Tag: BQ Field Guide

The Quest For Monday! Part 50: The Power Of Symbols

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(Episode: “Shadow of the Condor”)

Synopsis: You know those horror movies with people stranded at the house of a madman and forced to compete in strange ways for survival? Well, here’s the Quest version:  Race Bannon is in the sights of Snoopy’s old foe, a WWI flying ace, and Bandit is in the sights of a horrific owl-eating condor. Not a Peanuts/JQ crossover, sadly, but there is a dachshund named Wili.

Tip 50: The right environment is important.

It can stray into superstition, but sometimes you just need your enemies to do a little cosplay for you.

Dashing! And creepy!
Dashing! And creepy!

Of course, your enemies could also set the scene by stealing your good-luck wiener dog.

"If we steal Snoopy, the Baron can't fight? Which Peanuts special was this?"
“Which Peanuts special was this again?”

Alternately, think of this as two scenes from The Quest For Monday!’s 50th Installment Gala.

 

Next time: We kick off a theme month! Watch this space on Wednesday…

Next time on TQfM!: Up in the air. Honest. That’s where our post is going.

The Quest For Monday! Part 49: The Upper Middle of Nowhere

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[Okay, I admit it: the fact that part of the outside world seems to be putting on a remake of “The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” with no sign of stopping threw a monkey wrench into the Omelet for a few weeks. (Hm, that metaphor went off the rails. As did that one, really.) Anyway, service is restored. Welcome back.]

(Episode: “Shadow of the Condor”)

Synopsis: You know those horror movies with people stranded at the house of a madman and forced to compete in strange ways for survival? Well, here’s the Questy version:  Race Bannon is in the sights of Snoopy’s old foe, a WWI flying ace, and Bandit is in the sights of a horrific owl-eating condor. Not a Peanuts/JQ crossover, sadly, but there is a wiener dog named Wili.

 

Tip 49: As they say, “Location, location, location.”

...Preferably not THIS location!
…Preferably not THIS location!
That's better.
That’s better.

 

Next time: That review of 2007 TV series Moonlight really exists and will be coming out— as will a brief look at The Conjuring, as soon as I can bring myself to grab a screencap of Annabelle. (I wish I was kidding. Being a nervous/squeamish horror fan has its unique challenges.)

Next time on TQfM!: Clothes make the plan.

The Quest For Monday! Part 48: Catching Some Wild, Probably Dangerous Zs

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(Episode: “Shadow of the Condor”)

Synopsis: You know those horror movies with a group of people stranded at the house of a delusional madman and forced to compete in strange ways for survival? Well,  Jonny Quest has one too;  Race Bannon is in the sights of Snoopy’s old foe, a WWI flying ace, and Bandit is in the sights of a horrific owl-eating condor. Not a Peanuts/JQ crossover, sadly, but there is a wiener dog named Wili.

Tip 48: Refresh yourself.

Think of your typical day: pushing papers, fighting goblins, building killer robots, maybe even proofreading. Whatever it is, you’ll do it better if you’re well-rested.

I assume these are official Special Forces PJs...or maybe just some of that performance sleepwear I've been reading about.
I assume these are official Special Forces PJs…or maybe just some of that performance sleepwear I’ve been reading about.

Sweet dreams…

 

bqwhoindeed

Never mind.

 

Next time: I plan to review 2007 TV series Moonlight, whether I manage to finish watching Season the Only by Friday or not.

Next time on TQfM!: It’s up in the air, literally.

The Quest For Monday! Part 44: Up, Up, And Away

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Looks like Monday was really Monday’s left-handed doppelganger, Tuesday…

(Episode: “Double Danger”)

Synopsis: The Quests go to Thailand so Benton can develop drugs that facilitate long-distance space travel. They’re pursued by Zin, whose new plan involves a Race Bannon lookalike. Dr. Quest’s awesome project, some interesting animals and the presence of an honest-to-god adventuress brilliantly distract from one of my least favorite classic plots.

One could draw a lot of lessons from this bit of the episode. There’s the benefit of cooperation with regard to, say, escape:

Hadji magicked the bullets out of the bad guy's gun. Why isn't the cartoon named after him?
Hadji magicked the bullets out of the bad guy’s gun. Why isn’t the cartoon named after him?

One can argue that anyone who plans to blow up an ancient Buddha deserves no less than this:

In Evil Plotland, bench approaches YOU!
In Evil Plotland, bench approaches YOU!

But when it comes right down to it and you’re about to be exploded…

Tip 44: Try to know someone with a helicopter.

Is there anything Jade can't do? I'm going with "No."
Is there anything Jade can’t do? I’m going with “No.”

 

Next time: Either old and cheesy or…newer and still kind of cheesy.

Next time on TQfM!: Nature vs. torture and the end of this adventure.

The Quest For Monday! Part 43: Cherchez La Femme

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(Episode: “Double Danger”)

Synopsis: The Quests go to Thailand so Benton can develop drugs that facilitate long-distance space travel. They’re pursued by Zin, whose new plan involves a Race Bannon lookalike. Dr. Quest’s awesome project, some interesting animals and the presence of an honest-to-god adventuress brilliantly distract from one of my least favorite classic plots.

Sometimes even the smartest and most capable of us gets stumped. A project hits a snag. Circumstances change. A member of your social circle has been replaced with an evil doppelganger. You know, those everyday nuisances.

Tip 43: A fresh pair of eyes can be a big help.

