American Gothic (TV Series) Potato Boy (1996) User Reviews

Forgettable Episode

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 22 September 2014]

"Potato Boy" is the nineteenth episode of the "American Gothic" in the DVD Box of the Complete Season. However I have decided to follow the sequence indicated by IMDb to make sense.

In this forgettable episode, nothing important happens. We just see Caleb intrigued with a deformed outcast boy that sings all the time with a sweet voice and visiting him in the end; the promiscuous Selena in disgrace with the inhabitants in Trinity and getting closer to the needy Caleb; and Dr. Matt Crower depressed with the death of his wife and child. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Potato Boy"

Ignore the DVD episode order this is episode five

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 11 September 2016]

This instalment is listed as episode nineteen on the DVD but it is best watched much earlier; either fifth or sixth depending on whether you follow the order on Wikipedia or here on the IMDb respectively. Caleb asks the other children about a beautiful voice hears singing and is told it is the 'Potato Boy'; a deformed creature who they believe to be an evil presence… a view not shared by his sister Merlyn. Caleb also attends his first communion but it doesn't go as it should as the priest's hands shake and he spills the wine; just as Sheriff Buck turns up. He later promises that he will be there if Caleb needs his help. He isn't the only one wanting to help Caleb; teacher Selena Coombs tries to help him with his studies but ends up with a confrontation with the Sheriff. Meanwhile Deputy Ben Healy sees a psychiatrist and is finally able to admit that he saw Buck murder Merlyn Temple… unfortunately Buck has the dirt on the psychiatrist.

It could be argued that not much occurs during this episode but there is plenty of character development; most notably we learn that Caleb isn't the only person who Merlyn can be seen by. It was also good to see Ben show a bit more backbone and stand up to his boss as well as seeing Selena as more vulnerable than had been apparent. The cast does a fine job; Brenda Bakke in particular stood out in the scenes between Selena and Caleb. John Bennes also impressed as the priest who clearly has problems of his own. As one would expect Gary Cole's Sheriff Buck is as disturbing as ever as he menaces those who could be a threat to him. Overall I enjoyed this impressive episode.