Harsh Realm (1999–2000)

Lt. Hobbes is sent into a VR wargame simulation where he is to terminate a renegade General who has taken control of the program.

Creator:

Chris Carter

Stars:

Scott Bairstow, D.B. Sweeney, Terry O'Quinn

1 nomination.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Scott Bairstow	...	Lt. Thomas Hobbes (9 episodes, 1999-2000)
D.B. Sweeney	...	Mike Pinnochio (9 episodes, 1999-2000)
Terry O'Quinn	...	General Omar Santiago (9 episodes, 1999-2000)
Rachel Hayward	...	Florence (7 episodes, 1999-2000)
Max Martini	...	Waters (5 episodes, 1999-2000)
Vinnie	...	Dexter the Dog (5 episodes, 1999-2000)
Samantha Mathis	...	Sophie Green (4 episodes, 1999-2000)
Sarah-Jane Redmond	...	Inga Fossa (4 episodes, 1999-2000)

Storyline

Lt. Hobbes volunteers to test the army's newest tool, a virtual reality training machine code named "Harsh Realm." Once attached to the machine, Hobbes discovers that the VR world is controlled by the renegade soldier Omar Santiago. While Hobbes body remains in a coma, his mind lives on in the VR world, where he must join forces with an underground force in their attempt to overthrow Santiago.

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Plot Keywords:

virtual reality | short lived | cyberpunk | avatar | television flop | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Harsh Realm - le royaume

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, Ten Thirteen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min 45 min (9 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the final Ep., the date of the 'incident' is October 13. Consequently, Ten Thirteen is the name of the production company that produced "Harsh Realm".

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Goofs

In the title sequence, Hobbes's military ID card lists his rank and military pay grade as "LT/03". Hobbes is Army, and that rank/pay grade is consistent for the Navy.

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Quotes

Mike Pinnochio: If I can't eat it, bang it or burn it, I'm sure as hell not gonna learn it.

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Crazy Credits

In the closing credits for "Reunion", Steve Makaj is credited as "Dr. Goines" (instead of Serge Houde) as well as "Tracker #1".

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Connections

Referenced in Family Guy: North by North Quahog (2005)

User Reviews

This ain't no "Lonesome Dove" for Bairstow!!

Virtual reality, a video game in which everything and everyone seems real. The bullets, fire, even people you'd know might turn up in it and try to shut you down. That's the problem Lt. Tom Hobbes (Scott Bairstow, "Wild America", "Lonesome Dove: the Outlaw Years") has to put up with in Chris Carter's new FOX show "Harsh Realm", about a soldier whose forced to play in a dangerous VR game that acquires the title of the show!



Before watching this show, I never really was a fan of Chris Carter's shows or of Scott Bairstow. I don't like "The X-files" that much, and I thought Bairstow played weak roles prior to joining the ansemble cast of "Harsh Realm". This is a really cool show, with cool graphics, great performances (especially of Bairstow's, who really shines in this) and a nicely-woven plot. This is a great way to spend Friday nights, proving that virtual reality doesn't bite!!