Space Rangers [tv]
Entry updated 19 November 2023. Tagged: TV.
US tv series (1993). Range Productions/Trilogy Entertainment Group for CBS-TV. Created by Pen Densham. Produced by Herbert Wright and Rachel Talalay. Directors included Ben Bole, David Burton Morris, Mikael Salome. Writers included Densham, Bret Plate, Jay Roach, Gavin Scott. Cast includes Cary Hiroyuki-Togawa, Jeff Kaake, Jack McGee and Marjorie Monahagan. Six 45-minute episodes. Colour.
In the year 2104 on the planet Avalon, Captain John Boon (Kaake) leads Space Ranger Corps team serving as both police unit and military defence against hostile Aliens. His craft is Slingship Number 377, a small combat Starship capable of reaching light-speed, and often used as an interceptor vehicle. Other space technology includes orbital "gateways" which can slingshot ships into Hyperspace. Alien foes include the Banshees, able to Teleport aboard spacecraft moving at lightspeed and render occupants helpless with high-pitched sonic screams; impervious to most Weapons, the Banshees would teleport entire captured spacecraft back to their home hives. The Vee'Lon, a reptilian race of warriors, are also often at war with humanity. Notable worlds besides Avalon include New Venus, home of team member JoJo Thorsen (Monahagan), whose Amazon-like society of female warriors has defeated a Banshee invasion; and Katraz, a Prison planet where criminals were exiled.
The ambitious series quickly failed, with only four episodes shown in the US although all six were aired in overseas markets. It has been released to the home video market. [GSt]
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