Young Indiana Jones -- Episode 5: Journey of Radiance

To Watch: Click Here

Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:

In India, Indy meets Krishnamurti while Miss Seymour challenges the members of the Theosophy Society on their exploitative behaviors. Next, the Joneses go to China, where Indy gets Typhoid fever in a secluded hut and must rely on traditional Chinese medicine to get better. 

Memorable Quote:
You took the time to think and then you acted wisely, and so you have your own approbation. You do not need the applause of others.  ~Li

Highlight:
The acupuncture scene with the Chinese doctor was cool, although I doubt that young Indy was really that scared of needles. 

Lowlight:

It was clever to include a young Mola Ram and young Lao Che on young Indy's adventures to India and China...oh wait, they weren't included! It's not like George Lucas wrote this episode...oh wait, he's credited with the story!  Come on, George!  Missed opportunity here -- would have been some inspired writing to see Indy cross paths with his future nemeses in the Temple of Doom. If only the production team would have hired me as an Indiana Jones consultant/expert...

Brushes with historical figures:

• Jiddu Krishnamurti. First time I'd heard of him.  It's amazing how much the actor looks like this photo on Krishnamurti's wikipedia page. 

Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:

• It's always a bit of a thrill to see the black and green LucasFilm graphic in the beginning -- feels like an event. 
• Good performance by the actor playing Charles Leadbetter. Apparently he was a real guy -- I wonder how the Leadbetter estate feels about him coming off as a sleazeball. They'd probably care more if anyone other than me was still watching this show.  
• Once again, they didn't skimp on the production costs as it's clear that Indy and company actually went to the real Great Wall of China.
• 1:15:55 mark -- this is the first time I've ever heard of Indy having a sister, Susie.
• 1:30:56 - there was a better chance of the producers hiring me as an Indiana Jones consultant than there was of Ah Pin finding the Jones's lost luggage that got carried away in a river.
• There wasn't any need to include the American doctor in the story, since he didn't do anything of value other than make a backhanded compliment about Chinese medicine.

Final Analysis:

While it could have used some more action and bad guys (as is the case with every episode involving 9 year-old Indy), the production value here was outstanding, particularly the China segment. Ranking this one 2nd out of 5.