The Gua are muscling in on the gangs of Kansas City. What will the mobsters face this inhuman threat?
(First U.S. airing on September 10, 2000)
Written by Larry Barber and Paul Barber
Directed by
Rob LaBelle
GUEST STARS
Jerry Wasserman – Sammy "The Horse" Kozak
Desiree Zukowski – Sofia Kozak
Rob Lee – Gua Agent
Bill Croft – Jack Mitchum
Tim Henry – Older Cop
Jano Frandsen – Bud
Darryl Scheelar – Pete
WHAT HAPPENED
Even though he runs his own strip club, Sammy "The Horse" Kozak is not a happy mobster.
Someone has launched a vendetta against him, costing him three men in the last two months. He intends to find out who’s responsible and kill them.
He’s not a foolish man, though. Until he uncovers his enemies, it’s business as usual, which includes auditioning a new girl for the club.
"Make me forget my troubles," he tells her.
After dancing for a few titillating minutes, she yanks the dance pole out of the floor and tries to impale Sammy with it. She misses and flees the building, disappearing down a gutter. (
spoilers)
ANALYSIS
"Underworld" puts
Cade in an unusual position: observer instead of actor. This story is about Sammy and Sofia, and Cade has very little to do with the outcome.
That’s not the only offbeat element. As Sofia points out, Sammy is a lot like Cade in his determination to take revenge on those who wrong him.
For a while, the mobster looks like a powerful ally against the Gua. Unlike Cade, though, he isn’t willing to take on overwhelming odds.
On the other hand, Sofia has that determination in spades. If she put the bomb in Sammy’s briefcase – which seems likely, though it’s not completely certain – then she proved she was willing to sacrifice her own husband for a greater good.
There’s a homicidal virtue to her strength, but the message of the episode is not very encouraging.
Sammy had the power and connections to battle the Gua, but Sofia had the will. The separation of these qualities means that the Gua suffered only a minor setback, putting "Underworld" firmly into the "humans are deep trouble" category of First Wave episodes.
Crazy Eddie wants to direct!
There’s nothing fancy about
Rob LaBelle’s first outing as a director, and that’s just fine. The camera work is simple and effective, and even the minor characters give strong performances.
Not many people are going to be talking about how brilliantly directed "Underworld" is, but LaBelle brought out the best of the writing and acting. That should earn him more turns in the director’s chair.
WHAT WE LEARN
The Gua’s
enhanced warrior husks are beginning to see action. Some of them have the strength and speed to catch bullets, while others can dissolve themselves to fit through small spaces.
The Gua are producing new husks by the truckload. Cade worries that the Second Wave is near.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Did the deaths of Kozak and Mitchum disrupt the Gua’s shipping operations?
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK
Cade visits a future ruled by the Gua in "Tomorrow".
Do you watch
First Wave? The editor wants to know.
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