THE GHOSTBUSTERS IN RUSSIA

Russian About

Original Air date October 6, 1990

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski

Director: Raymond Jafelice

Main Cast:

• Dave Coulier as Peter Venkman
• Frank Welker as Raymond Stantz
• Maurice LaMarche as Egon Spengler
• Buster Jones as Winston Zeddemore
• Kath Soucie as Janine Melnitz
• Frank Welker as Slimer
• Rodger Bumpass as Louis Tully

(Rating 5 of 5)

Summary:  The Ghostbusters go to Russia to do a presentation on Ghostbusting.  While being escorted by their handler, Katerina, a scientist named Vladimir and his assistant declare themselves the Ghostbusters' rivals.  After the Ghostbusters finish their presentation, Vladimir accuses them of stealing the Book That Must Not be Named!  The book is a dangerous and can be used to summon the one of the gods known as "The Old Ones."  Katerina mentioned that Vladimir often talked of the old ones, they then realized that Valdimir had accused them to cover his own crime for the purpose of raising and Old One.

Egon giving their presentation in the Soviet Union.

                To stop him and clear their names Katerina helps the Ghostbusters sneak out and locate Vladimir and his followers.  When they finally find them Valdimir and his followers have already begun the spell.   The Ghostbusters chase them off, but the old god is rising.  Fortunately Egon already invented a device to deal with this very thing.  Unfortunately they left it in New York.   To stop the old god from enslaving the world Egon has Slimer fly all the way back to New York to get it.  The combined the power of their packs is used to power Egon's the destructive device so much that it can take down the old one.

Vladimir trying to rise the Old One.

                With the old one defeated they return to the service to find Vladimir and friends arrested.

Trying to raise an old god.

My Take: Another fun episode.  I am really interested in Russian history, and like Peter Venkman I have found most Russian women I have met to be very attractive.  This episode reminded me of the episode   “The Collect Call of Cathulhu.” Only this old god didn’t make it as far nor was he identified.  

                Now for my stray observations:

•       When this episode aired the Soviet Union had less than sixteen months before it collapsed.
•       The Book That Must Not be Named, if I remember correctly has to do with TV censors not allowing "Satanic" ideas.
•        Elvis Presley? Vladimir isn’t too smart.
•        Vladimir makes an accusation.  Considering what he was trying to say earlier about Elvis and the Titanic maybe they shouldn’t take him too seriously.
•        I like the HP Lovecraft reference.
•        I am glad Egon coached Slimer on the use of his powers so he could save the day.  It’s funny how often, even in this episode, Slimer forgets his abilities.
•        It is just like a black hole but not “just” like, right?

You have to learn to get around when you are the only Ghostbusters in the world.