Ep 103 Planet of the Slave Girls, Part 1 September 27, 1979

Director: Michael Caffey
Writer(s): Steve Greenberg, Aubrey Soloman & Cory Applebaum
Guest Star(s):
Major Duke Danton (Scout Leader).... David Groh
Governor Tabor Saroyan .... Roddy McDowell
Regis Saroyan (Scout Three) .... Michael Mullins
Ryma (Slave girl) .... Brianne Leary
Dr. Mallory .... MacDonald Carey
Stella Warden (Mallory's assistant).... Karen Carlson
Carl (Voice) ....
Major Fields .... Sheila "DeWindt" Wills
Julio .... Don Marshall
Female Pilot .... Diane Markoff
Woman .... June Whitley Taylor
Husband .... Borah Silver
Worker .... Michael Masters
Guard .... Don Maxwell
Technician .... Nathaniel Brian Wine
Special Guest Stars:
Kaleel .... Jack Palance
Full list of cast and Crew

I'd first like to start off that the title is very deceptive. It makes me think that the entire planet is all women, slave women, who would probably be wearing skimpy outfits to please their master. But in reality this show has nothing to do with Slave Girls. It's about nomads falling into a cult to over throw the governor. There are as many slave men as their are girls or women. Calling it Planet of the Slave Nomads would have been more accurate, but of course not as appealing.
Buck and Deering are flying to Stargate 4 to get back home. According to Buck, Stargate 4 is about 26 minutes from Earth. Star Gates allow ships to travel through space warp to different parts of the galaxy light-years away. Kind of like a teleportation unit. This is the only episode that gives the audience a feeling of that it is like to travel through the gate.

Four Scout Star Fighters are out on a Directorate Training mission. Scout Three falls behind and becomes a target for two Pirate ships. Being fired upon, Three is hit on the starboard side. The ships themselves are identical to the Draconian Bombers. So, perhaps the Draconian's did disguise their ships to look like Pirate ships after all, or the Directorate created Replicas of the ships from their previous experience with them, and was using their likeness for this training mission. Either way Buck and Deering end up coming to Three's rescue, destroying both Pirates. However, when we see the FX shot, there is a little explosion in front of the Directorate Star Fighter which I assume was supposed to be the first Pirate ship (how it got in front of the Star Fighter in the first place, I have no idea), and then Deering destroys the second Pirate ship. I feel that there is something missing in this fight scene that wasn't edited quite right.

Buck identify's himself to Scout Leader as Earth Recon 1. Major Danton however doesn't appreciate Buck's "interference" and thus begins the rift between the two men for the majority of the episode. A hostility that really plays out during one of Danton's Combat Technique Sessions were Buck was a guest speaker.

I honestly had to rewind this portion and turn on the Subtitles to see what it was that Buck said to Danton, 'cause what I heard isn't appropriate for TV. Funk and Wagnill's is a dictionary, like Webster's. Buck was making a reference to Danton's definition of "interference" and nothing more. However when you say "Funk and Wagnills" as quickly as Buck did, it sounded like he said "F%@#in' Wagnills" like an insult. I wounder if the writers did that intentionally. The FX shot of the Star Fighters heading home has a slight inconsistency. We see the Star Fighters flying towards the camera and in front is 4-Seater Thunder Fighter that has the larger canopy and cockpit. However, when the camera angle changes to the rear view, all the ships are combat Star Fighters again.

Governor Tabor Saroyan, sent his son, Regis, to train in the Directorate to be a pilot. While on Earth he was poisoned, among hundreds of other pilots by contaminated food discs. Such an unappetizing looking thing too. Do these disks get eaten straight, or do they required dehydration like in Back To The Future II with the pizza? From Colonel Deering, we learn that all food processing and distribution is controlled and monitored by the Food Directorate, who periodically send Investigators to Vistula to check up on the food processing and handling.

Stella Warden, Dr. Mallory's assistant, destroys Carl, a large talking box, as he attempts a nitrogen breakdown of the contaminates of the food discs. While Carl calls for help, I cannot help but thing he is referencing Lost In Space, with his "Danger, Danger" lines. Possible Easter egg? The devise that Stella uses reminds me of something out of Knight Rider. Meanwhile Buck is teaching Wilma Judo. So, now we know that Buck does indeed know a form of martial arts.

