Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Episode Guide www.BuckRogers.org

[ 1 ] Awakening (part one) In the year of 1987 the United States launched the last of NASA's deep space probes. On board Ranger 3 is a lone astronaut, Captain William "Buck" Rogers. However, the spaceship has moved from its planned orbit, and instead of being gone a few months, it returns to Earth five hundred years later. Captain Rogers is placed in a deep hibernation by forces beyond his control, and remains frozen at the controls until the year 2491. The ancient lost ship is found perfectly preserved by fighter craft of the Draconian Empire, who fire on Ranger 3, then tow it to their alien flagship, The Draconia. After being revived, Buck meets Princess Ardala and her ship's commander, Kane. Although Ardala is supposed to be on her way to Earth on a peace mission, in reality she is preparing to invade the planet, one that has long been the enemy of her race. They use Buck, who still thinks that his entire alien encounter is nothing but a dream, by sending him ahead to Earth to discover the location of a safe corridor through Earth's defenses. The ploy works because of a transmitter aboard Buck's ship that sends back messages with the corridor's location. Buck finally realizes that he actually has travelled into the future after meeting Col. Wilma Deering and Dr. Elias Huer, but the Earth Defense Directorate considers him to be a traitor when the transmitter is found on board Ranger 3. In an attempt to clear himself of a death sentence, Buck returns to the Draconia and pretends to join Ardala and her army, in the process learning of the plans to invade Earth. Buck decides that he must stop the attack, no matter what the odds. Season: 1 First Aired: September 20, 1979 Writer: Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens    Director: Daniel Haller

[ 2 ] Awakening (part two) In the year of 1987 the United States launched the last of NASA's deep space probes. On board Ranger 3 is a lone astronaut, Captain William "Buck" Rogers. However, the spaceship has moved from its planned orbit, and instead of being gone a few months, it returns to Earth five hundred years later. Captain Rogers is placed in a deep hibernation by forces beyond his control, and remains frozen at the controls until the year 2491. The ancient lost ship is found perfectly preserved by fighter craft of the Draconian Empire, who fire on Ranger 3, then tow it to their alien flagship, The Draconia. After being revived, Buck meets Princess Ardala and her ship's commander, Kane. Although Ardala is supposed to be on her way to Earth on a peace mission, in reality she is preparing to invade the planet, one that has long been the enemy of her race. They use Buck, who still thinks that his entire alien encounter is nothing but a dream, by sending him ahead to Earth to discover the location of a safe corridor through Earth's defenses. The ploy works because of a transmitter aboard Buck's ship that sends back messages with the corridor's location. Buck finally realizes that he actually has travelled into the future after meeting Col. Wilma Deering and Dr. Elias Huer, but the Earth Defense Directorate considers him to be a traitor when the transmitter is found on board Ranger 3. In an attempt to clear himself of a death sentence, Buck returns to the Draconia and pretends to join Ardala and her army, in the process learning of the plans to invade Earth. Buck decides that he must stop the attack, no matter what the odds. Season: 1 First Aired: September 20, 1979 Writer: Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens    Director: Daniel Haller

[ 3 ] Planet of the Slave Girls (part one) The majority of Earth's fighter squadron becomes ill and unable to fly after consuming poisoned food discs. Buck, Wilma, and Duke Denton fly to a distant planet to track down a slave trader named Kaleel. While on the planet Vistula, they find that Kaleel has been building a fleet of attack ships in secret, and plans to use them against Earth's meager defense forces. With Earth heavily outnumbered, Buck decides that he must destroy the alien's ships and rescue Wilma, who has become trapped in Kaleel's mountain fortress. Season: 1 First Aired: September 27, 1979 Writer: Steve Greenberg, Aubrey Solomon and Cory Applebaum    Director: Michael Caffey