Meet Jade. She travels alone, scares leopards out of trees, and wears simply smashing pith- helmet-and-utility-snood headgear. She's also macked on Race Bannon enough to accept no substitutes.
Meet Jade. She travels alone, scares leopards out of trees, and wears simply smashing pith-helmet-and-utility-snood headgear. She’s also macked on Race Bannon enough to accept no substitutes.

 

Next time: I still like vampires-even ones not named Vlad, Jerry or Jack.

Next time on TQfM!: We draw close to the end of the bunches-of-Bannons trouble.

The Quest For Monday! Part 42: Quest Family Wild Kingdom

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(Episode: “Double Danger”)

Synopsis: The Quests go to Thailand so Benton can develop drugs that facilitate long-distance space travel. They’re pursued by Zin, whose new plan involves a Race Bannon lookalike. Dr. Quest’s awesome project, some interesting animals and the presence of an honest-to-god adventuress brilliantly distract from one of my least favorite classic plots.

Tip 42: Globetrotting spy-entists with lookalike enemies posing as bodyguards: they’re just like us!

…In the sense that they take animal photos at every opportunity, anyway.

This show does a lot of things that make me stare like that too, lizard.
This show does a lot of things that make me stare like that too, lizard.
—This nightmare scenario being a case in point.
—This nightmare scenario being a case in point.
Cute and horrifying at the same time.
Cute and horrifying at the same time.

Imagine what they could do with iPhones. For that matter, why hasn’t Benton just gone ahead and invented them?

 

Next time: Your guess is as good as mine.

Next time on TQfM!: Race’s sinister double.

 

The Quest For Monday! Part 41: Swap And Meet

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(Episode: “Double Danger”)

Synopsis: The Quests go to Thailand so Benton can develop drugs that facilitate long-distance space travel. They’re pursued by Zin, whose new plan involves a Race Bannon lookalike. Dr. Quest’s awesome project, some interesting animals and the presence of an honest-to-god adventuress brilliantly distract from one of my least favorite classic plots.

Tip 41: Everything old is new again.

You may associate the travelers-in-trouble genre with Hostel or Turistas, but Team Quest is way ahead of you.

Come for the scenery that makes you hum "One Night In Bangkok"…
Come for the scenery that makes you hum “One Night In Bangkok”…
Stay—well, against your will.
Stay—well, against your will.

 

Next time: I’m psyching myself up to keep watching a TV show, and I’m taking you all with me.

Next time on TQfM!: So how hard is it to be Race Bannon, anyway?

The Quest For Monday! Part 40: One Copy, No Cat

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(Episode: “Double Danger”)

Synopsis: The Quests go to Thailand so Benton can develop drugs that facilitate long-distance space travel. They’re pursued by Zin, whose new plan involves a Race Bannon lookalike. Dr. Quest’s awesome project, some interesting animals and the presence of an honest-to-god adventuress brilliantly distract from one of my least favorite classic plots.

Tip 40: Imitation is a sincere but often irritating form of flattery.

Why a man who can create robots is messing around with the old lookalike ploy—getting a Race all his own!—will forever confound me.
Why a man who can create robots is messing around with the old lookalike ploy—training a Race of his very own!—will forever confound me.
One of the many problems in this plan is apparent here. I'd give you a hint, but that would be gauche.
One of the many problems in this plan is apparent here. I’d give you a hint, but that would be gauche.

 

 

Next time: Still up in the air, but probably horror-adjacent.

Next time on TQfM!: The ol’ switcheroo.

 

 

The Quest For Monday! Part 39: Secrets And Lies

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(Episode: “Double Danger”)

Synopsis: The Quests go to Thailand so Benton can develop drugs that facilitate long-distance space travel. They’re pursued by Zin, whose new plan involves a Race Bannon lookalike. Dr. Quest’s awesome project, some interesting animals and the presence of an honest-to-god adventuress brilliantly distract from one of my least favorite classic plots.

Kind of politically timely…

Tip 39: The art of confidentiality is important in many situations.

...Such as when you have a multivalent government job.
…Such as when you have a multivalent government job.

It can, however, go too far.

If it's need-to-know information, maybe THE BODYGUARD WHO PROTECTS YOU AND YOUR KIDS needs to know. Just a suggestion.
If it’s need-to-know information, maybe THE BODYGUARD WHO PROTECTS YOU AND YOUR KIDS needs to know. Just a suggestion.

All of which is to say that it looks like Dr. Zin has spies all over the US government, given what happens on this Thai jaunt.

 

Next time: A musical interlude practically from the womb.

Next time on TQfM!: Welcome to (yet another) jungle.

The Quest For Monday! Part 38: This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is Thailand

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(Episode: “Double Danger”)

Synopsis: The Quests go to Thailand so Benton can develop drugs that facilitate long-distance space travel. They’re pursued by Zin, whose new plan involves a Race Bannon lookalike. Dr. Quest’s awesome project, some interesting animals and the presence of an honest-to-god adventuress brilliantly distract from one of my least favorite classic plots.

Tip 38: Animal spotting!

It’s been several episodes since we saw him hanging out with the Po-Hos in the Amazon, but the official Jonny Quest monkey is now here in Thailand!

And he's thrilled to be here!
And he’s thrilled to be here!
Also makes a cute window treatment.
Also makes a cute window treatment.

Next time: Even now, I am watching Prince of Darkness. If I don’t regret it too hard, that’ll be Friday.

Next time on TQfM!: The plot thickens, in that there is one.