Dr. Huer calls Buck and Wilma to the Hospital Research Lab, where they discover that Carl has been put out of commission, setting back their search for an antidote, days or even weeks, behind schedule. Colonel Deering seems to freak-out in a nonchalant way making an exaggerated claim that this setback means Earth, the entire planet, would be next to defenseless indefinitely. I hardly consider days, or weeks as indefinitely. Nor do I think that a couple hundred pilots and cadets being sick, means that the Earth is defenseless. Isn't that the point of the Earth Defense Shield? Maybe I'm over thinking it.

Vistula: Is an agricultural planet, just beyond Stargate 5, in the Epsilon Ludi system. Most of the vegetables in Earths food is grown there, and various other proteins. The barren portion of the Planet is called the Sea of Stone where nothing can grow. The nomads live here, under a mountain, with their leader Kaleel.

Stella Warden contacts Vistula 2, to inform Kaleel (is this a modified version of Kal-El, a Superman Easter Egg?) that Earth will be defenseless when it's time to attack. Why do the nomads follow Kaleel is beyond me. He sells them to the governor, and kills them with his 'touch of truth' that is powered, not by god, but the peoples own fear of him.

Little did Jack Palance know at the time that he would later play a role in Tim Burton's Batman

Kaleel is able to kill those who fear him with his touch. The power itself is fueled by fear alone, so if you do not fear Kaleel, you would be immune to his touch. However Kaleel states that his power is from god, and if your heart is good and true you shall live, if not then you will die. What a very manipulative thing to say to a bunch of gullible believers. It's like saying, "Drink this poison, if god spares you, then you are a good person, if you die, then you must have been a traitor."  How do you argue with the results? So, the slave woman outs her husband, who is then killed, and everyone praises Kaleel for it. Psycho!

An assassin his sent to kill Dr Huer with a poisoned boomerang. The interesting part of this scene is how Buck is "crouching" on what clearly feels like a small stage set, and looks around without going anywhere. In real life his 'sneaking' around to find the assassin would be a bit more involved. But the way it's shot and edited, it does kind of give you that moving around feel. But he really isn't. So the assassin is wearing all black with little reflectors on his outfit, and is throwing around a weapon that gives off a lot of noise as it fly's through the air and only works if the victim is standing. Clearly this assassination attempt is being done by the lowest bidder.

Regis is placed in a Sick Suit for his transportation home.

Twiki made two wrist bands for Buck and Wilima that will give each of them a visual warning if the contaminate enters their system. It also monitors the telemetry of its corresponding wrist band, or in layman's terms, they are Radio Directional Finders (or R.D.F.). They are powered by body heat.

So, Wilma, Buck, Danton, and Fields fly off to Vistual with Regis from New Chicago, but the FX shot is them exiting the Draconia lower launch bays as if they were currently in space. Another inconsistent FX shot, is that we see that both Majors are flying their own Star Fighers, while Buck, Wilam and Regis are in the 4-Seater Thunder Fighter, but when we see a rear flyby, the 4-Seater Thunder Fighter turned into the Sled, then back to the 4-Seater.

The Governor, Regis, Danton, Fields, Buck, Wilma, and Julio are all seated together celebrating Regis's return. The food was brought in from Dionysin. Ironically, the Governor has all his food brought in from other planets as he is too tired to constantly be eating soy products. Chatting a bit they get onto the topic of slavery. It's funny how the director (or someone anyways) chose an African-American to be the one who didn't understand the word "slavery". It was like the writers or director was trying to give the audience the impression that Earths history with slavery has been all but forgotten, that the word itself has no meaning.

Buck is naked taking a bath singing Strangers in the Night, another Frank Sinatra song, when Ryma enters his room. She was sent there to not only bring him towels, but to be his lover for the night. Danton later makes a crack remark about this later. Does that mean that Danton, Wilma, and Fields all had someone come to their rooms to be their lovers for the night? It seems very possible. Getting out of the bath, Buck seems to have no modesty as he stand ups fully nude in front of Ryma, a woman he literally just met at dinner, and she doesn't blink an eye either, like this kind of thing is pretty normal for her.

Ryma's brother worked at Processing Plant No. 347 and learned about the contaminate in the food discs. He was going to tell his sister, who works in the governors house, what he found, but Kaleel, had him killed before he had the chance. Buck tells Ryma that he will leave for the processing plant by the window so he could maintain his reputation. Reputation for what exactly? Being a ladies man? Being promiscuous? He definitely holds to the stereotype that it's attractive for a man to be flirtatious and promiscuous with other women while he may or may not be trying to develop a real relationship with Wilma Deering. The men in the audience now want to be like him and the women want to be with him.

