The Time Tunnel (TV Series) Kill Two by Two (1967) User Reviews

A Private War

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 29 December 2009]

Doug and Tony are transported to an island in the Pacific on 17 February 1945. They subdue the old Japanese Sergeant Itsugi that seems to be alone in the island, but the Japanese Lieutenant Pilot Nakamura surprises them and reverts the situation. Nakamura had studied In USA and challenges the time travelers in a war game to humiliate them, releasing Doug and Tony in the jungle without weapons to hunt them one hour later. Meanwhile, the Time Tunnel personnel discovers that the scientists are in the Minami-Iwo on the eve of the attack to Iwo-Jima, and invites Dr. Nakamura, who served in the island, to identify landmarks to bring Doug and Tony back. However, Dr. Nakamura recognizes his son, who lost the nerve to commit hara-kiri and felt in disgrace, and was left behind in Minami-Iwo by his own father. Dr. Nakamura demands the rescue of his son to give the necessary information to the staff.

"Kill Two by Two" is one of the most dramatic episodes of "The Time Tunnel". The stressed situation of Lieutenant Nakamura is explained by his father and another drama develops in the Time Tunnel complex. Mako gives a powerful interpretation in the role of a tortured man with education overseas that faces a private war after breaking the tradition of his people and seeks redemption in the end. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Túnel do Tempo" ("The Time Tunnel")

The private war between the kamikaze Japanese pilot vs. two American "Joe" at closing of WWII in south pacific!!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 25 April 2023]

One the greatest episodes of the series, when Tony and Doug landed in Japanese Island in March 17th 1945 when the WWII coming close, unfortunately Tony sprains his ankle in the fall, they walking around and find out a little shaky whereof is a kind of an observation spot from Japanese Army which had a radio to warning Japanese forces if it's needing for and meet an old and harmless Sgt. Itsugi (Kam Tong) that so friendly bandaged Tony's ankle.

Suddenly appears a kamikaze pilot Lt. Nakamura (Mako) from out of nowhere defying ours heroes for a fight, firstly with injured Tony, always stating both as "Joe" claiming himself that all Americans guys is just "Joe", after won a fight between Tony with bamboo sticks, he changes his mind and decides leave them at forest to aftermaths hunting them at your manner.

Doug wisely seeks behind of the shaky a storage of munition, taking many garnets in order to use when the crazy Nakamura finds them, meanwhile in Time Tunnel Complex Col. Kirk demands that some Japanese official at Japan's Emabassy could help them, Dr. Nakamura (Philip Ahn) appears and can recognize the island to ascertain the exactly coordinates to be able to transfer Tony and Doug before the island can be bombed by both enemies in south Pacific.

However Dr. Nakamura didn't had good memories from such place, because his son previously schooled in America and became a kamikaze pilot had failed in his mission, aftermath was dishonored by own father a Naval Officer who ordered left him there to made Hara-kiri by his cowardliness.

Thus the behavior of Lt. Nakamura explains itself why he defied Tony and Doug, he wants to die with honor at least, the fabulous Mako had a stunning acting as Lt. Nakamura, portraying a mad kamikaze soldier that stolen the show for yourself, one my favorite episode.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 1971 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.75.

Enjoyable episode with an obvious continuity error

[mikesinclair-30063 · 8/10 · 27 May 2019]

When Doug uses a small crowbar to break into the hut he tosses it on the ground after breaking the lock. He then immediately pushes the door open and walks in. It then cuts to him from the inside where he puts the crowbar down on a box before searching the hut.

One of the series best episodes

[brimfin · 10/10 · 20 January 2007]

Two of the best TIME TUNNEL episodes were related to World War II. One was "The Day the Sky Fell In," where Tony meets his father at Pearl Harbor. The other is this lesser known gem, a solid engrossing drama from start to finish.

For once Tony and Doug don't land on the eve of some pivotal historic event. This time they land on a seemingly deserted Japanese island during World War II. They encounter and capture an old Japanese sergeant, left behind as a spotter. Then a young Japanese lieutenant captures them, announcing he plans to kill them. But he seems to be compelled to humiliate them first. Soon he releases them with a head start intending to hunt them down. But this isn't just another version of a hunter tracking human prey, and the young soldier isn't just a sadist, as described by Ann early in the episode. As the drama unfolds, we slowly learn who this soldier is, and the secret he is hiding.

Meanwhile, at the Tunnel complex, a doctor from the Japanese consulate is brought in to help them locate the island so that Tony and Doug can be removed from it before American soldiers invade. The visitor discovers he has a connection to the Japanese soldier, forcing Kirk, Ann and Ray to have to make a decision that might force them to leave either Tony or Doug behind. Both the dramas in the Tunnel and on the island come to plausible and satisfying resolutions.

The dramatic nature of the story brings out the best in all of the regulars. They also receive solid support from guest stars Kam Tong as the sergeant and Phillip Ahn as the man from the Japanese consulate. But what makes the episode so powerful is the outstanding performance of Mako as Lt. Nakamura, the young soldier. He ranges from a brutal sadist early in the episode to a tortured soul as the story progresses. Either way, he plays the character with such vulnerability that you find yourself caring about him and what his ultimate fate will be. Doug describes him at one point as "a man...fighting his own private war" and indeed that is just what Mako portrays brilliantly. This was my first encounter with this fine actor, and as the years went by I never forgot his superb performance in this episode. Sadly, Mako died just last year (2006). He left behind an impressive array of roles and characters, even being nominated for an Oscar for his work in the film THE SAND PEBBLES. But to me, this role will always stand as one of his best works, and this episode as one of the series' finest.

The best episode of the whole series!

[sonofthepioneers1967-710-623989 · 10/10 · 25 December 2017]

I will not say anything about this episode except that it is the best of the whole series! History, script, ideas, performances, everything wonderful. And we still have a great performance of Mako and the great Philip Ahn! Absolutely perfect!

My Favourite Time Tunnel WW2 Drama

[StuOz · 5 November 2016]

The third WW2-related drama puts the time travellers on an island with a Japanese guy.

Because I am not big on WW2 stories I have been a bit critical of Tunnel's episodes set in or around this period, but Kill Two By Two is a lot more pleasing to me than the others.

The main reason for this is that the Time Tunnel command centre is finally a big part of the story, General Kirk (Whit Bissell) and gang are not pushed into the background as is sometimes the case with this series.

A few Time Tunnels were set on an island (Crack Of Doom, Devil's Island, Dead Man's Island) and this confined setting seems to work well for the series.

Will You Die Honorably?

[fcabanski · 4/10 · 18 November 2016]

Minutes after asking the Japanese Lt. if he will choose to die honorably, the old Japanese sergeant surrenders, going against Japanese tradition (honor) and Senjinkun, the Japanese military directive that ordered soldiers not to surrender.

Yes, Japanese soldiers did surrender during WW2. But the old sergeant had been described as of the old school, and he had just emphasized honor to the Lt.

Another oddity is the weird stock footage. The series sometimes used stock footage well, but sometimes it used stock footage poorly. This is an example of poorly. When the American marines come ashore on the island, a large group of them is pinned down by what looks to be automatic weapons fire. But there's no Japanese soldiers on the island to shoot at those Americans. The Lt. and Sgt. are in or near the little hut, not in the forest to shoot at the approaching American soldiers. Also, the Lt. and Sgt. have only rifles, not automatic weapons.

All in all, this episode falls flat.