The Tripods (1984) Episode 4

Jailed to await their capping, Will and Henry meet a French boy their age, Jean-Paul, who is a brilliant inventor who desires to expand his knowledge - something forbidden by the Tripods. The cousins nickname him Beanpole because he is so tall and thin, and he helps the English boys escape.

 

 

 

JL - Beanpole is clever. He designed his own specs and his demeanour screams clever. He's also the best actor.

 

IB - 'There will be no more mystery' Ah, indeed, Beanpole. Perhaps capping is a metaphor for growing up, and losing something more real.

 

JL - The guards haven't searched the boys as they still have the map. Amateurs!

 

IB - Beanpole knows the map is wrong. He's awesome. He's waited a long time for Will and Henry, even though French boys would have been better.

 

JL - And he'd know. Oh contraire, Brit lads are fit drunkards.

 

 

JL - Beanpole is overly prepared to be the third wheel on the bicycle, even letting the boys land him with a derogatory and shit nickname.

 

IB - His joining is too quick and convenient.

 

IB - The bit where the guard steals an apple from Jean Paul is a nice touch.

 

JL - So caps don't stop cheeky beggars then. How come the guards don't see the cell is empty when they walk right past it? Beanpole should have made them some of his 'little moons' to help them see.

 

IB - Will comes across as a bit thick especially when he exits the cave tunnel all slack-jawed.

 

Now travelling through France, Beanpole proves helpful as a translator to Will and Henry, who are unable to speak French. Beanpole's familiarity with France enables them to make better decisions on where to cross the country, and they see many fascinating sights, such as a still-functioning antique railroad locomotive.
 

IB - One of the advantages of the location filming is well chosen and interesting locales such as the dilapidated and abandoned aircraft tower.

IB - There's a great little hint at how Jean Paul would have been instrumental in the final defeat of the Tripods had series three been made when he mentions how he observed that hot air rises and had invented a balloon.

JL - I liked the series ending on a downer. It was more realistic. I thought it was intentional until somebody spoiled it and told me it was supposed to be a trilogy.

 

 

IB - It comes! Beanpole is so sweet, getting excited about steam power: 'a giant kettle!' Again the regulars seem to be enjoying themselves more now and it shows particularly with the looks on their faces as they commandeer a handcar with genuine expressions of joy.

  

JL - Tune in this Saturday teatime to watch our heroes defeat the malevolent Tripods by walking along a railway track again.

 

They also see many Tripods while on their journey, and must constantly hide to conceal their presence. On their way they pass through the remains of Paris, and see for the first time ever the remains of cars and other products mass-produced by man.

JL - Ooh, a nice matte painting of a destroyed France. The Eiffel tower always looks pretty at this time of year.

 

Going inside a dilapidated department store they find items that will help on their journey, and Beanpole locates a pair of much-needed glasses. However, the boys have found something else as well: after exploring a subway they encounter the city's derelict remains of humanity who injure Will in a fight, and the three barely manage to escape alive.

 

JL - Hey, that lady's not a mannequin! That was good.

 

IB - Yes but who are the creepy eighties rejects in the abandoned store? What do they do? Are they fashionable French vagrants whose capping has gone wrong? They seem very sneaky, denoting sanity and intelligence, but they don't do anything.

 

JL - Henry gets a load of toilet paper stuck to his foot and doesn't notice. I hate it when that happens!

 

 

IB - I love the in-joke of the silly eighties clothes the boys end up briefly wearing. It's like a commentary on post-modernism. Henry has three watches and a boxing helmet.

 

IB - The single best scene of the entire series. When Will picks ups a machine gun and fires it by mistake. Why didn't they take it with them? They take the grenades (or 'goose eggs made of iron') 'You've broken it!' It's only fool's luck that Henry throws the grenade after he unwittingly removes the pin.

 

 

 

IB - I'm warming to Henry, in the bath in his boxing hat. He started off surly and whinging, but now Will is doing that.

 

IB - This is the best episode in terms of character exploration. It's been levelled at this series that it dragged on too long in places but I think this gives the narrative room to breathe and allows you to get to know the characters. I loved it as the boys rediscover some of the machines of their forefathers amid the ruins of Paris. And you get the feel the regulars are settling in now and enjoying themselves.

 

 

 

JL - The Cult of Cyndi Lauper have become more proactive and launch an attack by hurling bricks at the trio so that they can steal the boys' belongings. Or steal them back, seeing as they got most of it from their store. Hey, we don't share! One of the projectiles deals Will a nasty blow to the head and he keels over unconscious, looking sweet and vulnerable.

 

Back out in the countryside in the heavy rain, Will is captured by some locals on horseback while Beanpole and Henry are out looking for shelter.

 

JL - The stumbling hero with a bloody head wound, now alone while his companions have reluctantly left him to search for help, is discovered by a menacing hunting party who turn out to be good hosts and take him back with them to recuperate in Castrovalva (I mean Chateau Richolou).

IB - Ricordeau!!

 

JL - Whatever.