Scarecrow and Mrs. King

^{Review: Sunday Simmons}

Television in the 80s was riddled with some of the most awesome action series ever made, and that’s just a fact. But in among the more well-known household names such as Knight Rider and Magnum P.I., there was an absolute gem that some people don’t even remember. I’m talking about Scarecrow and Mrs. King.

Airing on US television in October 1983 and running for an impressive 4 years, this massively underrated and often under the radar action series actually won an Emmy in 1986, and had peak viewing figures in America during its first couple of seasons. Yet here in the UK, whilst fairly popular at the time, many so-called TV buffs that I’ve spoken with barely recall its existence! Shameful. Starring Kate Jackson (Sabrina – Charlie’s Angels) as divorcee Amanda King, and Bruce Boxleitner (Tron) as ‘special operative’ Lee Stetson, the series follows the serendipitous trope of unlikely pair hit it off big time. Along the lines of the brilliant Moonlighting or Remington Steele.

Running for 4 seasons during the early to mid-80s, our story starts when Stetson (codename Scarecrow), hands a package to a bewildered Amanda King at a train station. This chance meeting, like so many other chance meetings for this kind of trope, is just the start of what will become an action packed – and ultimately romantic – partnership. I love this kind of format, in fact it’s probably one of my favourites. It’s certainly remained popular, think Castle or Lucifer for modern day counterparts with the same romantic undertone.

Scarecrow and Mrs. King boasted some sizzling on screen chemistry between the titular characters with their will-they-won’t-they hints at romance. Nothing can top Moonlighting for that particular style of pairing in the 80s, but these guys certainly gave them a run for their money. Aside from the sometimes subtle, sometimes blaringly obvious frisson between the characters, the romance quite rightly played second fiddle to the action, and that made from some truly outstanding episodes. There were many, but I have to say my favourite happened in season 3.

‘We’re off to See the Wizard’ was actually the episode that won this series an Emmy, albeit for the music and not for the storyline or acting. Still, there’s a lot to unpick from this episode. When Scarecrow sees the ghost of his dead ex-girlfriend, Dorothy, his past comes back to haunt him and begins to affect his present. Series 3 is when this once closed off, guarded character starts to realise he has more than a partner in Amanda King, he has someone he can actually trust and open up to without judgement. It’s quite a pivotal episode and showed this action series wasn’t just about undercover disguises and bad guys; it had a heart. 

Charming, action packed, and often funny, Scarecrow and Mrs. King is just a thoroughly enjoyable piece of television! And if you’ve never seen it and want to see if I’m talking rubbish about just how good it is, or this article has reminded you the series exists and you’d like to revisit its brilliance, then you can pop over to Prime Video and watch it.