Charlie's Angels (TV Series) Angel Trap (1977) User Reviews

"He's culling the bush!"

[moonspinner55 · 7/10 · 1 October 2011]

After a violent opening wherein a sunbather is shot and killed by an expert assassin (a scene that imitates the "Dirty Harry" movies), this episode from the freshman season of "Charlie's Angels" settles into a dry rut. A WWII Army buddy of Charlie Townsend's needs help from Bosley and the Angels after it's discovered all the men who served in an Allied Intelligence Unit are being systematically eliminated. The killer's name is Jericho (played very well by Fernando Lamas), and he's been hired by a budding politico to remove these men who may expose the skeletons in the man's military past. Sabrina poses as the girlfriend of Jericho's next target (she 'babysits' him, though it might be wise for her to keep him away from his apartment windows); Kelly is a hot dog vendor in the city park; and Jill milks Jericho for information under the guise of a model newly-arrived in L.A. This is really Farrah Fawcett-Majors' hour: reuniting with Lamas--her "Murder on Flight 502" co-star--the two actors share some innocent/intimate exchanges that are well-played (if ultimately pointless). Jill is supposed to be wracked with guilt over setting this man up, and we're naturally supposed to see her sensitive side; but Jericho is a cold-blooded assassin, after all, and Jill appears to fall for his 'gentlemanly' act very easily (he's actually quite menacing when threatening Bosley in a piano bar). The finale in the park is tense and well-directed, but this episode hardly shows off Kate Jackson or Jaclyn Smith at all (Smith is briefly seen in a bikini, which she quickly covers up with a robe). Critics at the time scoffed at just about everything Spelling-Goldberg put out, but this episode does feature some very decent acting (particularly by Lamas) and the cheesecake factor is kept to a minimum.

Charlie's Angels: Angel Trap

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 18 September 2011]

I was looking for some escapism and had a few episodes of "Charlie's Angels" lying around so I decided to watch "Angel Trap", a surprise to me, because I thought it was relatively well written, and thankfully not *too* implausible, although I enjoy this particular show because credibility is stretched to a considerable degree. I love beautiful women and while my favorite Angel isn't present in this trio (that would be Cheryl Ladd who I cherish), seeing Farrah, Jaclyn, and Kate certainly doesn't disappoint me. Farrah must gain the trust of a hit-man paid to take out the leader of a WWII intelligence team known for having to commit certain *unpleasantries* for our country. John Larch is Kamden, having to turn to Charlie's investigative company for help, the Angels on the case to help him nail hit-man Jericho (Fernando Lamas) who has already murdered the remaining group of the Kamden's team. The story isn't as much about the one responsible for setting up the assassinations as it is about the Angels disrupting Jericho's plan to kill Kamden. From the episodes that I have watched, the formula allows one Angel in particular to have most of the spotlight, while the other two work as pieces in the entrapment of criminals undercover. I have noticed that this Angel can often become attracted to or develop feelings for the mark. Jericho, as provided by Fernando Lamas, is gentlemanly, cultured, charming, handsome, and debonair—it is easy to see why Farrah Fawcett's Jill Munroe becomes enamored with him (she wonders aloud to the other Angels and Bosley (David Doyle) if they can get him arrested for something else). Jill has to be reminded that Jericho is indeed a killer, responsible for numerous hits. Anyway, Jaclyn Smith's Kelly Garrett operates a hotdog vendor while Kate Jackson's Sabrina Duncan "protects" Kamden, walking with him into the park every day, sitting on a bench with the man, as they survey Jericho's movements, trying to delicately avoid his knowing they are aware of the hit-man's intentions. I try not to beat around the bush in that I find myself lost in this show thanks mostly in part to the eye candy, not the plot per se. Again, this is escapism in its purist form to me, and I like that a show can just satisfy my need for beauty and a plot that doesn't demand too much of an exhausted brain often mistreated by my everyday job. There are moments in this episode where Farrah's beauty just envelopes me, and I could understand why Jericho is won over by her almost immediately. The plot goes all according to plan, with Jill pretty upset that Jericho could be these two separate individuals, a contract killer and a man that is easy to talk to and comfortable to be around. Mannered, polite, and approachable, Lamas deserves credit for humanizing an otherwise cold-blooded assassin.

On target

[Fluke_Skywalker · 7/10 · 31 May 2016]

Plot; The Angels are assigned to stop an assassin only known as Jericho, who is knocking off the former members of a World War II intelligence unit.

Even at its best I don't know that 'Charlie's Angels' ever gets its feathered head above cheesy escapism, but "Angel Trap" comes close. Featuring a strong performance by Fernando Lamas as the assassin Jericho, it strikes a more thoughtful tone than usual. The actual plot behind Jericho's assassinations is undercooked and ultimately unsatisfying, but points for creating a villain of the week who is interesting and fleshed out. Lamas is great as the sophisticated and gentlemanly Jericho, and he and Farrah Fawcett have nice chemistry together; the latter giving her best performance of the season thus far.

The finale provides a few moments of genuine tension and by allowing us to sympathize with our villain, it's also rather poignant... at least by 70s genre TV standards.

Slow burn Angels

[adamcshelby · 6/10 · 14 May 2021]

This episode was a changeup. The Angels are hired by a former WW2 special forces man to solves who's killing his ex-team members. Fernando Llamas plays Jericho, an assassin who has a soft spot for a little kitty. No, not Farrah, an actual kitten he carries around throughout the episode.

Farrah does her best work of the series from an acting standpoint. Typically she's the one delivering one liners to lighten the mood, here she's a little more serious as she seems to bond with the charming Jericho, played wonderfully by Llamas.

Sabrina and Kelly have secondary roles, Kelly as a chili dog vendor selling her product in the park for 65c a pop!

There honestly wasn't much action in this one, hence my slow burn reference. But the laconic pacing fit the subject matter to a tee. There are some wonderful views of Santa Monica throughout this episode.

Ultimately, Angel Trap ends up being a character study of Jericho, a cold blooded man removed from human feelings just doing his 'job'. In the end, the Angels of course put him out business.