Season 2 Overview

Airdate: 10/30/1985

Directed By: Michael Landon

At last, a different kind of episode. The producers realized they needed something to fit the Halloween atmosphere, or else they might as well skip a week of Highway — considering what happened during the first season.

Complete show available here.

Assignment: Jonathan and Mark are “assigned” to help a conman repent for his actions and use his knowledge to save Mark from damnation.

It’s a Holiday Special episode, it’s also a peculiar one in the subject: apparently, the episode combines two different assignments, or at least it begins with one and then turns to a different one. The “official” assignment is to help a conman repent for his actions.

And that’s quite an everyday task for Jonathan and Mark.

However, the assignment later turns to a different one, when Mark accidentally runs over a kid and sells his soul to Hell to have the kid recover instead. And now they have to double-cross the devil. All just for a kid.

Mark wants to become an angel if he sold his soul for a random kid. Except you can’t be one in Hell.

So, it is one of the few episodes in the series in which the two protagonists are actually part of the assignment (in this case, it’s Mark). Also, it’s one of the few episodes without a clear assignment from the beginning, as nothing would have happened unless Mark hadn’t run over that kid. Unless he was meant to, and Mark’s deal is actually part of the assignment involving the conman, as if the only way to have he conman C.J. repent for his actions is to make him do some good by trying to help Mark out.

Anyway, as soon as Mark sells his soul, the episode becomes a heist (similar to An Investment In Caring in season 1).

And the problem is exactly about the original assignment: helping C.J. the con stop being one.

Because, it’s one thing to con people as a job, but it’s another when you actually enjoy the process. And the problem is that his crazy heist succeeded, and he enjoyed it, and now he might be tempted to pull something even more daring and bold next time. So, the assignment about Mark can be considered carried out as planned, but the second one about C.J. might have not.

• Jonathan’s wings and probation

Introduction about this at the entry “Jonathan’s wings” here.

So, this episode makes an important revelation about Jonathan’s story: it is known from the Pilot that he’s an angel on probation, although the specific definition of that is never revealed in the series (more details at the guidelines and map entry Angels, Wings and Probation). However, there’s a general view that his “probation” has something to do with his wings, and he has to earn them (more in details at the entry “Jonathan’s wings” in One Winged Angels, under the “Assignment” part).

Now, in the series he never makes reference to that. However, this episode is the first time in the whole series in which Jonathan actually talks about his wings: after the angel Revelation, C.J. asks whether Jonathan is an angel with “Halo and wings” and all those stuff, but Jonathan replies he hasn’t got them.

And explains it’s because he’s not a real angel.

Now, it is possible that Jonathan had to earn his wings through each assignments carried out successfully. But it can also be justified by considering that maybe all angels on probation do not have wings, and receive them upon its conclusion. Of course, the problem is that no angels Jonathan and Mark meet in the series (like Saint Peter in Help Wanted: Angel) have wings. So, maybe angels can’t be shown with their wings on Earth, but just in Heaven; even though they don’t really need wings to ascend to Heaven in the first place. Actually, it seems they can’t even rest in Heaven upon completing their probation: there are some episodes in the series in which they meet other angels not on probation anymore (as Harold in The Last Assignment at the conclusion, or another angel the beginning of A Mother And A Daughter and Heaven Nose, Mister Smith) that are still working on other assignments on Earth, whether helping some probationary angels out or giving out the assignment to angels like Jonathan.

Either way, what it all boils down to is that Jonathan is finally, openly mentioning his wings here, the only time in the series. And it has become clear by now that they’re generally useless for an angel (they can fly with the Stuff), but for some reason that’s what at stake for them. And their chance to go to Heaven, of course, although just to keep on working forever.

• Background

The time span of the episode is around two days. Of course, if it weren’t clear enough, the episode is set on Halloween (actually, one day before that). So, considering the episode Cindy took place on September (and Bless The Boys In Blue likely around the same time), that means that either there is a one month jump between episode (very improbable) or, more plausibly, that some of the upcoming episodes in the season takes place before this assignment. In season 1 there is evidence that the episode are told in a scrambled order, so it’s likely the same here.

Actually, what’s unclear is the year of Halloween: season two begins on 1985 in the Summer and spans a year, so it’s likely that’s Halloween 1985. But there’s also a chance that the Holiday Special episode are scattered across season, and this Halloween it’s actually the 1986 one (taking place in the third season) or the 1984 (in season 1).

