Flash Gordon (TV series, 2007)
| Television series | |
|---|---|
| German title | Flash Gordon |
| Original title | Flash Gordon |
| Country of production | United States , Canada |
| original language | English |
| year | 2007 |
| length | 42 minutes |
| Episodes | 21 in 1 season |
| genre | Science fiction |
| idea |
Peter Hume Alex Raymond (template) |
| production | Pascal Verschooris |
| music | Michael Picton |
| First broadcast | August 10, 2007 ( United States ) on Sci Fi Channel |
| German-language first broadcast |
September 24, 2008 on RTL II |
| occupation | |
Flash Gordon is an American / Canadian television series from 2007. The series about the hero Flash Gordon , created by Peter Hume , is based on the template by Alex Raymond . The series was discontinued after a season. As early as 1954, the American television station DuMont Television Network had produced a 39 episode television series of the same name in which Steve Holland played the role of Flash Gordon.
action
The marathon runner Steve Gordon, called "Flash" because of his speed, finds out that his father was not killed in a laboratory fire, but rather disappeared through a crack in the space-time structure. Along with the strange Dr. Hans Zarkov, a former work colleague of his father's, and his old childhood sweetheart Dale Arden, meanwhile engaged, examine them a crack. Dale and Flash land on the planet Mongo, where the ruthless ruler Ming has usurped control of the water supplies. This uses the portals to search for a device called Imex. Flash prevents him from getting this, but more and more portals appear. Together with Dale, Zarkov and the renegade Mongo inhabitant Baylin, Flash fights against the extraterrestrial threats that come to Earth from these portals. He also hopes to find his father again, as there are rumors that he is still alive. A prophecy foretells the imminent end of Ming's reign. Through the dimensional portals, Flash influences Mongo's politics and is becoming more and more of a threat to Ming. Rankol, Ming's opaque right-hand man, tries to win the team around Flash Gordon over for his cause, as the existence of the portals threatens both worlds. He also keeps Flash's father trapped in a mind control panel. Ming believes he sees the Verden leader Barin as his opponent and keeps him in custody after a massacre of his people. After intervention by Aura, however, he is finally banished.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the warrior who is supposed to overthrow Ming is probably Flash Gordon. But then Aura's brother Terek appears, the "King of the Devils". He has made a plan to overthrow Ming and is supported in this endeavor by Flash and his friends. Later, Rankol and Aura also switch sides and join the rebellion. Together they manage to free Flash's father and send him back to earth. However, the portal generator is destroyed and Flash, Dale and Zarkov are stuck on Mongo. Ming's reign appears to have ended, but Ming escapes his execution.
characters
main characters
Steven "Flash" Gordon is a marathon runner and auto mechanic from Maryland . He lost his father at a young age and now learns that he worked for a secret group called the Portage Initiative. This initiative examined holes between the dimensions and tried to create them. During the experiments, his father disappeared under unexplained circumstances. Flash lives with his mother and has a garage in her garage with his best friend Nick. Together with his friends, he faces the alien threat. He has a high sense of justice, but is often hot-headed and willing to take risks in his search.
Dale Arden is Flash's childhood sweetheart. She works as a reporter for the local television station and takes her job very seriously. When she is drawn into the events around the portals, she works with Flash and even hides it from her fiancé, the police officer Joe Wylee.
Dr. Hans Zarkov is a former colleague of Flash's father and belonged to the "Portage Initiative" until they threw him out and banished him to an asylum for three years. He is the intellectual part of the team and provides the technology with which Flash manages to track down the portals. He is also the only one who can study the technology of the planet Mongo and use it for their cause. Hans Zarkov is rather shy and fearful, but obsessed with his work.
Baylin was once a bounty hunter for Ming but failed her mission to find the Imex and remained on Earth. Over time, she developed a friendship with Flash, Zarkov and Dale and supported the three of them, although it was very difficult for her to adapt to the new circumstances. The native Verde (a people of Mongo who oppose the Ming) are very belligerent and ruthless.
