It's a little long, as always, but you should be able to get through with no problem!

****Sharkey's Review****

The Choice
Episode #3/8th Season (1997-1998)
Aired 10/12/97

My score: 3 Rescue Cans/Good

This Week's Quote: 'There can be no failure to a man who has not lost his courage, his character, his self respect, or his self- confidence. He is still a King.'
-Orison Swett Marden

Ratings:
5 Rescue Cans/Exceptional (Super Waves!)
4 Rescue Cans/Excellent
3 Rescue Cans/Good
2 Rescue Cans/Fair
1 Rescue Can/Poor (A Total Wipeout!)

This week's episode, 'The Choice,' introduces us to and solely centers on veteran lifeguard Jack 'J.D.' Darius (Michael Bergin). J.D. was a Rookie at 'Baywatch' years ago before moving to Daytona Beach . He returned to 'Baywatch' to apply for the Lieutenant position that Mitch Buchannon (David Hasselhoff) had recently vacated.

I analyzed this episode, which centered around a new cast member, and realized that it was badly lacking at least a second storyline. A second storyline could have given the episode depth, and a much needed boost to the 'excellent' status. Bergin lacks the necessary strong acting skills to carry a one plot episode by himself. He will have plenty of time and opportunity to improve, though as he has the potential to excel as a great actor. More challenging episode situations will help him as he progresses. Bergin demonstrates strong water skills.

The veteran characters Mitch Buchannon and Michael 'Newmy' Newman (Michael newman) gave some lift in the acting department and barely kept this area from sinking into the 'fair' ranks. An even more interesting concept could have been if Newman had be up for the position at Mitch's recommendation, as he has demonstrated a lot of leadership skills so far this year. Expansions of their roles could have lifted it above the 'good' mark.

The scenes were all well directed. Both the script and plot themselves were excellent. I looked for major flaws in this area and could not find any. The story did have purpose. It was not an empty plot. My score: 3 Rescue Cans/Good

Observations:

The scene opened with Jack 'J.D.' Darius over a fire, making coffee near a tower. Donna Marco (Donna D'Errico) was jogging along the beach as part of her workout. She sees the fire and jogs toward him. They meet and he offers her 'expresso.' She was surprised that he made 'expresso' over a fire. Donna warns him to put the fire out, that it was against the law on the beach. He could be fined heavily. It was pretty obvious here that there was an attraction on both sides.

He put the fire out as instructed, and packs up his things. After he places them in his bag and onto the back of his motorcycle, he noted a woman on the rocks who had needed help with one of her children. The woman managed to pull the little boy to safety, but the little girl was knocked over by a wave. J.D. jumps in to save the girl. Newman was paddling toward the scene. J.D. managed to get the little girl to safety. She was O.K. After Newman and J.D. got reaquainted, J.D. tells him that he was applying for the vacant position.

Mitch looked very impressive as he got out of his car. In full Captain's garb. The team asked him what the occasion was, a meeting with the Chief? Mitch tells them that he had to interview a guy named Taylor Walsh for the Lieutenant's position. Taylor had shown up in dress uniform and introduced herself as he spoke. They were all surprised that 'he' was a woman. A polished professional sent to try for the position at the recommendation of the Chief.

As they talked in Mitch's office, J.D. knocks and opens the door. He interrupts the interview. Mitch excuses himself for a moment to talk to J.D. J.D. was upset about Mitch interviewing someone else for the position. J.D. thought that it was supposed to be a 'Slam Dunk.' I had a bit of a problem with this scene. I thought this act in itself was totally out of character for someone who was as objective and as fair as Mitch. I couldn't understand why the position was locked in. You'd think that Mitch would give the other candidate a chance to prove what she could do. Mitch had planned to hire J.D. because of his experience and credentials alone...because they were friends. J.D. presented himself in a non-professional manner. He wasn't dressed for an interview and he interrupted the meeting that Mitch had with the other candidate.

Mitch told J.D. that it was just a formality. He had to interview her because the Chief sent her over. But Mitch did want J.D. to go through qualifying tests with the Rookies because of his absence. They had to get him certified.

J.D. reluctantly joins the Rookies for pier rescue training with a dummy victim. Skylar, disoriented when she slips off the pier, gets caught in a current which drags her toward the pilings.

Mitch sends J.D. in to help her out. J.D. gets under the pilings and suddenly freezes. Skylar calls out to him for help. They lock eyes. Mitch wonders what's going on and Newman goes in to rescue her. When asked what happened, J.D. said that he had lost sight of her in the pilings. Skylar took comfort from Mitch when he told her that she did everything right. He told her next time to swim with the current, not against it.

