"RoboCop" (1994) TV series 1994-1995

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Writers:

Alison Lea Bingeman (writer) (episode)
Michael Miner (writer) (episode)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

March 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Alex Murphy is Robocop, a cybernetic policeman. A creation of a vast corporation, he fights crime and occasional corporate conspiracy in the near-future of Old Detroit.

Plot Keywords:

Robocop | Dystopian | Spin Off | Futuristic | Based On Film

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Richard Eden	...	Alex Murphy / ... (23 episodes, 1994)
Blu Mankuma	...	Sergeant Stanley Parks / ... (22 episodes, 1994)
Yvette Nipar	...	Detective Lisa Madigan (21 episodes, 1994)
David Gardner	...	OCP Chairman (21 episodes, 1994)
Dan Duran	...	Bo Harlan (20 episodes, 1994)
Erica Ehm	...	Rocky Crenshaw (20 episodes, 1994)
Ed Sahely	...	Charlie Lippencott (16 episodes, 1994)
Andrea Roth	...	NeuroBrain / ... (15 episodes, 1994)
Sarah Campbell	...	Gadget (14 episodes, 1994)

Also Known As:

"RoboCop: The Series"

Runtime:

44 min (22 episodes) | 90 min (pilot episode) | Argentina:60 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | South Korea:12

Company:

Robocop Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

The pilot episode came from the first draft for RoboCop 2 (1990) written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown (1994) (TV)

Soundtrack:

FLANNEL JACKET

Action television done right

Although there is more than one way RoboCop could have been adapted for television, this is a very good way to do it. Although movie director Verhoeven's touch is missing on the series, the original writers Miner and Neumeier return (at least for the pilot) to put Robocop back on track. The content is somewhat toned down over the original movie (both because of its conversion to television and because it is aimed at a younger audience), but the spirit of the original is in most ways preserved: the satire, personal drama (mostly regarding Alex Murphy/Robocop), and the good-guy vs. bad-guy action. The drama regarding Murphy is expanded on, as we get more exposure to his memories and to his family, and there is added a character, in the form of Delta City's new brain, who shares in many ways Murphy's plight. Ultimately, the television series comes off closer to the original movie than either of the two theatrical sequels.

The television series does take a slightly different spin than the movie, but ultimately it works out for the best. Robocop here is more of a comic book superhero, but not necessarily in a bad way. He is superhuman both physically and morally, and yet we remain sympathetic to his plight throughout. He is someone we really want to root for. (Personally, I think RoboCop makes the most interesting superhero since Batman.) The villains are more comic-bookish as well, but they do not seem out of place given the change in tone. The series can be serious and yet be silly in an almost Batman-like way at times, without the two ever seeming at odds with each other. Also changed is the tone; the series moralizes more, and has cut the graphic violence of the original. It is sort of RoboCop with more of a conscience.

In addition to its other virtues, the series adds surprisingly high production value and more than tolerable acting (Richard Eden especially does an interesting job as Robocop - very mechanical, quite appropriate). For fans of RoboCop or of comic-book-style action shows like Batman and Superman or hardcore sci-fi fans this is a must see. For anyone willing to experience something out of the ordinary, this is very good viewing. It is a shame it only made it one season, I would have loved to see more.