Ming is the sole ruler of the planet Mongo. He has power over the planet's water resources and is ruthlessly exploiting it. Anyone who defies his orders can expect severe penalties. He is after the technology to control the portals, which he uses to smuggle enemies onto Earth. He is supported by Rankol and his opaque daughter Aura.
Supporting characters
Rankol is the scientist of the planet Mongo and Ming's right-hand man. However, he is making his own plans behind Ming's back. In truth, he has long been a member of an order of monks and serves prophecy.
Joe Wylee , Dale's fiancé, is a police officer. He only finds out later about what is going on around the portals and tries to make them known. After he had a chip implanted by one of Ming's scientists, he stole the Imex. When he becomes aware of his betrayal, he finally sacrifices himself for the group.
Aura , Ming's daughter, is very self-interested and very scheming. Her relationship with Flash Gordon is opaque, oscillating between affection and disapproval. She loves her father, but cannot cope with his ruthlessness. She secretly searches for her mother and meets her brother, whom she eventually joins.
Barin is the leader of the Verden and does everything for his people. To save her, he first agrees to marry Aura, but then tries to kill Ming and thus seals his fate. After a massacre on Verden, he faces Ming and is sentenced to life in prison.
Terek is the son of Ming and the brother of Aura. Because he had abnormal blood, his father rejected him. He founded the unofficial canton of the abnormal, an underground movement to overthrow Ming. Terek has a great sense of justice and ideals, but inherited ruthlessness and vindictiveness from his father.
Cast and dubbing
The dubbing is done under the dialogue direction of Björn Schalla by the dubbing company Neue Tonfilm in Munich .
Main cast
| Role name | Actress | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Steven "Flash" Gordon | Eric Johnson | Marius Clarén |
| Dale Arden | Gina Holden | Tanya Kahana |
| Baylin | Karen Cliche | Dascha Lehmann |
| Dr. Hans Zarkov | Jody Racicor | Olaf Reichmann |
| Ming | John Ralston | Bernd Vollbrecht |
Guest and supporting cast
| Role name | Actress | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Rankol | Jonathan Walker | Oliver Siebeck |
| Joe Wylee | Giles Panton | Björn Schalla |
| Princess aura | Anna van Hooft | Giuliana Jakobeit |
| Bear | Steve Bacic | Dennis Schmidt-Foss |
| Terek | Craig Stanghetta | Frank Schaff |
Differences to the template
There are a few deviations from the original, which producer and person in charge Peter Hume explains by saying that he wanted to modernize the series and bring it into the present without making it seem cheesy. In the series, Flash Gordon is not stranded on Mongo, but switches back and forth between Earth and Mongo. The figure constellation is also based on the original story, but has been slightly modified. Hume also built in a triangle story with Aura, Dale and Flash, which cannot be found in the original story. Dale Arden is also engaged, which means further involvement. Flash actor Eric Johnson , who also worked as a screenwriter for the series, sees his character in the tradition of the old actors, but also took parts of modern anti-heroes like Indiana Jones into his interpretation of Flash Gordon. Attempts were also made to give the old races on Mongo a new face, and the names have also changed. The Lionmen became the "Turn" and the "Hawkmen" became the "Dactyls". The female characters were strengthened compared to the traditional image of women in the 1930s.
From the start, there have been complaints from Flash Gordon fans who heavily criticized parts of the series. From halfway through the season, complaints were recorded and Ming, for example, was made a little more angry. Peter Hume portrays him as a personality who does horrific things, but only does so to save the planet. In an interview with "MediaBlvd Magazine" he called him "Saddam Hussein kind of tyrant".
background
The first season of Flash Gordon aired in the United States and Canada on August 14, 2007. After comparisons with series like Buffy - The Vampire Slayer , Stargate - Kommando SG-1 and films like the Indiana Jones series, the expectations of the fans were quite high, but the ratings diverged very strongly. After a season, the series was discontinued because the television station, according to managing director David Howe, did not treat the character of Flash Gordon as it should have been ("didn't treat the character of" Flash Gordon "the way he should 've been treated ”) and promised a new beginning later. The German first broadcast of RTL II took place on September 24, 2008, but was discontinued after four episodes. The pay TV broadcaster Syfy took over the broadcast of the series from December 1, 2009.