[ 4 ] Planet of the Slave Girls (part two) The majority of Earth's fighter squadron becomes ill and unable to fly after consuming poisoned food discs. Buck, Wilma, and Duke Denton fly to a distant planet to track down a slave trader named Kaleel. While on the planet Vistula, they find that Kaleel has been building a fleet of attack ships in secret, and plans to use them against Earth's meager defense forces. With Earth heavily outnumbered, Buck decides that he must destroy the alien's ships and rescue Wilma, who has become trapped in Kaleel's mountain fortress. Season: 1 First Aired: September 27, 1979 Writer: Steve Greenberg, Aubrey Solomon and Cory Applebaum    Director: Michael Caffey

[ 5 ] Vegas in Space Buck and Directorate agent Marla Landers travel to Sineloa, a gambling city that Buck finds resembles old Earth's Las Vegas. Their mission from the Earth Defense Directorate is to locate and return to Earth a kidnapped girl being held prisoner by the city's ruler, Velosi. The young woman has critical knowledge that Velosi must extract in order to destroy Armat, his competitor. Learning of their plans to rescue his prisoner, Velosi offers the Earth Directorate a deal: in return for keeping the girl, he will turn over blueprints of Princess Ardala's Draconian Hatchet fighters that have been attacking Earth's defenses. Season: 1 First Aired: October 04, 1979 Writer: Anne Collins    Director: Sigmund Neufeld Jr.

[ 6 ] The Plot to Kill a City (part one) Buck's home of New Chicago may be destroyed if the Legion of Death is successful. They plan to self-destruct the city's anti-matter/matter reactor in retaliation for a Defense Directorate agent killing in self defense of one of their members. Learning of their plans, Buck is sent out masquerading as an assassin looking to join the group, but he is soon discovered to be an impostor. Season: 1 First Aired: October 11, 1979 Writer: Alan Brennert    Director: Dick Lowry

[ 7 ] The Plot to Kill a City (part two) Buck's home of New Chicago may be destroyed if the Legion of Death is successful. They plan to self-destruct the city's anti-matter/matter reactor in retaliation for a Defense Directorate agent killing in self defense of one of their members. Learning of their plans, Buck is sent out masquerading as an assassin looking to join the group, but he is soon discovered to be an impostor. Season: 1 First Aired: October 18, 1979 Writer: Alan Brennert    Director: Dick Lowry

[ 8 ] Return of the Fighting 69th Gun runners named Roxanne and Trent plan to kill Wilma as part of their revenge for her capturing them years earlier, during which their ship had caught fire and disfigured them both. Their plans involve the use of captured 20th century nerve gas, which is still potent enough to destroy all life on Earth. As commander of the Defense squadron, Wilma must find a way to locate and destroy the gas, which is hidden at the gun runner's hideout inside an asteroid belt. She discovers that the only one who has knowledge of how to traverse the belt is the elderly leader of a retired squadron, the Fighting 69th. Although the pilot is willing to lead his old pilots through the asteroids, Wilma does not know whether or not she should ask him, believing that the age of his squadron may be too great to complete the mission. Season: 1 First Aired: October 25, 1979 Writer: David Bennett Carren    Director: Philip Leacock

[ 9 ] Unchained Woman 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. Season: 1 First Aired: November 01, 1979 Writer: Bill Taylor    Director: Dick Lowry

[ 10 ] Planet of the Amazon Women Buck is tricked into landing on the planet Zantia, where he is made a prisoner before being sold as a slave to Ariela, the daughter of the planet's Prime Minister. While living on the planet, Buck learns that all male members of Zantia's population have become prisoners of war while battling the planet Ruathan. Ariela talks Buck into helping free the prisoners, which involves secretly boarding the Ruathan ambassador's ship while it orbits Earth, a move that could place Earth at war with Ruathan. Season: 1 First Aired: November 08, 1979 Writer: Dorothy Fontana and Richard Fontana    Director: Philip Leacock

