midbrowcontrarian
Joined Sep 2020
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Ratings90
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The platform on which I watched the series describes it as "true, untold combat stories of everyday citizen-soldiers fighting on the front lines of Europe. Witness the battle action of tank crews, infantrymen, paratroopers, French resistors, nurses, medics, and more".
Those taking part are American soldiers rather than professional actors, so don't expect to spot a budding Marlon Brando or even an imitation John Wayne. In some episodes the dialogue has a stilted Chomondley-Warner feel to it. Those of a pedantic disposition (or just know more than me) can have fun spotting mistakes in tanks and uniforms. My two favourites are where the participants manage to project somewhat more personality than an extra in a Cecil B DeMille epic:
5 The Mute. Henri Balloni plays Sgt Grant, a paratrooper in France picked up by the resistance, whom he naturally agrees to help. Speaking no French, he has to pretend to be a deaf mute, especially difficult as his nickname Gabbi is well chosen. Further complications ensue when he and resistance leader Lucienne (Nita Winslow) fall in love. The story is marred only by the rushed ending.
6 Private Lopez. Lopez (Paris Moschopopoulos) encounters prejudice because of his Mexican heritage, but by his bravery earns respect. He sends a German tank and supporting infantry packing virtually single handed, with just a machine gun. He was awarded a Medal of Honour.
While I can only give the series a 6 overall, these two episodes rate 8.
Those taking part are American soldiers rather than professional actors, so don't expect to spot a budding Marlon Brando or even an imitation John Wayne. In some episodes the dialogue has a stilted Chomondley-Warner feel to it. Those of a pedantic disposition (or just know more than me) can have fun spotting mistakes in tanks and uniforms. My two favourites are where the participants manage to project somewhat more personality than an extra in a Cecil B DeMille epic:
5 The Mute. Henri Balloni plays Sgt Grant, a paratrooper in France picked up by the resistance, whom he naturally agrees to help. Speaking no French, he has to pretend to be a deaf mute, especially difficult as his nickname Gabbi is well chosen. Further complications ensue when he and resistance leader Lucienne (Nita Winslow) fall in love. The story is marred only by the rushed ending.
6 Private Lopez. Lopez (Paris Moschopopoulos) encounters prejudice because of his Mexican heritage, but by his bravery earns respect. He sends a German tank and supporting infantry packing virtually single handed, with just a machine gun. He was awarded a Medal of Honour.
While I can only give the series a 6 overall, these two episodes rate 8.
IMDb describes it thus: "Brother and sister, Randy and Kat, own the Hot Springs Hotel and along with Kat's friend Lacey get into all kinds of shenanigans with their staff and customers". This accurately sums it up, through I'd coin a new word, shaganigans.
The star of the show is Randy (Robert Vitelli), a clear case of nominative determinism, plus numerous sexy female staff and guests he seduces with minimum effort. It makes no claim to intellectual rigour, or even competent storytelling, plot hole pedants could have a field day. Randy and occasionally other men make love to girls whose names are not revealed, their role in the story (such as it is) is not explained, and whom we never see again.
I've watched most episodes twice, purely in the interests of research you understand. My infallible babe-ometer registered two which, as it were, give the most bang for your buck:
7 Rock Star. Handsome rock star Trent (Phillip Rhys Chaudhary) checks in to have a rest from female attention, only for several fan club girls to catch up with him. He beds a gorgeous brunette and five minutes later an equally lovely blonde, but not before Randy has opened the batting with a lengthy bath scene.
13 Layout. Randy hits on the idea of an illustrated brochure, possibly motivated by the opportunity to get girls to strip off, naturally he's the photographer. Most notable for an erotic scene with the best looking babe in the series (curly hair, brunette/redhead) didn't catch the name. As is usually the case this happens after barely a minute, so there is time aplenty for another two sex scenes to make up the typical quota.
The star of the show is Randy (Robert Vitelli), a clear case of nominative determinism, plus numerous sexy female staff and guests he seduces with minimum effort. It makes no claim to intellectual rigour, or even competent storytelling, plot hole pedants could have a field day. Randy and occasionally other men make love to girls whose names are not revealed, their role in the story (such as it is) is not explained, and whom we never see again.
I've watched most episodes twice, purely in the interests of research you understand. My infallible babe-ometer registered two which, as it were, give the most bang for your buck:
7 Rock Star. Handsome rock star Trent (Phillip Rhys Chaudhary) checks in to have a rest from female attention, only for several fan club girls to catch up with him. He beds a gorgeous brunette and five minutes later an equally lovely blonde, but not before Randy has opened the batting with a lengthy bath scene.
