Guest Cast:
The Pharaoh: Peter Mark Richman
Cleopatra: Jane Elliot
Bruce Hoy
H.B.Haggerty
We are introduced to the Pharoah as he mummifies a costumed guard and steals the priceless wooden pyramid of King Ramses the second. Our inquisitive reporters enter and discover the guard stirring from the green mist. He realizes that the pyramid was stolen, and leaves to notify the authorities. Lori checks in with Frank, who narrows down the choices to "the most precocious philanderer this side of the nile."
The Pharoah checks out the pyramid as he contemplates finally achieving his birthright as the heir of the ancient pharaohs of Egypt. He finds a crystal, but lacks the incantation to bring it to power. He realizes that he and Princess Cleopatra must return to the museum, as they antcipate a visit from the Dynamo Duo. Back at ElectraBase, Frank shows ElectraWoman and DynaGirl his latest attachment, the ElectraStrobe. The girls are delighted with it. Frank then realizes that the Pharaoh needs more from the museum.
Back at the museum, Cleopatra lures our heroines to the museum's theatre's stage. They do exactly as she wants. The Pharaoh mummifies them on the stage, and turns on a "laser gun" to fire at them. Our ladies wake up to find their legs paralyzed, as the lazers fire all around them.
ElectraWoman figures out to use the crystal on the electracomps to reflect the rays of light, as DynaGirl hits the projector. But to their surprize, the Pharaoh has left the wooden pyramic, empty. Back at ElectraBase, Frank figures from the girls' photographs of the sight that the Pharaoh needs something else.
Back at the museum, the Pharaoh finds the incantation. He sings into the crystal he removed from the pyramid that contains Solaris, an energy being. It emerges as the heroines enter. The Pharaoh commands it to attack them. ElectraWoman an DynaGirl fall onto the ground. The Pharaoh, Cleopatra, and a contained Solaris leave the chamber.
Part 2
The heroines arise, having only been stunned by static electricity. Back at electrabase, Frank tells them they are battling an amazingly powerful engergy being. Crimescope's screen flickers as the Pharaoh's announcement is received, but not after Cleopatra messes up her lines. The thug is interrupting all broadcasts to announce that he is holding the city for ransome of a million dollars. After his broadcast ends, power is cut off at Crimescope, as solaris sends the city into a blackout. An unlucky banker is told by the Pharaoh to bring the money in 'cold hard cash'. The girls take off without the use of electrabase, as the money starts arriving for the Pharoah.
On route, Frank is able to set up a screen to block the effects of solaris, putting them back in business. Cleopatra is dancing around all the cash as the ladies arrive. The Pharaoh charges Solaris against them, telling them it will drain the energy from their bodies. They use the electradegravite to avoid the being, but they realize that they cannot escape. Crimescope tells Frank that there is no chance of survival for the heroines.
ElectraWoman spots the crystal that contains solaris, as DynaGirl uses the electrabeam to catch it. Solaris attacks the electraforceshield, and it holds for the moment. ElectraWoman figures out to have Dynagirl fire the electrastrobe into the crystal, as they proceed to watch Solaris 'pop like a tick'. Then Dynagirl fires her ElectraShield on Cleopatra, as ElectraWoman electrabeams the mummifying gun from the Pharaoh, and inturn mummifies him.
Great Camp Moments:
The laser beams. Any scene with Solaris, who looks like Billy Bart in a bag. Oh, hell, the whole show is pretty campy.
Electragagits:
Electrastrobe
Electrabeam
Electraforcesheild
DynaGirl talks smack about the Pharaoh:
That conceited self-assured fanatic! If I ever get my hands on his thick head...-What ElectraNerve! - Our power source is lead-lined now.
Missing Scenes:
The return to the house for the ElectraChange. A small section before Pharaoh says "After this, we'll be able to hold the whole word for ransom."
Mistakes:
There are no big mistakes:Continuity problem with the last two shots in the hideout as the heroines get the bad guy and gal.
Deidre hits that tassle on the entrance (she does it again at the end of Koptic Eye as well)
Look for Deidre's position to change from the end of part 1 to the start of part 2. Apparently, even a quarter moon was not wanted.
Finally, Deidre and Judy do wonderful blue screen work, always looking at the same spot. It's a pity the special effects people couldn't follow their gazes. Ol'Solaris is usually not where they are looking.
Review:
This episode is tops. Here's why:
Our Heroines: They are as so charming. Much of the time, it seems as if Deidre and Judy are trying to out 'overact' each other. The episode uses each heroine so well. The script is well suited for everyone, including Frank. I guess it helps that Greg Strangis is writing for 'Auntie Judy' (and don't we all wish we had aunts like her!).
The shots: Regas not only has a great sense for how good looking they are from a wide angle shot, he has great closeups as well.
The villains: As a change from the over acted villains from Miller's shows, Richman is fun, delightful, and sadistic. Elliot plays a 'princess' frightfully well. But perhaps they realized that she was capable of much more, as we would see in their follow up episode.
Part 2 of this episode might by the high point of the series. In what should be a down time for the serial, the scenes at crimscope, to the hideout, back to crimescope with the interrupted broadcast are flawless. Frank calmly tells the girls that they are over their heads. Cleopatra does her mirror think, but forgets her lines on TV. The Pharaoh sets DynaGirl off, ranting and raving, while ElectraWoman seeths, finally saying something flip. And the Pharaoh laughing before the break, Cleopatra throwing the money in the air, Frank announcing the doom of the heroines.......It is their strongest half show, and is a lesson too late to Miller how to pace down time between action. Indeed, what makes this show far better than most people realize, is that this creates all the hoaky tension of a Bruckheimer movie, except this is for fun.
ElectraWoman's Big Hair rating: 9 out of 10 split hairs.
DynaGirl's Perky Rating: 9 out of 10 Pig Tail bounces.
Overall show rating: 3rd of the 8 complete episodes.
16 episode ranking: Ep. 11 - 8. Ep. 12 - 1