Now, it’s unlikely Halloween 1986 due to a reference to this episode in the fourth season, but it can be Halloween 1984, as the first season lacked a Halloween Special. Also, on this episode Mark and Jonathan talk about Halloween and Mark annoys him on how much he likes the Holiday, but if this Halloween were their second one together, it would be quite hard to believe they never brought that up (their opinions on Halloween) the previous year, for the first Halloween they spent together after the Pilot.

Of course, it is not impossible they didn’t talk about it: maybe they were busy handling another assignment and didn’t have time to celebrate the Holiday, or maybe they were separated for some time for some reason, or maybe the episode of Help Wanted: Angel took place around that time (the epilogue stated that Mark and Stella had spent around two months together, and it can be October or November as well). Or, again, maybe they had already talked about Halloween but they had to bring that up again to explain it to the audience as well.

Anyway, it’s likely Halloween 1985, but the possibility the assignment could take place in the first season is not to be excluded either.

• Characters

As for new features, Mark early on tells Jonathan how much he likes Halloween.

I bet he used to dress up as himself.

Also, one curious thing about Mark’s friendship with Jonathan: upon revealing that he made a deal with the Devil, he seems rather confident that Jonathan will help him because you know, he’s an angel, he’s connected.

It is curious, but that’s the second time Mark considers Jonathan as “connected” to Heaven or something, and that it should enable him to have a special treatment. However, the first time was in Help Wanted: Angel, and it didn’t quite work out well.

Instead, as for Jonathan, he seems to make a fuss about the plan of stealing Mark’s deal.

Now, Jonathan’s moral is pretty much a mystery: he resorted to gambling in the Pilot convinced by Mark that, as long as it’s allowed, it was his superior’s will, and it’s fine. But now he’s so uneasy about stealing from the Devil, not certainly an angelic figure.

• Production and Setting

The episode was produced from September 10 to September 20, around the same time the second season began its airing. Also spanning for 10 days, it is one of the longest episode to produce of the entire season. Actually, the episode of Cindy was concluded its production on August 15, and they produced three episodes between that one and this special, but those will air later on.

As for the settings, it’s mostly Los Angeles, which is apparently the city of the Devil as well. However, there are some parts in Culver City as well: for instance, the pub where Jonathan and Mark find C.J. is there.

It will be featured again later on in the series.

• The “Stuff”

The episode also makes an important revelation as for the rules of the Stuff: apparently, there aren’t only angels walking on Earth, but also devils and other evil creatures sent from Hell. Now, in the episode, when Mark asks Jonathan why can’t he use the powers to send them away, Jonathan reveals that there’s a sort of arrangement between the forces of good and those of evil that prevents each other from gaining the upper hand.

That explains why there’s evil in the word that angels can’t defeat, and why the evil forces are equally restricted (which basically leaves anything to the hands of human making their own decisions).

Also, before Jonathan uses the “Stuff” on C.J. to lift him, he throws a quick glance at Mark, who just nods, like that.

And Jonathan makes that mischievous Landon’s weird smirk back at him.

I mean: it really seems like Jonathan were asking for Mark’s permission to use the power, Mark nods like “Buddy, show him” and Jonathan looks back like “You’re right”, or something. Although it should be Jonathan’s superior to allow him. What was the point of that glance, really.

Glossary:

Angel Revelation: Jonathan telling C.J. he’s an angel. That’s the second time in the season (following Cindy) and third in the series that Jonathan reveals that. And now he even makes the complete revelation, even telling C.J. that he’s not yet an angel, but still on probation (or whatever that means in the series). But it’s better to get used to that moment, because this second season will have multiple Angel Revelation, and multiple “unrealistic” assignment as well (as The Banker And The Bum and partly Another Song For Christmas were the only one in the first season like that).

Actor’s Easter Eggs and References: on some occasion, the series makes reference to either French or Landon’s personal life by jokingly taking distance from it (one is example is in Help Wanted: Angel and another in Going Home, Going Home, in the first season). Here, there is one instance: at the beginning of the episode, while Jonathan and Mark share their opinion on Halloween, Mark asks Jonathan if he likes scary stuff, and Jonathan replies negatively to that.

