to kill the A-Team after the funeral.
- Diner Brawl: Face and Murdock forcibly eject two of the Watkins from the diner they went to earlier.
- Dirty Coward: Two of the Watkins were only too happy to harass Amy and the widow, until finding out the women were armed. Between that and the team showing up in a car, the two guys book it. In the end, B.A. dismisses the whole lot of them as cowards that took to harassing defenseless people.
- Due to the Dead: The team make a point of attending the funeral of a friend, noting the different ways he helped each of them in combat. Upon learning the circumstances of Ray's death, they intend to do something about it, with B.A. pointing out that Ray was one of the very few who supported them during the trial and that him being gone doesn't mean they don't still owe him.
- Hero Stole My Bike: Run out of town by the Watkins, the team are forced to commandeer an old couple's convertable. Hannibal later instructs Amy to return the car to its owners.
- Hidden Supplies: As Hannibal guesses, Ray kept a stash of guns and ammo hidden somewhere in his house. The team uses it to replace the firepower that the Watkins stole.
- Hope Spot: The team rather effortlessly busts up a few Watkins and look to have things wrapped up in no time. Then Face tells Hannibal that their guns are missing from the van.
- It's Personal: The team already dislikes how the Watkins behave, but upon learning the true circumstances of Ray's death, they're set on bringing them to justice.
- Lonely Funeral: Besides the team and Amy, the only people at Ray Brenner's funeral are the priest conducting the service and his wife. Subverted in that the townspeople want to attend his funeral but... they were intimidated into not attending by the local town heavies. Who were also the men who killed him.
- Lying Finger Cross: After Amy makes them promise to stay out of trouble while they sort things out. Murdock forgot to cross his fingers, but decides to let it off as a "little white lie" anyway.
- Make It Look Like an Accident: Ray was the victim of a hit-and-run with no witnesses. It's essentially an open secret what really happened, but everyone in town is too scared to do anything about it.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: After the first confrontation at the diner, the owner threatens to take Murdock and Face to task for it rather than the actual perpetrators. It's early an indication of the true grip the Watkins have on the town.
- Oh, Crap!: After beating up a few of the Watkins the team goes back to retrieve their van. Face has this reaction upon realizing the remaining brothers stole more from their van than just their tires and radio.Face: Hannibal, guess what's missing.
Deke Watkins: [Comes into view aiming the team's own rifles at them.] Looking for these? [Opens fire.] - Paying for the Action Scene: During the Diner Brawl, Face tosses some money to the proprieters to cover any damage that might occur.
- Police Are Useless: The sheriff, like the rest of the town, is absolutely terrified of the Watkins since they murdered the last sheriff.
- Posthumous Character: Ray Brenner was a fifth member of the team in Vietnam whom the others remember in a heroic and respectful fashion. They risk capture to attend and take part in his funeral with full military honors. They quickly learn from his widow (guest star Joanna Kerns) that he died trying to free his small hometown from a local outlaw family. They promptly seek revenge and justice for their fallen comrade.
- Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil:
- The reason Ray went after the Watkins and got himself killed to begin with: they tried to rape his wife when she was by herself in town.
- After the halfway mark when the Watkins get the jump on the A-Team and throw them out of town, they gloat that two of them are already on their way to Ray's house to rape his widow and Amy.
- Stock Footage:
- The first part of the police chase at the start of the episode is taken from "The Rabbit Who Ate Las Vegas"
- The shot of the police dispatcher with his back to the camera at the beginning of the episode is lifted from Hawaii Five-O.
- During Hannibal's memory flashback, the bridge that was blown up was taken from The Green Berets.
- Tempting Fate: Amy stresses early on that the team really has to stay out of trouble this time. Naturally, trouble finds them.
- Wide-Eyed Idealist: As a frustrated B.A. puts the wheels back on the van, Murdock tries to look on the bright side by saying they needed to be rotated, anyway. B.A. admits he is really sick of Murdock always finding a silver lining.