Buck sneaks into the processing plant and ends up in a fight with the night crew. At first I am thinking that these guys must be regular staff, but now as the scene plays out, they must be security, cause who else would risk personal injury, if not their lives, then those sworn to protect and serve right? I mean, if I was working late at the plant and saw a man dressed all in black sneaking around, I wouldn't go up to him, I'd call the police or security.

Back at Buck's room, Julio is interrogating Ryma on Buck's whereabouts. Curious thing though, if Buck and Ryma were supposed be going at it, Julio should have known this, so why did he knock and enter Buck's room in the first place, and why would Ryma have let them in? Perhaps he got a call from the processing plant that someone had broken in and Julio already suspected Buck may be gone and came to his room to confirm it. However if that was the case, then he wouldn't have been surprised at the idea that Buck was at the plant, as it appeared that the thought had not occurred to him yet. Too many questions...

Wilma activates her R.D.F. wrist band so Buck can locate her. The two lights on the display screen somehow tell Buck that she is Northeast from his position, 3 kilometers (1.864 miles) away. Being unsafe for a subspace communication between Vistual and Earth, Major Fields takes the contaminated packing material (bubble wrap) back to Dr. Huer.

Ryma, Wilma, and a bunch of other slaves are all aboard a shuttle that is taking them back to Kaleel. The FX shot for the shuttle itself is the same model used for Princess Ardala's private shuttle. The FX shot is most likely the exact same one used in The Awakening Part II, but with the Launch Tube miniature for the new background. The next time we see the shuttle the camera angle is of the top flying through the desert, however it is a different model altogether. This shuttle is actually the Colonial Shuttle from Battlestar Galactica.

Buck suggests using the Retro-Gravity Valve to slow their decent. What is a retro-gravity valve? Isn't the word 'Retro' used for something that is old, outdated, that happened before hand or past tense? So, would that be then a release valve that let out outdated gravity to give the ship more buoyancy? Whatever it was, it canceled out and Danton's Star Fighter crashes anyways.

Facts Learned this Episode:

Power Leech: A type of force shield that drains or redirects a ships energy making it uncontrollable, ultimately forcing it to the ground. 

Sick Suit: Monitors vital signs, and administers the proper treatment intravenously

Kaleel: Has The Touch of Truth (the kiss of god) that he uses to kill those who fear him just with his touch. The power itself is fueled by fear alone, so if you do not fear Kaleel, you would be immune to the "Touch of Truth". 

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References to the 20th Century that the 25th does't get: Funk & Wagnalls, Football, Red Dogging, sacking the Quarterback, having a thing for someone, a crush.
Deaths: 3
Miniatures: (2) Pirate Ships (5)Star Fighters (1) 4-Seater Thunder Fighter (1) Launch Tube (1) Scorpion (1) Draconia Set Piece (1) Sled (1) Ardala's Private Shuttle (1) Colonial Shuttle (1) Docking Bay

Ep 102 The Awakening, Part 2 September 20, 1979

Director: Daniel Haller
Writer(s): Glen A. Larson & Leslie Stevens
Guest Star(s):
Princess Ardala .... Pamela Hensley
"Killer" Kane .... Henry Silva
Tigerman .... Duke Butler
Tigerman 2 .... H.B. Haggerty
Draco .... Joseph Wiseman
Guard No. 1 .... Larry Duran
Guard No. 2 ..... Kenny Endoso
Officer .... Erin Lawrence
Wrather .... Colleen Kelly
Pilot No. 1.... Kevin Coates
Pilot No. 2 .... Steve Jones
Pilot No. 3 .... David Buchanan
Wingman .... Burt Marshall

During the opening battle the Major, Lieutenant and Thornberry where killed before Buck turned off the
Computer Control, that wasn't doing anything but getting them killed, and destroyed seven "Pirate" ships single handed. During this whole dog fight, the miniature shots get reused again and again. Sometimes flipped or cut differently, but they certainly reuse the FX shots. Air Control 1 contacts Access for clearance of the Outer barriers to land on Corridor 1-0 Able. One example of an FX shot that gets reused is when Buck and Deering enter Corridor 1-0 Able after the battle. The shot shows Ranger 3 flying into the base again with a single Star Fighter behind it, instead of two Star Fighters. Oops.

