Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series).

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is an American science-fiction adventure television series produced by Universal Studios. The series ran for two seasons between 1979 and 1981, and the feature-length pilot episode for the series was released as a theatrical film, before the series aired. The film and series were developed by Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens, based on the character Buck Rogers created in 1928 by Philip Francis Nowlan that had previously been featured in comic strips, novellas, a serial film, and on television and radio.



Region 1 US DVD cover (2004)

Concept and broadcast history.

Inspired by the success of Star Wars, Universal began developing Buck Rogers for television, spearheaded by Glen A. Larson, who had a production deal with the studio. Production began in 1978. Initially, Larson and Universal had planned on making a series of Buck Rogers TV movies for NBC. The pilot for Larson's other science-fiction series, Battlestar Galactica (1978), had been released theatrically in some countries and in key locations in North America, and had done well at the box office. Universal then opted to release the first Buck Rogers TV movie theatrically on March 30, 1979. Good box-office returns led NBC to commission a weekly series, which began on September 20, 1979, with a slightly modified version of the theatrical release.


The production recycled many of the props, effects shots, and costumes from Battlestar Galactica, which was still in production at the time the pilot for Buck Rogers was being filmed. For example, the "landram" vehicle was made for the Galactica series, and the control sticks used in the Terran starfighters in the pilot movie were the same as those used in Galactica's Viper craft. The Terran starfighters were also concept designer Ralph McQuarrie's original vision of the Colonial Vipers.

The new series centered on Captain William Anthony "Buck" Rogers, played by Gil Gerard, a NASA/USAF pilot who commands Ranger 3, a spacecraft that is launched in May 1987. Due to a life-support malfunction, Buck is accidentally frozen for 504 years before his spacecraft is discovered adrift in the year 2491. The combination of gases that froze his body coincidentally comes close to the formula commonly used in the 25th century for cryopreservation, and his rescuers are able to revive him. He learns that civilization on Earth was rebuilt following a devastating nuclear war that occurred on November 22, 1987, and is now under the protection of the Earth Defense Directorate.

The series followed him as he tried (not always successfully) to fit into 25th-century culture. As no traceable personal records of him remained, he was uniquely placed, due to his pilot and combat skills and personal ingenuity, to help Earth Defense foil assorted evil plots to conquer the planet. In many respects, this version of Buck Rogers was more similar to James Bond or Steve Austin than Nowlan's original character, and Buck would often go under cover on various covert missions. Buck is aided in his adventures by his friend and sometimes romantic interest, Colonel Wilma Deering (played by Erin Gray), a high-ranking officer and starfighter pilot. He is also assisted by Twiki, a small robot or "ambuquad", as they were known. Twiki was played mainly by Felix Silla and voiced mainly by Mel Blanc (who had previously voiced Daffy Duck as Duck Dodgers in spoofs of the early Buck Rogers and other science-fiction serials) using a gruff voice very similar to the one he used for Barnyard Dawg. Twiki became Buck's comic sidekick and communicated with an electronic noise that sounded like "biddi-biddi-biddi", but also spoke English (usually after saying "biddi-biddi-biddi-biddi" for several seconds). Also aiding Buck was Dr. Theopolis or "Theo" (voiced by Eric Server), a sentient computer in the shape of a disk about 9 inches wide with an illuminated face. He was capable of understanding Twiki's electronic language, and was often carried around by him. Theo was a member of Earth's "computer council" and one of the planet's scientific leaders. During the first season, Buck and Wilma took their orders from Dr. Elias Huer, played by Tim O'Connor, the head of the Defense Directorate. Some episodes suggested Huer was the leader of the entire planet, though this was never made completely clear.

The series' chief villain (at least in the first season) was Princess Ardala (played by Pamela Hensley), whose goal was to conquer the Earth while making Buck her consort. She was aided by her henchman Kane (played in the pilot film by Henry Silva and in the series by Michael Ansara). All of these characters were featured in the original comic strip, except for Dr. Theopolis and Twiki (whose closest counterpart in earlier versions would likely be Buck's human sidekick, Buddy Wade). Kane (or Killer Kane as he was then known) was also featured in the 1939 film serial and was actually the chief villain himself, rather than Ardala's henchman (Ardala did not appear in the film serial).

The pilot film depicted human civilization as fairly insular, with an invisible defense shield that surrounded the entire planet, protecting it from invaders. Civilization was restricted to a few cities; the main city seen in the pilot and weekly series was New Chicago, which was also known as the Inner City. Travel beyond the Inner City was hazardous, as much of the planet was said to be a radioactive wasteland inhabited by violent mutants (as Buck discovered when he visited the derelict remains of old Chicago).

Film

The first made-for-TV movie was released theatrically in March 1979 as Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. The film made $21 million at the North American box office, prompting Universal to move ahead with a weekly series later that year. The film, which was also released internationally, featured all of the main protagonist characters who would appear in the weekly series, including Princess Ardala of the planet Draconia, and her henchman, Kane.

Series

The theatrical film also served as a pilot and two-part first episode for the series, entitled "Awakening". Several scenes were edited, some to remove the more adult dialogue in the film (including when Buck refers to Wilma as "ballsy", and later when he says "shit"), and a scene in which Buck kills Ardala's henchman, Tigerman, was edited to allow the character to return in later episodes (the TV version of the pilot for Battlestar Galactica had similarly removed the death of a supporting character (Baltar) to allow the character to become a regular in the TV series). Also, some new and extended scenes were added for the TV version, including several scenes within Buck's new apartment, which was the setting for a new final scene in which Dr. Huer and Wilma try to persuade Buck to join the Defense Directorate. This scene ends with Buck actually declining their offer, though he opts to join them in an unofficial capacity by the first episode of the series proper, "Planet of the Slave Girls".

Including the two-part pilot episode, the first season comprised 24 episodes, with four of the stories being two-parters. The tone of the series was lighter than the pilot movie, and showed a more positive picture of future Earth. The Inner City was now known as New Chicago, and it was established that human civilization had spread once again across the planet, and also to the stars. After the movie pilot, no reference to barren radioactive wastelands was made, and in several episodes, the world outside is shown as lush and green. The mutants seen in the pilot film were no longer seen, and Buck sometimes ventured outside New Chicago with no hazards encountered. As opposed to the isolationist planet seen in the film, Earth no longer has an invisible defense shield surrounding it and is shown to be the center of an interstellar human-dominated government, sometimes called "the Federation" of "the Alliance", with its capital at New Chicago. During the first season, references were also made to other "new" Earth cities such as New Detroit, New Manhattan, New Phoenix, New Tulsa, Boston Complex, and New London. A "City-on-the-Sea" was also seen, mentioned as being the former New Orleans.

