tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post5879345661221870434..comments2024-03-29T04:57:26.162-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: Buck Rogers Week: "Time of the Hawk" (January 15, 1981)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-56508715861809108232016-09-23T01:34:34.514-04:002016-09-23T01:34:34.514-04:00Agree, the War Hawk model kit would have been grea...Agree, the War Hawk model kit would have been great in '80.<br /><br />SGBSGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137406272001346149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-23518940437330500132016-09-22T21:48:04.543-04:002016-09-22T21:48:04.543-04:00John,
It's hard to argue against the shortcomi...John,<br />It's hard to argue against the shortcomings of Buck Rogers Year Two, but you've been fair in your assessments of both the good and the bad. I especially appreciate your quotes from other sources to add veracity to your overview.<br />"Time of the Hawk" is probably my favorite episode of the season. I used to have a vhs tape which contained this episode, "The Zanti Misfits" from The Outer Limits, "The Satyr" from Buck Rogers, and I believe Doctor Who's "Nightmare of Eden." I watched that tape on a continuous loop, and became quite familiar with those episodes.<br />I love Thom Christopher's portrayal as Hawk throughout this episode. It is unfortunate that he became rather toothless as the season progressed. Here, he's a consummate badass, and the mystery surrounding him is presented well. His final scene in which he stares out the porthole is touching and rather beautiful.<br />The music featured in this episode is wonderful. Action beats are enhanced and quiet moments become almost lyrical due to the score. It really is one of the finest soundtracks for an episode I've ever heard. I believe props are in order to Bruce Broughton, who is credited with the Music Score. Well done and Thank You, Mr. Broughton.<br />Gil Gerard's performance is also excellent on all counts. He retains the character's likeability from the first season, while giving Buck a sense of dignity in the serious scenes. Below the surface, we see from this episode that his arrogance from Year One was a mask to hide his melancholy of being a man out of time. I think he and Hawk see one another as equals, displaced by circumstance but forced to adapt or surrender. It comes across to the viewer. I enjoyed their adventures together, however brief.<br />Chrichton didn't bother me too much, since he was a direct throwback to Henry Kuttner's "Proud Robot," who could not believe a human being could create such perfection. I got the reference, and wondered if the show runners were referencing that story. I think they were sprinkling a lot of sci-fi Easter Eggs throughout, not the least of which would be naming the commander of the ship Asimov.<br />It is a bit jarring, to say the least, when we hear Twiki's new voice. It was switched back to Mel Blanc at some point. I think the producers may have realized the mistake too late, but at least it shows they were willing to make adjustments where necessary. Like others, I would have liked to see more episodes. There was a thoughtful quality to the Second Season which I appreciated, even at an early age, and still do today.<br />SteveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13101722769411384962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-40375559249035748022016-09-22T12:06:08.355-04:002016-09-22T12:06:08.355-04:00John your review of the radically overhauled seaso...<br />John your review of the radically overhauled season two is accurate. The production design suffered in season two including the Searcher's bridge, horrible. I think you or I could have assembled a much better bridge layout, even as boys at the time, using whatever props and old season one set pieces that were available. SPACE:1999 second season saw cast changes including Victor Bergman gone and the sets/setting changed from Alpha's Main Mission to Command Center. Buck Rogers second season mirrored this with Dr. Huer gone and sets/setting changed from Earth's Defense Directorate to the Searcher. I missed Mel Blanc voicing Twiki. I hated what they did to Erin Gray's Col. Wilma Deering. As a boy, I loved her strong character in season one. In season two she was reduced to a weaker Wilma and dressed like a 25th waitress in her Search uniform.<br /><br />In 1980 there was a three month Actors strike that began in July 1980. This strike shortened the second season. I believe the Writers strike did not interrupt the 1980-1981 television season Of Buck Rogers. The season was wrapped when the three month Writers strike began in April 1981 and ended July 1981. <br /> <br />SGBSGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137406272001346149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-62790951401845746692016-09-22T11:01:51.875-04:002016-09-22T11:01:51.875-04:00Like Space 1999 season 2. The beginning of the end...Like Space 1999 season 2. The beginning of the end.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03097420555737415471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-16339171669198383852016-09-22T09:40:51.453-04:002016-09-22T09:40:51.453-04:00Looking back on it as an adult, TOTH is the episod...Looking back on it as an adult, TOTH is the episode that convinces me the Gil could carry a more serious dramatic part while still buckling the swash. His monologue to the Galactic Court in defense of Hawk is as powerfuly delivered as any Kirk Speech I've ever heard.<br /><br />The new format was indeed a radical departure from the intrigue-based format of S1, and you are correct that it yielded spotty results by and large.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05257019441860891929noreply@blogger.com