Days of Shine and Roses

 Synopsis:

The Annual Ridgerunners’ Reunion has taken place for 32 years, allowing old-time moonshiners, and their loved ones, to get together and swap stories of evading the law. At this year’s event, retired revenuer Abel shows a black and white movie that includes some vintage shots of Boss and Jesse running moonshine.

This leads to an argument between Boss and Jesse about who the best driver is, which results in a race through Sheriff Emmitt “Spike” Loomis’s Hatchapee County. Both agree to carry water instead of ‘shine, but Boss swaps Jesse’s cargo for the real thing before anonymously tipping off Sheriff Loomis. When Cooter learns of the switch he tells the rest of the Dukes, who have to stop Rosco interfering with the race while keeping Uncle Jesse out of jail.

Commentary:

By season two the writers had a better idea of who each character was. The family values really come to the forefront, and Rosco seems to have lost the bitterness he had at the start of season one. In fact, Rosco’s reading material shows a much lighter side to his character.

The old movie shows how far back the rivalry between J.D. and Jesse started.

In this episode, Sheriff Loomis fills the recurring role of ‘lawman from a neighboring county who can’t be fooled as easily as Rosco’. His nickname, “Spike”, is a reference to the metal railroad spike he carries with him in case he catches moonshiners.

Highlights:

There’s some great stunt work as Bo, Luke and Cooter swap Jesse’s ‘shine for water without bothering to slow down.

Enos’s math skills are put to the test when he’s given the job of counting the ‘shine bottles before the race. “They both got 10, fair and square.” “Are you sure, Enos?” “Yes, sir. I counted 20 jugs and divided by two.”

The “X-rated movie,” as one of the old timers puts it, of Boss and Jesse in their younger years is fun to see, with the 1930s/40s cars and Sorrell Booke and Denver Pyle looking younger with a little help from extra hair pieces (Boss) and a little hair dye (Jesse).

Trivia:

Jesse’s old ‘shine running car is now called “Black Tillie”. In High Octane he still had a 1971 Ford Custom 500 for the purpose. This time he gets a 1967 Ford Mustang Coupe from Cooter, which he names “Black Tillie II.” Boss’s car, a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, is called “Grey Ghost, Jr.”

This is the only appearance of Hatchapee’s Sheriff Loomis. In fact, Hatchapee doesn’t even get mentioned again until season 5, and by Twin Trouble in season 6 he’s been replaced by the slightly friendlier Sheriff Floyd. The name Loomis reappears a couple of times in season 5, but as the name of a place.

The map of Choctaw and Hazzard Counties that Cooter uses to show the route of the race is actually a map of an area near Verdun in France.

–synopsis and vidcaps by Hoss (with info from The Dukes of Hazzard Unofficial Companion).