Wilma Deering and Dr. Huer were the only Defense Directorate personnel seen in every episode, though several others were seen in individual episodes. Most Defense Directorate personnel regard Buck as being at least an 'honorary' captain, in reference to his 20th-century American military rank, but his membership in Earth's defense forces is unofficial. Nevertheless, Buck often flies with the fighter squadrons, and uses his 20th-century U.S. Air Force background to assist in their training. Dr. Huer regularly meets, greets, and otherwise deals with representatives of other sovereign powers. Huer was also seen in military uniform (at formal occasions), thus indicating he is or was a member of the military.
Travel between the stars was accomplished with the use of stargates: artificially created portals in space (similar in appearance to wormholes), but referred to as "warp" travel on at least one occasion by Wilma Deering. Stargates appear as a diamond-shaped quartet of brilliant lights in space that shimmered when a vessel was making transit. Some people find the transit through a stargate to be physically unpleasant (transit resembling a "spinning" of the spacecraft). Buck's dislike of them is shown in part one of the episode "Planet of the Slave Girls" and again in part two of the episode "The Plot to Kill a City".

To portray futuristic-looking buildings on Earth, the show used stock shots of the remaining national pavilions of Expo 67, particularly the French and British pavilions as well as shots of the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Juanin Clay, who played Major Marla Landers in the first-season episode "Vegas in Space", was originally cast as Wilma for the TV series (Erin Gray had initially opted not to return after the pilot film, but she later changed her mind). A relationship between Buck and Wilma was hinted at, but rarely expanded upon, and in the first season, Buck was involved (to some degree) with a different woman almost every week. Producers demanded that Wilma have blonde hair and dye jobs were needed to lighten Erin Gray's brunette locks. During the final episodes of the first season, Gray was allowed to return to her natural hair color, and Wilma was dark-haired thereafter. Buck's best-known enemy during the first season was Princess Ardala, played by Pamela Hensley, whose desire was to conquer and possess both Earth and Buck himself. She appeared in four separate stories, including the pilot film, two single episodes ("Escape from Wedded Bliss" and "Ardala Returns"), and the two-part first-season finale ("Flight of the War Witch").
The opening title sequence for the series included stock footage from the Apollo 4 and Apollo 6 launches.

The series had an overall budget of $800,000 per hour of air time, according to Starlog issue #32 (March 1980). Former actor Jock Gaynor served as producer for 20 episodes. Although reasonably popular with viewers, the first season failed to receive much critical acclaim. One vocal critic of the series was Gerard himself, who pushed for more serious storytelling and often clashed with the producers and the network (NBC) over the show's tone and handling. In the November 1980 issue of Starlog, even Gerard said he had hoped the series would not be picked up for a second season because he had no wish to go through another season like the first one.

Second season

Production of the second season was delayed by several months due to an actors' strike. When production resumed in the fall of 1980, the series had a new set of producers (headed by John Mantley, who had primarily worked on television westerns) and the format of the series was changed. Instead of defending the Earth from external threats, Buck, Wilma and Twiki were now a part of a crew aboard an Earth spaceship called the Searcher. The Searcher, which displayed the Latinmotto "Per ardua ad astra" ("through adversity to the stars" or "through work to the stars") on its side, had a mission to seek out the lost "tribes" of humanity who had scattered in the five centuries since Earth's 20th-century nuclear war. (This is a theme present in Glen A. Larson's previous science-fiction television series, Battlestar Galactica.)

Another notable change in the second season was the disappearance of many of the regular characters of the first season, such as Dr. Huer, Dr. Theopolis, Princess Ardala, and Kane. However, several new characters were added:
Admiral Efram Asimov (Jay Garner), commander of the Searcher and a descendant of the famous science fiction author Isaac Asimov
Hawk (Thom Christopher), an alien character who represents the last of the nearly extinct bird people
Dr. Goodfellow (Wilfrid Hyde-White), an elderly scientist with insatiable curiosity
Crichton (voiced by Jeff David), a snobbish robot, built by Goodfellow, but who finds it difficult to believe that lowly humans could have ever built him
The character of Wilma Deering was "softened" in the second season as the producers attempted to tone down the militaristic "Colonel Deering" image, who often gave Buck orders, and tried to make her more "feminine". Another change in the second season was the sound of Twiki's voice. Mel Blanc left the series after the end of the first season and another actor, Bob Elyea, supplied Twiki's voice. Blanc returned for the final six episodes of the second season, though no explanation was given for the change in Twiki's voice.

The opening narrative was also modified for the second season, both in terms of the narrator's voice and content. In the first season, William Conrad delivered the following opening narrative:
The year is 1987, and NASA launches the last of America's deep space probes. In a freak mishap, Ranger 3 and its pilot, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, are blown out of their trajectory into an orbit which freezes his life-support systems, and returns Buck Rogers to Earth, 500 years later.
In the second season, Hank Simms (best known for his announcing work on many of the programs produced by Quinn Martin Productions) delivered the following alternate narrative:
In the year 1987, NASA launched the last of America's deep space probes. Aboard this compact starship, a lone astronaut, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, was to experience cosmic forces beyond all comprehension. In a freak mishap, his life-support systems were frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. Ranger 3 was blown out of its planned trajectory into an orbit one thousand times more vast, an orbit which was to return Buck Rogers to Earth, 500 years later.
These were abbreviated and altered versions of the narrative heard in the original pilot movie, delivered by Conrad:
In the year 1987, at the John F. Kennedy Space Center, NASA launched the last of America's deep space probes. The payload, perched on the nosecone of the NASA rocket, was a one-man exploration vessel: Ranger 3. Aboard this compact starship, a lone astronaut, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, was to experience cosmic forces beyond all comprehension: an awesome brush with death. In the blink of an eye, his life-support systems were frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. Ranger 3 was blown out of its planned trajectory into an orbit a thousand times more vast, an orbit which was to return the ship full circle to its point of origin, its mother Earth, not in five months...but in 500 years.
For 500 years, Buck Rogers drifted through a world in which reality and fantasy merged into a timeless dream.
The introduction narrative from the pilot episode ("Awakening") was also different:
For 500 years, Captain William "Buck" Rogers has been miraculously preserved, frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. Now, in Earth year 2491, he is rudely awakened by the sinister forces of the Draconian realm.
The substance of the storylines also changed in the second season. Less emphasis was placed on militaristic ideals and, with a few exceptions, Gerard scaled back the humor in the second season in favor of more serious episodes. Buck's and Wilma's relationship became slightly more romantic during the second year, though most romantic activity was implied and took place off-screen.

