Guardian at the Gates

Superb mystery written by Stephen Kandel (who passed as age 96 in 2023). A writers writer, at the time working on CANNON and MANNIX. If you're a fan, you know his material right off the bat.

Rough and gruff Barry Sullivan plays Sawyer, a renown architect, in the tradition of Frank Lloyd Wright. However clever, he's also lead a very interesting private life and ticked someone off BIG TIME. Linda Evans, beautiful as ever, plays Sawyer's daughter, quick to hire Harry to head off whoever wants the old man dead as a doornail.

Stephen Kandel makes this mystery a winner, in league with COLUMBO. Harry gets the best lines, though he also works hard for the money. If you figure this out before the finale, you have bragging rights. I agree with the last reviewer, Warner Brother's archives of moody music adds much to the story, 40s noirish. Did they take a cue from Mannix?

Splendid supporting cast; Anne Archer (known for FALCON CREST). As of 2025, she is appearing in PAPER EMPIRE. Gordon Jump (pre WKRP) as Tanner. Producer Jerry Thorpe directed, behind KUNG FU at the time.

10 earned stars, and why we miss David Janssen.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 3 remastered WB dvd box set. 6 dvds. Released 2012. Seasons 1 and 2 box covers are stylish. A collectors item, although tend to be expensive.

Harry O is a very pensive, probing detective series. In this episode the actors and actresses were very memorable. Linda Evans was hauntingly beautiful, yet still tethered to her demanding oblivious father. Barry Sullivan architecturally was a genius but as a human being was grossly stunted. It was this insufferable and insensitive attitude toward society that put him at the top of the list of the one people would most like to erase from humanity. Still the motive for this intended murder remains shrouded until towards the end. It explored the complexities of psychological relationships and was unafraid to tackle issues of co-dependence,consuming ambition and the tenuous line between creativity and obsession. Very rich in character development and overall openness.