commentary: The Patrol captures a German truck at the end of a partially destroyed convoy. In the process, though, Troy and Dietrich end up alone in the desert -- a stand-off until Arab slave traders arrive and capture both, hauling them deeper into the southern desert on the first leg of the slave trail. Troy and Dietrich escape but are chained together and must make their way back to "civilization" through the heat, the sand, and the enemy -- both enemies. They agree, after both are nearly dead with exposure, to cooperate. The truce ends when they arrive at Dietrich's column, but before they get down to the convoy, Troy trips and Dietrich ends up unconscious. Troy frees himself and Dietrich is picked up by his people. Troy rejoins Hitch, who has been driving along at the end of the column. They reach an oasis and Troy is able to place the explosives which were the purpose of this farce in the first place. The oasis blows up and the Rat Patrol, again, escapes.

Not a well-loved episode among the fans, but not as universally disliked as, say The Do-Re-Mi Raid.

Jan's Notes: Chain of Death aka Dietrich should have stayed in bed.
17 March 1999

This was definitely not Dietrich's day. I can just imagine him getting up in the morning feeling preety good cause he has managed to keep the Patrol from blowing up his water supply. Well, all good things must come to an end.

He heads out with his column and

1. His staff car is blown up out from underneath him.

2. He is captured by slave traders and chained to the man he loves to hate -- Troy.

3. He is forced to listen to Troy give tourist information regarding the relative merits of Miami vs the North African coast as a holiday destination.

4. After escaping the slave traders, he has to form a truce with Troy in order to get back to his unit.

5. He finds his unit, figures his luck has finally changed and then he falls down the hill, is knocked unconcious and Troy manages to escape.

6. To top it all off, the patrol blows up the oasis which his column has led them to.

Yep, he should have stayed in bed.

This is a real neat episode because of the by play between Troy and Dietrich. Lots of fun. I enjoyed this episode.

But for Tully watchers, of which I am one, not much of a fix.

Rate this episode!

This web site is a fannish, not-for-profit endeavour and is not intended to infringe on the copyrights of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc, United Artists, and/or any other owners of "The Rat Patrol."