reviewed by: Rissi C.
       

The great detective Remington Steele and his able body assistant Laura Holt are back for a second season and not much has changed; Laura still does the thinking and Mr. Steele gets the glory, but if it’s any consolation she has managed to grow more and more fond of the irresistibly, charming and mysterious man. Just who is he really? Season two gives us glimpses into his past, while leaving lots unanswered to get audiences back for season three. So, without further ado, here are some of my highlights from Remington Steele the second season.

The detective agency is as busy as ever, as people continue to seek the famous detectives for many a high profile case. But on this fine morning in L.A., the small offices are particularly full of women. Mr. Steele (Pierce Bronson) is at a loss what to do with the many applicants for the newly vacant position of their secretary, most especially since the prompt Miss Holt is late coming in, so he opts to stay hidden in his office. Into such a scene walks the ever competent IRS auditor Mildred Krebs (Doris Roberts), who has been sent to discover why Mr. Steele wasn’t on record as filing his taxes, which is due to his not existing physically the previous year. In a panic and unsure how to fix his infuriating problem, Mr. Steele attempts to elude Miss Krebs, only to find her smarter than he’d like.

Meanwhile Laura (Stephanie Zimbalist) is having troubles of her own; a man has just stumbled into her apartment and died while clutching a fish wrapped in newspaper along with a map to her home. Once both detectives connect, Laura decides to follow the lead, despite Mr. Steele opting to stay behind where he’s left to his own devices to handle Miss Krebs. In the end both end up in Mexico along with Miss Krebs, who in the two hour long season premiere proves a great help to them by playing Mr. Steele’s bride! What ensues in the second season are stolen paintings that also have a remarkably good forgery doubles (“A Steele at any Price”), a woman from Remington’s past who manages to bewitch him (“Woman of Steele”), a trip to a hidden away town from olden times (“Small Town Steele”) to the season finale which includes Sherlock Holmes and Watson (“Elementary Steele”)! Add in the continued romantic tension between our leads and suffice to say there isn’t a dull moment to be had in this fun, energetic series.

This series has become a top-notch favorite in the six months since I began watching the episodes. I feel like I’m seeing Bronson everywhere these days having recently re-watched a favorite romantic comedy starring him and anticipating his musical debut this summer which will be something to see in itself; who’d ever have pictured 007 himself singing and dancing? But I am relived to hear and read that he holds his own and is quite good. He and Zimbalist are magic together; they go from instant dislike of one another to kissing passionately and all in the same sequence. The comedy is fantastic in this series; Laura and Remington are constantly baiting one another while managing to make each quite jealous at various stages in their personal and professional relationships. In the episode “Steele Sweet on You”, it struck me very funny the implications Remington makes when seeing Laura with another man. Still for all the comic moments and jealousy, the screenwriters also gave Remington a greater appreciation for Laura once stating such a line that could only be called sweet (“Dreams of Steele”) despite their being locked in a coffin together!

Content consists of innuendos about what the relationship is between Laura and Mr. Steele. They often kiss and he even comes to her place late at night on occasion; no matter the implications or what a making of feature says, I feel it’s perfectly clear nothing ever occurs beyond talk of a possibly different future and those kisses. In the premiere Laura comes to Mr. Steel’s hotel room, which is toted as the “honeymoon suite” and implies she’s ready to move forward, but they don’t do anything. Once after a particularly trying day she tells him that if he were to ask tonight, she wouldn’t say no, but gentleman that he is, he doesn’t take advantage of her. A couple references are made to “pornographic” writing and one episode devotes itself to the subject of a racy service (“Molten Steele”) that calls and says the most provocative things on the phone (none are ever heard though).

Various clients have or are having affairs; in one episode a car from the 20’s is known for couples to “make love” in. Violence is light and without too much disturbing images; people chased by cars, shots fired (some characters die from wounds), while some just get banged up pretty badly. In the episode “Elegy in Steele”, a deranged magician attempts to kill Laura and Remington and the episode offers both some slightly spooky sequences as well as some thought provoking moments for the realization that Laura and Remington may not live the day out (the conclusion makes the episode worth every odd thing seen previously in the episode).

Another thing that is fun to see is the disguises the detectives come up with; albeit a small part of the show. And another new addition to the show is in the form of Roberts’s character; she is simply hilarious and while I miss Murphy and Bernice from season one, the ever motherly type (who’s constantly there to give Laura advice in her love life) Miss Krebs is irresistible. Despite it’s comedic appeal this show isn’t without it’s more touching moments and all three leads have one episode devoted to their inner struggles from the past and present; in “Red Holt Steele”, Laura finds herself emotionally scared when faced with losing all her material memories, for Remington “Woman of Steele” brings back pleasant and hurtful memories and for Mildred “Hounded Steele” brings insight into her lonely existence. Each character also struggles with his or her matters of the mind … and heart at various points in the series.

Now to sum this 1980’s series up! All I can say is its loads of fun and I’d encourage you to try it. Most of the series context is innocent enough to view with families, but since every standard of “family safe” viewing is different, you may want to make your own decisions on the safeness of it or perhaps simply skip over an episode here and there. But if you do choose to make a new slot in your TV viewing for Remington Steele, then sit back, relax and enjoy the mad-cap adventures of Laura Holt and the mysterious Mr. Steele.