"Liberté pour les Ours"
Episode Summary
"Liberté pour les Ours"
Written by: Suzanne Bolch and John May
Directed by: Gary Harvey
Last aired on VRAK-TV: February 26, 2005
My Overall Opinion of the Episode:
During the first season, it seemed as if Caitlin was always having an
experience with one kind of animal or another. This helped to add a good
amount of adventure to the series. "Liberté pour les Ours" is probably the most
exciting of the episodes with an animal theme.
The Cast:
Nathaniel Arcand -- Garth Crowchild
Cynthia Belliveau -- Dori Lowe
Lindsay Felton -- Caitlin Seeger
Brendan Fletcher -- Eric Anderson
Jeremy Foley -- Griffen Lowe
Peter Strand Rumpel -- Zoo handler
Ken Tremblett -- Jim Lowe
Episode Summary:
A zoo bear named Houdini has escaped from captivity and is running
loose around High River. The safety and lives of the local residents are
at risk. Jim and Dori make an intense effort to capture the bear. Dori
tries to set up a bear cage to catch Houdini. Caitlin, however, is troubled
by the idea that Houdini will not be allowed to run free. She has read that
animals in captivity don't live as long as those who are in the wild. She
sabotages Dori's trap. She even regularly brings food to Houdini. Caitlin
finally realizes how serious the situation is when the bear attacks at the
Lowe's ranch. Griffen is chased by the bear and barely escapes with his life!
Caitlin finally takes Jim to the place where she has been feeding Houdini.
Dori and a zoo handler go along. Houdini is captured and is sent to an animal
refuge where he can run free.
Episode Highlights:
1. Jim is the sheriff of High River and it is his job to protect
the community. When he discovers that Caitlin has been taking food to the
bear, he is understandably upset. Caitlin, however, refuses to tell him where
she has been feeding the bear. Jim takes her to his office and makes her
sit with Garth, the deputy. Garth suddenly gets a phone call from Stan Pederson.
The bear has been sighted! Garth says to Stan, "That's great, Mr. Pederson!
I'll be right there!" Caitlin, however, steals Garth's keys and locks Garth
in Jim's office! A short time later, Caitlin says through the door, "How
are you doing in there, Garth? Don't worry. I'll let you out just as soon
as I know Houdini is far, far away. Oh, and by the way. First rule of law
enforcement: never leave your keys unguarded!" Suddenly, to Caitlin's surprise,
the front door opens and Garth walks in with Jim and Dori! Garth says, "Oh,
Caitlin, by the way. First rule of hostage taking: never lock someone in
a room with windows and a walkie-talkie that connects him to Jim!"
2. Caitlin is genuinely concerned about Houdini and she doesn't want
to see him forced back into captivity. She doesn't realize the risk that
she is placing herself and others in by preventing Houdini from being
captured. After Griffen's life is placed in danger, however, Caitlin
learns that what she thinks is the best course of action may not necessarily
be the best course of action. Caitlin says in her closing
epilogue: "Sometimes doing what you think is best for someone isn't always
the right answer. You have to look at what they need and not necessarily
what they want. And although I can't speak for Houdini, I know that for
me I'm still trying to figure out the difference."
3. One of the things that I like about the first season of episodes
is the number of adventures that Caitlin has with animals. This episode
focuses on Caitlin's adventures with a bear, but it is not the only episode
where Caitlin has an adventure with an animal of some kind. In Chien Perdu Sans Collier, Caitlin is rescued from a rabid wolf by her horse
Bandit. In Repérages, Caitlin and Griffen are
chased by a bull. In Amies d'un jour, Caitlin and
Taylor are cornered by a rattlesnake. In Responsabilités,
Caitlin helps a dog deliver 13 puppies. The story lines in later episodes
focus considerably less on animals.
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