This is the first episode of the official series and easily one of the best from Season 1. It opens in a chilling "Twilight Zone" fashion as a motorcycle cop rides into a small town and finds all the inhabitants strewn about apparently dead. When he goes to investigate he succumbs to some strange malady that seems to attack his ears. Soon the army surrounds the town but dares not get too close. Enter Steve Austin to investigate.
For people familiar with the lore of the series this first episode might seem a little strange. There are no bionic sound effects when Steve does his thing although the slow motion shots of him running are in place. The story is surprisingly tense and although Steve tosses off some one-liners he is generally serious and the story is pretty straight-forward. He even thwarts the villains with extreme prejudice.
Lee Majors is already owning the role of Austin. No one ever looked better dashing across the landscape in slow motion and he establishes himself as a caring, righteous guy not to mention a clothes horse. He has several impressive scenes, such as MacGuyvering his way out of a locked industrial freezer and launching a projectile that takes out the villains in spectacular fashion.
The supporting cast does its job well. Don Porter is on hand as the villain; its fun to see him as a white-haired high-tech blackmailer while remembering his stints as a juvenile lead in such 40's Universal classics as "Night Monster" and "Who Done It?" Paul Fix is a welcome presence as well while Penny Fuller serves as the romantic interest.
While the episode does suffer from some poor editing and pacing (things that would plague the first season in particular) "Population: Zero" is an entertaining offering that kicks off the SMDM series in fine fashion.
For people familiar with the lore of the series this first episode might seem a little strange. There are no bionic sound effects when Steve does his thing although the slow motion shots of him running are in place. The story is surprisingly tense and although Steve tosses off some one-liners he is generally serious and the story is pretty straight-forward. He even thwarts the villains with extreme prejudice.
Lee Majors is already owning the role of Austin. No one ever looked better dashing across the landscape in slow motion and he establishes himself as a caring, righteous guy not to mention a clothes horse. He has several impressive scenes, such as MacGuyvering his way out of a locked industrial freezer and launching a projectile that takes out the villains in spectacular fashion.
The supporting cast does its job well. Don Porter is on hand as the villain; its fun to see him as a white-haired high-tech blackmailer while remembering his stints as a juvenile lead in such 40's Universal classics as "Night Monster" and "Who Done It?" Paul Fix is a welcome presence as well while Penny Fuller serves as the romantic interest.
While the episode does suffer from some poor editing and pacing (things that would plague the first season in particular) "Population: Zero" is an entertaining offering that kicks off the SMDM series in fine fashion.