Episode list
The first broadcast was from August 10, 2007 to February 8, 2008 on the US television station Sci Fi Channel . The German-language first broadcast ran from September 24 to October 15, 2008 on the German TV station RTL II . From episode five, the German-language first broadcast took place between December 10, 2009 and January 7, 2010 on the German channel Syfy .
| No. | German title | Original title | Summary | First broadcast in the USA | German language first broadcast (D) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The portal of dimensions | pilot | The marathon runner Steve "Flash" Gordon finds out that his father was not killed in a laboratory fire, but rather disappeared through a crack in the space-time structure. Along with the strange Dr. Hans Zarkov and his old sweetheart Dale Arden, meanwhile engaged, examine them a crack. Dale and Flash land on the planet Mongo, but they escape with the help of Aura Ming. The bounty hunter Baylin shows up and tries to get the Imex. Flash supposedly destroys it and Aura jumps back through the portal to Mongo. The portal closes and a stunned Baylin is left behind. | Aug 10, 2007 | Sep 24 2008 |
| 2 | Intruders | Pride | Baylin's federal partner Tire tries to capture them and bring them back to Mongo. With combined forces, Flash and Baylin succeed in pushing Tire back into an unstable portal, where he supposedly dies. | Aug 17, 2007 | Oct 1, 2008 |
| 3 | Deadly luck | Infestation | A dangerous insect comes to earth through a crack, stings Nick and brings him into a state of extreme euphoria. The life-threatening sting can only be taken care of by an antidote from Mongo. While Baylin and Flash travel to Mongo to get the antidote, Dale must prevent Nick, who was invited to his brother's wedding, from attaining the state of greatest happiness. | Aug 24, 2007 | Oct 8, 2008 |
| 4th | The double flash | Assassin | An assassin, who has taken on the appearance of Flash's father, comes to earth through a portal and tries to suck the brains of the remaining members of the "Portage Initiative". | Sep 7 2007 | Oct 15, 2008 |
| 5 | In the land of the bird people | Ascension | Dactyls kidnap the rebellious Tea-Jay, the son of their leader Vultans, who once came to earth through a portal. Tee-Jay is in turn kidnapped by one of Ming's drones and Flash, Baylin and Dale bring him back to his father. | Sep 14 2007 | Dec 10, 2009 |
| 6th | Robbed life | Life Source | A woman who can express her life force to people comes to earth. Flash, Baylin and Dale try to stop them. | Sep 14 2007 | Dec 11, 2009 |
| 7th | Alliances | Alliances (Part 1) | Flash, Baylin, and Zarkov travel through a portal to find Flash's father. There they support the Velden in repairing a water purifier that Flash's father had designed. Meanwhile, Barin, the head of the canton, travels to Ming to submit. He offers him his daughter's hand. | 28 Sep 2007 | Dec 12, 2009 |
| 8th | Like father, like son | Revelations (Part 2) | Flash, Baylin and Zarkov try to prevent the wedding between Barin and Aura and open a new portal to leave Mongo. Flash and Zarkov are captured, but both manage to escape. Before that, however, Flash learns that his father was allegedly executed by Ming. While Baylin and Zarkov escape through a portal, Flash is sent back by a guild of fortune tellers who have announced him as the conqueror of Ming. | Oct 5, 2007 | Dec 16, 2009 |
| 9 | Life and death duel | Till death | Aura tries to make Flash compliant with a love potion in order to avoid the impending marriage with Barin | Oct 12, 2007 | Dec 16, 2009 |
