Collaborated all in one package comes four of televisions top rated action series. From way back in 1966, the pilot of Mission Impossible debuted with a huge response and spanned 7 seasons containing 171 episodes. In 1985 came the pilot for MacGyver. The series which ran till 1994 with 7 seasons and is still being shown today, which is a credit to its writing and loyalty of viewers. Walker Texas Ranger’s pilot hit the network TV schedule in 1993 and was an instant hit. This action series ran a total of 9 seasons and over 200 episodes, very impressive. And last but certainly not least, current TV series, NCIS, which is currently in its 6th season, debuted back in 2003 and doesn’t look as though it’s going anywhere anytime soon.
Walker Texas Ranger
Famed Martial Artist turn actor Chuck Norris puts his high kicks and strong will into a role as Cordell Walker a member of the elite Texas Rangers. In this pilot, there are a few different story lines to follow as they built what became a dynamic cast and long running series. The main plot follows as a fellow ranger is killed while trying to bring an end to a bank robbery. Walker is teamed up with a new partner and with their different backgrounds and style of getting the job done they track down the group of thieves to bring an end to this ring of bandits.
MacGyver
Richard Dean Anderson, currently starring in the Stargate series, got his ride to fame by starring in this series whose job was a secret agent with unbelievable “Jack of all trades” skills. The story follows MacGyver as he is called in on a mission to save 2 scientists from certain death after a series of explosions trap them in a secret underground laboratory. With sulfuric acid leaking into the ground, MacGyver has little time to stop the leak, save the scientists and get out before the military launches a missile into the ground to stop the leakage themselves.
NCIS
This is the crack unit of the Navy responsible for the investigations of crimes related to naval personnel. Mark Harmon stars as the leader of the NCIS team. The Naval Criminal Investigation Service is called to action as a Naval Aviator dies aboard Air Force One. With not only time against them, they must contend with the FBI and Secret Service over jurisdiction and try to foil a planned attempt to assassinate the President.
Mission Impossible
This blast from the past was a very popular series which took the viewer inside the workings of a secretive group of agents that risk their lives to keep peace in the free world. In this 1966 pilot, a crack squad of elite agents is assembled to remove 2 nuclear warheads from a hotel vault in Santa Costa. They must implement a precise plan to get the warheads out of the vault and off the island country. When things go wrong, they must adapt the plan and execute without fail.
I was delighted to watch the beginnings of some of the shows that captivated me as a child. I thought all of these shows were very well written and hold up to the test of time. Watching the pilots give me a new perspective on the back story of each series. To have them all on one disc was perfect.
Reviewed by Michael Albaugh
