disappearance of Ian MacKintosh. I had asked if anyone knew the dates
of
the final episodes, and Micky Dupree responded:
"...I remember Ray Lonnen saying that they were on location filming
in
Malta when they were given the news about Mackintosh, and everyone
was
naturally stunned."
Then one Nicole pointed out:
I think that filming takes place
pragmatically, not chronologically (i.e. they might film at the same
time
scenes from several episodes that take place in a specific location),
and broadcast order has little to do with the filming/editing
completion
date of an episode.
So I compared the two episodes shot in Malta with the intention of
finding
some detail that did not have to be the same in both stories, and
would be
convenient to use in both shoots. I found that both cars used by the
local
personnel and Sandbaggers were the same in both episodes, including
licence
plates. And though the primary hotels used were not the same, they
were
conveniently adjacent. So I think it conceivable that both episodes
were
shot at the same time in Malta. And this could have been when the
news
arrived about Mr. MacKintosh.
But as I was rewinding I caught a reference in episode 19: Who Needs
Enemies, that confirmed that at least this episode was written after
the loss of Mr. MacKintosh. Jeff Ross complains to Burnside that
"your new lady in Downing Street is not too popular with the KGB",
which can only mean after 4 May 1979. I don't know if there is any
delay between election and officially taking office and which date
is commonly referred to; maybe someone can set me straight on this.
In summary, if (one) the Malta shoots happened when Mr. MacKintosh
disappeared, and if (two) episode 16 was already in the can, and
if (three) episode 19 was shot later than episodes 15 and 20,
then, maybe, the chronology could have been 15 & 20, 16 [before or
after],
17, 18, 19. I think episode nineteen was the best summation of the
essential character of Neil Burnside and the best epitaph to creator
of the series. Reminded me of Kipling:
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
More to come...
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-- aj@aroga.wimsey.com (Aristotle Jones)
-- The Aroga BBS Vancouver British Columbia Canada --
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