| 10 | Zarkov's kidnapping | Conspiracy Theory | Rankol has Zarkov kidnapped while Dale and Flash are interrogated by a government agent. | Oct 19, 2007 | Dec 17, 2009 |
| 11 | Random portals | Random access | Portals arise suddenly and randomly. While Joe and Flash have to work in a mine, Baylin and Dale help one of Mongo's pregnant women. | Oct 26, 2007 | Dec 21, 2009 |
| 12 | Lies and secrets | Secrets and Lies | Joe tries to tell his manager about Mongo. Flash and Zarkov get into a conflict between two cantons. | Nov 2, 2007 | Dec 22, 2009 |
| 13 | The day of great suffering | Sorrow | Baylin travels to Mongo with Flash and Dale for “Day of Great Sorrows,” which is supposed to commemorate an environmental disaster. Ming uses the celebrations to cause a massacre on Verde. | Nov 9, 2007 | 23 Dec 2009 |
| 14th | The Prophecy | Stand and Deliver | Flash and Dale help Baylin Verden free from slavery. Meanwhile, Ming's fear of the prophecy grows. In the end, Barin sacrifices himself for his people and can only avoid execution through a ruse flash. | Oct 16, 2007 | Dec 24, 2009 |
| 15th | Battle of witches | Possession | Joe steals the Rift Blaster from Zarkov's office. Dale's soul is stolen by a witch. | Nov 30, 2007 | Dec 28, 2009 |
| 16 | The lost brother | Thicker than water | Flash, Baylin and Zarkov try to get the Rift Blaster back that Joe lost. | Jan. 4, 2008 | Dec 29, 2009 |
| 17th | Victim | Ebb and Flow | Rankol steals a lake using rift technology. Flash, Baylin and Zarkov try to get him back, and Joe is killed. | Jan. 11, 2008 | Dec 31, 2009 |
| 18th | Poisonous water | Blame | Water that Flash retrieved is poisoned. Flash tries to find an antidote with Aura. | Jan. 18, 2008 | Dec 31, 2009 |
| 19th | The icequeen | Cold Day in Hell | Flash tries to free a queen who is trapped in the ice. | Jan. 25, 2008 | Jan. 4, 2010 |
| 20th | Revolution, part 1 | Revolution (Part 1) | Terek tries to unite the cantons. Ming orders Rankol's execution for betraying him. Flash manages to free his father. | Feb. 1, 2008 | Jan. 6, 2010 |
| 21st | Revolution, part 2 | Revolution (Part 2) | The final battle against Ming begins, but Ming escapes. While Flash's father returns to Earth, Flash, Dale and Baylin stay on Mongo. | Feb 8, 2008 | Jan. 7, 2010 |
Web links
- Flash Gordon in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Flash Gordon 2007. In: synchronkartei.de. German synchronous index , accessed on September 17, 2015 .
- ↑ Peter Hume, quoted from http://flashgordon.wikia.com : Flash Gordon (Sci Fi Channel). flashgordon.wikia.com, accessed August 6, 2010 .
- ↑ a b Travis Fickett: The New Flash Gordon Talks. IGN Entertainment , accessed August 6, 2010 .
- ↑ Sean Elliott: Exclusive Interview: Eric Johnson saves every one of us in "Flash Gordon". (No longer available online.) IF Magazine, Aug 10, 2007, archived from the original on Feb 11, 2010 ; Retrieved August 6, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ A b Kenn Gold: EP Peter Hume On Flash Gordon's Future. (No longer available online.) Media Blvd Magazine, October 19, 2007, archived from the original on August 29, 2008 ; Retrieved August 6, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Nix: Is Flash Gordon Canceled or Not? ( Memento from April 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Ralf Schönfeld: RTL II puts "Flash Gordon" off. Wishlist.de, October 18, 2010, accessed August 6, 2010 .
- ↑ Flash Gordon in the OFDB. Online film database , accessed August 6, 2010 .
