Gandolph Fitch
Played by the brother from another mother, MR. Isaac Hayes was a very good character in this series. We first meet him in the “Hammer of C Block” season 2. The reason I like him so much is the writers were gutsy regarding his character, even if it cost the show a few fans. At the end the woman he’s looking for turns up dead, her children, one a police officer read a letter from her will. Gandolph is sitting next to Jim when the letter is read.
It states that she was tired of him beating her & she couldn’t stand his ugly face & was happy to die to be rid of him or something like that. It broke my heart & he had to listen to her children read it, next to Jim, who was probably his only friend even though he had a hard time showing it.
But that’s the reason I love this episode & his character. They made him true to form. He was a thug & he was guilty of some pretty no so nice things. He wasn’t the hood with a heart of gold in this which does go against the grain you have to admit. We know he was a man, not a good one but just another human like we all are. Jim was sorry, I know he was & he told Gandolph, “Well it looks like you got yourself a bad life” or something like that. We weren’t given the option of “Uh no! This is Jims friend! He couldn’t have done that.” But he did & I can appreciate the route the writers took to give you an unvarnished character who was brutal on the inside as he was on the outside.
For sure it wasn’t flattering in the least but depending on what kind of lives you who read this are living, the unluckiest among us may know this situation, getting a dressing down & having it proven. Which is why his character didn’t have the longevity that someone say Angel had. After all he was in only 3 episodes. I’m sure he must have went off & died young somewhere. Not that I wouldn’t have wanted him to make it & see him go straight & land on his feet.
Pretty gutsy decision from the show & it’s writers, one I”m sure drew them their share of criticism & maybe fans but one I’m glad they took nonetheless.