Spoilers

“The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice”

Boy, what a great morning. Not only did I see a brilliant X-Files episode, then one of the most classic Moonlighting episodes ever, “The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice.”

Kicked off by a cold open from Orson Welles, this show was just so original and so wonderfully done. The story was told through two dream sequences, one by Maddie and one by David where they each give their perspectives on the Flamingo Cove murder, a case from years before where a trumpet player and a singer killed her husband.

Both dream sequences are recorded in black and white. The first one was more dramatic, telling the story on how the singer, played by Cybill Shepherd, had fallen into an affair with the trumpet player, played by Bruce Willis. manipulated him into killing the husband.

The second dream sequence was more comedic, from Bruce’s POV. This was a noir section, with Bruce doing the voice over. This time, the singer manipulated the trumpet player to kill her husband and lets him take the blame.

There have been a handful of episodes of Moonlighting that have exceeded the rest of the wonderful episodes. “The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice” is the first of those extra special Moonlighting episodes that made this series the classic that it is. Beautifully shot, amazingly acted, smart, clever writing that pops off the page, this episode is one of the best of the series.

Of course, David and Maddie had different opinions on the case, with Maddie taking the side of the singer and David taking the side of the trumpet player. Their argument began and ended the episode, with the black and white sequences in the middle. As always, the fights between David and Maddie were expertly written.

This is easily one of the best episodes of the series and, some have listed it as one of the best episodes of TV ever.