Aztecs and hearts, oh my.

Down to four episodes left that I haven't seen, I braved the Aztec episode of Kolchak next. Thanks to dangelos_song, I knew a bit about what I'd be in for. And even though it wasn't really graphic, they discussed the topic of the heart sacrifices a bit more than I wanted after the second person was killed. Plus, that second victim being attacked was shown in silhouette. Although they did cut the scene before they cut the heart.

Anyway, I was honestly about to put it aside, at least for a while. But ... the main creep behind the thing just had to go knocking Kolchak off the wall and cause him to hit his head and pass out. And then I wanted to see the rest of the episode. Throw in some hurt/comfort and I'll brave a lot of things. Plus, Kolchak's sarcastic comments upon being revived were hilarious. He was in top form, even with a splitting headache.

And the episode had some of the best interaction between him and Tony! I laughed so hard at the bit about the taxidermied rat. And I liked that Tony actually seemed a bit more receptive to at least some parts of the case that Kolchak was making. He asked why Kolchak didn't take the information to the police and such, indicating he found something to it and was taking it at least somewhat seriously. Of course, when Kolchak later started talking about reviving mummies and rising every 52 years to take more heart sacrifices, Tony didn't go for that at all.

And the climax was so exciting! I was glad that the willing sacrifice abandoned it at the last minute and ran. And then it got so intense when the mummy rose and decided to make Kolchak the fifth sacrifice!

In short, the episode ended up being one of my favorites.

I did get a little sad when Kolchak commented in the epilogue that he wouldn't be around at the next 52 year mark, if the mummy were to rise again even though it didn't get the fifth sacrifice. But yeah, if the character is the same age as the actor, it wouldn't be likely that he'd still be around then.

One more reason to be glad the Moonstone comics shifted the time period to the present day. Then I don't have to think that the character would be dying any time around now!

Curious, but what do you think? Is Kolchak meant to be the same age as Darren McGavin? I kind of thought, as I mentioned, that he was younger. But if he has Darren's talent to look a lot younger than he actually is, then who knows.

... Although I certainly don't think that Duke in No Deposit, No Return is the same age as Darren was in real life, either.