Ep 15. The Spider Serenade/Next Door Wife/The Harder They Fall

The Love Boat season 3 episode 15, entitled The Spider Serenade/Next Door Wife/The Harder They Fall, takes place onboard the Pacific Princess cruise ship where Captain Stubing and his crew welcome a variety of guests. In this episode, three different storylines unravel.

In the first storyline, we meet a classical musician, Peter (played by Gregory Harrison), who is on board to perform a concert. However, he's been experiencing a slump in his creativity lately and is looking for inspiration. He finds it in the form of Marcy, a mysterious woman (played by Trisha Noble) who catches his eye. Marcy's shyness and unusual behavior intrigue Peter, and he develops a romantic interest in her. However, as Marcy's secrets are slowly revealed, Peter realizes that he may have gotten himself involved in a deadly game of espionage.

The second storyline focuses on a married couple, the Allens (played by Pat Klous and John Davidson), who are on their honeymoon. However, their romantic getaway is ruined when they discover that their honeymoon suite is right next to their former neighbor, Mrs. Latham (played by Gloria DeHaven), who had been notoriously noisy and disruptive. The couple initially tries to ignore her, but as Mrs. Latham's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, they find it impossible to relax and confront her. However, they soon come to realize that there might be more to Mrs. Latham's strange behavior than meets the eye.

The third storyline centers around a middle-aged boxer, Rocky (played by Bert Convy), who has been given the chance to make a comeback. He is intent on regaining his former glory and glorying in the past. He meets a young woman, Julie (played by Karen Lamm), who offers to be his personal trainer. As they begin to work together, Rocky falls for her, but he soon discovers that Julie may have ulterior motives.

As the episode reaches its climax, all three storylines converge in a surprising and unexpected way. The passengers and crew of the Pacific Princess are in for one last surprise before the ship reaches its final destination.

The Spider Serenade/Next Door Wife/The Harder They Fall is an entertaining and thrilling episode of The Love Boat. With its mix of humor, drama, and romance, it offers something for everyone. The performances by the guest stars are top-notch, and the direction and writing are excellent. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.