Mission: Impossible (1988–1990) 7.5
An elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture. Creator:Bruce Geller |
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Mission: Impossible (1988–1990) 7.5
An elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture. Creator:Bruce Geller |
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| Complete series cast summary: | |||
| Peter Graves | ... |
Jim Phelps
(35 episodes, 1988-1990)
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| Thaao Penghlis | ... |
Nicholas Black
(35 episodes, 1988-1990)
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Antony Hamilton | ... |
Max Harte
(35 episodes, 1988-1990)
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| Phil Morris | ... |
Grant Collier
(35 episodes, 1988-1990)
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Bob Johnson | ... |
Voice on Disc
(27 episodes, 1988-1990)
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| Jane Badler | ... |
Shannon Reed
(24 episodes, 1989-1990)
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Terry Markwell | ... |
Casey Randall
(12 episodes, 1988-1989)
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Jim Phelps is the head of a super-secret government agency ("Impossible Mission Force"), and is often given secret anonymous covert missions to attempt; quite often they are unmasking of criminals or rescuing of hostages. He picks his team depending on which tasks need to be done. One thing is vital on an Impossible Mission: the mission must be carried out in entire secrecy, often relying on high-tech equipment and elaborate deceptions. An update of the classic 1966 series, featuring a great deal of high-tech gadgetry. Written by Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>
For this revival (which not only returned the classic series to television but also four of its original episodes - "The Killer" [redone here as the premiere episode], "The Condemned," "The System" and "The Legacy") Peter Graves again assumed command of the IM Force with a new set of equivalents for the old unit, shot in Australia and with stronger effects... but lesser scripts.
Watching the originals again, they're miniature gems particularly in the first few years; the new version just isn't as compelling, although having Casey Randall be the first IM member to actually die in the course of duty was unusual. The episode "Submarine" pretty much encapsulates the remake's inferiority; written by the show's visual effects supervisor Dale Duguid, there's an unfortunate emphasis on how the illusion required to trap the villain is done, which suffuses any suspense.
The show does, however, have more fidelity to the concept than the misguided cinema version from Cruise and DePalma, which is why this is ultimately preferable. But the original show is the one to watch.