The "Back Nine" Episodes (completing Season 1):

Hobbes, Fawkes and the Keeper are sent to Santa Ruego, at the behest of the CIA. The CIA is ‘concerned’ about Hobbes going along because of a mysterious incident that occurred the last time Hobbes was at the Embassy there. Hobbes does a superlative job of impersonating an economic advisor and presents Prime Minister Arias with a detailed description of the “economic aid package” he memorized during his CIA briefing. The US ambassador however, immediately throws Hobbes out of his office, calling Bobby “you bald pile of crap,” while alluding to an incident that left his daughter crying. It seems the ambassador isn’t likely to join Bobby’s fan club anytime soon. Poor Bobby isn’t even given a proper bedroom at the embassy. He starts off rooming with Darien, but the chair he has to sleep in and Darien’s snoring are too much for him. In the middle of the night, he pleads with Claire to let him take the other bed in her room. She gives in and gets rewarded with a pajama-party type story about “the incident.” Apparently the Ambassador’s teenage daughter threw herself at Bobby, trapping him in a room with her while she was undressed. Before he could react, in walks the ambassador. Ouch! He tries to reassure Claire that he would never take advantage of such a situation saying “I’d never fish off the company pier.” Claire seems very thoughtful after this story. Does she wish Bobby were more aggressive? Or is she afraid he means he’d never date a co-worker? We learn that Bobby doesn’t believe in ghosts when La Llorna shows up, and he also seems to have a sensitivity about discussions involving regurgitation. When Hobbes confronts La Llorna, he makes a fatal mistake, getting too close to her when holding her at gunpoint - thus allowing her to catch him off guard, knock the gun from his hands and get away. He also doesn’t recognize her the next day when she’s dressed in normal street clothes. Has he got a blind spot for beautiful women?

Our hero is in his glory in this Hobbes-centered episode. Outstanding performances by PBV and VV add poignancy and depth to an already touching story. Like the pilot episode, if you don’t have this one on tape, get it! In this episode, Hobbes is infected with a retrovirus developed by a rogue scientist that will make him a genius. We learn that Hobbes is quite smart already, having aced the on-line Mensa exam, but has trouble articulating his thoughts. Right after high school, he was accepted to West Point, but chose instead to join the Marines and “see some action.” Hobbes believes that intelligence is only valuable for what it produces, and experience is more important than genius, quoting Thomas Edison, “genius in 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.” But as the virus takes effect, Hobbes’ normal personality is over-ridden, leaving an aloof, cynical genius in his place. He quits the Agency, saying he always knew he was too smart for government work, but was too insecure about his abilities. He says that no one at the Agency ever really respected or cared for him, looking pointedly at Darien. 

At the episode climax, Bobby is confined to the padded room, strait jacketed and confronted by Darien who is trying to get Bobby to reveal the formula that will stop the virus. Hobbes’ tells Darien that he pities him for all the things he won’t understand. He says that he won’t cooperate because friendship and even survival itself are just illusions and he feels more alive now than ever. Darien reminds Bobby that Bobby would die for him as he’s demonstrated many times by risking his life to save Darien. Darien also tells Bobby that he doesn’t know something important about him, then pulls out a syringe filled with the retrovirus and injects himself. Both Bobby and Darien know the retrovirus will kill Darien and the clock is ticking. Again, PBV does an amazing job of demonstrating rapid changes in emotional states as Hobbes’ expression of aloof superiority collapses into confusion and desperation, as he realizes that Darien would also risk his life for Bobby. Bobby is shocked, gasping, “I can’t believe you did that, partner.” VV also does an amazing job portraying Darien’s determination and distress in this scene. Almost in tears, Hobbes reveals the formula for the enzyme to block the virus.

In the end, Hobbes awakens in the Lab, once again his old self, having difficulty with the SAT type questions, and hitting on the keeper. Fawkes and Hobbes have a very touching moment at the end reaffirming that they’d risk their lives for each other anytime. A tear-jerker moment if ever there was one - its now clear that even though officially its Hobbes’ job to protect Fawkes, within their partnership, that protectiveness goes both ways.

