"Survivors" is an episode of JAG that first aired on April 17, 1996. Directed by Greg Beeman. Teleplay by R. Scott Gemmill, Jack Orman and Donald P. Bellisario, based on a story by Gemmill.
Colonel Matt "Gooch" Anderson (Dan Lauria) is convinced that his son Trevor (Justin Garms) is the reincarnation of his childhood friend and Vietnam War comrade nicknamed "Digger." Gooch feels a moral obligation to fulfill a promise he made to Digger by taking Trevor to a cabin in the woods that Digger loved.
But that plan is complicated by Matt's ex-wife Joyce (Karen Landry) planning to move their son far away. As a favor to the colonel, Rabb represents the colonel in civilian court. The situation becomes even more tense when the colonel escapes with his son.
Deputy Hodge (Steven Barr) is determined to arrest Colonel Anderson at all costs, but is frustrated by one of Anderson's former subordinates flying the colonel and his son on a military helicopter. The colonel has Trevor's grandfather's old hunting rifles, and there is concern that Gooch might commit suicide and maybe even hurt Trevor.
Rabb helps the colonel and his son reach the cabin. Hodge has asked for a warrant to arrest Rabb, and almost shoots Rabb at point blank range. Father and son sit on the front porch of the cabin, and somehow, the promise to Digger is now fulfilled.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Even though he claims not to believe Trevor is Digger, or in reincarnation in general, Rabb is Agent Mulder, willing to risk his career by evading local law enforcement so that Gooch can get Trevor to the cabin. To a smaller extent, Austin is Agent Scully.
- Bears Are Bad News: After joking repeatedly about what to do if you encounter a bear in the woods, Trevor wanders off into the woods on the way to the cabin and really does encounter a bear. He hides in a tree (rather than playing dead) and the bear wanders off without causing an incident.
- Bluff The Villain: Rabb claims that Austin has retrieved a videotape showing Deputy Hodge using excessive force against father and son at the gas station. Austin plays along. Hodge perhaps believes he acted appropriately at that juncture, but not knowing how the videotape might be interpreted, chooses not to risk having to explain it.
- Trevor is a Military Brat, and so was Austin. The conversation gives the writers a chance to fill in Austin's backstory a little bit.
- Supposedly Trevor has Past-Life Memories of fighting in Vietnam, and being left behind. Matt Anderson claims he has never told either his wife or his son about his nickname, so how could Trevor call him that? Also supposedly Trevor speaks Vietnamese in his sleep. Trevor has past life habits, too: Trevor likes putting mustard on his fries, just like Digger did. And just like half of France, according to Rabb.
- Police Are Useless: Deputy Hodge.
- Rabb pulls a Police Brutality Gambit on Hodge.
- Gooch is definitely a Shell-Shocked Veteran.
