Hunter

This was a great show when it first aired in the 80's and it still is a great show in re-runs and on DVD. It says something about a series when it is still being aired 20 years after its original date. The production value for this show with all its action and stunt sequences was incredible. Of course, the chemistry between Fred Dryer and Stephanie Kramer was what really made this show. You were always thinking, "Are they ever going to date?" LOL - good memories. It's too bad that Stephanie Kramer had to quit the show because of health issues (kept spraining/breaking her ankle because of all the stunt work involved - surprising, considering she was a former female wrestler). Unlike the A-Team in that it had lots of hard stories, murder, blood, and violence. But very exciting to watch!

My favorite cop show of the 80s was HUNTER. Fred Dryer was awesome as Rick Hunter, a shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later Dirty Harry-type, which is actually what the show started out as, but the character was toned down a little afterwards. Stephanie Kramer, as D.D. McCall, was the best of his three female partners, as was Charles Hallahan as the third of three different captains. It was like a small-screen action movie, with plenty of car chases and gun fights. Dryer and Kramer had great chemistry, which especially came across in the episodes featuring personal stories for the two, such as the first season two-parter in which Hunter defies orders and goes to Mexico to look for a guy who had attacked McCall and hid behind his diplomatic immunity. It was an episode that allowed Hunter to display the depth of his friendship to McCall and showed just how much the characters cared for one another. I don't remember too much about the later years (in which Hunter went through two new partners), but I recall a lot of the earlier ones, with many standout episodes. I would definitely love to have this great series on DVD.

I didn't get to watch Hunter when it first aired because it went up against Dallas, which was my favorite show at the time. But later, I saw a few episodes in seasons 5 and 6 and really enjoyed it. Fred Dryer as the lead character of Sergeant/Lt. Rick Hunter was very believable as the hardnosed, rule bending cop who always got his man, mostly by a one or two shot gun blast. His gun sounded like a cannon every week. Now that streaming services are plentiful, I saw all seasons from the very beginning and I enjoyed it! It was exciting to see the car chases, blowups, action, etc. I didn't like the character of Sergeant Dee Dee McCall portrayed by Stepfanie Kramer at first because she was so unrealistic. Her small frame, globs of makeup, wearing flashy clothed. running after bad guys in high heels and always carrying a purse that obviously looked like there was nothing in it, was just too far fetched. But as the show changed, I loved them together. The chemistry, banter, jokes and sexual tension between them was great!

Later on as the seasons continued, it lost something. The stories were good, but predictable. They got away from the things that made this show great...more drama, less action. I always thought it was a Dirty Harry tipoff, but the show held its own. Unfortunately, I lost interest in it as a cop show and only looked forward to the scenes with the leading co-stars! Loved it when they finally showed them kiss in the episode Unfinished Business in season 6!

All in all, the show is good for entertainment purposes even now. I watch it often, except season 7. I didn't bother to watch..It was dismal without Hunter's sidekick, McCall. Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer were great together as my favorite cop team on tv!

'Hunter' was such a great show - even despite having several cast changes throughout the course of it's 7 year run, the chemistry between characters was inspiring - most definitely the relationship between Hunter and McCall, and the captain between the two themselves (Charles Hallahan was the best captain, in my opinion, of the 3 captains that starred throughout the course of the show)....

Direction, writing, acting, and the associated music (have I left anything out?) were the main components that undoubtedly led to the success of the show...

If you get a chance to watch 'Hunter,' watch it!

This was the all time best cop show made. Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer were matched perfectly and Charles was great as the captain. If you have never seen it you missed out. The story lines were great and the show was kept realistic.