In this episode we get to see more of Hobbes’ growing feelings toward The Keeper, Claire. When she attempts to kill an apparently innocent person, Burton, Hobbes is quick to defend her, looking for a ‘self-defense’ justification, and showing almost instant hostility when Burton derisively comments “what’s her problem.” In this eppy, Hobbes again has to deal with Jones from the FBI, but this time his relationship with Fawkes is more solid than it was the last time they met (Ralph), and he’s able to play off his banter with Fawkes to defuse and defeat Jones’ nasty comments. He tells Jones he needs to relax more, and taunts him saying that people at the Agency are much more relaxed “We are a Zen organization.” While breaking into FBI headquarters, Hobbes guides Fawkes through working a copier machine, “whatdaya mean you don’t know how to work a copier? Every American can work a copy machine!” But Fawkes reminds him that when he was a thief, if he needed a copy, he just took it. Hobbes isn’t able to overcome Darien’s basic ineptitude, however - he jams the copier. What was begun in Cat & Mouse is continued here as we see that Hobbes is able to balance work with play. When they have a lot of down time, he suggests they go bowling or mini golfing. When Darien turns him down, Bobby tells him he needs to get out more and get a hobby. Not always an ace with quotes, He mis-attributes “ask not for whom the bell tolls” to Metallica, not realizing it’s a much older quote from Hemmingway.

Hobbes has been thinking a lot about Claire, and he speculates that Claire has been married before and has an “inner sadness” that suggests she’s been through the divorce wars. He is firm dealing with her as he helps to restrain Claire when she gets violent, but later with Darien, Hobbes talks at length about it because he’s so disturbed by what’s happening to her. They run into Jones again and have tremendous fun jerking his chain and foiling his attempts to stop their investigation.

In this episode we get more hints of a Hobbes-Eberts tension that was first seen in Separation Anxiety. Do these guys have some history we don’t know about? Hmmm… Hobbes has tense moments with Eberts in the Official’s office. He is impatient and even hostile toward Eberts’ explanations of what’s happening to the Keeper. “The Keep go section eight? Na, come on, no way. Don’t be giving me lectures on mental problems, Eberts. I practically got a Ph.D. in Nutso.” Hobbes even answers the Official’s phone before he can, taking charge of this case himself. After Hobbes leaves the office, Eberts acknowledges that Hobbes may indeed know more about mental problems than the doctors hired to help Claire. The Official remarks that that’s “Scary to contemplate,” and Eberts responds “Terrifying.” In the chase scene at the end, Hobbes also shows extraordinary skill, driving the van like was a sports car. Hobbes is able to come to the rescue, and is instrumental in solving the case and helping Claire. She thanks him and kisses him on the cheek at the end. Hmmm…

This episode again demonstrates just how good an Agent Bobby Hobbes really is, although that’s not apparent in his first scene where he’s caught napping in the lab - seems he hasn’t been able to talk the Official into buying a couch for his office. Hobbes runs into a few obstacles early in this episode; he has trouble backing up Darien’s made up story about a ‘scientist search’ because Darien didn’t give him any warning. Later he attempts to use his negotiation skills to get information from an Internet Service Provider, but is more than a little put off by the manager’s T-Shirt reading “flag burning is a right,” which clearly doesn’t set well with patriotic Bobby Hobbes. He and Fawkes do have success with the environmentally conscious woman who works there however, once they announce they're from F&G. Hobbes still has difficulty getting Fawkes to follow his instructions. Fawkes insisted on identifying himself as a Federal Agent at the door of a hunted man, who promptly begins shooting at him - just as Hobbes said he would. When Fawkes comes up with a plan to catch the perps, Hobbes compliments him on his mastery of deception and says he might start getting paranoid about Darien himself. Darien reassures him, “Nah, you know I’m your protégé.” 

In this episode, we also learn that Bobby Hobbes is an excellent shot with a pistol (was there ever any doubt?). He also has some interesting attitudes toward women. After an unsuccessful attempt to pick up a woman at the ISP company, he asks Darien about his ‘reunion’ with Kate. Darien explains that she’s engaged, and therefore is off limits. Hobbes counters that that’s the best time to get women, just before they commit to a lifetime with one guy. Apparently, Darien has purer motives around women than Bobby. Or maybe Bobby’s simply more willing to be frank about his motives. Later, Hobbes’ interrogation skills are put to the test questioning La Llorna (from GOAC) whose name we learn is Elianora. He tells the Official “I have broken people like her in nanoseconds.” Although he hangs in there a lot longer than The Official, he has little success. Hobbes again shows off his prowess with a pistol by helping Darien make his escape attempt with Elianora look convincing by shooting at them as they run down the Agency hallways. Unfortunately, poor Bobby then has to take abuse from the Official for putting holes in the Agency walls with the bullets.

