Frank is called by a woman claiming to know him called Deloris, and when Frank spurns her affections, she causes a multitude of planes to crash. Backstepping, Frank is put through a series of tasks with Deloris holding the world to ransom if he fails to complete each one.

A very good episode of Seven Days, which for a couple of minor faults is very well done. Simply an extended game of Simon Says (hence the title), Frank is put through all manner of trials by a psycho determined to make him pay for something he’s done. As Frank and the Backstep team try to work out the connection, Frank must stop a major disaster from occurring.

It’s a nicely-plotted adventure that doesn’t reveal its hand too early, leaving the viewer working out the puzzle as well as Frank. The revelation of who is responsible might have been better if it had been one of Frank’s past foes, but this works to link together all the information we’ve had rather neatly. Although the logic of Frank’s World Series question is iffy at best and indeed rather sexist, the pieces fit. My only real problem was how much punishment Frank could take in one evening and survive. There’s even a touching scene at the end with Frank and Olga, which bookends the story nicely.

The direction is assured too, with Mike Vejar doing his usual fine job of making things visually arresting. The way in which the flashback sequence is shot is particularly effective, showing an air of Kenneth Johnson’s work from earlier in the season. An adult story with a good pay-off.

****

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