Sci Fi TV Finds: Locating hard-to-find sci fi and fantasy TV shows that are available for streaming or on home video.
The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers
Originally Aired: Syndication, 1986, 1 Season Totaling 65 Episodes
Starring: Robert Bottone, Alexander Marshall, Maia Danziger, Corinne Orr, Laura Dean
Created By: Robert Mandell
What Is It? The opening voice-over gives the following introduction for the series:
In 2086, two peaceful aliens journeyed to Earth, seeking our help. In return, they gave us the plans for our first hyperdrive, allowing mankind to open the door to stars. We have assembled a team of unique individuals to protect Earth and our allies. Courageous pioneers committed to the highest ideals of justice. And dedicated to preserving law and order across the New Frontier, these are the Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers!
This cosmic sci fi/western followed the Galaxy Rangers which consisted of the bionically enhanced Zachary Foxx, the super trooper Shane Gooseman, the psychic Nika, and the swashbuckling computer genius Walter Hartford. They all also have an experimental piece of tech called the Series-5 Brain Implant which boosted their natural abilities. They fight against the evil Crown Empire as well as other threats to those who have ventured into the frontiers of space.
This series arrived on afternoon television in the mid-80s when there was a glut of animated shows attempting to attract younger viewers. But the Galaxy Rangers set out to do more than just sell toys and tell a nice, tidy moral at the end of each episode. It was more of a sci fi adventure with stories that stepped it up a notch or two and appealed to adults as well as younger viewers. The animation was also better than the average afternoon entry at that time, coming closer to the look and feel of Anime. The show delivered a notable sixty-five episode run (about standard for an animated series at the time) but disappeared not long after it initially aired because it did not have the toy sales to keep it viable amidst the competition. Those who did manage to catch it in its original run have fond memories of the show, and sadly it has not been recognized as the genre gem it truly is, nor is there much availability to go back and re-watch it. (You can read more about the series at this link.)
The show did receive a partial DVD release, though each volume contained only four episodes and I believe only four total were released. Some single episodes were also released on VHS, but those and the DVDs are out of print and fetching high prices from third party sellers. The series is available for purchase VOD, but that only includes sixteen episodes. The entire series is currently available on YouTube if you would like to sample and/or revisit it. Note that the video quality is not great, but at least good enough to get an idea of what the show had to offer. This one certainly deserves a full Blu-ray release and/or HD upgrade. But in the meantime, give it a look on YouTube and discover the ’80s fun that was The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers!
Watch The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers on YouTube
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