"Harsh Realm" (1999) TV series 1999-2000

Creator:

Chris Carter

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

8 October 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Virtual Reality | Short Lived | Cyberpunk | Television Flop | Based On Comic

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

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)

Runtime:

45 min (9 episodes)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 (DVD release) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The part of Santiago was written specifically for Terry O'Quinn.

Goofs:

Factual errors: 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.

Quotes:

Mike Pinnochio: Whatever you're looking for here, somebody has already eaten it, banged it or burned it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Inside 'Harsh Realm' (2004) (V)

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!!