Having seen the miniseries LACE numerous of times
since its original airing in 1984 on ABC I decided not too long ago to re-watch
its sequel which aired a year or so later on the same network and towards which
I was not that kind on this blog in 2013. But like I always say, only crazy
people don’t change their minds—and I should know, for I’ve been working in
that environment for 32-some years (buy me a drink and I’ll tell you all about
it). So I am proud to say that I am now a fervent LACE II fan. Why the change of heart? Simple. They just don’t make
them like that anymore. In fact, they have stopped making them like that decades
ago. But when they did, rare were they as grand as this one. 
As in the original, the production team went all out
for LACE II. No expense was spared.
Thailand, UK, Spain, France, US. You just couldn’t get enough of these beautiful
locations. And the plot. Let’s talk about the plot. Yes, I concur, it wasn’t as
captivating as the original LACE but it did end up having its own merits, lots
of them I might add—particularly in the way director William Hale and
screenwriter Elliot Baker delivered the goods. Their overall modus operandi reminded
us enough of the original LACE while also adding another layer of originality
to an already intriguing story. Indeed, who hadn’t wanted to know the identity
of Lili’s father? I certainly did, and I guess the producers thought so as
well. So my hat is off to them for trying yet again to mix sins and glamour to
a highly attractive cast of characters and aim for ratings gold. 
But as we all know by now (especially those of you who
have read my former post on this much-publicized sequel) LACE II wasn’t a big ratings success as LACE had been. It received only
half the audience of its predecessor. We could blame this on a lot of things: a
less punchy premise, new faces replacing those of the first LACE (most
noticeably Deborah Raffin as Judy), a much too long subplot involving a
rebellion in Asia... But on the other hand, for those same reasons mainly, LACE II did turn out to be
better than expected. At least we got something different. Well, almost
different. Omit the witch hunt plot involving the three possible dads, some
flashbacks involving schoolgirl Judy, Maxine and Pagan, and the emotional grand
finale where Lili meets her real father, it’s almost like watching a totally
different miniseries. OK, maybe not, but what is left is still quite impressive,
especially how things got to be resolved. It wasn’t all wrapped up in a bow as
expected. That, plus the Harlequin-like romance between Judy and her abductor,
not to mention Lili doing her thing with the hunky astronaut... All in all, good times, as would say Jerry
Blake from TV’s STRANGERS WITH CANDY.
Yes, LACE II may
not have been quite as addictive as LACE but the folks behind the sequel did
try their hardest to make it look just as good, which is an achievement per se.
Besides, when one reaches a point in his life where he’d rather take things for
what they are and not for what they’re supposed to be I’d say, lo and behold, I
really had a ball with this sequel after all.
Until next post—Martin
