@rooprect said:

All bashing aside, the 2nd season did have some great moments. I mean all I gotta say is 3 words... "Offthink! Offthink! Offthink!!!"

After reading and liking your post back in September, I started watching the second season episodes on MeTV. The first I watched was the episode you cited. Shgoratchx! I had to view it with the mindset that it was just a separate series. Kind of like the two Battlestar Galactica's, from way back then. Whatever works! Thanks.

@lima-2 said: I had to view it with the mindset that it was just a separate series. Kind of like the two Battlestar Galactica's, from way back then. Whatever works! Thanks.

Great comparison! Galactica 1980 was an insult to the 1st season, but if you approach it as a completely different show, it's a lot of fun. In fact, Galactica 1980 provided the original idea for "Quantum Leap" (Troy & Dillon traveling time to stop Xavier from destroying Earth).

Buck Rogers season 2 was also an insult to the 1st season, with the changes they made, but the episodes themselves were pretty fun. Lotta comedy like in Shgoratchx! And there was even some powerful drama like the 1st episode Time of the Hawk - featuring one of the most tragic death scenes in all of 80s tv. Glad you enjoyed rediscovering this season!

I watched the season-two episode on Metv last week, about Buck's trial. Told in flashbacks.I don't remember seeing it before. That seems to be a common theme in these space opera series going all the way back to Rocky Jones: Space Ranger. I'm showing my age. Its series finale was a dramatic three-parter called "The Trial of Rocky Jones." Then there was Spock's court martial on Star Trek TOS, its only two-parter "The Menagerie." Also told in flashback style using the Jeff Hunter pilot ep.

@klondike6 said:

I watched the season-two episode on Metv last week, about Buck's trial. Told in flashbacks.I don't remember seeing it before. That seems to be a common theme in these space opera series going all the way back to Rocky Jones: Space Ranger. I'm showing my age. Its series finale was a dramatic three-parter called "The Trial of Rocky Jones." Then there was Spock's court martial on Star Trek TOS, its only two-parter "The Menagerie." Also told in flashback style using the Jeff Hunter pilot ep.

I totally forgot about that one... Something about Buck being accused of helping to destroy the human race in a secret bunker inside Mt Rushmore?

That very same plot was (excellently) recycled in the Battlestar Galactica remake "Crossroads" (2007). Evidence pops up that Baltar, whom everyone loves at this point in the series, collaborated with the cylons to destroy the human race. The switcheroo is that he actually DID. But the episode is so amazingly done that we end up rooting for Baltar to go free. I won't spoil the ending.

You're absolutely right, I'm suddenly remembering a lot of scifi space opera shows with courtroom dramas. Even Buck's pilot episode had a courtroom drama which I wish had been longer, but I think they sacrificed the tense drama for a sudden gotcha. (Dr Theopolis: "Buck you have nothing to worry about." / Jump cut to the council: "We find the defendant guilty on all charges!")

I'm glad this thread is getting some traction!

rooprect: Wow, if you haven't seen the second season episodes in a while, "Testimony of a Traitor" (the trial episode) that's a pretty good memory, exactly what happened. I've seen bits and pieces of the 2004 Battlestar Galactica but never an episode in its entirety.

klondike: You're a walking advertisement for MeTV! lol, the Buck Rogers series finale "The Dorian Secret" was on last night, as was part 1 of Star Trek's "Menagerie" back to back.

rooprect: And next week we get to see the Buck Rogers pilot ep on MeTV!!

@lima-2 said:

I'm glad this thread is getting some traction!

rooprect: Wow, if you haven't seen the second season episodes in a while, "Testimony of a Traitor" (the trial episode) that's a pretty good memory, exactly what happened. I've seen bits and pieces of the 2004 Battlestar Galactica but never an episode in its entirety.

klondike: You're a walking advertisement for MeTV! lol, the Buck Rogers series finale "The Dorian Secret" was on last night, as was part 1 of Star Trek's "Menagerie" back to back.

rooprect: And next week we get to see the Buck Rogers pilot ep on MeTV!!

I'm a year late but I finally grabbed BR on bluray and I'm gonna go straight for that trial episode since it seems to be getting rave reviews here!

lima, have you had a chance to dive into Battlestar Galactica 2004 yet? I'd say the pilot miniseries is enough to give you a good taste of what's to come. Aaand don't forget Richard Hatch (RIP) made a fantastic comeback as a recurring character, sortofa Anthony Hopkins Silence of the Lambs bad guy who makes just enough sense to throw your morality outta whack.

Welcome back rooprect. Sadly no, I haven't had the chance to get into Battlestar Galactica 2004. By the way, how is the quality on BRbr (Buck Rogers blue ray)? Just curious if it's worth buying myself. Thanks!

@lima-2 said:

Welcome back rooprect. Sadly no, I haven't had the chance to get into Battlestar Galactica 2004. By the way, how is the quality on BRbr (Buck Rogers blue ray)? Just curious if it's worth buying myself. Thanks!

Hey Lima! The bluray quality is pretty good, nothing exceptional but a clear step up from the DVD set, and of course leagues above VHS. However the bluray set I recently picked up is the Universal release from a few years ago (white w/ original poster art) which I got on ebay pretty cheap, $20. I later learned that this is because Kino recently released a new bluray set around the end of last year (black w/ a retro looking illustration of a rocket) which sells for around $50-60.

I haven't seen anyone post comparisons between the sets but I found a couple reviews that said the Kino picture quality is a tweak better. One fault I found with the old Universal set is that the original pilot cuts a short but important scene where Buck shoves a bomb down Tiger Man's pants and kicks him out of the frame,followed by an explosion. On my set, it cuts the bomb-down-the-pants gag and just shows Buck kicking him out of the frame. That's probably how it was originally aired on tv.

But I'd say either way you go, Buck on bluray is a must. If you (or anyone reading this) buys the Kino set, let us know if tigerman gets a bomb up his butt the way it was originally intended!

Thanks Roo. Good to know. When the pilot was released as a theatrical film before the series started, I was fortunate enough to see it on the big screen. Now that you mentioned the bomb-in-the pants scene, I seem to remember it ... or at least picture it in my mind's eye. Maybe they cut it, because Tigerman was a continuing character in the series?

In the two part TV pilot, there was a scene added, where the film ended. Wilma and Dr. Huer visit Buck in his apartment asking him to join the Directorate as a secret agent. Wilma was wearing a green jump suit. Not ever seen before. Buck is wearing his 25th century version of the 1970's leisure suit.

I noticed in the first few TV two-parters, Wilma's scenes are limited, and seemed spliced in, to include Erin Gray. She is wearing the same green jump suit and Gil Gerard the same "leisure suit." Did you notice that? Probably all filmed at the same time. And to save time with no added wardrobe changes.

I'm guessing this is before it was decided that Erin Gray would be a regular cast member. Am I remembering that correctly?