Moreover, the second season deals with more serious concepts such as evolution, ecology, racism, pollution, war, nuclear power, identity, the self, and religion. It also draws on mythology as exemplified by Hawk's people, who are variants on the bird people found in mythologies around the world and makes special reference to the moai of Easter Island. An episode also included a story about mythical satyr creatures.

As well as its parallels to Larson's previous television series Battlestar Galactica, the second season is similar in theme to Star Trek, with the Searcher roaming through space much like the USS Enterprise had, Buck being the maverick explorer true to the style of Captain James T. Kirk, and the serious, rather stoic Hawk being a revamped version of Mr. Spock. Even Wilma had, to some extent, been remodeled after Lt. Uhura from Star Trek, often dressed in a miniskirt uniform and regularly sat at a communications console on the bridge of the Searcher.

Ratings dropped significantly after the season premiere. NBC canceled the series at the end of an 11-episode strike-abbreviated season. No finale storyline was produced, with the final episode broadcast being a normal standalone episode.

Cast
Gil Gerard - Captain William "Buck" Rogers
Erin Gray - Colonel Wilma Deering
Tim O'Connor - Dr. Elias Huer (first season)
Pamela Hensley as Princess Ardala (first season)
Michael Ansara as Kane (first season) (played by Henry Silva in the theatrical film)[2]
Wilfrid Hyde-White - Dr. Goodfellow (second season)
Thom Christopher - Hawk (second season)
Jay Garner - Admiral Efram Asimov (second season)
Paul Carr - Lt. Devlin (second season)
Felix Silla - Twiki (physical performance)
Patty Maloney - Twiki (physical performance, 3 episodes)
Mel Blanc - Voice of Twiki (first season, plus second-season episodes starting with "The Crystals" through "Testimony of a Traitor")
Bob Elyea - Voice of Twiki (second-season episodes "Time of the Hawk" to "The Golden Man")
Eric Server - Voice of Dr. Theopolis (first season) (voiced by Howard F. Flynn in the pilot)
Jeff David - Voice of Crichton (second season)
William Conrad - Narrator (first season)
Hank Simms - Narrator (second season)
Guest stars throughout the series included Jamie Lee Curtis, Markie Post, Dorothy Stratten, Leigh McCloskey, Trisha Noble, Richard Moll, Jerry Orbach, Gary Coleman, Jack Palance, Sam Jaffe, Vera Miles, and Buster Crabbe (who had played Buck Rogers in the 1930s film serial). Joseph Wiseman also appeared in one episode of the series, and was also briefly seen in the theatrical version of the pilot as Emperor Draco (Princess Ardala's father), but his appearance was edited out of the television version. Several actors who had played villains in the 1960s Batman television series also guest-starred, including Cesar Romero, Frank Gorshin, Roddy McDowell, and Julie Newmar.

Episodes

International broadcast

The series was shown in the UK by ITV, beginning in late August 1980, with the feature-length two-part episode "Planet of the Slave Girls" (the pilot film, which had been released theatrically in Britain in summer 1979, was not actually shown on British television until 1982). ITV broadcast Buck Rogers in an early Saturday evening slot, where it competed against, and beat, the BBC's long-running science fiction series Doctor Who, which started its 18th season on the same day. As a similar effect had occurred a few years earlier when several ITV stations screened Man from Atlantis against Doctor Who; this prompted the BBC to move Doctor Who to a new weekday slot for its next season in 1982, though Buck Rogers had been cancelled in the US by then. The BBC would repeat the Buck Rogers series on BBC Two in 1989 and again in 1995-96.

The series also aired in Canada on CTV, on the same day and time as the NBC airings.

Reception

Contemporary assessments of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century were generally mixed. In his book Sci-Fi TV from Twilight Zone to Deep Space Nine, writer James van Hise claimed the show's scripts "just never took advantage of what they had at hand" and criticized Larson's version of Buck Rogers as a cynical attempt to exploit one of the most loved characters in American popular culture. John Javna's book The Best of Science Fiction TV included Buck Rogers in the 25th Century on its list of the "Worst Science Fiction Shows of All Time" (along with The Starlost, Space:
1999 and Manimal). Journalist Bill Lengeman also strongly criticized the program, stating "the acting is so wooden that Ed Wood himself (no pun intended) would surely have gone weak in the knees and wept openly upon witnessing it". Lengemen also called the Buck Rogers episode "Space Rockers" the worst episode of TV science fiction he had ever seen. On a more positive note, writing in the UK's Observer newspaper in October 1980 (shortly after the series began showing there), journalist Clive James stated "the best comic-strip science fiction on at the moment is Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. The hardware looks good and Wilma Deering looks simply sensational, like Wonder Woman with brains."

"Awakening, Part 1 & 2"

In 1987, lone NASA astronaut Buck Rogers is piloting Earth's last space shuttle mission, Ranger 3, when a storm of ice meteors shuts down life support and he is frozen for 504 years. He awakens in the year 2491 aboard the alien flagship Draconia which is headed to Earth ostensibly for a diplomatic conference. The Draconians repair Buck's shuttle, but secretly plant a homing beacon aboard to track its way through Earth's defense shield. Upon arriving at Earth, Buck is escorted to the city of New Chicago by starfighters commanded by Col. Wilma Deering. Once at the city, Buck is met by Dr. Elias Huer who tells him he is now in the 25th century and that everyone he knew had been killed centuries ago in a nuclear holocaust. When the tracking device is discovered, the authorities accuse Buck of espionage, but Buck claims the Draconians have set him up and that their representative, the ravishing Princess Ardala, is arriving in an armed warship which violates the peace treaty with Earth. The authorities refuse to believe Buck and sentence him to be executed. Wilma has second thoughts, however, and arranges to give Buck a chance to prove his innocence. Wilma and Buck lead a force of Starfighters to the Draconian ship to surreptitiously search it, but before they can the ship is attacked by seven Marauders (in reality Draconian ships masquerading as pirates); in the ensuing combat Buck shoots down most of the attackers and saves Wilma's life. When a celebration of the treaty with Draconia ensues on Earth, Buck sets out to prove the Draconians' hostile intent by seducing Ardala, returning with her to the Draconian ship, and sabotaging her attack fighters before she can launch them against Earth.

