"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

 (Series Cast Summary - 8 of 13)

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:

Thomas Hobbes is named for the philosopher Thomas Hobbes, who believed in predestination and that people are inherently selfish and power-hungry.

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:

Lt. Mel Waters: Can you remind me what we're doing here?
Lt. Thomas Hobbes: Peacekeeping.
Lt. Mel Waters: We're doing a helluva job.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Millennium: Creating the Logo & Title Sequence (2004) (V)

I posted this same review for the Behind the Scenes documentary, so forgive me if you accidentally read it twice...

Okay, let me start off by saying I'd never heard of Harsh Realm. 1999 was a busy year for me, and when I heard the words "From the creator of the X-Files..." I didn't get to the end of any of the ads before I turned the channel. I never liked the X-Files, and for no particularly good reason. I might never have heard of Harsh Realm, but I work at Wal-Mart, and they got some DVD series in for fifteen bucks, and I thought "Hmmmm." I picked up Dark Angel first, another series I'd never heard of, then, the next week, I gave Harsh Realm a try. I enjoyed all 9 episodes very much, and I enjoyed the special feature's look behind the scenes. It was well put-together, and they didn't spend the whole time yelling about how they were never given a chance and all that, as some people like to do in their commentaries. I only wish the show had had a definitive ending, and, of course, that I had watched episode nine before episode eight, as I was instructed to do. I'm not going to say anything to spoil it, just that if you pick up the DVDs for yourself, you should watch nine, then eight, it gives it more of an "ending" feel, if only slightly....