I've really begun to warm to Darlanne Fluegel as Molenski. Molenski will never be another McCall, but I think that a big part of the reason for that is that she doesn't really get anything substantial to do. As I mentioned in an earlier review, the show is now just so concentrated on Hunter's greatness that his partner doesn't get much of a look-in.
It was the same thing for at least the previous season, where McCall herself went from from being co-star to a background figure. For me, one of the main strengths of the show was always that Hunter and McCall operated as equals, not as the stereotypical invincible guy and pretty-but-useless sidekick. I wonder if this change had anything to do with Kramer's decision to leave.
Speaking of which, are Hunter and Molenski even partners? They seem to work pretty much independently of each other. This episode, it seems like she's partnered with another officer. And what's with the constant switching between uniform and civilian wear? That might be something normal within real-life but, without being an expert on US police dress code, it just leaves me confused.
After all that, I still have to admit that this is one of the better episodes of season 7 so far. Very importantly, there's an interesting case. And Molenski does get to take down a bad guy, which is something that, nowadays, only Hunter is allowed to do.
But it's still a far cry from the quality of the earlier seasons. Just because it says 'Hunter' on the tin doesn't mean that the content has to be at least 95% Hunter. It's far more satisfying to have a strong, capable partner doing their faire share of crime solving and fighting, with a fair share of screen time, otherwise things just become monotonous. For the first five seasons or so, 'Hunter' took what was a pretty progressive position for an 80s action thriller - male and female officers working together more or less as equals. Now it's dropped that ideal and gone down the tired old route of "Big Boss Man takes care of everything. Hot female partner... is there to please the male viewers." Shame.
It was the same thing for at least the previous season, where McCall herself went from from being co-star to a background figure. For me, one of the main strengths of the show was always that Hunter and McCall operated as equals, not as the stereotypical invincible guy and pretty-but-useless sidekick. I wonder if this change had anything to do with Kramer's decision to leave.
Speaking of which, are Hunter and Molenski even partners? They seem to work pretty much independently of each other. This episode, it seems like she's partnered with another officer. And what's with the constant switching between uniform and civilian wear? That might be something normal within real-life but, without being an expert on US police dress code, it just leaves me confused.
After all that, I still have to admit that this is one of the better episodes of season 7 so far. Very importantly, there's an interesting case. And Molenski does get to take down a bad guy, which is something that, nowadays, only Hunter is allowed to do.
But it's still a far cry from the quality of the earlier seasons. Just because it says 'Hunter' on the tin doesn't mean that the content has to be at least 95% Hunter. It's far more satisfying to have a strong, capable partner doing their faire share of crime solving and fighting, with a fair share of screen time, otherwise things just become monotonous. For the first five seasons or so, 'Hunter' took what was a pretty progressive position for an 80s action thriller - male and female officers working together more or less as equals. Now it's dropped that ideal and gone down the tired old route of "Big Boss Man takes care of everything. Hot female partner... is there to please the male viewers." Shame.
