While the Western genre is not one of my favourite film/television genres, there is still high appreciation for it and there are a lot of classics in it. Have often liked the actors here in other things, with Gene Barry (introduced to me via his memorable turn in a 'Columbo' episode) being the most familiar name to me. 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' is a very interesting and often well done if not consistent series. So there was potential for "Triggers in Leash" to be good and the premise was not bad.
"Triggers in Leash" unfortunately struck me as disappointing. There are many fine episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but this is not one of them. If anything, it's one of the misfires and one of the lesser episodes of the first season. Also a big letdown after two great previous episodes. It does have its moments definitely, but "Triggers in Leash" could have been a lot better and there is just something about it that makes it feel like it doesn't belong in the series.
Am going to get the good out of the way. It is slickly photographed. The theme tune is masterly use of pre-existing classical music, one of the best. Ellen Corby gives a very strong and dignified performance, one that deserved a better episode and a better rest of the cast.
Best of all is the wonderfully acerbic epilogue, Hitchcock's bookending sequences varied throughout the series' run but the one in "Triggers in Leash" is one of the best and sticks in the memory. The twist is quite good.
Something that the rest of the episode does not sadly. Barry and Darren McGavin are not on Corby's level and both try too hard and could have done with a lot more grit in their interpretations. The character psychology is interesting but could have delved into a lot deeper, not meaty enough.
What really lets "Triggers in Leash" down in particular is that the story didn't grab me. It felt like 15 minutes over-stretched to 30, which made it drag quite a bit because of it being too thin and too often near-uneventful. There is far too little tension and a lot of it feels contrived and unintentionally silly. Something that is apparent in a lot of the dialogue too. Maggie's actions at the end also don't make sense and it is not really explained.
In conclusion, disappointing. 4/10.
"Triggers in Leash" unfortunately struck me as disappointing. There are many fine episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but this is not one of them. If anything, it's one of the misfires and one of the lesser episodes of the first season. Also a big letdown after two great previous episodes. It does have its moments definitely, but "Triggers in Leash" could have been a lot better and there is just something about it that makes it feel like it doesn't belong in the series.
Am going to get the good out of the way. It is slickly photographed. The theme tune is masterly use of pre-existing classical music, one of the best. Ellen Corby gives a very strong and dignified performance, one that deserved a better episode and a better rest of the cast.
Best of all is the wonderfully acerbic epilogue, Hitchcock's bookending sequences varied throughout the series' run but the one in "Triggers in Leash" is one of the best and sticks in the memory. The twist is quite good.
Something that the rest of the episode does not sadly. Barry and Darren McGavin are not on Corby's level and both try too hard and could have done with a lot more grit in their interpretations. The character psychology is interesting but could have delved into a lot deeper, not meaty enough.
What really lets "Triggers in Leash" down in particular is that the story didn't grab me. It felt like 15 minutes over-stretched to 30, which made it drag quite a bit because of it being too thin and too often near-uneventful. There is far too little tension and a lot of it feels contrived and unintentionally silly. Something that is apparent in a lot of the dialogue too. Maggie's actions at the end also don't make sense and it is not really explained.
In conclusion, disappointing. 4/10.