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Recap / The Wild Wild West S 1 E 5 Night Of The Casual Killer

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West and Gordon are tasked with infiltrating the stronghold of corrupt political boss John Avery and returning him to Washington, D. C. for trial. They pose as a pair of traveling players who "accidentally" wander into Avery's domain; not surprisingly, getting in is much easier than getting out, especially since they have to get a very unwilling Avery out too...

Disguises used by Artie: Himself as a Hammy Actor (27:05)


Tropes present in this episode:

  • The Cast Showoff: Ross Martin is given a chance to demonstrate his skill on the violin, including a passage from Chopin's Nocturne in E-flat major.
    Artie: "And beautifully executed, wouldn't you say?"
  • Cheshire Cat Grin:
    Artie: "James, my boy, you're grinning like an undertaker ready to dress a corpse. Mine."
    Jim: "Artemus, have you ever considered returning to the stage?"
    Artie: "Yes, many times, and never more seriously than right now."
  • Corrupt Politician: What Avery was in his Washington days. He was such a savvy manipulator that even President Grant is worried about his own reputation in connection with Avery.
  • Dirty Cop: Marshall Kirby is on Avery's payroll, and he's the one who blows Jim and Artie's cover.
  • Large Ham: Artemus Gordon, as played by... Artemus Gordon. Rarely have Hamlet's soliloquies been done more porkulently. Avery is distinctly unimpressed. His men, on the other hand, seem to love it!
  • Losing Horns: Type B. Artie plays it when, for the first timenote  (but not the last), Jim does not end up with the Girl of the Week.
  • Odd Name Out: This is the only episode of the series whose title does not start with "The."
  • Playing Drunk: Artie distracts the man on guard duty with a "drunken" rendition of the "Too, too solid flesh" soliloquy from Hamlet.
  • Remember the New Guy?: Jim suddenly acquires a valet named Tennyson. Apparently he was always around, just... hiding. Or something.
  • Suicide Mission: Attempting to bring Avery back alive is regarded as this by the local authorities. Artie doesn't entirely disagree.
    Artie: "I say let's wire Washington and ask for another assignment. Something simple. Like, uh, cutting our throats."
  • Trojan Horse: Jim invokes this trope by name when explaining his plan to get to Avery.
  • Wicked Cultured: In deliberate contrast to his men, Avery is intelligent, suave, well-dressed, well-educated and fond of the finer things in life. He's also a very, very dangerous man.

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