The Hardy Boys

I have been a Hardy Boys fan since I was ten and bought The Tower Treasure in 1956 at our local department store. In the first few Hardy Boy books, the boys rode motorcycles and carried 45's. As I continued to read the series, the boys became somewhat more wholesome. And younger, in the first few books Frank was 18 and Joe was 17; suddenly they were 16 and 15. Strangely, the age shift didn't bother me as the adventure kept me in thrall.

I like this version even though the city name is wrong, it should be Bayport; and I'm not happy with the age difference between Frank and Joe. The story here is good with some genuine mystery and menace. It's as much Hardy Boys as any and better than any of the other TV series that borrowed the name. I hope for a second series, but I fear a few of the actors will age out quickly.

I used to write fan letters to F.W.Dixon in care of the publisher. Someone always wrote back, and the letters were signed, F. W. Dixon. My son read my collection of books. And now I am hoping my grandchildren will read the books and become fans. Maybe watching the Hulu version of The Hardy Boys will spark an interest.

I do have few problems with this series. The story is good and the acting is fine. However, I have some casting issue. Rohan Campbell, who is 23, looks 30 and is too old for Frank Hardy. Alexander Elliot, Joe Hardy, looks 16 and not 12 and should be Frank. And Bea Santos, Aunt Trudy, who is 30 and looks 20 and should be dating Frank. Other than that, I do like the series. It has a nice noir quality to it that helps create just the right atmosphere.

And for the truly ancient, like me, watch for grandmother Gloria. She is played by Linda Thorson, who had the unenviable job of replacing Diana Rigg, Mrs.Emma Peel, on The Avengers. The TV show staring Rigg and Patrick Macnee as John Steed. "Mrs.Peel, we're needed."

Growing up in 1960s Britain FW Dixon's (nom de plume) Hardy Boys books were not recommended by teachers, who considered them vulgar. Just the information we needed to secretly read them ALL, along with Blyton & WE Johns. So it's delightful to see the Hardy adventures at last dramatized for a more diffuse market, though these stories will always principally be for a younger audience - and correspondingly tactful in the portrayal of sensitive issues, which is commendable. Compared with 1960 Children's TV or Odeon/Gaumot Saturday Cinema Club (aka the flea pit) this production's not bad, but it'll probably not get an Oscar either.

The TV series is based on some of the characters while it is not like the book series. It similar to the Nancy Drew tv series where they have taken the names of the book but done a whole new spin. The tv series does contain suspense and flow, but can be a bit disconnected here and there.

This rating is for season 1 only, as season 2 is just idiotic with a lot of scenes hammered into the screen, not making any sense. The plot is just stupid and even the actors that seemed ok in season 1, well, the ones that were not changed, now seem to be bad with the forced dialogues they have to say.

I just hope season 3 is as good as season 1, if there is going to be one after the complete failure of season 2.

So far I am enjoying the show but there are a few issues with the 80's set dressing that needs to be corrected. The story takes place in the 80's but there are pieces of technology in the set design that break the illusion. In episode 1, the boys and their dad move to their aunts home in Bridgeport. The TV in her living room is an early 2000's Samsung Dynaflat CRT TV. In her attic there's a early 2000's VHS-C camcorder in the background of one of the shots. Also in the attic the boys use an RCA VR546, silver, center loading VCR from 2002 to watch some old home videos. All CRT TV's from that era have a very distinctive bump in the front and flat CRT's didn't arrive until the early 2000's. All VCR's from the 80's (if front loading and not top loading) always loaded from the left side of the VCR and not the center. A simple google search by whoever is doing the set dressing could help them avoid these mistakes. Overall if you can overlook these and some other errors the show is entertaining.