Note: This two-hour pilot episode is a revised version of the theatrical release "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century", with a different opening credit sequence, additional scenes, and also the use of Vic Perrin as voice of the Draconia's PA system. It was syndicated as a two-part episode.

Guest stars: Henry Silva (as Kane), Duke Butler (as Tigerman), H.B. Haggerty (as Tigerman #2), Vic Perrin (uncredited and replacing William Conrad as Draconia PA announcer), and Pamela Hensley (as Princess Ardala). (Note: Joseph Wiseman appeared briefly in the theatrical version as King Draco, but does not appear in the TV version).

"Planet of the Slave Girls, Part 1 & 2"

The Earth Defense Directorate faces a crisis when nearly everyone becomes sick after eating poisoned food. An attempt is made to create an antidote but the plan is thwarted when the laboratory is sabotaged and an assassin takes aim at Dr. Huer. Buck and Wilma then pursue leads to the planet Vistula where the contaminated food was exported from and there they find a world engaged in slave labor. A slave girl named Ryma, hopeful Buck will help her people, informs him about the food processing center where the food is being poisoned. Buck and Wilma then discover the poisoning is part of an elaborate plot by a fanatical religious leader and slave trader with paranormal powers named Kaleel. After Wilma is captured, Buck and Major Duke Danton, (Wilma's former boyfriend), attempt to rescue her from Kaleel's mountain fortress. Meanwhile, Kaleel plans to invade Earth with a secret strike force while their defenses are incapacitated.



Note: This was a two-hour episode, later syndicated as a two-part episode.

Guest stars: Jack Palance (as Kaleel), David Groh (as Major Duke Danton), Roddy McDowall (as Governor Toban Saroyan), Brianne Leary (as Ryma), Sheila DeWindt (as Major Fields), Robert Dowdell (as Galen), Macdonald Carey (as Dr. Mallory), Karen Carlson (as Stella Warden), and Michael Mullins (as Regis Saroyan). It also features a special appearance by Buster Crabbe (who played Buck Rogers in the original serial), playing Brigadier Gordon (a reference to his other famous role, Flash Gordon).

"Vegas in Space"

A young woman, Felina Redding, is kidnapped and her employer, a notorious smuggler named Amos Armat, comes to Dr. Huer for help. Armat believes his competitor, the feared crime boss Morgan Velosi, kidnapped Felina because she knows too much about his organization after stumbling upon a computer code that controls three-fourths of Armat's covert operations. If helped, Armat offers to turn himself in for his crimes, for Felina is not only an employee, but his daughter as well (a fact of which she is unaware). Huer initially refuses, but is persuaded by Major Marla Landers when she questions that Armat has technical secrets of Draconian Marauders that have been preying on Earth's shipping lanes. Buck takes the mission alongside Major Landers and the two arrive at Velosi's orbital casino resort of Sinaloa. While Landers uses her charm to distract Velosi, Buck rescues Felina before a hired interrogator, Carl Morphus, can conduct a potentially fatal mind probe on her. They must all, however, escape an attack by Draconian fighters summoned by Velosi.



Guest stars: Cesar Romero (as Amos Armat), Ana Alicia (as Felina Redding), Richard Lynch (as Morgan Velosi), Juanin Clay (as Major Marla Landers), Pamela Susan Shoop (as Tangie), and Joseph Wiseman (as Carl Morphus).

"The Plot to Kill a City, Part 1 & 2"

After capturing Raphael Argus, a notorious assassin, Buck learns that the killer is to attend a meeting with a group of terrorists known as the "Legion of Death" on the planet Aldebaran II. Since none of the group knows what Argus looks like, Buck assumes his identity and goes in his place. Buck meets the group's leader Seton Kellogg, and learns that each member has a unique ability – Sharese is an empath, capable of reading the emotions of other people; Jolen Quince is a telekinetic who can move objects with the power of his mind; Marcos has superior strength, and Varek is a mutant with the power to walk through solid matter. Argus was a master combatant and Buck passes Kellogg's test of skill. Buck's true identity is briefly questioned by the presence of Joella Cameron, one of Argus's girlfriends, but she goes along with the deception to help Buck. However his cover is eventually blown when an informant named Barney, who knew the real Argus, confirms he is an impostor. By then, Buck had already learned the group's plan to destroy New Chicago by sabotaging the city's antimatter power plant, and he and Joella race back to Earth to stop them.

Guest stars: Frank Gorshin (as Seton Kellogg), John Quade (as Jolen Quince), Robert Tessier (as Marcos), Nancy DeCarl (as Sharese), Victor Argo (as Raphael Argus), Markie Post (as Joella Cameron), James Sloyan (as Barnard "Barney" Smith), James McEachin (as Richard Selvan), Anthony James (as Varek), and Whitney Rydbeck (as Harsteen).

"Return of the Fighting 69th"

Buck and Wilma go after a notorious gunrunner named Corliss who has stolen a stockpile of deadly nerve agent from the 20th-Century and plans to attack Earth with it. When two rookie pilots (Cadets Clayton and Westlake) are killed trying to pursue Corliss to his base within the treacherous asteroid belt, Wilma reluctantly seeks the help of a long retired fighter pilot named Noah Cooper and his legendary "Fighting 69th" squadron. Because of their age, Wilma has doubts about the squadron's reliability, but Noah's team sets out to prove they still have what it takes to get the mission done. During the attack, Buck and Wilma are captured by Corliss and his wife Roxanne Trent who both show off horrible scars from injuries they received thanks to Wilma during a previous confrontation. Wanting Buck and Wilma to suffer as they did, Corliss plans to torture them once he deals with the geriatric bombers. Eventually, Roxanne's deaf/mute slave girl Alicia helps Buck and Wilma escape, and the three hurry to escape the complex before the ensuing bombing run.

Guest stars: Peter Graves (as Major Noah Cooper), Elizabeth Allen (as Roxanne Trent), Robert Quarry (as Commander Corliss), Eddie Firestone (as Corporal M.K. Schultz), K. T. Stevens (as Lieutenant Harriet Twain), Katherine Wiberg (as Alicia), Woody Strode (as Sergeant "Big Red" MacMurthy), Dan Sturkie (as Eli Twain), Robert Hardy (as Cadet Clayton), and Duncan McKenzie (as Cadet Westlake).