The episode opens with some classic Hobbes-Fawkes banter. It seems Darien just can’t resist jerking our Bobby’s chain by second-guessing his senior partner, as they prepare to meet with an underworld contact. F:“You’re sure this is the right place?” H:“Yes, I’m sure. Why do you do that? You doubt me, you doubt me all the time. Don’t do that! You second-guess me. I know how to do my job. You’re the one that’s the amateur here!” Later in the episode, we see some brilliant detective work as our guy puts the puzzle together and discovers Arnaud’s plot. But in this opening scene, Hobbes could have benefited from Darien’s “a con knows a con” sixth sense.

Always willing to risk life and limb for his partner, Hobbes visits an infected Darien to give him moral support, although he does take “precautions” by wearing a hospital face mask and spraying disinfectant everywhere. Hobbes introduces us to the “food court version” of organized crime fronts, and his interrogation of those underworld contacts, including the Russians, the Chinese and the Italian Cosanostra is impressive as he goes about uncovering Arnaud’s plot. In this episode Bobby also shows he can do impersonations. While explaining about security at a top secret government hospital, he adopts Humphry Bogart’s voice to tell Darien that agents go there, “So they don’t spill the beans, while they’re spilling blood, see?” At the episode’s climax, Hobbes uncovers the snitch who sold out Hobbes and Fawkes. In a classic chase scene, Hobbes *borrows* a kid’s razor-type scooter to catch the lousy rat. When the villain confesses that Arnaud only wanted Fawkes to be very sick, Hobbes deduces the kidnapping plan and races to the hospital where Darien is being treated. At the episode’s end, Hobbes sense of humor again comes out, this time in a beautiful imitation of Marlon Brando’s famous speech from “on the waterfront.”

Poor Hobbes is being docked $800 for throwing an enemy operative through a plate glass window. (Isn’t that part of the Secret-Agent job description?). Hobbes’ animosity is clear as he yells at Eberts “You better stay out of this Charlie Brown, if you know what’s good for you.” When Darien is missing (“Fawkes went AWOL?”) Hobbes tries tracking him down. When he re-surfaces, Hobbes interrogates him over his obviously fake story about going bowling. The Official assigns Hobbes the task of tailing his partner and find out what’s going on.

That night, Hobbes catches Fawkes breaking into the Agency archives. When Darien tries to slip away saying, “I gotta crash,” Bobby comes back with “I’d say you already have.” In the confrontation that follows, Hobbes reaffirms that he’s Fawkes’ friend as well as his partner. When Darien says “Its kind of a long story,” Bobby gives him a look that practically screams, “So tell me…I’m not going anywhere.” Once again, Bobby Hobbes doesn’t bail on his partner. When the Official calls to check on Hobbes’ progress, he covers for Fawkes. Every element of this scene is a tribute to the partnership these guys have formed.

We also learn that Hobbes is a Grand Master in Wu Shu and has been expertly trained with the CIA. Hobbes’ detective work reveals the con being pulled on his partner and he reveals this fact to the Official, although Darien seems to want this to remain secret. Hobbes explains the possible angles Chrysalis may be playing on Darien and shows that he understands all too well how his partner thinks: “Your problem is you over-think things and you get a convoluted web of tangled thoughts in your mind. You can’t function like that.”

At the show’s climax, Hobbes is there to back up Fawkes, leading a team of agents in a raid on Chrysalis offices. Getting past the office guard, Hobbes quips; “You want a code, I’ll give you a code It’s A…K… 40 something” while holding an AK-47. We haven’t seen Bobby wielding this much fire-power since the pilot. As he and Fawkes watch Chrysalis headquarters burn, he remarks; “They better not bill me for this.” The episode ends with Bobby sniping at Eberts again, calling him, “Daddy’s little pencil pusher.” Apparently, Hobbes resents Eberts’ executive power over his paycheck, and disrespects his lack of field experience. Or is there more to their mutual animosity?

