Late ‘79 Glen A. Larson, the creator of late 70s/early 80s camp but thoroughly enjoyable TV series like Battlestar Galactica, BJ & the Bear and Knight Rider, revamped old sci fi comic hero Buck Rogers. Gil Gerard plays NASA astronaut Buck Rogers who is frozen in time during a mission. Revived by space pirates 500 years later, Buck returns to an Earth he no longer recognises where he is initially tried as a traitor (those sneaky pirates set him up). Buck’s charisma and old world ways eventually wins him the trust of Earth’s defence force and he joins them in a series of adventures that guarantees space battles, beautiful women and the weekly obligatory happy ending. This is retro TV at its cringe worthy best.

All 24 episodes of the first season are here. Yes those who weren’t exposed to the series in it’s original run will question your taste and sanity for watching this but let’s be honest -it’s fun. There is a warmth and cheekiness in this series (and with Larson’s other shows) that is not evident in today’s TV shows. Like Battlestar Galactica a lot of the shows success is in the chemistry of the leads. Gerard is utterly believable as the always schmoozing Rogers. Wilma Deering (Erin Gray) looks as good as I remember her from when I was ten years old. Tim O’Connor plays the straight man to Bucks comic as the leader of the new Earth, Dr Huer. A man constantly trying to understand Buck’s ways and mannerisms (a major source of the shows humour). And of course there is Twiki, Buck’s personal android (voiced by Mel Blanc) who provides the comic relief by taking on most of Buck’s unique traits.

Yes there is space battles, yes there is gun fights and punch ups, but this show was really just about Buck flirting with as many women as possible. Scary thing is I now understand why my Mum laughed so much when I use to watch this show almost 30 years ago.

I’ve really enjoyed this piece of nostalgia and I highly recommend anyone who warmly remembers the way TV use to be to take a step back in time. Purchase this set as you won’t want to watch all the episodes in one hit but you will come back to it week after week.

THE EXTRAS

None. It’s disgusting that a similar disc to the one that came with the Battlestar Galactica set isn’t included here. A retrospective doco would have been essential viewing. Maybe we will get it as an inclusion with the much smaller series 2 set.

CONCLUSION

The first season of the 1980 television series returns to the small screen in this 6 disc box set. NASA astronaut Buck Rogers is frozen for 500 years when a deep space exploration mission goes wrong. Revived in the 25th Century Buck returns to Earth where his old fashioned ways make him an invaluable team member in future Earth’s defence force and a dead set chick magnet.