This might be another one of those ironic references to the actors’ lives, distancing them from their characters. According to Landon’s son Christopher (one of the many), Landon actually loved horror, and they used to watch them together while Christopher was growing up. Actually, it was Landon’s passion for the genre that inspired Christopher to become a horror director himself — and now, he is the only active director among Landon’s children. Not very angelic, isn’t it.

Moreover, Landon himself began his career in horror genre: his breakthrough role, before Bonanza, was in a 1957 horror feature, as the eponymous teenage werewolf.

And it was so important to Landon personally that there’s going to be another Halloween special on Highway (during the fourth season) that’s actually both a parody and tribute to that very role.

So, that goes to show that such line about Jonathan disliking horror could very well be a self-reference to Landon’s passion for them.

Instead, as of Mark, he states that he likes them.

Now, it’s actually unclear whether French liked them as Landon or not, but if Jonathan said he doesn’t like them while Landon did instead, it is possible that Mark saying he does like them implies French didn’t really.

There’s not much about it to check whether it is right, but it is possible. Also, in his career, French got the chance to act in a horror. But, considering its quality, it’s likely that experience marked him forever and he wouldn’t want to take part in any horror anymore (as he didn’t, eventually).

Anyway, similar to Landon, he even played the protagonist there.

Also, that was released in 1974, around the same time as the first season of Little House, and it was presumably produced at the same time as well. However, on Little House his character is bearded one, while on this horror feature he only has some mustache. Again, as it has already been mentioned here, it is currently unclear how French could play mossy-bearded character and completely shaved one at the same time (just like in The Waltons, which also aired in early 1974). Perhaps he really had the fastest-growing beard of Hollywood, or maybe he had some secrets his family keeps guarded.

Anyway, there’s a sort of Easter egg too: basically, in the same dialogue, when Mark says he likes horror, Jonathan makes a deal.

And what could possibly be scary in a family, Christian TV show?

So, Jonathan puts on Marks’ face. Well, the actor’s, more correctly.

Don’t watch this with your kids.

However, the actor standing behind the wheel is not French anymore (of course, he took Jonathan’s place at the passenger’s seat), and it’s clear from his beard, which is thoroughly brown — compared to French, who has more grey spots on it.

Now, there’s nothing about it on some newspaper or in the credits or anything, but much likely the double that stands behind the wheel is actually the very own son of Victor French, who took part in the production as stand-in on some occasion — and, physically, he looks very similar to his father as well.

Blooper: there are two of them, and both at the beginning of the episode. The first one is the double taking Mark’s place when Jonathan puts on his face (it’s a mistake as it’s evident it isn’t the same actor, similar to one blooper here in season one).

Instead, the second one is after the accident, when Mark is waiting at the hospital. There, he’s first shown sitting with both hands on his head.

But upon approaching him, there’s just the left arm now.

Little House References: it is not exactly a reference of Little House, yet it can also be considered such. The assignment is a Halloween one. So, naturally, it starts with a carved jack-o’-lantern on a random window — just in case it wasn’t clear enough, it’s Halloween.

Apparently, beginning a holiday Special with an item related to that same holiday was a common practice for Highway: the Christmas special in Season 1 began with a Christmas Tree — and so will the Christmas episode in season three.

But it was also a common practice for Landon: the Halloween Special episode in Little House (the on in the third season) began exactly the same way — slowly approaching a Jack-o-lantern. Although that time it was coming from Laura’s house, while now it’s really just a random one.

So, both episode beginning the same way, it can be some sort of callback or a reference. But then again, maybe Landon didn’t know how else to start a Halloween Special episode (and make it obvious to the audience it was a Halloween one, not Christmas nor anything), so it could be just a coincidence.

Little House Actors: the character of the Devil’s assistant is played by Anthony Zerbe, who had already appeared on Little House during the ninth season in the (highly remarkable) two part episode The Wild Boy, as the ruthless Doctor who kidnaps the titular character and holds him in captivity to make it act wild for an audience. And French was director on that time.

He must have something evil in his grin, as he plays a bad character here as well. Although he already displayed a devil allure on Little House. I mean, no antagonist on Little House nor doozy kid on Highway could ever keep up with him.

He’s by far the spookiest thing of this episode. Even more than Mark’s face.

Anyway, it is his second collaboration with French (who also acted on The Wild Boy) and his first with Landon, who didn’t appear on that two part Little House show.

