The A-Team - "Labor Pains"
Dec. 3rd, 2010 07:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spiderplanetHere's something you wouldn't see on modern television. It's season 2, episode 8 of “The A-Team,” episode title “Labor Pains.” In this episode, The A-Team encourages a group of migrant workers to form a labor union to protect themselves from a greedy landowner. Those of you who are familiar with American labor law will notice about half a dozen impossible things. This can easily be explained by assuming that “The A-Team” is politically to the left of those who simply favor repealing the Taft-Hartley Act. Instead, The A-Team prefers the more effective tactics of illegal wildcat strikes, and pelting the bourgeoisie with cabbages.
To set up the premise of the series – The A-Team is four Vietnam war veterans, all of whom are fugitives from the law after being manipulated and taken advantage of by the Army. They are pursued by Colonel Decker, the representative of the corrupt U.S. military. All four members of the A-Team have varying degrees of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and they use their combat training and mental illness to fight corruption.
This show is not perfect by a long shot, it's got some problems. It was still fun, and a reminder of a different time. Here is a brief description of the principal characters:
John "Hannibal" Smith – Leader of group, high sense of morals and ethics, most disdainful of established authority.
B.A. Baracus – Tough guy exterior, multitalented and self-taught. Terrified of airplanes and helicopters.
Templeton 'Faceman' Peck – Persuasive and charming, most impulsive of group, has issues with close relationships.
"Howling Mad" Murdoch – Strong sense of loyalty and responsibility, most severely mentally ill of the group.
Amy Allen – Newspaper reporter, fish out of water, mostly an exposition character.
As of today, the number of times that I've seen a television program present labor unions positively is exactly ONE.
To set up the premise of the series – The A-Team is four Vietnam war veterans, all of whom are fugitives from the law after being manipulated and taken advantage of by the Army. They are pursued by Colonel Decker, the representative of the corrupt U.S. military. All four members of the A-Team have varying degrees of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and they use their combat training and mental illness to fight corruption.
This show is not perfect by a long shot, it's got some problems. It was still fun, and a reminder of a different time. Here is a brief description of the principal characters:
John "Hannibal" Smith – Leader of group, high sense of morals and ethics, most disdainful of established authority.
B.A. Baracus – Tough guy exterior, multitalented and self-taught. Terrified of airplanes and helicopters.
Templeton 'Faceman' Peck – Persuasive and charming, most impulsive of group, has issues with close relationships.
"Howling Mad" Murdoch – Strong sense of loyalty and responsibility, most severely mentally ill of the group.
Amy Allen – Newspaper reporter, fish out of water, mostly an exposition character.
As of today, the number of times that I've seen a television program present labor unions positively is exactly ONE.