Later, Mitch looks down from the tower noting J.D. puching a bag. When Manny passes by, Mitch tells him to ask Donna to call the Captain at Daytona Beach. Mitch needed some information. He didn't buy J.D.'s story.

Skylar asked J.D. why he lied to Mitch. He tried to lie to Skylar too, but she pointed out that they made eye contact. He did see her. J.D. confided in Skylar and told her that he didn't want this to get around. Two years ago at Daytona how he tried to save a guy who was showing off - 'shooting the pier.' Back-up was nowhere to be found. He went by the book and placed the victim between him and the piling. The rescue didn't come out as he expected. A wave sent them hard against a piling. It crushed the victim, causing internal bleeding. The victim died in his arms. Skylar said that she wouldn't tell anyone.

Later, Mitch confronts J.D. about the pier incident and told him about why he left Daytona. Mitch asked if he went into counselling. J.D. said that he took time off. J.D. blamed himself for the death of the victim. It was obvious that J.D. wanted the Lieutenant's position for the wrong reason...to be in the office where he could not hurt anyone. Mitch told him that it was the dumbest idea he had ever heard. That he was on the wrong beach...no, that he was on the wrong planet.

J.D. confronts Skylar since Mitch knew about the incident. Skylar said that she didn't tell Mitch. J.D. points out that she was the only one he told. No one else knew. That she had innocent charm to go along with stabbing him in the back. Angered, J.D. leaves the beach. Meanwhile, Taylor, who really wanted this job for more reasons than just money, gets Mitch out in a Dory to tell him how qualified she is for the job and that she could row. She demonstrates with Mitch, and is very impressive.

While packing up his gear, J.D. notices that a fisherman gets caught in the surf. He shouts that he is too close to the rocks-to move away. But his motor fails and a wave knocks him down. J.D. breaks into empty tower 22, to phone for back-up. Donna tells Mitch when he and Taylor respond to the call. Mitch noted that it was a vacant tower. I must say, there should never be a vacant tower. The area seemed too rough not to have at least two lifeguards at this point. As J.D. reaches the fisherman, he offers the 'rescue can.' A wave overwhelms them, throwing them against the rocks. Breaking the rules, J.D. throws himself between the victim and the rocks. As a wave flips the boat over them, J.D. sinks to the bottom, unconscious.

When Mitch and Taylor reached the scene, Taylor goes for the fisherman, who is desperately clinging to the rocks. She gets him into the dory and pushes it to shore. She makes one heck of a lifeguard! I was impressed with her ability. Mitch goes after J.D. He has to struggle to free J.D., who was tangled in his 'rescue can's' harness. Mitch and two other lifeguards carry J.D. to safety. The team looks on as Mitch does chest compressions and Taylor mouth-to-mouth until J.D. comes to. Mitch and Taylor's first rescue together.

The decision was difficult for Mitch, who had an idea what the ideal person in the position should be. Someone to lead by example and intellegence. One who will command respect from the other lifeguards. Mitch had to divorce himself from the friendship that he and J.D. had in relation to this decision in order to be objective. He needed someone he could count on.

J.D. had the experience and qualifications, but had too many problems to work out, which made him a less viable candidate. The polished and more professional Taylor was the one he could count on, and she got the position. Taylor wanted to keep J.D. at 'Baywatch.' As she was impressed that he had risked his life for the fisherman, and asked J.D. what it would take to keep him at 'Baywatch.' She hires him as a lifeguard as her first official act. 'Baywatch' needed him.

Later, out on a 'Baywatch' unit housing two wave-runners, Mitch asks J.D. if he understood why he chose Taylor. J.D. said yes, that he had a lot to work out. As he boarded a wave runner and before taking off, Mitch then told him that he owed Skylar and apology-she never told him anything.

Later, on the rocks, J.D. thanks Skylar for meeting him there. He apologizes. Skylar tells him that he should trust people more. J.D. responded by saying that he was working on that, and if they could be friends.

Next review: Memorial Day

Corrections from previous episode: Next Generation

**The first typo should have read: ' April with eyes closed, directed her grateful words toward Hobie, and said, 'Thank you, Hobie.'

**Typo that should have read: 'April and Lani spotted the culprit who circled them maliciously.'

**Also, when Richie hit Newman as hard as he could in the middle of his face, it should have read: 'practically starting a nose bleed.'