During the Draconian Trade Delegation, Princess Ardala takes the opportunity to thank Buck personally for "saving" the flagship. This is the scene where Ardala is wearing the outfit that is based on her Action Figure. Ardala informs the Earth Directorate that King Draco offers his own flagship, the Draconia, filled with the latest technology as a gift. The offer is to symbolize a new era of commerce and peace. Thus begins the celebration, or dancing if you will. A lot of colorful costumes and lights with what sounds like synthesized music. It's so dated and cheesy for today's standards, but that's what makes this scene fun to watch. Buck complains of a headache and gets a strong relaxant that he stows away as well as a rose to flirt with the Princess.

Buck is able to get the DJ to play some "Rock-n-Roll" music, that he and Ardala dance to alone while everyone watches. This is a "funny" moment to see Twiki dancing to the music as well, while Deering thinks the whole thing is disgusting, which I am sure is really just her jealousy peaking through. The show does make the audience think that Deering is beginning to have feelings for Buck in a more-than-friends kind of way. At the same time Dr. Huer and Kane are talking, and Kane informs Dr. Huer that he hopes to stay on Earth on a permanent basis. Dr. Huer welcomes the idea. Just makes me think back to Kane's plan to hide a Micro Transmitter on Ranger 3 in the first place. Seems, like the only thing that action actually did was cause the Earth Directorate to distrust Buck and give him a death sentence. Instead it provided no useful information, and promoted Deering and Buck to board the Draconia together that ultimately lead to it's destruction. Good plan Kane!

Oh, Colonel Deering just asked Buck if he was interested in going "some place" private after a passionate kiss. I guess Deering really does have a thing for Buck. Strange how that relationship never seemed to go anywhere in the TV series. Does Buck's rejection at this moment, in order to meet up with Ardala in private, put that wedge between them and doom any chances of them getting together? Let's find out...

Buck leaves with Ardala on her private shuttle, who is singing Chicago Chicago again. Twiki pokes his head out of a cooler 'case he is too cold. Ironic for a drone to not only feel cold, but also not like the cold. Correct me if I am wrong, but don't most computer circuits work better when cooled? I realize the writers did that to show us, the audience, that Twiki was coming along and for this little comedic relief.

Princess Ardala wants Buck to be the Man by her side to help unseat her father, and take his place. She seems pretty convinced that Buck is the kind of man that could defeat King (or Emperor?) Draco. Not sure how shooting down seven of her own pilots proved that to her. But who cares, right? So, while Buck is "trying" to seduce Ardala, at the same time all armament personal are reporting to Flight Bay to begin loading weaponry onto...something. Into the Marauders? Into Cargo storage units? Onto themselves? I can only speculate.

After drugging the Princess, Buck sneaks out and steals Tigerman's blaster. Why is Tigerman's pistol some kind of paralytic ray? What the heck! It cannot be a "freeze"

ray, as Tigerman wasn't frozen in ice, but he was frozen in place, being unable to move. Why would this be the weapon of choice for a bodyguard of the princes? A non-lethal and non-harming pistol that just cause people to remain stiff as a board in a paralyzed stasis temporarily. Was he afraid that he might accidentally shoot the princes while trying to subdue an attacker? If you look closely at Buck's sleeve, you can see the power cable for the light in the gun. Buck sneaks off and finds his way into a hangar bay, realizing that the "Pirate" ships are actually not pirates at all, but Draconian Bombers (or warships). Time to hide some bombs inside the thrusters. Knocking out a guard and hiding his body in Bay 3, Buck takes his uniform to slip around the hanger sliding bombs inside the thruster's of all the fighters he can. Buck refers the to the Warships as as Bombers masquerading as Marauders to Twiki. Who by the way has done nothing yet to warrant his being written into the scene. On a separate note, how can the Draconian Marauders be disguised as Marauders? Are they marauders or aren't they? I guess when the ships are masquerading as Pirate ships they are Marauders, but in reality they should be called Draconian Bombers instead, don't you think?

Once the Bombers begin to explode, Kane asks what's going on? "Our ships, they simply explode" said so casually and matter-of-fact like it he isn't all that surprised. Has this happened before? It's almost like he is thinking "Hmm, that's curious, they are exploding on ignition. I wonder if they were supposed to do that?" Well, they are able to get a few warships out that are all taken out by the Star Fighters. Buck fights Tigerman and Kills him by sliding a bomb under his belt. So, does Tigerman actually survive in later episodes, or does Ardala get another Tigerman? Well, if he survived the bomb, then he would have died when the Draconia explodes. Unless he stows away aboard the Princesses shuttle. That's a lot of IF's.

