No More Mr. Nice Guy

I saw this episode (the first one, i guess the pilot) long time ago and i really enjoyed it. Despites that it's a contradiction of the story in the movies, of course, there's no Ronee Blakley or John Saxon (who's character is the one that leads the parents to make justice by their own hand) and replace this character with a daughter for one (a cop too) who has twins, one abused by Freddy. This character is played by Ian Patrick Williams (he was OK). The interesting is the fact that at the time is was made (1988) was the first time the fans of the Freddy's movies could see how Freddy was executed, something that in the films only was told always by a character. The films only show something similar in 1991, in the part 6. For horror fans, the cherry on the top is that this first episode was directed by Tobe Hooper ("The Texas chainsaw massacre (1974)") who get involve with a character like Freddy after have done his (at this time) last movie as a director with Leatherface 2 years before in "The Texas chainsaw massacre 2 (1986)". I must say that is really entertained and it's doesn't matter that if is a contradiction or not. After all, these are the Freddy's nightmares.

"No More Mr. Nice Guy" is the pilot episode of the "Freddy's Nightmares" TV series, and it takes us back to the origins of the infamous dream-haunting killer, Freddy Krueger. Directed by Tobe Hooper, the episode offers an alternate version of Freddy's backstory, deviating from the events established in the "A Nightmare on Elm Street" film series. In this version, Freddy is released from custody due to a technicality, and the enraged parents of Springwood take the law into their own hands, resulting in Freddy's fiery demise.

While the episode attempts to explore the vigilante justice that led to Freddy's transformation, it falls short due to inconsistencies with the film series and a lack of effective execution. The narrative centers around Lieutenant Tim Blocker (Ian Patrick Williams), the cop responsible for Freddy's arrest, and his two twin daughters. As the residents of Springwood take justice into their own hands, Freddy's malevolent spirit survives and begins tormenting Tim through his dreams.

Tobe Hooper's direction attempts to capture the sinister atmosphere that made his previous works like "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" iconic, but the limitations of a TV budget and the constraints of network television result in a lackluster visual presentation. Robert Englund returns as Freddy, but his appearances are limited, and his character lacks the charismatic presence that defines him in the film series.

The episode's attempt to provide a psychological exploration of Tim's guilt and Freddy's revenge is hindered by wooden performances and a lack of character depth. The alternate take on Freddy's origin story feels more like a sidestep than a meaningful expansion of the character's mythology. The absence of key characters like Nancy Thompson's father and the deviation from established events contribute to a disjointed narrative that fails to truly engage viewers.

While "No More Mr. Nice Guy" holds a certain nostalgic value for fans of the "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise, it struggles to deliver the same level of horror and suspense that the films achieved. The combination of TV limitations, inconsistencies, and missed opportunities prevent this pilot episode from standing as a compelling addition to the Freddy Krueger legacy.