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[ 9 ] Unchained Woman
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| Season: | 1 |
| Date Aired U.S.: | Thursday, November 01, 1979 |
| Writer(s): | Bill Taylor |
| Director: | Dick Lowry |
 Episode Synopsis
 "Buck masquerades as a convict to break into a prison in an attempt to rescue a young woman who has been sent to Zeta when she takes the blame for a murder actually committed by her boyfriend, Malary Pantera. The Directorate believes that Jen Burton can supply the evidence required to put Pantera in jail. Breaking out of the underground jail, Buck and Jen head for a nearby spaceport, but the danger is far from over. An indestructible android prison guard is dogging their trail and Pantera awaits their arrival at the spaceport."
 "Buck breaks into a prison to free Jen Burton, where she has been falsely jailed for the murder of her boyfriend. Earth Directorate hopes to return her home so she can testify against the boyfriend, Malary Pantera, a pirate who has been raiding space lanes. Entering the prison while masquerading as a fellow prisoner, Buck finds Burton, frees her, and they head out across the barren desert terrain of the planet. However, traveling to the nearest spaceport is the least of Buck's problems, as an indestructible android prison guard is following their every move and will stop at nothing to capture the two Earthlings."
Guest Cast
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Jen Burton (Jamie Lee Curtis)
Former girlfriend of Malory Pantera. She was incarcerated on the 3rd moon of the Zeta system for her involvement in murders committed by Pantera. She was sprung by Buck Rogers so she could be interrogated on Earth about Pantera's dealings.
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Gymon (Danny Ades)
Thug hired by Malory Pantera at Station Post 7 on the 3rd moon of the Zeta system. He was to intercept Col. Wilma Deering before she met with Buck Rogers on the planet. Col. Deering tricked Gymon into releasing her by telling him she was smuggling quadrillium, which was worth more than what Pantera was paying him to intercept her.
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Hugo (Walter Hunter)
Android warden from the 3rd moon of the Zeta system. Buck Rogers nicknamed the android Hugo before he escaped with prisoner Jen Burton. After the destruction of the prison, Hugo chased after Rogers and Burton, driven by the prison bracelets they wore which emitted a signal. He was left for dead at Station Post 7 on the planet.
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Majel (Tara Buckman)
Cohort and love interest of Malory Pantera. She helped Pantera with his plan to kill Jen Burton for her knowledge of his involvement in murders committed by Pantera.
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Malory Pantera (Michael DeLano)
Architect of attacks on Earth Defense Directorate shipping lines. Pantera would intercept the shipments and sell the cargo. His accomplice, Ambassador Ted Warwick, was a close friend of Dr. Huer. Pantera plotted to kill Jen Burton, who was sprung from prison by Buck Rogers, for her knowledge of his involvement in some murders.
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Sergio Sanwiler (Bert Rosario)
Often seen around Station Post 7 on the 3rd moon of the Zeta system. Sergio offered to remove the prison bracelets from Buck Rogers and Jen Burton when he spotted them in a bar. He later sold out Rogers and Burton's location to Malory Pantera, only to sell out Pantera's location later.
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Valzhan
Identity assumed by Buck Rogers to infiltrate the prison on the 3rd moon of the Zeta system to spring Jen Burton.
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Ted Warwick (Robert Cornthwaite)
Diplomatic liason from the 3rd quadrant. Warwick was a close personal friend of Dr. Elias Huer. Huer asked Warwick to put pressure on the Zetan government to extradite and interrogate Jen Burton for her knowledge of Malory Pantera. His friendship was threatened when he sold shipping schedules to Malory Pantera in exchange for one-fifth of the take.
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Lt. Zimmerman (Charles Walker)
Lieutenant, Earth Defense Directorate. Zimmerman reprogrammed the shuttle pilot of a prison transport to erase the memory of Buck Rogers being switched for the real prisoner, Valzhan. Valzhan was being transported to the 3rd moon of the Zeta system.
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Fan Reviews |
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Average Fan Review
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Reviewer: Mark Weller
Submitted: August 10, 2002
Jamie Lee Curtis starts as Jen Burton in this classic episode of Buck Rogers. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for this one - perhaps because I got to see the first night out of the hospital after an extended stay when I was a kid. How about these lines: "On Zeta, they do it right," and the ever memorable "Escape is not possible, prisoners report to the day room (rewind tape) Escape is not possible.." The characters are over the top, the plotline is quick, and there's even a SandSquid. All in all, a good few days filming out in the Mojave Desert (even if Gil Gerard did get noticeable sunburn - OUCH). Punchy, action filled, and - for those with short attention spans - a ONE hour episode (no "TO BE CONTINUED"). Nice.
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Reviewer: Rebecca
Submitted: October 09, 2002
Buck has to break Jen Burton out of a prison on Zeta, she's taken the fall for her boyfriend and is serving time, waiting for him to break her out (yeah right as if)
But The Earth Defence Directorate's (no pun towards this site indended!) plan to break her out works by Buck taking the place of a prisoner and blasting their way out. Only problem now is that they are hunted down by an irritable android guard.
A cool episode!. I can't pick a fave moment as I like the whole thing. It runs quite smoothly and is a good, fun plot. A top Buck episode! And the guest star being Jamie Lee Curtis as Jen.....Cool! Shame she didn't reprise the role in another episode.
And as for Gil's sunburn, well if only I was there on hand with the sun cream : )
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Reviewer: Susan Kite
Submitted: March 26, 2004
I finally got to see this episode, (kept missing it on Sci Fi) and what a treat it was. Unlike other episodes, this one didn't talk up the intended scenario, ("This is what we're going to do."), this one got right to brass tacks. The opening scene shows Wilma firing on a prison ship taking a prisoner to a Zeta prison colony. A great way to pique the imagination. Then we see Buck being exchanged for the prisoner and the plot unfolds for us. Buck is going to go undercover to break out a woman, Jen Burton (Jamie Lee Curtis) who has been in the prison for 10 month, covering for her sleaze-ball boyfriend, Malory Pantera.
A suspension of disbelief moment? How incredibly easy it was for Buck to get away from the prison, especially after his device was taken away. But as Buck told Wilma, "a piece of cake."
Regardless, this was a great episode, with Jen giving Buck tit-for-tat all the way to the rendezvous with Wilma. (Great lines!) Jen Burton was a wonderful character. The villaneous boyfriend was deliciously evil, the android somewhat campy, but still a wonderful suspense keeper. And I loved the ending with Buck's "well, go ahead and keep it" as a souvenier, (the prison bracelet) and then cutting away to the supposedly destroyed android showing little signs of life. Not bad in the pre sequel-laden horror picture days... except in this case, there was no sequel. What a refreshing change!!!
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