13 Layout. Randy hits on the idea of an illustrated brochure, possibly motivated by the opportunity to get girls to strip off, naturally he's the photographer. Most notable for an erotic scene with the best looking babe in the series (curly hair, brunette/redhead) didn't catch the name. As is usually the case this happens after barely a minute, so there is time aplenty for another two sex scenes to make up the typical quota.
Usually I avoid reviewing where several hundred people have beaten me to it. I'm breaking my rule because TZ is my favourite SF anthology, and recently I've been able to watch some episodes previously unfamiliar to me, courtesy of Internet Archive.
I love time travel, space travel, and larger than life characters. I dislike the would-be humorous, whimsical, or sentimental stories involving children or animals. I don't share the majority view that the fifty minute episodes are on the whole inferior to the shorter ones. My half dozen favourites, in order:
Walking Distance. Best scene: Martin's father poignantly explains to him that he doesn't belong in the past.
Long Live Walter Jameson. Best scene: colleague Sam confronts Walter with convincing evidence of his considerable past.
No Time Like the Past. Best scene: a dinner table debate between world weary Paul and the jingoistic Mr Hanford.
Of Late I Think of Cliffordville. Best scene: ruthless Feathersmith explains to two businessmen, one of whom he ruined some fifty years in the future, how he's got the better of them, only to be swiftly and brutally disabused.
The Parallel. Best scene: Robert's wife kisses him, and realises he is not the same man she married.
A Kind of a Stopwatch. Best scenes: whenever the tiresome McNulty argues with acid tongued bartender Joe, invariably coming off worse.
Almost as good are Hocus-Pocus and Frisby, Valley of the Shadow, A Stop at Willoughby, Printer's Devil, A Hundred Yards Over the Rim, Death Ship, Persons or Persons Unknown, Back There, Escape Clause, and Stopover in a Quiet Town.
Judging the worst is more problematical, even the lamest turkey has its admirers. The Bard is outrageously bad, Come Wander with Me and The Gift are just terribly dull. Some aren't exactly bad, but overrated. I like Burgess Meredith, but his character in Time Enough at Last is such a wimp, he was far better in Printer's Devil and Mr Dingle. Eye of the Beholder is my TZ equivalent of Star Trek's The Trouble with Tribbles, I just can't fathom why it's always the first or second most highly rated. It completely lacks wit, the dialogue is repetitive, and it's not pleasant to watch. This will probably earn me downvotes, but there it is.
I love time travel, space travel, and larger than life characters. I dislike the would-be humorous, whimsical, or sentimental stories involving children or animals. I don't share the majority view that the fifty minute episodes are on the whole inferior to the shorter ones. My half dozen favourites, in order:
Walking Distance. Best scene: Martin's father poignantly explains to him that he doesn't belong in the past.
Long Live Walter Jameson. Best scene: colleague Sam confronts Walter with convincing evidence of his considerable past.
No Time Like the Past. Best scene: a dinner table debate between world weary Paul and the jingoistic Mr Hanford.
Of Late I Think of Cliffordville. Best scene: ruthless Feathersmith explains to two businessmen, one of whom he ruined some fifty years in the future, how he's got the better of them, only to be swiftly and brutally disabused.
The Parallel. Best scene: Robert's wife kisses him, and realises he is not the same man she married.
A Kind of a Stopwatch. Best scenes: whenever the tiresome McNulty argues with acid tongued bartender Joe, invariably coming off worse.
Almost as good are Hocus-Pocus and Frisby, Valley of the Shadow, A Stop at Willoughby, Printer's Devil, A Hundred Yards Over the Rim, Death Ship, Persons or Persons Unknown, Back There, Escape Clause, and Stopover in a Quiet Town.
Judging the worst is more problematical, even the lamest turkey has its admirers. The Bard is outrageously bad, Come Wander with Me and The Gift are just terribly dull. Some aren't exactly bad, but overrated. I like Burgess Meredith, but his character in Time Enough at Last is such a wimp, he was far better in Printer's Devil and Mr Dingle. Eye of the Beholder is my TZ equivalent of Star Trek's The Trouble with Tribbles, I just can't fathom why it's always the first or second most highly rated. It completely lacks wit, the dialogue is repetitive, and it's not pleasant to watch. This will probably earn me downvotes, but there it is.