Jason -- Season 2
Jason -- deserves his own thread!
plus, he has a dog!
He’s this totally bizarre, short-lived sidekick character.
He was introduced in season 2, episode 21: “Jason”, and appears in 8 of the next 10 episodes.
You think of the different types of sidekicks – Watson, Tonto, Robin, Agent 99 ;-) -- they all added some counterpoint or skill to the duo. But this guy's sort of hopeless -- and not even in a comic relief way. He's certainly an apprentice. But why? It’s such a strange creative decision. Anybody know how or why this ever came about? – he's the only recurring character over the 3 seasons other than Josh / Steve.
The actor, Wright King, actually appeared in two earlier episodes playing other characters. (but Warren Oates and others appeared in four or more episodes as totally different characters!)
It just seems like such an odd thing [or is it?] that a show would introduce a non-complimentary sidekick mid-season when it's already Top 10 (and then dump him with no explanation).
What was going on in the writer’s room when they came up with this? He almost seems like an annoyance to Josh -- the hero and reason viewers tune in. But he's not a comedic foil like Felix was to Oscar.
Matt Dillon had Festus, who was goofy, but wise & ethical, and saved his sheriff's butt every other episode; Andy Griffith had the comic relief of the bumbling Don Knotts. But Jason rarely helps or humors. He's not an unlikable character, but why not have the bounty hunter team up with, say, a cool mustacheoed former bad-guy who reforms and joins the other side -- be part con-man, and street-wise hustler, like that card-shark kid Josh befriended one episode. Or maybe an ostracized half-breed with Tonto-like wilderness tracking skills. (The Lone Ranger already scooped the full Indian sidekick idea.)
I love the creative decisions this show made, from it’s structure, to casting, to the variety of plots, but this major choice (a third of a season) . . . is just so bizarre.
any thoughts or insights?