C.O.P.S.

Of course you remember this one. "C.O.P.S. - Central Organization of Police Specialists. Fighting crime... in a future time. Protecting Empire City from Big Boss and his gang of crooks..." What a fun show this was! "It's crime fighting time!"

And one of the coolest cartoons of the 80s coming to youtube.I remember watching it as a kid but even now as na adult is good.It started with a a file presented by Bulletproof and ended with the cops solving the case.Highlight the ending crdits with the role call.A nostalgic trip back to our kid youth.

Of all the shows I watched as a kid, "C.O.P.S." definitely falls in the bland category; simplistic morality and cookie-cutter cops and robbers (complete with clichéd dialogue - everyone's "copper" this and "citizen" that) and the animation's surprisingly lazy. It's ideal for small children.

Speaking of which, this is one hell of a toy commercial. Every character comes with just the right physique and gear to make for a kickass action figure. And that opening sequence is one tantalizing vehicle after another. Man, I still love the Ironsides unit (louvers!) and I always took to Long Arm (grappling hooks are cool).

It doesn't do much for me now, but that classic '80s consumerism is on full display here.

6/10

One of the games I've always liked playing as a kid was cops and crooks, that game was always fun because you got the sensation of being either the one chased or the pursuer. This is another relic from my childhood in the 80's which sadly as time went on has became underrated and a bit forgotten. This show was bacially "G.I. Joe" but on the streets and taking place in the future which was cool, since I love sci-fi. It also predates the sci-fi TV show "Almost Human" well kinda where that show was on a more serious side, this cartoon is more on the light.

Not a lot I can really say, the animation I think is solid. I wouldn't say it's anything extraordinary now but it's good enough to create unique character designs. But I really like the background animation creating a futuristic society which is one step futuristic but one step in our contemporary reality. Personally I think this future society is plausible now with our constant advancement in technology. The theme song I thing is soild, it's a fun action theme that fits the show.

The action is good/decent, which I feel is the partial weakness of the show because at times it feels like their holding back a little too much. Also they don't use their weapons and unique vehcles nearly enough, but all the same it's entertaining enough.

Though to me what really drives it are the characters both good and bad as well as the light hearted nature and satire in some episodes. For the Cops faction my favorite character is Mace since he's gruff, tough, impatient, and a bit oafish and unsmooth sometimes.

For the bad guys my favorites were Nightshade whom is sort of a Catwoman like character, she more of an anti heroine since she doesn't always follow though or agree to Big Bosses orders. Has her own agenda, likes to do her own thing, but can be selfless sometimes.

My second is Big Boss, personally I think is an underrated animated villain. I like his voice he sort of sounds like actor Edward G Robertson, but he's a fun villain because his goal is simple which is to simply get rich quick and rule Empire city with an iron fist or should I say bionic fist. He smart but at times he's not due to surcoming to his own follies mainly greed.

The plots in most of the episode are always really bizarre but colorful fun, their pretty much the equivalent of "Dick Tracy" comic strip adventures where the good cop has to foil an over the top villain's ridiculous scam. It's true you don't take them seriously because the episodes themselves don't take themselves seriously; I even like some of the dialog in places which I think are clever verbal jokes. But some of the plots have included some suttle satire in places which I feel makes the show kinda smart sometimes.

One of my favorite episodes is the drug episode which was the one time the show took an unfun turn, it may seem a little preachy now but still it has a good message that I think is significant today, plus it was just cool seeing Big Boss and his crooks know their limits and even some sense of honor from what they do next.

I would no doubt love to see a revival of this franchise, by today's standards I feel it's possible, just an idea. Overall, C.O.P.S. is arresting fun, worth a ride around.

Rating: 3 stars

COPS is one of the 80s classics that I did not catch when I was young. Heard about it here and there and the previews looked nice. When I finally heard that Richard Raynis, Fil Barlow and Duane Capizzi et al who were behind the development of the brilliant and amazing Extreme Ghostbusters series, were also involved in COPS, I went ahead and bought some tapes.

This series is downright impressive, mature and highly polished. The characters are all very nice and interesting. All in all, an excellent production. Perhaps if it had a movie preceding it, it would have been as well known as the also good, although slightly over-rated, The Real Ghostbusters, also directed by Richard Raynis, which it compares favorably against. All of them are certainly the better ones of the 80s.

Like XGB, COPS remains something obscure and rare, but rewards he who tracks and follows it, beyond imagination. Very impressive stuff from the same clique of geniuses. Too bad I did'nt catch this wonderful series during the 80s!