The Adventures of Black Beauty 2x02 "A Member of the Family: Part 2" shout by RikerDonegal

**Mike Pratt.** Better than part one because it’s more of a thriller now. Ned is living in the house, but the villainous Simey is nearby. He puts pressure on Ned to rob the doctor. That’s the conflict that redeems Ned. It turns out, for his protesting, he really doesn’t want to turn on the people who have taken him in. Beauty saves the day. Some very impressive footage of the horse in the climax as he chases Simey around. He even runs through the house! 8/10

A Member of the Family: Part 2

Ned's behavior creates tension in the Gordon household and when items start disappearing, he is suspected. An older man Simey followed Ned from London and is threatening him to cooperate. It's up to Black Beauty and the children to help Ned.

The Adventures of Black Beauty 2x01 "A Member of the Family: Part 1" shout by RikerDonegal

Mike Pratt. Debuts: Stacy Dorning as Jenny, who will appear in 17 episodes, Michael Culver as Squire Armstrong, who will appear in 21 episodes, and Stephen Garlick as Ned, who will appear in 13 episodes. It’s a Ned-centric script, detailing his troubled backstory and the attitude/problems he brings with him. Jenny’s arrival is acknowledged in one line of dialogue! Vicky (s1’s main character) isn’t mentioned at all! Story is okay. Culver is excellent, especially in confrontations with Dr. Gordon (William Lucas). 7/10

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The Adventures of Black Beauty 1x26 "Father and Son" shout by RikerDonegal

Victor Maddern, John Welsh. Stronger episode than the previous three. It’s not a crime story. Instead, a travelling father and son magician team are on the run from the boy’s disapproving grandfather. Both men clearly love the boy but they have different ideas as to how he should be raised. It’s a story that works well, with believable conflict, and it gets the viewer invested. The resolution is a bit convenient but it brings the adventure to a satisfying conclusion. A few season one episodes ended in a downbeat way. Thankfully, this is not one of them. Final episode for Judi Bowker as Vicky. She was consistently excellent throughout the series, whether playing a leading role or - as here - a supporting one. This concludes my rewatch of season one, which I started on August 7th, 2009. 15 years and 6 months. (5,665 days) 8/10

The Adventures of Black Beauty 1x26 "Father and Son"

The arrival of entertainers in the village draw the Gordons and Albert into a custody fight. Mr. Groat is keeping his son Stan away from his grandfather Woolgar but the boy's deadly illness causes Dr. Gordon to force a solution.

The Adventures of Black Beauty 1x25 "The Barge" shout by RikerDonegal

Better than the previous 2 episodes. The crime story that it tells is predictable but not contrived. Kevin, who was not in the last 3 stories, appears in a few scenes but it is Vicky who takes the lead. She is trying to help her friend Maggie who has gotten caught up with thieves and stolen paintings, which are being hid on her barge. It’s not hard to guess who the real villain is, and the ending leaves a few plot points unexplained, but it’s an enjoyable above-average adventure none-the-less. The location filming on and around the barge is a big plus. 7/10

The Adventures of Black Beauty 1x25 "The Barge"

Vicky and Beauty befriend an older woman living on the river whose son Albert is just out if prison. A series of valuable art thefts occur and Vicky discovers the stolen paintings on Maggie's houseboat. With things looking bad for Albert and his mother, Vicky, her friends and her horse search for the truth.

The Adventures of Black Beauty 1x24 "Wild Justice" shout by RikerDonegal

Peter Bowles. Complex but average adventure in which Dr. Gordon is framed for arson! That’s a pretty strong hook to get us started. Then it turns out that there’s another horse that looks exactly like Beauty, and he’s wild and dangerous. A plot development that seems unnecessary and takes up a fair amount of screentime. Late in the story we meet the villain of the piece and learn of his elaborate revenge plan. His motivation is half-heartedly explained in the epilogue, which is too late. It’s got some solid sequences, but on the whole it’s still an average and forgettable instalment. 6/10

The Adventures of Black Beauty 1x24 "Wild Justice"

Dr. Gordon is arrested for a cottage burning that belonged to Mr. Skinner after he criticized it's condition. Vicky, Albert, and their friend Jill work to clear his name but need Black Beauty's help. Complicating matters is a mysterious man Duffield and a horse identical to Beauty.