hellraiser7

This is one of my favorite episodes of the show, in a way you can say this is "Hart to Hart" doing "Wait Until Dark" sort of.

I really liked the beginning, which came as a surprise and made a lot of us think twice whenever we jump into the pool.

Of course, the villain of the week was played by Ed Haris yeah before he was a star. Always like the actor as he's good at playing both good guys and bad guys. He's a very solid opponent for the Harts as we see how clever and crafty he is in his scheme to get Johnathan right where he wants him. But the suspense is not knowing when as well as how he's executed his final strike.

He's kind of unsettling and creepy, as we see him not just taking advantage of Johnathan's blindness by being there when John doesn't know it, but he practically says nothing and has this intense stare throughout most of the episode, from that stare you can tell this guy has completely jumped off the deep end.

Even like some of the drama as we see Johnathan dealing with his blindness and learning to live that kind of life. But we see he's worried about how much it will change his life and might even affect his relationship with Jennifer; all that's understandable as his condition really is a major life change almost like stepping into another country you can say.

But I like how we see both Jennifer and Max help Johnathan though it shows that despite the sudden change, it hasn't changed his life completely nor has it changed him.

Though hopefully Johnathan will be able to hone his other senses well as danger closes in on him. But as an old saying goes, "Just because your blind, doesn't make you helpless nor powerless."

Rating: 4 stars.

This episode is another of my honorable mentions for the show. It's true that this episode isn't perfect, I'll get some of the bugs out of this room first.

One is a minor quibble which is Pete he didn't really get to do much no was in the episode very long; though this episode is on the first season and this was before the dynamic between both Pete and MacGyver was established, let alone doesn't hurt the story so I can let this slide.

The other is that despite a good premise it doesn't quite push the envelope as we don't quite explore enough of the mansion, which would of meant more traps and challenges for MacGyver, but this probably couldn't be helped due to time constraints so oh well.

Now that the bugs are out of the room let's get to business, I do like the plotline which feels like the kind for a "Batman" story as this feels like the kind of challenge The Riddler would put Batman though. The main villain Quale I thought was solid, in a way he's clearly a proto-Murdoc as he's got the same ingenuity and even borderline insanity as that villain.

The suspense is tight as you see MacGyver is trapped is in one giant escape room scenario, only there won't be any second chances as you feel the next room and turn in the house could be your last, or even the simplest object we see and take for granted can be a fail trap waiting for you to trip.

You also feel stakes are high as the lives of his allies are at stake and the longer MacGyver stays in that house the more his chances of dying increase.

Can MacGyver find a way to turn the tables and have Quale play his game; you'll just have to wait and see.

Rating: 3 and a half stars.

This is another of my personal favorite animated shows and another edition in the under the radar video series.

I was a kid from the 90's and of course another animated gem from "Mainframe Entertainment" would catch my eye, when I saw this show, it really blew me away as there really wasn't anything like it at the time. In a way this show sort of predates the "Guardians of the Galaxy" movies which also had an animated series that is also under the radar. Along with the sci-fi book and TV series "The Expanse" and the video game series "Mass Effect" as some of the plotline and story from them is a bit uncannily similar.

The plotline really isn't anything that new as it's the kind you'd see in a lot of sci-fi and fantasy on diverse forces or factions uniting and working together to stop a common threat that threatens to destroy their existence. Yeah, like I said nothing new but it's really in the execution that makes it stand out.

The animation I personally think is great; it's true that by today's standards it might look and seem just a little dated to some current viewers. But you must realize this show was made in the 90's and back then CGI animated shows were a rarity and whenever we saw one, it was a real treat. But it also signified how much the animation landscape was changing and taking the next step.

As a kid at the time, I felt the animation was impressive and seeing it now I still think it very good as it has that 90's charm. It's also a little sad making you realize that as this show is one of a kind, they really don't make animated shows like this anymore.

These feelings are a good thing as it's an example of CGI animation when done the right way. I really do like the background animation which has improved, along with the animation of the attack vehicles. But of course, what's more impressive is of course in its character animation, each of the characters are unique and lively. From the way they perform and move you can almost forget their animated characters.

The action is well choreographed, from the shoot-out, fist a cuffs, along with vehicular assault. But what really makes the show stand out is in its mature writing and drama which by both animated and TV show standards in general is impressive; when you watch the show at times, I honestly forget I'm watching an animation show.

But even like how the show utilizes the serialized format which was rare at the time before it became common place in show like "Game of Thrones", "Stranger Things", "Once Upon a Time", you name it; which makes this show a little ahead of it's time.

Each of the characters on the show you can see is well rounded as they all have their wants and needs. And we empathize and sympathize with what each of those characters are trying to do to not just win the war but also create some sort of future of peace.

I really like the characters who are all well rounded and voiced by a very solid ensemble of voice actors that are familiar; just as I always love to see the best, I also love to hear the best.

From the main leader Grave Heart whom you can say is sort of like who Peter Quill is to the "Guardians of the Galaxy" sort of. He's that strong leader type but I like that his character is vulnerable as we see he's sort of that everyman that never asked for any of this. But it's all been thrown on his lap, and he knows from the gravity of the current situation, he has no choice but to step up to the plate and do what must be done because there's no one else.

Jade who is the Gamora like character of the group. Jade is another of those animated women crushes I had when I was a kid, she's also to me an underrated animated femme fatale. Just like with Gamora she's an adventurous warrior woman that is good and loves the action just a little too much, making her a bit of a workaholic. She can be a little hardheaded as she's not really a person that opens much or at all hence her name.

These things do make her almost guilty of anti-social behavior, however, deep down she probably does want to warm up to people, she just doesn't always know the right way to express it, which is something I can emphasize with as for some people it doesn't come easy.

Both are honorable mentions, and I feel underrated in danger duos as both have very solid chemistry; we see Grave Heart is more of the introverted passive aggressive type, while Jade is more the extroverted aggressive type and both, I feel can go well together. Grave Heart may not be as adventurous as Jade but goes with her as she's not boring and can show a good time. While it helps for Jade that Grave Heart is around to support her because despite how good she is in combat, she's not that good.

Even like they have that will they won't they factor, as it's hinted that both might see each other more than just a friend; and the way it's handled you can go either way; though deep down you really do want both to be an item because let's face it do you really want them with anyone else?

Even like that the plotline has weight as we see the enemy The Beast aren't easy opponents to take down. Really like the design on them as they look like the Prometheans from the "Halo" video game series. As we see they consist of pure energy and aren't easy to take down unless you have the right kind of weapons and can hit them in the right place.

Let alone the odds on them constantly mount; however, they don't rely just on brute strength and numbers but also cunning as we see they're also capable of being cunning, which raises the stakes even further.

It really gets at some themes like on warfare how it's never a one-sided affair, corruption just like death is never far away, losses we endure, the prices we pay in the possible road to victory, the struggle in fighting right and honorably. But also, the show simply has an anti-prejudice and racism message, why we shouldn't let our selves be consumed by petty differences and always try hard in reaching understanding otherwise you really will lose everything.

The only bad thing like a lot of these gems is that its lifespan was cut short. It's a real shame this show could have had at least two more seasons; I would have loved to have seen more planets and aliens but most importantly episode arcs which would give room for the plot and characters to develop more.

The only way we'll be able to get a continuation of this show is in the realm of Fanfiction. It would also be cool for there to be a revival of this series, most likely a comic book revival maybe from "Dynamite", "Boom", and "Mad Cave" as those companies specialize in licensed comic book properties which are now currently booming. Though whether that ever happens, time will tell.

"War Planets" is an animated vintage classic worth visiting.

Rating: 4 stars.