[ 11 ] Cosmic Whiz Kid Buck isn't the only 20th century human to survive into the future: a small boy named Hieronymus Fox is a genius from Buck's time. The eleven-year-old child's brilliance makes him the popular ruler of the planet Genesia, until he is kidnapped by Roderick Zale and is threatened with death unless his planet pays a heavy ransom - a huge sum that Genesia cannot hope to raise. Fox's bodyguard, having escaped capture, enlists the aid of Buck and Wilma to save her planet's valued leader, whose inhabitants cannot do without. Season: 1 First Aired: November 15, 1979 Writer: Alan Brennert and Anne Collins    Director: Leslie H. Martinson

[ 12 ] Escape from Wedded Bliss Princess Ardala makes another attempt to make Buck her mate. This time she places a super-weapon into Earth's orbit and threatens to obliterate New Chicago if Buck isn't handed over to her. Buck, considered by the princess to be the perfect male, must somehow escape wedded bliss without bringing about the death of his friends on Earth. Season: 1 First Aired: November 29, 1979 Writer: Cory Applebaum and Patrick Hoby, Jr. and Alan Brennert    Director: David Moessinger

[ 13 ] Cruise Ship to the Stars While on the cruise ship Lyran Queen, Buck becomes friends with a beauty queen after he foils the kidnapping of Miss Cosmos. A woman who seems to have super-human abilities continues to try to capture the contest winner, while the would-be kidnapper, Sabrina, eludes the attempts of Buck, Wilma, Twiki, and Theo to collar her. After considerable investigation, Buck finally learns the hidden identity of the super-kidnapper, but he only has moments to find the beauty queen before she is killed by a laser beam. Season: 1 First Aired: December 27, 1979 Writer: Alan Brennert and Cory Applebaum    Director: Sigmund Neufeld, Jr.

[ 14 ] Space Vampire What appears to be a deserted derelict spaceship crashes into an orbiting space station that Buck and Wilma are on. Buck checks out the ship and finds the remains of the crew, whom he learns were killed by a vampire-like creature known as the Vorvon. Buck doesn't realize that the Vorvon is still present until personnel aboard the space station - including Wilma - begin to be taken over by the strange creature, who can control the wills of other beings. Season: 1 First Aired: January 03, 1980 Writer: Kathleen Barnes and David Wise    Director: Larry Stewart

[ 15 ] Happy Birthday, Buck Missing the people and places of his own time, Buck is helped out of his depression by Wilma and Huer who plan to cheer him up with a surprise birthday party. As a diversion to Buck, he is sent with Raylyn Derren to escort her on a trip to New Detroit with some of Huer's paperwork. Little do they realize that an assassin named Traeger is waiting for the girl so he can steal Dr. Huer's schedule, and plot to kill him as revenge over a previous encounter. Season: 1 First Aired: January 10, 1980 Writer: Martin Pasco    Director: Sigmund Neufeld, Jr.

[ 16 ] A Blast for Buck A communication probe arrives in Dr. Huer's office, and delivers a strange riddle: "A man out of old Earth's past, has the key to the next and the last; but you won't solve this riddle, till the end is the middle, and Terran sands disappear with a blast." The future survival of Earth depends on whether or not mind probes used on Buck can solve the riddle. Searching for a solution, Buck recounts his previous adventures since his arrival on Earth. Season: 1 First Aired: January 17, 1980 Writer: Richard Nelson    Director: David G. Phinney

[ 17 ] Ardala Returns Princess Ardala makes yet another attempt to capture the heart of Buck, and contrives to take over Earth as well. To capture Buck, he is misled into believing he has found a 20th century spaceship. But the ship is a fake and he is caught by Kane, who creates several duplicates of Buck in another scheme to conquer Earth. Season: 1 First Aired: January 24, 1980 Writer: Chris Bunch and Allan Cole    Director: Larry Stewart

[ 18 ] Twiki is Missing Earth is faced with mass destruction from an asteroid heading towards the planet. Meanwhile, Twiki is stolen by Kurt Belzak and taken to his mining colony on a different planet. To replace rebelling mine workers, Belzak schemes to reproduce the drone and send the duplicates into the mines. Buck travels to the planet to save Twiki, and while in the mines he finds a powerful explosive that can destroy the asteroid. But first he must get past a trio of Omni Guard super androids sent by Belzak to kill Buck. Season: 1 First Aired: January 31, 1980 Writer: Jaron Summers    Director: Sigmund Neufeld, Jr.