Cute: it’s Mark dropping one, after being scared by his own face.

Highway Of Mysteries: there are a couple of mysteries in this episode. The character of Jonathan acts rather mysterious: for instance, at the beginning (after scaring him with his face), he just leaves Mark in the car alone, telling him that he has an assignment (presumably about C.J. the conman), and tells Mark to get a place to stay and “be careful”, very mysteriously.

Now, that’s a mystery for two reasons: the first one is because he isn’t asking Mark to come with him. I mean, they have known each other for a year now, and they have handled all the assignments together, so why would Jonathan just go handle the assignment alone now. And Mark is not the least concerned either, which makes it plausible it it isn’t the first that happened — Jonathan handling an assignment alone (of course, excluding all the times in which Mark gives little contribution, such as in The Brightest Star or The Right Thing, to mention some). That further confirms the series doesn’t show all the assignments Jonathan and Mark work on together (more details about it here).

The second reason Jonathan’s attitude is mysterious is that it’s unclear what he might be making reference to when he warns Mark to “Be careful”. And Mark is puzzled the same way.

Your driving, obvious.

Now, it could be that Jonathan only wants his friend to drive safely (it wouldn’t be the first instance of Mark’s reckless driving) but it could also imply that Jonathan somehow knows that something is gonna happen, and it’s unclear whether that alludes to the imminent accident with the kid or rather to Mark’s deal with the devil. If it were the case that Jonathan was talking about the deal, then it would imply that Mark shouldn’t have done that, as even remarked later.

To save the kid, obvious.

Now, if Jonathan was really alluding to signing the paper when he told Mark to be careful, taking that the kid would be dead if Mark hadn’t done anything for him, that could imply that, the moment the accident took place, the kid wasn’t supposed to survive it. But apparently Jonathan was wrong, because they managed to both the save the kid and Mark’s soul too.

Also, there’s another mystery with the “Stuff” and the wings: it has been pretty much consolidated that Jonathan can use the “Stuff” when his superior allows him to. Here, after making the angel revelation, C.J. asks him to make him fly to convince him that he’s an angel.

Now, that’s rather odd, because Jonathan has just told him that he doesn’t have any wings, as he’s still on probation. Yet, that is exactly what happens, and Jonathan uses the “Stuff” to lift C.J. up. So it is rather unclear what wings are for in the first place, if Jonathan can fly even without them through the “Stuff”. Maybe it’s because he has to use the “Stuff” only after receiving permission by his superior, while he wouldn’t have to if he had won his wings. Or maybe they come included with the promotion of any probationary angel to regular angel, but they are pretty much useless.

Lastly, there is a mystery about the kid Mark runs over: they never show his parents. That’s not really a mystery, yet it’s weird they are not at the hospital with him after the accident, nor they try to reach out to Mark to ask his version of the accident (unless they are pleased with what the cop would report them), nor Mark seeks for them to apologize (although it was the kid’s fault), considering how bad he feels about it.

And an orphan too, apparently. Or maybe just a neglected one.

Friendly Jonathan: basically, the beginning of the episode, when Jonathan scares Mark putting on his face, and bellowing as if Mark had just eaten a horse.

But the real problem is that he doesn’t even warn his friend about it. I mean, he did that while Mark was still driving, that could have potentially caused an accident. And that wouldn’t have been the first time either: Mark already suffered an accident for driving in the night under the rain on Going Home, Going Home that almost got him killed, although it served the purpose of living that weird hallucination about his grandpa.

Anyway, it is a dangerous trick, but Jonathan doesn’t care.

The moment the take concluded here, French likely burst out laughing too.

Maybe that was the sort of joke that Landon and French played to each other.

Or maybe Landon wanted to get back at French for that episode that French directed where he instructed a guy to throw a chair at Landon and almost broke the glass protecting him.

Ratings: 33 million, 16th tie TV programs, 3rd TV genre show

For the Halloween of 1984, during the first season, they aired a sport episode that had nothing to do with the holiday (and the ratings probably suffered from that), so, for the second season, they concocted an episode to suit the occasion. And this time, ratings paid off: the episode was much more successful than its predecessor on Season 1 and, even though that might be due to the greater success of this season in general, it is positive for producers nonetheless. Also, it slightly improved on the Cindy episode, and that is a good lead-up to the next episode in terms of ratings.