"Unchained Woman"

Posing as a prisoner named Valzhan, Buck is taken to an underground penal colony on Zeta Minor where he springs a female inmate named Jen Burton. Jen is wanted by the Earth's Directorate so she can testify about the criminal activities of her pirate boyfriend Malary Pantera. However, Pantera happens to have a business associate back on Earth, Ted Warwick, the Zetan government diplomat whose involvement could be exposed if Jen testifies. While Buck and Jen try to rendezvous with Wilma, Warwick tips off Pantera and he sends his goons after them. However, Buck and Jen's worst problem is a malfunctioning android prison guard, damaged during Jen's prison break, that is bent on destroying the both of them.

Guest stars: Jamie Lee Curtis (as Jen Burton), Michael Delano (as Malary Pantera), Bert Rosario (as Serio Sanwiler), Tara Buckman (as Majel), Walter Hunter (as Hugo the Android), Robert Cornthwaite (as Ted Warwick), Daniel Ades (as Gymon), Jim B. Smith (as Shuttle Captain) and Charles Walker (as Lieutenant Zimmerman).

"Planet of the Amazon Women"

Buck helps two sisters whose ship is found adrift above the planet Xantia. After towing them home, a man named Cassius Thorne takes Buck into custody and has him sold at auction as a mate to the Prime Minister's daughter Ariela Dyne. Buck learns from other male prisoners that Thorne has a lucrative business in kidnapping men to sell to the women of his planet since most of Xantia's males were killed or captured in a war with the neighboring planet Ruatha. After meeting Ariela, Buck finds the girl strongly opposed to slavery and plans to end her mother's reign. Meanwhile, Wilma arrives looking for Buck and learns that Ariela is planning to meet with the Ruathan leader and expose the truth that Xantia has no warriors. Wilma tries to stop Ariela before the fragile political repercussions drag Earth into war as well.

Guest stars: Ann Dusenberry (as Ariela Dyne), Jay Robinson (as Cassius Thorne), Antoinette Stella (as Jayel), Wendy Oates (as Renna), Liberty Godshall (as Nyree), Darrell Zwerling (as Macon), Teddi Siddall (as Linea), Wally K. Berns (as Major Norris), James Fraracci (as Karsh), and Anne Jeffreys (as Prime Minister Dyne).

"Cosmic Wiz Kid"

Buck is forced away from a vacation trip by Lieutenant Dia Cyrton who is the bodyguard of a 493-year-old, child super-genius, Hieronymus Fox – the president of the planet Genesia. Originally from Earth's 20th-Century, Fox developed advanced cryogenics technology and had himself frozen before the nuclear holocaust. After being thawed in the 25th-Century, Fox helped the struggling Genesia colony and they made him their leader. Now the boy has been kidnapped for ransom by a political dissident named Roderick Zale who holds Fox captive on Aldebaran II. Buck and Dia work to infiltrate Zale's hideout and must dodge elaborate security fields and a superhuman assassin before Zale carries out his threat to kill Fox.

Guest stars: Gary Coleman (as Hieronymus Fox), Ray Walston (as Roderick Zale), Melody Rogers (as Lieutenant Dia Cyrton), Albert Popwell (as Koren), Earl Boen (as Selmar), and Lester Fletcher (as M.D. Toman).

"Escape from Wedded Bliss"

Princess Ardala attacks New Chicago with an indestructible alien weapon and orders the Earth leaders to hand over Buck Rogers or she will destroy every city on the planet. Instead of turning himself over, Buck goes off to find a man named Garedon – a Draconian defector living in seclusion on Earth who knows the layout of Ardala's warship. Unfortunately, the man is insane with fear of being captured and the only way to learn what he knows is to probe his mind. In the meantime, Buck surrenders to Ardala who wants him to marry her in exchange for sparing Earth. Buck plays along until Wilma and Dr. Huer can relay the location of the alien weapon control system so he can destroy it and end Ardala's hold over Earth.

Guest stars: Pamela Hensley (as Princess Ardala), Alfred Ryder (as Garedon), H.B. Haggerty (as Tigerman), and Michael Ansara (who replaced Henry Silva as Kane).

"Cruise Ship to the Stars"

After the galactic beauty queen "Miss Cosmos" is attacked by a mysterious woman, Buck and Wilma are assigned to protect her while she travels aboard a luxury space liner. There, Buck encounters a shy girl named Alison Michaels who suffers from periodic blackouts to which her boyfriend Jay Davin dismisses as mental stress brought on by hypertension. After another attack against Miss Cosmos, Buck confronts the assailant, a wild-haired woman named Sabrina who demonstrates superhuman strength and powerful psychokinetic abilities. When Buck checks on Alison, she confesses to having visions of committing crimes and hurting people. Buck begins suspecting that Sabrina and Alison are the same and that Jay is exploiting her abilities so that they can capture Miss Cosmos and sell her perfect genetics on the black market. Dr. Theopolis later confirms this and identifies Alison as a transmute, a split personality with the genetic ability to transform into an entirely separate entity during times of extreme emotional distress. Buck sets a trap for the alter persona in hopes of saving Alison from the monster that lurks inside her.

Guest stars: Kimberly Beck (as Alison Michaels), Trisha Noble (as Sabrina), Leigh McCloskey (as Jalor "Jay" Davin), Brett Halsey (as the Cruise Ship Captain), Patty Maloney (as Tina), Timothy O'Hagan (as Gurney Langston, Jr.), and Dorothy Stratten (as Miss Cosmos).

"Space Vampire"

Buck and Wilma arrive at Theta Station to have Twiki serviced, but soon a freighter collides with the base. The freighter's crew are all found in a strange state that is somewhere between life and death, and believing a virus may be responsible, the station commander puts the base under quarantine. Soon however, Wilma feels a cold, evil presence stalking her and several station crew begin turning up "half-dead". Buck finds a video from the ship that recorded a man confronting an unseen attacker called a "Vorvon". He later learns that the Vorvon is a vampire-like being of legend that can drain the life energy from its victims and turn them into zombies. Soon the creature attacks Wilma and Buck sets a trap to destroy the monster before it turns her into a vampire like itself.

Guest stars: Nicholas Hormann (as the Vorvon), Christopher Stone (as Commander Royko), Lincoln Kilpatrick (as Dr. Ecbar), Phil Hoover (as Helson), and Jeannie Fitzsimmons (as the Freighter Captain).