Emperor Draco enters the show via a hologram to reprimand Kane and his premature attack, as the kings attack forces are still hours away.
Kane enters Ardala's chamber, where he finds her on the ground. Mr. Silva seems to trip on his line at this point. So, the Princes and Kane escape in her private shuttle, and everyone aboard the Draconia perish as it explodes. An ending very reminiscent of Star Wars where the Death Star Explodes and Darth Vader's ship fly's off to fight another day. Deering comes onto Buck pretty hard in the last scene that Buck seems totally oblivious to.

Character Facts Learned This episode:

Emperor Draco: Conquer of 3/4ths of Space, Warlord of Astrium, Ruler of the Draconian Realm. Princess Ardala's Father. The greatest leader the world has ever known

Princes Ardala: Has 29 sisters

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References to the 20th Century that the 25th does't get: Folk Dance, Greeks, Trojan Horse
Buck's insult to Twiki: Half-baked load of electronic Jibberish
My Favorite lines: "What a Body!" "I'm freezing my Ball Bearings off"-Twiki
Deaths: 42, plus everyone aboard the Draconia
Miniatures: (19) Draconian Marauder (15) Star Fighter (1) Flagship Draconia (1) Draconia Set Piece (1) Ardala's Private Launch (Escape) Shuttle (1) Launch Tube

Ep 101 The Awakening, Part 1 September 20, 1979

Director: Daniel Haller
Writer(s): Glen A. Larson & Leslie Stevens
Guest Star(s):
Princess Ardala .... Pamela Hensley
"Killer" Kane .... Henry Silva
Tigerman .... Duke Butler
Tigerman 2 .... H.B. Haggerty
Young Woman at Delta Sector Station .... Caroline Smith
Supervisor 14 .... John Dewey-Carter
Communication Intelligence Officer .... David Cadiente
Technician .... Gil Serna

Ranger 3, being Americas last deep space probe, was launched from the John F. Kennedy Space Center as Flight 711 on the nose of a massive rocket scheduled to return in five months. The shuttle being named Ranger 3 is probably the shows first error in relation to the real life NASA. Ranger 3 was a space probe that was launched in 1962 and NASA does not reuse their Names. In other-words, if in 1987 NASA sent off Bucks shuttle, it wouldn't have been officially named Ranger 3, as that name had already been taken, but Ranger 10, or higher (never mind that the Ranger program ended in 1965).

I have to admit that the DVD version of the opening sequence is much better than the TV shows edited version (available on Netflix). Not sure what the point is of having several beautiful women rolling around on giant lit sign, and making out with Buck though. Perhaps they wanted a James Bond type opening sequence? Letting it's audience know right away that this movie had sex appeal. However the worst part of the opening credits is the theme song. While the words themselves may be OK, the singer and pace of the sing is just so cheesy.

In the first episode we are introduced to Princess Ardala, and the Draconian's. I assume the writers were picking a name that sounded Alien, but is inspired from Athenian history, even naming the King of the Draconian's "Draco", after the first legislator of the Athenians. Their stated purpose in coming to Earth was to ensure trade between Earth and the Draconian's. The Planet Earth is being starved out by Pirates who are interfering with their trade and shipping routes. The Draconian's promised to keep their shipping lines open (i.e. protect them from the pirates), in exchange for landing permission on Earth. We learn however that the Draconian's are impersonating Pirates to get inside Earth's Defense Shield. I assume that Earth has never seen a Draconian Marauder fighter as they should have been easily identified as the same ships that the "Pirates" where using.

Three Draconian Marauder ships are sent out to intercept Ranger 3. They are a shot-first-and-ask-questions-later kind of people it seems. After determining the ship was adrift, the Marauders tow the shuttle in triangle formation with a joining energy beam. Oh, looks like Buck was awaken by the Draconian's as their technology was sufficient to do so. He was frozen by a combination of gasses in almost a perfect combination: Oxygen, Cryogen, (isn't Cryogen a liquid?) Ozone, Methalon, and was awoken 504 years later, supposedly in the year 2491, if Buck was Actor Gil Gerard's actual age, Buck would be around 540 years old.

