The Trial of Akim the Claim of Death Experiment

November, 1954, is the end of Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, but Flash Gordon continues on, with four new episodes. As before if I don't have an episode I will just include the WikiPedia description. I have read much debate on the internet about the proper viewing order of the Rocky Jones story arcs. I watched them all in "air date" order, not "production" order, and I found nothing contradictory, so I endorse my viewing order. A Sci-Fi motion picture came out this month that I unfortunately don't have, Target Earth. I think the title says it all. Robots attack Chicago and a small group of humans, left after an evacuation, try to survive. Sounds like Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

The Trial of Rocky Jones, part I- Rocky, Biff, Vena and Bobby are on their way to Ankapore (last seen in Rocky's Odyssey), a subterranean world for those wanting to live off the grid. Some of Rocky's enemies have been carving out a life for themselves, because there is no extradition treaty there. After the Silver Moon lands, they visit the leader, La Volga, who tells them to eat at the Ankapore Cafe. While eating they see Griff, Dr. Reno, and Rudy DiMarco, all on their wanted list. Pinto Vortando has become a beggar on the streets, who Rocky gives a medal for helping out at the end of The Cold Sun. It is learned that the territorial limits of Ankapore end at the 1000 mile limit, anyone outside of it can be arrested by the Space Rangers. Later, DiMarco gets Vortando drunk, and beats him up outside of City Cave. Rocky happens by to save him. While Rocky and DiMarco fight, Griff takes Vortando away at gun point. Guards are called and DiMarco has Rocky arrested for assault and attempted murder. Since Vortando is out of the picture, La Volga has Rocky thrown in prison awaiting a trial. The Silver Moon crew are confined to their ship without any explanation. Someone pretending to be with Vortando helps break Rocky out, but it was just a trap for Griff to have his men beat the piss out of Rocky. Unconscious, they put him in Griff's rocket, YC47, and set him up for Grand Theft Rocket Ship. La Volga and Griff chase after him, and as Rocky wakes up, he is re-arrested. Back on Ankapore a trial starts with all the cards stacked against Rocky, and his crew (Biff, Vena, Bobby) are present as witnesses. TO BE CONTINUED. The legal system of Ankapore is terrible, but it is the equivalent of Tortuga, just a lot less drinking and violence. It's no wonder they hate Space Rangers.

Akim the Terrible- A narrator explains Charom (and especially its capital city Trantum) is a lawless planet run by Akim (who looks like a glitter Gumby). It is so lawless there are cops that arrest you for doing good. In other words, not a well thought out plot. The Galactic Bureau of Investigation sends an agent, Flash's best friend from his training days. The agent is captured and mind controlled into killing Flash. Flash is at GBI headquarters in his office when the assassination attempt occurs. Flash's office has a giant map of star systems across two walls, a schematic for the Sky Flash and a screen mounted high in a corner. Dale happens by to warn Flash and they capture the agent. Dr. Zarkov determines the agent to be suffering from mind control and possible lobotomy. He is able to do this with a portable scanner sending images to Flash's screen. Flash and Dale are ordered to have their hair cut off, a Selenite Band implanted in their heads and for them to wear wigs. They head to Charom after their hair styling and storm Akim's throne room. They are immediately captured and placed in the mind control machine. It is eventually explained that it only works two weeks. This is why police look for people, so they can be re-mind controlled. Flash and Dale pretend to be under the influence, learn all they can, then stun everyone in sight. They successfully arrest Akim. I like the stun guns. They actually freeze the target in place. I don't think it has a kill setting. Of note are actually pistols used by some of the people in the story. Not everyone has Stunners or Ray-Guns. The effects of rocket travel are improved from the pilot.

The Trial of Rocky Jones, part II- The biggest crime I can think of in a TV series is to have a "clip show". It frees up the writers to not actually have to write. You can tell this is the beginning of the end. Biff is appointed Defense Attorney and Dr. Reno is Prosecution. Defense calls Pinto Vortando to make a point he's missing. Then some technical legal stuff about off-worlders being able to call any witness that can add substance to a trial. As you can guess the witnesses called all retell a story from the past, including flashbacks. Nothing is resolved and the trial ends for the day. There is a strange, uncomfortable sub-plot about La Volga's daughter, Jonica (actress Melinda Plowman is 13), being attracted to DiMarco and possible marriage. He's been going along with it for now. After everyone leaves the court Bobby talks to Jonica about how cool he really is and tells more stories of Rocky (with clips and flashbacks). DiMarco interrupts and sees that Bobby is trying to influence La Volga through his daughter. Rocket YC47, commanded by Zandorf (Griff's right-hand man) , is on its way to Negato to hide Pinto Vortando, locked up in the cargo bay. They have to fuel at a space station run by Ranger Clark. Vortando escapes with the help of Clark, explaining to him that Rocky needs help. Biff visits Rocky in prison to say tomorrow is a new day. TO BE CONTINUED.

