Just finished watching the episodes.
Enter The Black Dragon
Yes, this episode had problems, in that Rambo hardly ever seemed to be in danger. Even when we see him strung up in the tree, we know that we haven’t seen him taking any hits far less getting captured so there’s obviously a trick. I thought at first that it was one of the gang made up to look like him and the real Rambo would jump out at them from hiding. Only at the end does the Black Dragon himself pose any real threat, and even then not much of one. It’s what I said before, the character of Rambo is too invincible for this show to have any real dramatic tension. Pity because the Black Dragon character had real potential.
The Halley Microbe
This episode has more than a passing nod to Star Trek, using its sound effects, and plot devices from several episodes. The effect of the spores was also reminiscent of a show we discussed on here a while back, Spiral Zone, albeit with different effects. The fact that the spores enrage people into only going after uninfected people was a bit suspect, it implies something more conscious in their thought, rather like the organisms in the Star Trek episode “Operation Annihilate!” where the infected people attack Kirk, Spock et al while simultaneously insisting they don’t want to hurt them. The thing with the spores’ effect is also evocative of the episode “This Side Of Paradise” where it is revealed that they can be defeated by strong emotions, yet when Spock is first infected, he goes through some very strong emotions just falling under their spell, so how come that didn’t stop them in their tracks right away? Incidentally those two episodes are a couple of dodgy ones from the end of season 1, and season 1 was pretty good overall, containing the highest number of brilliant episodes of all three seasons. Also, the fact that adrenaline was part of the key to resisting their effects is a nod to a season 2 episode “The Deadly Years” where Chekov’s adrenaline rush saves him from the radiation effects.
Terror Beneath The Sea
The whale episode . . . hmm, yes, right away we know that something isn’t right because whales don’t cause conscious damage like that. My first thought was that it was a mechanical whale, but it looked too “biological” (even if badly drawn!) for that to be the case - then we see the device on the fin. Rambo sets about earning the animal’s trust, and that’s basically the whole message of the episode. Interesting to see them do a modified suiting up sequence for this, as obviously he couldn’t go rampaging round the Arctic half-naked! Also it’s a bit vague what’s going on at the end, just action that doesn’t seem to be directed at any particular purpose.
The Iron Mask
This is probably the best episode of the bunch, but still could have been a lot better. For starters, you don’t use CPR when someone’s had a heart attack! Interestingly the mayor’s voice is Neil Ross using the same voice he would later use for Tank in Spiral Zone. The mystery element of this episode is indeed a little flat - it’s even more obvious who the baddie is here than in Scooby-Doo! Major Murphy seems a little not-quite-right from his very first appearance, and then in the middle when he appears with a head injury right after Iron Mask takes a blow to the head, it’s too much of a coincidence. There should indeed have been other characters to make us guess more. Rather like another episode of Spiral Zone when Dr Lawrence’s brand assistant turns out to be a traitor in only his second scene. It was too obvious. The plot of getting gold out of a crashed plane is very evocative of a couple of Alistair MacLean novels, “Fear Is The Key” and “When Eight Bells Toll” - and even “Bear Island” at a stretch.
I’m sorry but from these episodes and the 5-part pilot I can’t claim any great affection for this show. It’s just too cliched. The hero never looks like he’s in any danger and the animation is sloppy. The voice cast and the music are the only things worth bothering with.
I’ve tried to pick episodes that are quite different from each other so that there is variety in the list.
And they could have made the villains a little less incompetent and bit more dangerous so that it wouldn’t have felt like Rambo can easily wipe the floor with them with one hand tied behind his back (which sadly is exactly what he did numerous times!)