[ 19 ] Olympiad Buck becomes involved in interplanetary politics when, while a guest at the interplanetary Olympics of 2492, he and Wilma are approached by an athelete who wishes to defect. Little do they realize that the alien, Jorex from the planet Loziria, has been given an explosive implant in his head that can kill him should he try to escape while on the planet Mykos. Season: 1 First Aired: February 07, 1980 Writer: Craig Buck    Director: Larry Stewart

[ 20 ] A Dream of Jennifer Buck cannot believe his eyes when he sees his 20th century girlfriend alive on present day Earth. Buck follows the young girl, but she continues to give him the slip until he catches her in the resort town of City-on-the-Sea. The stranger, named Leila, reveals that it is no coincidence that she looks like Buck's long-lost girl friend: her appearance has been purposedly altered by an alien named Reev so that she could serve as a lure. With Buck now a captive, Reev demands that the human stop a shipment of arms to a planet his people have plans to conquer. Season: 1 First Aired: February 14, 1980 Writer: Alan Brennert    Director: Harvey Laidman and David G. Phinney

[ 21 ] Space Rockers Buck becomes involved with a futuristic rock group named Andromeda when a series of riots break out at all of their concerts. Buck's investigation finds that the band's manager, Lars Mangros, has been secretly encoding the group's music with behavior-altering sounds that create the riots. Buck is forced to convince Andromeda not to play at galactic-wide broadcast from the space station Musicworld, to prevent Mangros from causing chaos throughout the galaxy. Season: 1 First Aired: February 21, 1980 Writer: Chris Bunch and Allan Cole    Director: Guy Magar

[ 22 ] Buck's Duel to the Death Buck is sent on what may be a one-way mission: he must overthrow the warlord ruler of a peaceful planet, not knowing that the Traybor possesses special powers that may bring his career to an abrupt end. Buck learns of the Traybor's abilities the hard way after leading a Defense Directorate attack force into Traybor's fortress in an attempt to free a prisoner. Season: 1 First Aired: March 20, 1980 Writer: Robert W. Gilmer    Director: Bob Bender

[ 23 ] Flight of the War Witch (part one) Buck enters a space warp that sends him into an alternate universe where he encounters the planet Pendar, a peaceful world under attack by a "war witch" named Zarina. Matters become further complicated with the arrival of Princess Ardala on the Draconia, who has brought along Wilma and Dr. Huer during a temporary truce between her world and Earth. Buck enlists the aid of both Earth and Draconian forces to save Pendar from the attack of a huge Zaad battlecruiser. Season: 1 First Aired: March 27, 1980 Writer: Robert W. Gilmer and William Mageean    Director: Larry Stewart

[ 24 ] Flight of the War Witch (part two) Buck enters a space warp that sends him into an alternate universe where he encounters the planet Pendar, a peaceful world under attack by a "war witch" named Zarina. Matters become further complicated with the arrival of Princess Ardala on the Draconia, who has brought along Wilma and Dr. Huer during a temporary truce between her world and Earth. Buck enlists the aid of both Earth and Draconian forces to save Pendar from the attack of a huge Zaad battlecruiser. Season: 1 First Aired: March 27, 1980 Writer: Robert W. Gilmer and William Mageean    Director: Larry Stewart

[ 25 ] Time of the Hawk (part one) Buck, Wilma and Twiki are assigned duty aboard the Searcher, a long distance space probe. Under the command of Admiral Asimov, the ship sets out to find various groups of humans that left Earth before the holocaust. Buck's first adventure aboard the Searcher begins when they find a nearly-destroyed spaceship, whose last living crew member reveals that a bird-like man named Hawk attacked and destroyed their ship. In retaliation for the destruction of his tribe by humans, the bird-man has vowed to destroy any and all humans he comes across. Buck tracks Hawk down to the planet Throm, when he captures Koori, Hawk's mate. Koori sends out a message to Hawk, who arrives to battle Buck to the death. Season: 2 First Aired: January 15, 1981 Writer: Norman Hudis    Director: Vincent McEveety