The Claim Jumpers- The narrator explains that in the future, gold miners spread to Mars, Venus and even the rings of Jupiter. I think they meant Saturn, but Voyager 2 eventually discovers rings around Jupiter in 1979 (25 years later). Gamma Oil is discovered on Venus, and some kind of gas is found in Jupiter's rings. After the space history lesson an APB is put out by GBI for a space pirate ship, run by Fred and Hans. The Sky Flash, with Flash and Dale, land on a radioactive planet and find the pirates by accident. While Flash is out putting an Automatic Bloodhound (a tracking device) on the ship, Fred and Hans board the Sky Flash, tie up Dale and ambush Flash. After the pirates leave, GBI sends out rockets Space Ghost, Starduster and Meteor, to begin searching for them. Dale gets loose, and helps Flash regain consciousness. They blast off for space and follow the trail. Planetary Pete, and his daughter Marie, radio in a claim about something found on the planetoid Maios [sic]. The pirates hear this and land on Maios to steal the claim. The Sky Flash follows them, but Zarkov at headquarters tells Flash not to move in because they need to follow the pirates to their hidden base. Flash realizes their going to kill Pete and Marie, jumps the gun and arrests them on the spot. It turns out one of the other three ships found his hidden base and the pirate operation is shut down.

The Trial of Rocky Jones, part III- Series finale. The "clip show" continues. Vortando is called up as a witness for the defense, while Clark is called as a witness for the prosecution, to ruin Vortando's character. This back and forth goes on for a while. Finally La Volga is ready to make a verdict, but an earthquake (ankaporequake?) hits, devastating the subterranean culture. Dr. Reno, DiMarco and Griff use the distraction as an excuse to escape while Rocky helps La Volga who is trapped under a column. Once the leader is safe Rocky tries to stop the other three and some things happen (i.e. people getting locked up and lots of fist fighting), but nobody gets off the planet. Once the quake stops all the space port ceilings have collapsed, no one can leave. Rocky sits in the Silver Moon trying to call for help and finally raises Drake and Mayberry, who happen to be on their way to Ankapore. They have one Trotanic Missile on board. They fire it and Rocky uses a magnetic tractor beam to direct it. An opening is made and Drake offers assistance to the people of Ankapore. La Volga declares his planet will no longer be a haven for pirates, joins the United Worlds of the Solar System, and signs an extradition treaty for the capture of Griff, DiMarco and Reno. THE END. I really like the characters and the attention to internal details even it it flies in the face of science as it is known today. I would totally buy this series if it was completely restored.

The Dancing Death- My Temproal DVR did not record this one: "The GBI team is held captive in a vibrational device that leads people to commit suicide."

The Breath of Death- Flash Gordon feels like a universe I just stepped into without knowing the politics or geography or anything. I like the stories, because the characters are generally likeable, but they throw a lot at you sometimes without giving you time to digest information, then you miss something. Once again this is an issue with the writers and their desire to narrate everything. One other problem I have is that often times I can't understand the dialog. That goes to the quality of the recording, but this was mostly produced in Germany. Other than the main characters, all the supporting actors are German that are just acting in English. When the start to emote or yell, I know it's in English, but it sounds German and I can't make sense of the technobabble. I love technobabble. Gemini is a prison planet for hardened criminals on the edge of civilized space. Flash has to make a delivery with Dale because she can fix a water purifier for them. One of the most dangerous murderers in the galaxy, wearing the number 34, hates Flash for catching him. 34 sees a moment to escape and takes it, sneaking aboard the Sky Flash. Flash's ship is the most advanced rocket in the "Universe" (read "Galaxy" due to writer misunderstanding of astronomy). After they blast off for 34 makes his move, capturing Flash and Dale. By this point Gemeni knows they have an escaped prisoner and inform GBI who sends Zarko and their boss out to hunt them down and destroy the Sky Flash. This is to keep it out of enemy hands. 34 wants to go to his hideout of Leo, but they need fuel from Ariel first. Ariel was the deadliest atmosphere in the Galaxy (I think Venus' atmosphere is way more deadly and toxic). I don't know how they quantify that since you can go outside without a space helmet, you just have to hold our breath. The Sky Flash lands and 34 has Flash help him run outside to grab fuel. Apparently the Sky Flash doesn't have space helmets. On a space ship? Really? No space suits or anything? These writers suck. A couple criminals get word 34 is on the loose and head to Ariel knowing about the fuel situation. They are afraid of 34 and want him dead. Zarkov is headed to Ariel, as well. Suddenly Flash beats up 34 right when the two criminals shoot him from their rocket. Zarkov sees this and shoots that rocket down. Lots of shooting happens, all the appropriate people die. Flash gets the fuel and they blast off back to GBI headquarters. In the future all prison guards are stupid, there is no space flight protocols about safety equipment, and no one thinks to inspect ships for prisoners on a prison planet.