This was the first Monkees episode I ever saw. It was my birthday, and I drug my mom into FYE (then called "Reel Collections", I think) and saw four tapes of The Monkees. I knew I *had* to have them. I spent most of my birthday money there -- I bought my first actual Monkees CD on that day, too. "Headquarters." I had gotten the "Greatest Hits" CD earlier through BMG music service, and three cassette tapes off of eBay. Thus begun my first real Monkees experience. I vividly remember going to my grandparent's house and slipping the tape in their VCR. My grandfather was asleep in his chair and would wake up every once in awhile and ask what I was watching, and I would explain to him that this was my new favorite band and how they had a tv show in the 60's and did he ever watch it? My mom had to take my grandmother somewhere, so I was there for an hour on my own.

I remember being amazed and thinking, 'Wow! This is them! They sang "Daydream Believer!"' Anyways, enough of my reminiscing and off to the episode!

Episode Centers Around:
Davy

Plot

The Monkees uncover an Archduke's plot to kill his neice, Princess Bettina of Harmonica, and, like every episode with a happy ending, proceed to foil it.

My Personal Favorites

I absolutely love when they dress up in army clothes. There's something appealing about a man in a uniform, especially if they're a long-haired weirdo ;)

Storytime with Sigmund! =D

Interview! I love interviews! Peter and Davy are especially cute here.

Questions I'd Ask Them if I Thought They Remembered, or Wouldn't Have Me Committed

How bad did it bother Mike that they're calling him "W.H." and "Woolhat"? He looks very annoyed.

Cultural References

Royal Flush - a Royal Flush is the highest possible hand you can get in poker. An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.

Miss America - pageant started in 1921 to help extend the summer tourist season in Atlantic City. The song Mike sings, "There She Is, Miss America" was written by Bernie Wayne and first sung at the pageant in 1955.

Errol Flynn - famous for appearing in swashbuckling movies with a lot of sword fighting. "It always worked for Errol Flynn." I personally haven't seen any of Flynn's swordfighting movies yet, so I'm assuming he escaped from being cornered this way.

Little Things I notice... (Also entitled "WHY?")

Why would you take a lounge raft into the ocean? There's no way in heck that you could use it.

At the very beginning, Peter's hairstyle keeps changing from parted in the middle to parted on the side. Why? Why why why? It was fine parted in the middle. It looks like a bad comb-over until they're in the hotel room, then it's fine.

Monkee Quirks and History

Davy really has a saving/helping people thing.

He also falls for girls easily.

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