In sending Buck back to Earth, Buck mentions that the guys back in Houston would be surprised to hear about his little "dream" aboard the Flagship. Now, I could be wrong, but Ranger 3 took off from John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida, according to the credits, but is coming back to Huston Space Center in Texas, and when he lands, he is almost at the precise landing site programmed into his ship, Chicago, Illinois...seems like a major geography plot hole in the writing to me.

So, the Draconian's believe Buck's a spy so they hide a Micro Transmitter in his navigation equipment that will send back a guide map of Earth's secret access corridors that Draco could use to pour through their defense shield. Not really sure how a map will be able to deactivate Earths defense shield, but I guess that is something else the transmitter would do, hack the defense shield code. Or perhaps there were openings in the shield that could not closed that could be used to sneak in. Reminds me of a scene out of a Spaceballs. I'm also not sure what the point of this really is, because wouldn't the Draconian's be permitted through the defense shield themselves and could obtain any information they needed then due to the Peace Negotiations? Furthermore, Kane doesn't seem to know much about Earth, despite being from there. He thinks that Earth's defense would allow Buck's shuttle to be destroyed if it was a civilian ship, but would accept his ship through the shield only if he was a military spy? Kane seems like an idiot to me.

During Buck's arrival, Air Control 1 is trying to reach vessel Able, Baker 4, giving it permission to approach Inner City on Corridor 3-4 Dover. Tracking Control Long is asking about the current position and fuel supply of Vessel Tartalia. The Captain of Tartalia refers Tracking Control Long as Air Control Long? Delta Sector Station, who monitors low frequency direct communication band, picks up Buck's singing Frank Sinatra's Chicago. But Supervisor 14 suspects that it could be Pirate or Marauder echo's from the attack on their freighters the previous night. Signals that would be bouncing around for a week or so. Operation Control directs Delta Sectors incoming signal to Supervisor 14 to confirm that the signal isn't an echo. Returning to Buck, he is singing another Song, Bill Bailey, Wont you Come home.

Intercept Squadron, consisting of Colonel Deering and a secondary pilot go out to investigate Ranger 3. In the control room where Supervisor 14 is monitoring Buck's approach we see several inconsistencies. The first is the position of Buck's light blip. The first time we saw this blip it was much faster and closer to the shield. The second time we see it, it has moved back further away from the shield. We also see four light blips that I assume are supposed to be four Starfigher Intercept ships, when there should only be two. The last time we see Buck's blip, it is further back yet again, and this time it has change its trajectory. The miniature fly over is used three times in this short scene. We see it first as the ships approach Ranger 3, again through Bucks cockpit window flying over the ship, and they appear to fly by a second time.

Buck makes another remark about telling his crazy story to the guys at the "Cape". So, he went from the guys at Huston Texas, to the Guys at Cape Canaveral, Florida (or is this Cape Cod in Massachusetts?). Buck seems to have friends from all over, I guess. Buck starts to suspect that the Starfighters are Russian, so he says "Do Svidanya" which basically means "until we meet again" or more simply, "goodbye". Now, if they were in fact Russian, wouldn't Buck saying goodbye be A) confusing to a Russian anyways, as he wasn't leaving, or B) an act of hostility, threatening to deviate from their present course, which Deering informed Buck would result in his being burned into vapors? So, how was that trying to be friendly? Approaching Earth, we see the two Intercept Starfighters coming up behind Ranger 3, but didn't Buck say earlier that he would be following the Intercept Starfighters, so shouldn't then he be behind them?

Air Control 1 contacts Access for Corridor 1-0 Able to be cleared of barriers for Buck's Shuttle to land. Where he it instantly take in for interrogation which consists of electrical testing that is perfectly harmless.


After Twiki, Dr. Theopolis (aka Theo) and Dr. Huer have all been introduced, Buck is left alone with Theo and wants to know who he, himself, is? Did something happen to Buck's memory or confidence in himself to no longer trust his own identity? Not really sure why Buck would be waiting for 24 hours so someone could tell him who he was. Unless he was just trying to be cheeky?