[ 26 ] Time of the Hawk (part two) Buck, Wilma and Twiki are assigned duty aboard the Searcher, a long distance space probe. Under the command of Admiral Asimov, the ship sets out to find various groups of humans that left Earth before the holocaust. Buck's first adventure aboard the Searcher begins when they find a nearly-destroyed spaceship, whose last living crew member reveals that a bird-like man named Hawk attacked and destroyed their ship. In retaliation for the destruction of his tribe by humans, the bird-man has vowed to destroy any and all humans he comes across. Buck tracks Hawk down to the planet Throm, when he captures Koori, Hawk's mate. Koori sends out a message to Hawk, who arrives to battle Buck to the death. Season: 2 First Aired: January 15, 1981 Writer: Norman Hudis    Director: Vincent McEveety

[ 27 ] Journey to Oasis (part one) Hawk joins the crew of the Searcher to find lost colonies from Earth, just as his own people had left Earth centuries ago for a new home elsewhere in space. Dr. Goodfellow directs a group consisting of Buck, Hawk, and Wilma, to escort a visiting ambassador to a peace conference. However, the shuttle Buck is piloting crashes with Duvoe aboard, possibly bringing about an interplanetary war if he does not reach the conference in time. Relations between the men are strained because of Duvoe competing with Buck for Wilma's affections, as the ambassador had been romantically involved with her in the past. While Buck tries to keep the group alive and reach the conference on time, the Searcher comes under attack by the ambassador's ship, whose crew wants to know what has happened to their leader. Season: 2 First Aired: January 22, 1981 Writer: Robert Mitchell and Esther Mitchell    Director: Daniel Haller

[ 28 ] Journey to Oasis (part two) Hawk joins the crew of the Searcher to find lost colonies from Earth, just as his own people had left Earth centuries ago for a new home elsewhere in space. Dr. Goodfellow directs a group consisting of Buck, Hawk, and Wilma, to escort a visiting ambassador to a peace conference. However, the shuttle Buck is piloting crashes with Duvoe aboard, possibly bringing about an interplanetary war if he does not reach the conference in time. Relations between the men are strained because of Duvoe competing with Buck for Wilma's affections, as the ambassador had been romantically involved with her in the past. While Buck tries to keep the group alive and reach the conference on time, the Searcher comes under attack by the ambassador's ship, whose crew wants to know what has happened to their leader. Season: 2 First Aired: January 22, 1981 Writer: Robert Mitchell and Esther Mitchell    Director: Daniel Haller

[ 29 ] The Guardians A dying old man gives Buck a strange glowing box while they are on the planet Janovus XXVI. Hawk and Buck return the container to the Searcher, where it begins to cause hallucinations among the crew. While an alien causes chaos aboard the ship, it takes over control and heads the Searcher at top speed toward an unknown destination. Buck and the crew must overcome their delusions and stop the ship before they are lost forever. Season: 2 First Aired: January 29, 1981 Writer: Paul Schneider and Margaret Schneider    Director: Jack Arnold

[ 30 ] Mark of the Saurian The Saurians, a monsterous-looking group of aliens, have landed aboard the Searcher under the guise of friendship. Using a device to make them appear human, they plan to infiltrate the ship to cause a galactic war. However, Buck, who has just overcome a flu-like virus, sees the aliens for what they are. He tries to convince the crew that monsters are aboard, but to no avail. His friends believe him to be mentally unbalanced from the sickness. The Saurians fear that Buck will expose them and decide to kill the pilot before others become suspicious. Season: 2 First Aired: February 05, 1981 Writer: Francis Moss    Director: Barry Crane