"Happy Birthday, Buck"

Nearing his 534th birthday, Buck is feeling homesick for the 20th-Century and Wilma plans a surprise party to cheer him up. To lure Buck out of his apartment and allow Wilma to set up the party, Dr. Huer assigns him to escort a psychic courier named Raylyn Derren to New Detroit. At the city, an assassin named Cornell Traeger, who has a mutant power to alter molecular structures, plans to kill Dr. Huer as revenge for sending him on a disastrous mission 15 years ago. Traeger has since spent the time in prison on an alien planet and blames Huer for his suffering. Traeger abducts the courier to find out where Huer is and Buck must stop him before he can carry out the killing.

Guest stars: Morgan Brittany (as Raylyn Derren), Peter MacLean (as Cornell Traeger), Chip Johnson (as Carew), Bruce Wright (as Rorvik), Eric Mason (as Lieutenant Garth), Abraham Alvarez (as Security Agent), Tom Gagen (as Miles), Clay Alexander (as Marsden), and Tamara Dobson (as Dr. Delora Bayliss).

"A Blast for Buck"

A strange device materializes upon Dr. Huer's desk and presents a riddle for Buck. Unable to solve the peculiar puzzle, Dr. Huer believes that the device was sent by someone with a grudge against Buck so he scans Buck, Wilma and Twiki's memories to review many of the villains they have crossed paths with. Meanwhile, Dr. Theopolis tries to logically narrow down the culprit – or the prankster – responsible for the curious riddles.

Note: This episode is a "clip show," composed mainly of footage from previous episodes.

Guest star: Gary Coleman (as Hieronymus Fox).

"Ardala Returns"

After a pilot is killed testing a new Draconian "Hatchet Fighter" designed by Kane, Princess Ardala orders the program cancelled, but changes her mind when she comes up with an idea for a replacement pilot. Later, Buck investigates a derelict space capsule that appears to be from the 20th-Century, but once aboard he learns that it is a trap to capture him. Buck is taken aboard Ardala's flagship where she shows Buck a cloning lab where Kane has made an android copy of him called a Zygot. Kane then records Buck's combat experience with a special suit that directly records Buck's neural memory. He then implants the information into the android, and eventually the others he is making, that will ultimately pilot a wave of his new fighters against Earth. Buck tries to escape, but finds Ardala has sent one of his clones to Earth as an imposter, rigged with a bomb capable of destroying New Chicago.

Guest stars: Pamela Hensley (as Princess Ardala), H.B. Haggerty (as Tigerman), Michael Ansara (as Kane), and Betty A. Bridges (as Technician).

"Twiki is Missing"

After an uprising of miners on the asteroid Toros, the mining operator, Kerk Belzak, wishes to replace the human workers with robotic drones. Belzak sets his eyes on Twiki, the most advanced robot drone known, to use as a model to make copies. He sends his enforcers, the Omniguard, a trio of female paranormals with psychokinetic powers to buy Twiki from Buck, but Buck refuses to sell him. The ladies then resort to stealing the robot and Buck goes after them. Buck soon learns that Stella Breed, the leader of the Omniguard, is being forced to serve Belzak, who holds the life of her son in his hands. Meanwhile, Wilma guides a massive "spaceberg" composed of frozen oxygen into Earth's atmosphere in an attempt to replenish the planet's breathable air, but the berg is put in danger of exploding when it veers off course.

Guest stars: John P. Ryan (as Kerk Belzak), Eddie Benton (as Stella Breed), Janet Bebe Louie (as Clare), and Eugenia Wright (as Dawn), David Darlow (as Pinchas), and Ken Letner (as Oto Anad).

"Olympiad"

Buck is invited to present the Earth's flag at the 2492 Olympic Games on the planet Mycos. There he meets an astrosled pilot named Lara Tizian who begs Buck to help her boyfriend Jorax Leet escape from the games. Jorax is from a repressive world called Lozeria and is trying to defect with Lara to Earth to escape being used as a political figurehead by the Lozerian hierarchy, but they have implanted a molecular bomb in his head which, if detonated, will not only kill him, but anyone around him. Lozeria's ruler is the Satrap, a dictator who ruthlessly controls athletes in much the same way that the Soviet Union and East Germany did during the Cold War. With Lara and Wilma's help, Buck tries to steal a remote detonator which is in the possession of Jorax's ruthless sponsor, Allerick. However, another problem arises when Dr. Theopolis warns a back-up detonation signal can be sent from the Lozerian home world and their only chance is to outrun the signal through the Stargate.
Note: The romance between Lara Tizian and Jorax Leet is based on the romance between Czech Discus thrower Olga Fikotova and American Hammer throwerHal Connolly during the 1956 Summer Olympic Games
Guest stars: Judith Chapman (as Lara Tizian), Barney MacFadden (as Jorax Leet), Nicolas Coster (as Allerick), Paul Mantee (as Karl), Paul Coufos (as Zagon), and John A. Zee (as the Satrap).

"A Dream of Jennifer"

Buck sees a young woman who looks identical to his girlfriend Jennifer, whom he left behind when he was sent on his space mission in the 20th Century. The girl, whose name is Leila Markeson, catches a flight to "The City on the Sea", (what was once New Orleans), and Buck follows her there. However, Leila was molecularly altered to appear as Jennifer, and sent to lure Buck into a trap set by aliens known as the Koven. The Koven want Buck to attack a freighter that is transporting weapons to the colony on Vega V with whom they are at war. Buck refuses, but the alien leader, Reeve, threatens to kill Leila if he does not comply.

Guest stars: Anne Lockhart (as Leila Markeson), Paul Koslo (as Commander Reeve), Gino Conforti (as Sylvie), Mary Woronov (as Nola), Jessie Lawrence Ferguson (as Lieutenant Rekoff), Cameron Young (as Toby Kaplan), Shawn Michaels (as Supervisor), Marsha Mercant (as Clerk), and Mitchel Evans (as the Mime). Dennis Haysbert appears as an airport security guard.