We all know that Hobbes has a tough job. Besides the usual day-to-day grind of being a top-notch secret agent and undercover operative for the Agency, Hobbes is partnered with Darien Fawkes, a career thief working for the agency against his will and who is always at risk of Quicksilver Madness. In MFN, Bobby Hobbes is really put through his paces. He must juggle his loyalties to the government, the Agency and Darien, and keep the moral high-ground through situations involving theft, madness, and negotiating a deal with a known terrorist. Naturally, our guy does it all with style and charm! In this episode both the Keeper “Talk about fantasies!” and a blonde at the craps table are on the receiving end of that Bobby Hobbes charm. Or as he said, “The name’s Hobbes, Bobby Hobbes.” He does a wonderful variation on James Bond’s famous line. “I’ll have a vodka martini, shaken not stirred...with a lime and two olives.” An able gambler, he holds his own for a long evening at the craps table before Fawkes shows up to help him out. Later, he ditches the tuxedo in favor of a muscle tee-shirt and straw hat for a well-earned dip in the hotel hot tub.

When Fawkes goes AWOL, the Official brings in O’Ryan to bring Darien back, dead or alive. Hobbes knows O’Ryan (“You’ve been a pain in my ass since the fourth grade.”) would be happy with the ‘dead’ option. It’s clear that Hobbes hates O’Ryan, “You slimy, cold-hearted, rat-bastard. I should have taken you out years ago,” and so, Hobbes goes against Agency orders and goes looking for Fawkes himself. But first, he must con the Keeper out of some counteragent that the Official has forbidden her to give out. When Bobby catches up with his partner, Darien offers him an even split of the stolen five million dollars if Bobby will join him and leave the Agency.

Darien’s plan is to track down and kill Arnaud (after getting the counteragent recipe), then escape the Agency forever. Hobbes appears to go along with his partner, but his true motive is to get an opportunity to inject Darien with the counteragent he got from the Keeper. When it fails, he calls the Keeper and learns that Darien’s stage 5 madness is irreversible. She tells him that he should bring Darien back so that they can “salvage the gland.” Hobbes refuses to bail on his partner and chooses to walk a tightrope, turning off communications with the Agency and helping Darien find Arnaud. He helps his partner escape O’Ryan and negotiates with Arnaud for the special counteragent that will reverse stage 5 madness. Hobbes’ goals are clear, “I don’t care what the Agency thinks, I want my partner back.” Darien doesn’t trust Arnaud to fulfill his part of the bargain, but Hobbes has insurance, “It’s called a 45mm Colt model 1911.” All along, Bobby’s first interest has been getting Darien back to the Agency, safe and sound. And he’s not willing to compromise any part of that goal. At the episode’s end, Hobbes straightens things out with the Official, “You should have brought him back, Bobby.” “Um, Sir...I *did* bring him back,” and with Fawkes by reassuring him that the people he harmed were going to be okay and that their relationship was strong as ever. Bobby REALLY deserves that raise!

“Sacrifice for one’s country always counts as a win in the book of Bobby Hobbes.” Darien, naturally, is skeptical. This episode gives us definite information that Hobbes does not have any children. Which may be a good thing, since his expectations seem a bit unrealistic, “If I decide to have kids, they will bestow their undying affection to the one who gave them life.” Making the most of every day is just part of being Bobby Hobbes, and he shows at Darien’s apartment dressed for recreation “If we’re on-call, we might as well be on-call at the beach.” He’s also trained in “investigative olfaction” and identifies the brand of perfume a lady visitor left on his partner, and later he deduces who that lady was. We learn that Hobbes is on good terms with the Agency “maid” who has performed security sweeps on his apartment over 30 times in the past year. When the Official can’t tell if Darien is lying, he turns to Bobby for help. Bobby and the Official do a masterful job of acting and scare the crap out of Darien when they pretend to kill him. Although Bobby is quite the ladies man, he’s also liberated and isn’t threatened by powerful and skilled women. He takes it completely in stride when the Keeper is able to shoot enemy agents in a situation where he was unable to. “Nice shooting, Keepy.” Go Bobby!

This web site was created and designed by Lori Swanson, November 2000. Big thanks to Beth (Loganlover) for creating the "Who is Bobby Hobbes" pages!

All screen captures are my own creation. Please ASK before borrowing any pictures. Thanks.