Family Trip stories have always been about the possibility on what would happen when the family unit encounters certain situation outside their own comfort zone, beyond the control of the usual practical problems their use to dealing with. One great thing those situations always do is they always teaches the unit to be a family. This is another one of those under the radar sci-fi TV shows that caught my eye; it's not quite a classic but it could of been, I personally felt had potential to go even further with itself, but never did which I felt was a real shame.
This show obviously predates the graphic comic book series "Black Science" and TV shows "Fringe" and "Sliders" (another under the radar gem), all also explore the aspect of alternate universes. I really loved the idea of the show which was no doubt ahead of it's time, on alternate universes which I honestly felt isn't tackled much on live TV or movies. It's your typical family adventure story only instead of getting lost in the woods or road, it's in other dimensions.
Production value I thought was on par for television of the 80's, they used the locations well, certain effects might seem dated but like I said this show was in the 80's what do you expect. The theme song is decent, and so are the characters they serve their functions their not what I would say deep characters but their sympathetic because their all ordinary people that just want to come home. But we're in this show for the adventure and to me that's the real star of the show.
I really like the worlds that they explore and to me that was always the joy of alternate world stories because they always leave a creative freedom where anything can happen and anything is possible.
Each of these worlds all are fascinating on their own but are potentially flawed. What make it really interesting is how each of the family members have a deep affect on these, because they all possess one thing they all lack common sense and good human wisdom; which drives the family to do what they have to do to both survive but most importantly guide each of the people in these worlds the right direction. Most of the people in the worlds aren't bad people their heads are just in the wrong place.
And there are some memorable episodes, one where there is a colony living on asteroids, another where rock n' roll was never invented until the family came, a post apocalyptic world ruled by medieval biker gang, and my favorite which was the last episode of the show was the daughter becoming a princess and actually stepping up to becoming a fair ruler.
I even like this revolving subplot which is your typical fugitive subplot just to keep the suspense for the family up, as their being hunted down by some fascist force called the Zone Troopers. That's also a cool idea, having some sort of opponents that want to do the opposite of the family, and that is to conquer. Though one thing about them that is a bit daft is how they handle their guns where for some reason they always have to fire their pistols holding them upside down. Though the plight of the Zone Troopers isn't really built on enough which is one of the weaknesses of the show, their main plight is just to simply take the family out of the picture for traveling dimensions but it never seems to cross their mind, to somehow use that family to find their realm and conquer.
I even like how the show does have a good message just like with the TV show "Sliders" it shows that one or a small group of individuals can make the biggest difference and that things can always be better.
The only bad things about the show are there are times when it can be a bit preachy, but then again this was also a family show so life lessons are inevitable. We also never entirely know how this family got lost in the dimensions in the first place, just that they somehow inadvertently activated a portal in Egypt. But to me the real bad thing is simply that this show didn't have a chance to go far enough with itself, there was just so much that could of been done and explored, after all the concept really does leave things open to infinite possibilities.
I feel this show has potential to be revived. We could see some other worlds do something fun like seeing a world run by ancient Egyptian culture. Or even go into darker territory where we could see a world run and ruined by aliens that invaded at some point in history (like with the "Resistance" video games). May'be even build greater depth on the revolving plot of the Zone Troopers, see how many other worlds they put under their occupation and targeting the family world next, and then the family realizing they have to step up and retaliate against them, start up some sort of resistance from other dimensions. May'be even explanation/depth as to how the family activated the portal to get them lost in the dimensions; make it ancient alien technology they uncovered. I don't know but you see my point, and I feel like every possibility it should at least be considered.
Overall it's a solid sci-fi that is worth a try, like any strange and new place this is a trip worth taking.
Rating: 3 stars
This show obviously predates the graphic comic book series "Black Science" and TV shows "Fringe" and "Sliders" (another under the radar gem), all also explore the aspect of alternate universes. I really loved the idea of the show which was no doubt ahead of it's time, on alternate universes which I honestly felt isn't tackled much on live TV or movies. It's your typical family adventure story only instead of getting lost in the woods or road, it's in other dimensions.
Production value I thought was on par for television of the 80's, they used the locations well, certain effects might seem dated but like I said this show was in the 80's what do you expect. The theme song is decent, and so are the characters they serve their functions their not what I would say deep characters but their sympathetic because their all ordinary people that just want to come home. But we're in this show for the adventure and to me that's the real star of the show.
I really like the worlds that they explore and to me that was always the joy of alternate world stories because they always leave a creative freedom where anything can happen and anything is possible.
Each of these worlds all are fascinating on their own but are potentially flawed. What make it really interesting is how each of the family members have a deep affect on these, because they all possess one thing they all lack common sense and good human wisdom; which drives the family to do what they have to do to both survive but most importantly guide each of the people in these worlds the right direction. Most of the people in the worlds aren't bad people their heads are just in the wrong place.
And there are some memorable episodes, one where there is a colony living on asteroids, another where rock n' roll was never invented until the family came, a post apocalyptic world ruled by medieval biker gang, and my favorite which was the last episode of the show was the daughter becoming a princess and actually stepping up to becoming a fair ruler.
I even like this revolving subplot which is your typical fugitive subplot just to keep the suspense for the family up, as their being hunted down by some fascist force called the Zone Troopers. That's also a cool idea, having some sort of opponents that want to do the opposite of the family, and that is to conquer. Though one thing about them that is a bit daft is how they handle their guns where for some reason they always have to fire their pistols holding them upside down. Though the plight of the Zone Troopers isn't really built on enough which is one of the weaknesses of the show, their main plight is just to simply take the family out of the picture for traveling dimensions but it never seems to cross their mind, to somehow use that family to find their realm and conquer.
I even like how the show does have a good message just like with the TV show "Sliders" it shows that one or a small group of individuals can make the biggest difference and that things can always be better.
The only bad things about the show are there are times when it can be a bit preachy, but then again this was also a family show so life lessons are inevitable. We also never entirely know how this family got lost in the dimensions in the first place, just that they somehow inadvertently activated a portal in Egypt. But to me the real bad thing is simply that this show didn't have a chance to go far enough with itself, there was just so much that could of been done and explored, after all the concept really does leave things open to infinite possibilities.
I feel this show has potential to be revived. We could see some other worlds do something fun like seeing a world run by ancient Egyptian culture. Or even go into darker territory where we could see a world run and ruined by aliens that invaded at some point in history (like with the "Resistance" video games). May'be even build greater depth on the revolving plot of the Zone Troopers, see how many other worlds they put under their occupation and targeting the family world next, and then the family realizing they have to step up and retaliate against them, start up some sort of resistance from other dimensions. May'be even explanation/depth as to how the family activated the portal to get them lost in the dimensions; make it ancient alien technology they uncovered. I don't know but you see my point, and I feel like every possibility it should at least be considered.
Overall it's a solid sci-fi that is worth a try, like any strange and new place this is a trip worth taking.
Rating: 3 stars