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That Great Moment When the Killer is Revealed -- And He Fights Burke


In Season One of Burke's Law, more often than not when the killer was revealed -- when Burke gave the killer the lowdown on how Burke had figured out he or she did it -- that was it. The suspect gave up and the arrest was made.

But occasionally in season one, the killer would run and there would be a chase scene. And sometimes, there would be a fight.

Came Season Two, it seemed that whenever the killer was a MAN -- upon Burke announcing he was the killer -- bingo, boomtime, the fight is on.

Whereupon Burke and the baddie would duke it out - or more to the point, two badly disguised stuntmen would take over for the two guys.

To tell you which male actors turned into sudden physical tigers of physical fighting power would be to "spoil" the episodes -- but who has really seen many of them lately? Or can?

So I'll spoil two: Billy DeWolfe and Reginald Gardner. Spindly or saggy old men who suddenly became young tough guys - and still lost the fight to Burke.

One tougher guy was Ricardo Montleban , who had a great exchange with Burke when Burke told him how he proved he was the killer. Montelban is playing a fitness fanatic on an exercise bike, and we get this exchange:

Burke: OK, you're under arrest. My back-up is on the way.
Montelban: "On....the ..way? How unfortunate for you."

And the big fight begins.

If the killer in Season Two was a female, no fight, no chase.

So they would stage an earlier "just for the heck of it" fight between Burke and a male character just to keep the gimmick in.

But when the killer DID fight, it was a fun frisson...as Burke laid out the whole crime, made the accusation, and pretty much stood firm for the expected fight.

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