Flight of the War Witch

PLOT: Buck, Twiki & Theo travel through a vortex to a parallel universe at the bequest of the pacifistic Pendarians who are threatened by the Zadians, led by their ruthless war witch Zarina (Julie Newmar). Meanwhile Princess Ardala (Pamela Hensley), Kane (Michael Ansara) & the Draconians follow Buck's trail through the vortex with Dr. Huer and Col. Deering along for the ride. Kelley Miles plays the lovely Chandar who meets Buck on Pendar while Donald Petrie plays her beau captured by the Zadians to pick his brain. Sam Jaffe & Vera Miles (mother of Kelley) are on hand as top Pendarians.

COMMENTARY: This double episode (97 minutes) is perhaps the most ambitious of the series with its well done F/X (for 1980 television), convoluted plot, and myriad guest cast members. "Planet of the Slave Girls" and "Time of the Hawk" are the only two that come close, although I prefer "Slave Girls" to "War Witch" (it's just overall more entertaining).

The complex plot features the interactions of people from no less than four worlds. The uneasy alliance between the Terrans and the Draconians is an interesting change of pace. The large gold sphere in the first act is reminiscent of 1998's "Sphere." Speaking of that part, it was shot at Vasquez Rocks, where several Star Trek episodes were filmed. There's another outside sequence in Part I shot at some park or garden. The vortex is curiously reminiscent of the 'Boom Tube' featured in Jack Kirby's comic book The Forever People.

This last episode of the 1st season marks the final appearance of several characters: Huer, Theopolis, Ardala and Kane. The excellent Huer (Tim O'Connor) would be replaced by two okay-but-inferior characters in the abridged 2nd season (Admiral Asimov and Dr. Goodfellow). The brilliant and creative Theo would be swapped for the annoyingly arrogant robot Crichton.

A mysterious large sphere lands outside New Chicago where a golden orb emerges and is brought back to the laboratory for an examination. This leads Buck to discover and impending danger from the War Witch.

Opening with an extended title sequence more money appears to have been injected into the seasons penultimate and finale episode. The special effects are better and more frequent, the sets are grander. There's brief on location external shots.

William 'Buck' Rogers (Gil Gerard) smooches his way through the first half like a sci-fi James Bond joined by Theo and Twiki who go along on the adventure. Dr. Elias Huer gets some weighty scenes and is further fleshed out actor Tim O'Connor brings more gravity and emotion here giving this episode an unknown edge. Col. Wilma Deering gives a defining speech adding to the uneasiness of the episode as Buck sets off into a vortex to search for life in an uncharted universe and you really do feel at this point that Buck may actually not return (it is the last of the series after all).

Julie Newmar as Zarina commands ever scene and is a partially good female antagonist reminiscent of a live action Disney Witch. Zarina is accompanied by her right hand man Spirot played by Sig Hague who get limited screen time. Series regulars Draconian Princess Ardala (Pamela Hensley) sporting some fetching outfits and Kane appear as red herrings in the scope of the episode. Twiki (Felix Silla (cousin IT) and voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc) gets his usual one-liners and there's a some fun moments where he interacts with another robot. Although Twiki's circular robot companion Dr. 'Theo' Theopolis (voiced by Eric Server) doesn't really get much to say in this outing.

Taking some visual cues from 2001 Space Odyssey and StarTrek albeit cheaper looking this episode is one of the better scripted and constructed both aesthetically and in terms of plot.

The second half includes a Star Was-like escape with Buck assisting the perfect spoilt Princess Ardala and Deering wonderfully played by the (continually underutilised) stunning Ering Gray helping Kane. Earth's Starfighters team up with the Draconians to help the Pendarians against Zarina's army in a dogfight space showdown.

There's plenty of great music with some nice stings and sound effects to accompany the many well dressed setups.

Debabtly more fun and faster paced than the feature length 'Awakening', The two parter Flight of the War Witch closes with a rendition of Kipp Lennon's 'Suspension' song that opened the series pilot/film which fittingly bookends the the first series (arguably perfectly if series/season two hadn't had been made).

Spaceships, laser shootouts, robots, warring aliens, forcefields, voice computers to name a few, overall with some underlining theology, smidgens of action its one of the slicker produced and better looking episodes.

The planet Pendar is under attack of the tyrannic and cruel war witch Zarina, who has kidnapped the scientist Kodus to find a means to weaken the defense shield of Pendar. The Keeper and the elderly members of the council of Pendar send a giant sphere to Earth that delivers an orb to Buck Rogers. Soon Dr. Huer and Dr. Theopolis find a chip inside with a map to go to another universe to meet them and Buck volunteers to go. But the Draconian Princess Ardala steals the orb and decides to travel also to Pendar. They both cross a vortex and once in Pendar, the Keeper explains that they are a peaceful people and they need warriors to help them against Zarina. Buck Rogers and Wilma team-up with Ardala and Kane since they need to learn how to return to their own universe.

"Flight of the War Witch" is the best episode of the First Season of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. The plot is funny, as usual, but more developed and elaborated. This time, in addition to Erin Gray, the viewer can delight the eyes with Pamela Hensley, Julie Newmar and Kelley Miles in tight and short costumes. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Flight of the War Witch"

This is the last episode of season one, a two parter, and though it's not as fun as the other season one two parters, it's got some good moments. The first half is a bit slow, but builds up the plot, thus setting up a more enjoyable part two that has the usual space fights, vortexes, karate chops and laser fights. But what really makes this episode is the performances from the two hot babes: Julie Newmar as the red witch is a memorable character, the former cat woman chews up the screen with delicious menace, and Pamela Hensley as the foxy Princess Ardala is a treat to watch, her one liners and her airs and graces as well as her response to the witch calling her "a spoilt child" is brilliant. Loved the scene where her commander, Kane, does a long fighting speech on the tannoy, and just watching her rolling her eyes at his long windedness is hilarious.

Star Trek: the next generation and Star Wars might be better regarded but its definitely not as fun as Buck Rogers, which is pure sci-fi action escapism that isn't afraid to be kitschy and tongue-in-cheek.

Pendar is under attack from Zarina, the evil war witch, who has discovered a way past the planet's defence shields. But with Buck Rogers (and pals) on their side, plus help from Ardala and her Draconian henchmen, the Pendarians finally have a fighting chance at defeating the tyrant and destroying her massive Zaad battle-cruiser (which is equipped with a mega-cannon, of all things!).

Part Two of Flight of the War Witch is a bit of a chore to sit through, particularly if, like me, you watch both halves back-to-back. The first part was quite entertaining, with some nice performances, particularly from Erin Grey as Wilma Deering and Pamela Hensley as Ardala. This second half, however, has far too much dull chit-chat, too much footage of faceless bad-guys running around in motorcycle helmets (which look cheap, even by Buck Roger's standards), and a terribly unspectacular ending: I had hoped for the destruction of the Zaad craft to be a huge explosion; instead, we get a brief naff special effect of the ship colliding with the force field and a close up of Julie Newmar screaming.

The only positive thing I can say about this episode is that Hensley looks pretty darn good in that blue leather outfit of hers. Kudos to the costume designer.