I finally saw the only episode that I specifically remember seeing from the original run of The Fugitive (other than the series finale, that is). It’s the 15th episode of the third season entitled “When the Wind Blows”, so it answers some questions I had in my mind about it, but it raises some others in the process. [Note: there is one other episode that I kinda sorta recall. I’ll mention it when I get to it, assuming that I recognize it.]

You see, I cannot for the life of me figure out when I started watching the show. I didn’t think I had seen the first season at all, and yet the opening title sequence that was used for most episodes of the first season looked very familiar to me, but it wasn’t used after that season. I’m positive that I never saw the show in syndication or on any cable TV showings after that original run. It wasn’t until my interest was revived in the last couple of months that I started watching it again and I bought the complete DVD set.

Then there’s the mystery of the episode “When the Wind Blows”. I recall watching it and then discussing it the next day in school with the show’s biggest fan, my classmate Maryann Shellhamer.

Except I couldn’t have done so, because it was broadcast on December 28, 1965, when school would have been on a week’s Christmas break. Of course, she and I may have talked about it on the phone, as we did have telephones back in those days. But my memory is we talked about it in school.

One possible explanation is that I saw it as a rerun. It’s a very strong episode, so it almost certainly would have been one that the network picked to rerun when the third season came to an end. I guess I could check TV listings in the newspaper archives back then if I really want to figure it out.

Anyway, the episode conforms to what I recall, although what I recall is mostly near the end. Kimble encounters a single mother of a young son who is having difficulties in school because he’s not quite like the other kids. He sees things differently, from a different point of view. Kimble, who has always been good with children, having been a pediatrician before he was forced to go on the run, recognizes that Kenny is gifted, and before Kimble has to leave, as he always must, he explains that to Kenny’s mother and tells Kenny that he’s special.

It’s mainly that last bit that I recall, because that’s what I remember discussing with Maryann. I didn’t remember all the parts about Kimble being in jeopardy and so on.

Now that I’ve seen the episode again, I think I have to rate it as one of my favorites. It does an excellent job of blending the Kimble-in-jeopardy with the Kimble-as-healing-stranger. Both the writing and acting, especially of the young boy who plays Kenny, are strong, although as usual, there’s a scene that ties up a loose end a little too abruptly and too neatly. But this was 1960s TV and that’s how they did things then.

In thinking back to my viewing of the original series, I find that in general I recall Kimble’s aiding the folks that he came in contact with more than I do the jeopardy that he encountered, so as I view the episodes now, I’m constantly surprised to discover that most of the episodes revolve around Kimble being in jeopardy. Oh, the tricks your mind can play.

By the way, this episode, which again I consider one of the best, was followed by what might be the worst of the series and featured possibly the brattiest kid that Kimble ever encountered.