"Space Rockers"

Buck learns that whenever the popular rock band "Andromeda" performs a show, the youth around the galaxy break out into violence. Suspecting a connection between the music and the riots, Buck decides to head to "Music World", a former military base turned broadcasting station, to meet the group. There he learns that the band's manager, Lars Mangros, is experimenting with energy patterns and human behavior and is somehow mixing mind-altering frequencies into his band's music. With Andromeda's biggest galaxy-wide concert just hours away from transmission, Buck tries to destroy Mangros' transmitter before the youth of the galaxy tear their worlds apart.
Note: The funky song continuously played by the band is "Odyssey" by Johnny Harris who composed the track for the episode.
Guest stars: Jerry Orbach (as Lars Mangros), Richard Moll (as Yarot), Nancy Frangione (as Karana), Leonard Lightfoot (as Cirus), Jesse D. Goins (as Rambeau), Jeff Harlan (as Mark), Cynthia Leake (as Elaine), Mitch Reta (as Technician), Joe Taggart (as Security Man), Paul LeClair (as Tarkus), and Judy Landers (as Joanna).

"Buck's Duel to the Death"

Buck is invited to the planet Katar where he learns that he is to fulfill a prophecy that a 500-year-old man called the "Roshan" will lead an uprising against the "Trebor" – a ruthless warlord who oppresses the Katarian people. The Katarian leader, Prime Minister Darius, asks Buck to simply pose as the Roshan in hopes it will inspire his people to revolt, but not wanting a civil war, Buck instead decides to lead a mission to enter the Trebor's palace and eliminate him covertly. However, an informant tips the tyrant off and Buck's mission is foiled. The Trebor then challenges Buck to a duel to the death, but the dictator has the advantage of a cybernetic implant that allows him to throw deadly bolts of electricity.

Guest stars: William Smith (as the Trebor), Keith Andes (as Darius), Elizabeth Stack (as Vionne), Edward Power (as Neil), Fred Sadoff (as Kelan), Robert Lussier (as Dr. Albert), Stephanie Blackmore (as Greta), Heidi Bohay (as Maya), Francisco Lagueruela (as Karem), and Douglas Bruce (as Young Officer).

"Flight of the War Witch, Part 1 & 2"

A UFO lands outside New Chicago and presents a device for navigating an interdimensional vortex into another universe. Buck agrees to be the pilot to enter the vortex, but Princess Ardala steals the device and intends to follow him. Once through, Buck finds the planet Pendar, whose people tell of their conflict with the Zaads, an enemy race ruled by the War Witch Zarina. Lacking the means to wage war, the Pendarans ask Buck to fight their enemy for them. Meanwhile, the Draconians arrive, with Wilma and Dr. Huer against their wishes, but Ardala refuses to help the Pendarans. Buck also declines and the aliens withhold the means for returning to their universe leaving Buck and Ardala trapped with no other choice but to comply. Buck asks Ardala to join forces, but Ardala instead tries to befriend the evil Zaad leader Zarina. However, Ardala's plan backfires when Zarina thinks her a spoiled child, and Ardala is forced to work with Buck in combating the Zaad forces after all.

Note: This was a two-hour episode, later syndicated as a two-part episode. The opening credits sequence of this episode differs from other first season episodes in that it incorporates footage from the TV version of the pilot film, as well as special effects footage that would not be used until the second season premiere, "Time of the Hawk". This episodes also marks the last appearances of Dr. Huer, Dr. Theopolis, Princess Ardala, and Kane.

Guest stars: Sam Jaffe (as the Keeper), Kelley Miles (as Chandar), Vera Miles (as Tora), Donald Petrie (as Kodus), Sid Haig (as Spirot), Brent Davis (as Goneril), Tony Carroll (as Pantherman), Larry Ward (as 1st Council Member), Gary Adler (as 1st Security Guard), Julie Newmar (as the War Witch Zarina). Pamela Hensley makes her final appearance as Ardala, as does Michael Ansara (as Kane).

Season 2 (1981)

"Time of the Hawk, Part 1 & 2"

Buck Rogers, Wilma Deering and Twiki have been assigned aboard the spaceship Searcher which is on a mission to explore the galaxy and contact lost tribes of men who left Earth after the apocalyptic war. Elsewhere, a humanoid bird-man named Hawk returns home and finds his people slaughtered by a band of human pirates and he angrily vows to kill all humans he encounters from then on. After Hawk attacks the crew of a freighter, Buck goes in search of him determined to put an end to his killing spree and bring him to justice. During his duel with Buck, Hawk's mate, Koori, is fatally injured and Buck helps Hawk get her to a healer. Although she dies, Hawk is impressed by the fact that Buck offered assistance to an enemy. Buck later defends Hawk at his trial and asks the human court for leniency. Having learned that not all humans are evil, Hawk joins the Searcher crew and accompanies Buck on many subsequent adventures.

Note: This was a two-hour episode, later syndicated as a two-part episode.

Guest stars: Introducing Thom Christopher (as Hawk), Barbara Luna (as Koori), Lance LeGault (as Flagg), David Opatoshu (as Llamajuna), Sid Haig (as Pratt), Kenneth O'Brien (as Captain), Dennis Haysbert (as Communication Officer), Lavelle Roby (as Thromis), Michael Fox (as High Judge), Andre Harvey (as Thordis).

"Journey to Oasis, Part 1 & 2"

While delivering a mysterious head-removing ambassador to peace talks at the neutral city of Oasis, Buck's shuttle encounters a magnetic storm and crashes. Buck and Hawk must then escort the ambassador to the city on foot, with Colonel Deering and Dr. Goodfellow in tow, but the way is dangerous and only the riddles of a mysterious, little, blue-skinned alien may be the key of reaching the city alive. Buck also battles his feelings for Wilma when he learns the ambassador was a former love interest of hers and his return rekindles her affections.

Note: This was a two-hour episode, later syndicated as a two-part episode.

Guest stars: Mark Lenard (as Ambassador Duvoe), Len Birman (as Admiral Zite), Paul Carr (as Lieutenant Devlin), Donn Whyte (as Zykarian Jr.), Felix Silla (as Odee-x), Michael Stroka (as Rolla) and Alex Hyde-White (as Technician).

"The Guardians"

Life aboard the Searcher is turned upside down when Buck brings aboard a mysterious jade box entrusted to him by a dying man he encounters on an unexplored planet. The seemingly cursed box takes over the ship and torments the lives of the crew by filling their minds with terrible visions. Conflicts arise when members of the crew try to destroy the box, but Buck stops them believing it is leading them to its new keeper – a being only known as "The Guardian" – and he must fulfill his promise to the dying man.

Guest stars: Harry Townes (as The Guardian), Rosemary DeCamp (as Buck's Mother), Paul Carr (as Lieutenant Devin), Barbara Luna (as Koori), Shawn Stevens (as Boy), Dennis Haysbert (as Helmsmen), Vic Perrin (as 1st Guardian), Howard Culver (as Mailman).