[ 31 ] The Golden Man The Searcher finds an escape capsule in a field of asteroids, and rescues a golden-colored boy from it. Shortly after, the Searcher is struck by an asteroid, and Asimov is saved when the boy uses telepathic powers to alter the molecular structure of a metal beam that fell on the admiral. The boy Velis, says that he cannot repair the disabled ship in the same way as he is too young to have sufficient power. But an adult friend imprisoned on a nearby planet can help if Buck and Hawk can free him. Season: 2 First Aired: February 19, 1981 Writer: Calvin Clement, Sr. and Stephen McPherson    Director: Vincent McEveety

[ 32 ] The Crystals Buck, Wilma and Hawk leave for a planet to search for crystals needed to power the Searcher. After landing they find a young girl inhabiting the planet, and also a strange mummy-like creature that continually attacks the search party. The super-computer Crichton believes that the amnesia-stricken girl will, in time, mutate into a mummy creature herself, as it is the natural evolution of her species. Season: 2 First Aired: March 05, 1981 Writer: Robert Mitchell and Esther Mitchell    Director: John Patterson

[ 33 ] The Satyr While searching another planet, Buck and Twiki locate the remaining survivors of a colonization attempt. Most of the colony members had left years earlier because of an unknown plague. Two of the survivors, a young widow named Syra and her son Delph, stayed behind to run their farm. While there, they are continually attacked by a horned creature named Pangor, yet Syra refuses Buck's invitation to leave, which Buck cannot understand. Before he can convince them to abandon the planet, Buck is stricken by the plague, which begins to transform him into a creature known as a "Satyr". Season: 2 First Aired: March 12, 1981 Writer: Paul Schneider and Margaret Schneider    Director: Victor French

[ 34 ] Shgoratchx! Buck and Hawk are ordered to explore an old derelict spaceship, where they find a hold full of solar bombs and a crew of seven dwarfs. The crew are transferred to the Searcher, and it is decided to take the derelict to a safe location to detonate the bombs before they can explode on their own. Buck turns the seven uniformed men over to Wilma, who has her hands full when she discovers the little aliens have never seen a woman before. Season: 2 First Aired: March 19, 1981 Writer: William Keys    Director: Vincent McEveety

[ 35 ] The Hand of the Goral Buck, Hawk and Wilma travel to an unusual world known as "The Planet of Death" and encounter many strange happenings. They first find a wrecked space ship with its pilot, whom Wilma returns to the Searcher. While she is gone, Buck and Hawk explore an abandoned village where they both momentarily disappear. As if this isn't enough, they return to the mother ship only to find the personalities of the crew have drastically changed. Season: 2 First Aired: March 26, 1981 Writer: Francis Moss    Director: David G. Phinney

[ 36 ] Testimony of a Traitor It appears that Buck may have been at least partly responsible for the nuclear holocaust that nearly destroyed the Earth. A recently-found video tape from the 20th century provides enough evidence for Commissioner Bergstrom to start a war crime trial against Buck, who will be put to death if found guilty. In order to prove his innocence, Buck once again is placed under the mind probe, where his memories only seem to further indicate his guilt. Season: 2 First Aired: April 09, 1981 Writer: Stephen McPherson    Director: Bernard McEveety

[ 37 ] The Dorian Secret On a space station is a group of survivors from a planetary disaster who are being transported to a new home. Also on board are Hawk and Buck who rescue a young woman being attacked by Dorian males. After returning to the Searcher, the ship is attacked by a Dorian vessel whose commander demands that an escaping Dorian female be turned over to them immediately. The girl, wanted for the murder of a Dorian leader's son, is the one Buck brought on board the Searcher. Buck believes the Dorians are making a mistake, but the passengers, under the pressure of constant Dorian attacks against the Searcher, finally take matters into their own hands and turn over both Buck and the girl to the Dorian warlord. Season: 2 First Aired: April 16, 1981 Writer: Stephen McPherson    Director: Jack Arnold