The DVD version seems to have deleted this whole conversation between Buck and Theo, that the Netflix version included. The Mutants are known for putting ambuquads to work doing unmentionable things, and selling gold circuits and parts for big money on the black market. The street that Buck was looking for was "State St." What the significance of the street is to Buck is not made clear. Perhaps it's the street his family lived on, as that seems to be what he is looking for, traces of his family. Bucks family is buried in a near by cemetery with one headstone marker. Edna and James Roger where Buck's parents, Frank and Marilyn where his brother and sister. Watching the Netflix version of the show this whole scene in Anarchia is so dark that I cannot make out anything. The DVD not only has extra scenes in it, but so much better in picture quality.Oh man, look at Buck fight. Is he supposed to know martial arts? Well, the film makers sure did make me think that Buck is supposed to know how to fight, and can take on several attackers at once with no weapons but his hands and slow kicks that barely make it up past his waist. Key-ya!

To Buck's rescue is Colonel Deering and four armed men in the Land Rover. A vehicle that is only seen in this scene, and was lucky enough to get a toy made of it. Colonel Deerings helmet is similar to the one she wears while piloting her star fighter, but this one appears like a more snug fit. There are no markings and the color is a off white, almost tan in color. Perhaps she is wearing a helmet that wasn't finished by the time they shot this scene. Here we come to what appears like another error, Dr. Theopolis's lights are off, even when he responds to Buck's question. Oh snap, lieutenant just shot Buck. I presume they just stunned him though.

Back in Dr. Huer's office, there is a Holy Bible encased on his desk. Is this some subtle reference that the show is trying to imply the religion of the people at this time?

Kane informs Princess Ardala that the Micro Transmitter had provided the guide map that they wanted, but had been discovered and no longer transmitting. But Kane is unconcerned, because his new plan is that once the Draconian's are welcomed through the Defense Shield for the negotiations, they will destroy the shield from within Earths defenses. This isn't helping Kane's defense of not being an idiot. He has the map that he wanted/needed from the Micro Transmitter, but disregards it's information altogether because now he will destroy the shield when they are welcomed to Earth, which was going to happen anyways. Did he just now think of this?

The Computer Counsel Charges Buck with Treason and Espionage after finding the Micro Transmitter on his ship. They suspect that he was sending the information to Pirates. Counsel members consist of Apol, Dr. Theopolis, who is defending Buck. A deleted scene that is not on the DVD but is in the Netflix version is where Colonel Deering asks the Computer Counsel for permission to postpone Buck's termination to prove his innocence. Something that I think should have been done before convicting someone, don't you agree?

Best error in this episode is the boom mike that drops down too far as Deering is telling Buck about going back onto the Draconian Flagship to prove that he was indeed aboard it, and if the Draconian's are armed. Something that was cut from the DVD version. Too funny.

So, the reason that Deering gives Kane for inviting themselves onto the Draconia is to provide protection from Pirates. But isn't that what the Dranconian's are there to do for Earth? If Deering could fight off the Pirates, why then are the Draconian's there in the first place? Granted it's against the law for the Draconia to come armed, but what good is an unarmed ship going to be against the pirates? I am confused again.

DVD movie continues on, uninterrupted, Netflix version ends here.

Character facts learned in this Episode

Buck Rogers: Mother Edna Rogers, Father James Rogers. Siblings include Frank and Marilyn Rogers

Anarchia: Radiation, scorched earth and ruins of the outer city of South Chicago, filled with mutant humanoids. It is said that Armed forces are afraid to go there at night.

Dr. Theopolis (AKA Theo): is Dr. Huer's Administrator, who is in charge of the environmental controls of the inner city, and a ex officio member of the Computer Counsel of which there is 13 members. The Computer Counsel does all the Programming for the entire city. Is carried by Twiki for mobility. Dr Huer refers to Theo as "Quads" (short for Ambuquads), who are not programmed by man, but one another for generations saving the Earth from Doom. He also helped design the Star Fighters.

Twiki:  Twiki is Buck's Drone and carries Dr. Theopolis around his neck. Dr Huer refers to Twiki as "Quads" (short for Ambuquads), who are not programmed by man, but each other for generations saving the Earth from Doom. 

Colonel Wilma Deering: Commander of the 3rd Force of the Earth Directorate.

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References to the 20th Century that the 25th does't get: United States, Aspirin, Turkeys, Duffs, Ballsy, Being Nosy,
My Favorite lines: "Say this is a coincidence. You know I got a ship just like this" -Buck
Deaths: 7+ of the mutants of Anarchia.
Miniatures: (1) Ranger 3 Space Shuttle (4) Draconian Marauders (1) The Draconia Flag Ship (5) Star Fighters (1) Launch Tube (1) Draconia Set Piece