"Mark of the Saurian"

While suffering from an alien fever, Buck insists that a visiting ambassador and his entourage are really reptilian beings in human guise, but only he can see through their illusion. While everyone else thinks Buck is hallucinating, the aliens try to kill him and Buck must prove what he sees is real before the aliens carry out their plot to infiltrate their enemy's defense station and destroy the Searcher.

Guest stars: Linden Chiles (as Ambassador Cabot), Vernon Weddle (as Dr. Moray), Kim Hamilton (as Nurse Paulton), Stacy Keach Sr. (as Senior Officer), Barry Cahill (as Major Elif), Alan Hunt (as Wing Man), Frank Parker (as Captain).

"The Golden Man"

After finding a lifepod containing a golden-skinned boy, the Searcher drifts into an asteroid field and becomes stuck against one of the rocks. The only way to free the ship may reside in the strange molecular-altering powers of the boy's companion, the "Golden Man", who is being held captive on a nearby planet inhabited by a penal colony. Once the criminals learn of the alien's powers, they force him to repair a makeshift spacecraft so they can escape. Buck and the golden boy must rescue the golden man from his captors before the Searcher is destroyed.

Guest stars: Paul Carr (as Lieutenant Devlin), David Hollander (as Velis), Anthony James (as Mr. Graf), Bruce M. Fischer (as Loran), Diana Chesney (as Hag), Roger Rose (as Marcos).

"The Crystals"

While exploring the planet Philoctetes for power crystals, Buck, Hawk and Wilma find the remains of a mummy, but unbeknown to them, the body comes to life and steals their crystals. While searching for the creature, Buck encounters a young girl with no memory of who she is or where she came from. After running a medical scan, Wilma learns that the girl has a genetic connection to the creature which begins stalking her. Fearful she will become a monster herself, Buck must help the girl find her true identity before the creature strikes again.

Guest stars: Amanda Wyss (as Laura), Sandy Champion (as Chief Hall), Alex Hyde-White (as Lieutenant Martin), James R. Parkes (as Kovick), Gary Bolen (as Johnson), Leigh C. Kim (as Petrie), Hubie Kerns Jr. (as Mummy Monster), and Mel Blanc returns as the voice of Twiki.

"The Satyr"

While exploring the planet Arcadis for a lost human colony, Buck finds a boy and his mother, the last remaining colonists, and soon learns the family is being tormented by a satyr-like being. When Buck confronts the creature, he is bitten and soon begins transforming into a Satyr himself. After learning a strange affliction had turned all the men of the colony into the creatures, Buck tries to fight the transformation and helps the family escape the planet.

Note: Bruce Broughton won an Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) Emmy Award for his music in this episode, the show's only Emmy win.

Guest stars: Anne E. Curry (as Cyra Samos), David S. Cass Sr. (as Major Jason Samos/Pangor), Bobby Lane (as Delph) and Dennis Freeman (as Midshipman).

"Shgoratchx!"

The Searcher finds a derelict Zardonian bomb disposal ship crewed by seven mischievous little men. Buck offers to help them finish their disposal mission, but the curious dwarves begin to wreak havoc aboard the Searcher and severely damage Crichton's positronic brain. With the ship out of control and heading toward a star, Twiki offers his own electronic brain to repair Crichton so he can initiate repairs to the ship. Once the dwarves realize the trouble they have caused, they offer to repair Crichton's brain with their telekinetic mental powers.

Guest stars: Tommy Madden (as General Xenos), Alex Hyde-White (as Ensign Moore), John Edward Allen (as General Zoman), Tony Cox (as Private Zedht), Billy Curtis (as General Voomak), Harry Monty (as General Sothoz), Spencer Russell (as General Towtuk), Charles Secor (as General Kuzan).

"The Hand of Goral"

Buck, Hawk and Wilma rescue a downed pilot from a strange planet called Vordeeth. When they return to the Searcher, they find the crew's attitudes have changed – Admiral Asimov is paranoid of mutiny, Crichton acts nicely, and Twiki is belligerent. Buck also notices small physical differences to the layout of his quarters and he can only suspect the ship, and everyone aboard it, is an imperfect duplicate. Meanwhile, the real Searcher is caught in a trap set by a powerful being from the planet below who offers Buck wealth and power in exchange for the lives of the Searcher crew.

Guest stars: John Fujioka (as Hand of Goral), Willam Bryant (as Cowan), Peter Kastner (as Reardon), Dennis Haysbert (as Lieutenant Parsons), Michael Horsley (as Yeoman James).

"Testimony of a Traitor"

When the Searcher returns to Earth, Buck is immediately arrested on charges of high treason. He stands trial while his peers review a 500-year-old piece of evidence – a videotape from the 20th-Century unearthed from the ruins of an Air Force Base – which shows Buck working with treasonous military personnel who brought about World War III. Facing the death penalty, Buck must prove his innocence, but he has no memory of his involvement with any of the events. He then resorts to using Dr. Goodfellow's repressed memory probe, (which shows among other things, Rogers meeting with the President of the United States in a secret base inside Mount Rushmore), in hopes of finding the truth of what really happened before a final verdict is rendered.



Guest stars: Ramon Bieri (as Commissioner Bergstrom), William Sylvester (as Lt. Gen. Preston Myers), David Hooks (as General Arnheim), Walter Brooke (as U.S. President), John Milford (as Air Force General), John O'Connell (as Major Peterson), Thomas Bellin (as Crawford), Buck Young (as Brigadier Gen. Biles), Carl Reindel (as Air Force Sergeant).

"The Dorian Secret"

Buck helps a young woman named Asteria escape from a group of masked men on a space station. He brings her to the Searcher, but soon the ship comes under attack by a Dorian warship whose masked leader, Koldar, demands the woman be brought to him. Buck initially refuses handing her over and the Dorians respond by randomly firing heat and freeze rays at the Searcher forcing the crew to endure continuously changing temperatures. Koldar finally reveals that Asteria is wanted for murder, but Buck does not believe the accusation and instead tries to learn a secret she is hiding. Meanwhile, the suffering passengers on the Searcher demand that Buck surrender the woman before they take drastic action themselves.



Guest stars: Devon Ericson (as Asteria Eleefa), Denny Miller (as Saurus), William Kirby Cullen (as Demeter), Walker Edmiston (as Koldar), Michele Marsh (as Cleis), Dennis Haysbert (as Ensign), Stuart Nisbet (as Rand), Eldon Quick (as Chronos).