****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I was very young when "The Six Million Dollar Man" originally aired, so before the recent release of this show onto DVD (FINALLY) my memories were basically of bits and pieces, with no real memory of entire episodes (uh, except maybe the Big Foot eps that came later). On the one hand it's a shame this spectacular show was never syndicated (as least to my knowledge). That said, after purchasing season 1 it almost felt as if I was watching the series for the first time. There were scenes here and there that I recalled, but most surprising of all is how much I rediscovered my love for this series. Memories faded, I do remember loving this show as a young child. Now, as a middle aged adult, I seem to love it just as much. In fact, as mentioned in the title I chose for my review, this just might be the most FUN show ever created. I only wish I still had my Steve Austin doll since nowadays it's become quite an expensive collector's item. I loved everything about this series - all those years ago - and still do. Great casting! Great music! Great story lines!!! Great guest stars too!!!!But back to the series and season one. I can actually recall seeing commercial advertising for the series premiere, although I have no memory of there being 3 pilot episodes. The first pilot - aptly titled "The Six Million Dollar Man" - is without a doubt my favorite of the 3 as well as my favorite episode of season 1. Even if this series had never materialized beyond the initial pilot movie (I'm so thankful it did though), the original pilot movie could easily stand on it's own as a wonderful, engaging and very unique t.v. movie. I had forgotten that Richard Anderson and the Oscar Goldman character were not featured in this first pilot; so glad he showed up in the second as I loved the character of Oscar Goldman as much as I loved Steve Austin. In this initial pilot we see an ordinary man - with an extraordinary job (astronaut) - doing what he loves to do and ending up in what could only be described as a nightmarish freak accident. Colonel Austin loses his right arm in the crash, along with his left eye and both legs that are too badly damaged to salvage. When he eventually regains consciousness and is told by Dr Rudy Wells the extent of his injuries my heart breaks for the young pilot. Lee Majors realistically portrays the emotions of a man whose life is now changed forever. While lying helplessly in a hospital bed, Steve is heartbroken, depressed and even attempts suicide. Lee's performance is so convincing that I was literally tearing up as I watched a pilot I had not seen since 1973. Lee continues to give a brilliant and convincing performance as a man who eventually accepts his fate, agrees to the bionic surgery and slowly regains his life. We watch Steve Austin passionately struggle to use his arm and legs the way a baby first learns to grasp objects and walk. Soon afterwards he is confronted by a government agency that has not only funded his $6,000,000 surgery but is now expecting payback in the form of expecting Colonel Austin to become a government special agent. We see Steve Austin struggle with yet another life-changing decision as he tells the man "I don't want to kill anyone." So ladies .... he's not only an extremely handsome man, with a sense of humor and pleasant manner, who has been to hell and back - but also a man with high morals .... what more can any of us ask for, right? Ha!The 2nd and 3rd pilots are entertaining in their own way, both with a James Bond theme. Surpass it to say that this is not exactly the direction that the creators of the original pilot wanted the series to take, and hence after the 3rd pilot there is a noticeable change in the show's overall style. Gone is Steve Austin as James Bond; now it's Steve Austin as the astronaut turned government agent we came to initially know in the first pilot movie. There are 13 FUN episodes, in addition to the 3 movies. It's difficult to select a favorite episode or two, but if I had to choose I'd probably say "Population Zero" and "Dr Wells is Missing" would be at the top of my list. Even though Lee was initially worried that the series might prove to be too campy (ala the very campy Batman series), the camp factor for "The Six Million Dollar Man" was minimal compared with Batman. O.K., so in two of season 1 episodes we are asked to believe that a mad scientist can create robots that look and act human (Day of the Robot and Run Steve Run), but the remaining episodes are less campy. All of the episodes are FUN to watch. Looking forward to adding the rest of the series to my DVD collection. I have season 2 and am getting ready for the release of season 3 (next week) - Yahoo!!!!!!!!!Long Live Steve Austin and Long Live The Six Million Dollar Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
