Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV Series) Shgoratchx! (1981) User Reviews

Buck Rogers: "Shgoratchx!"

[Wuchakk · 5/10 · 29 August 2017]

PLOT: Buck & Hawk discover seven little people (midgets) on a derelict spaceship carrying unsound and deteriorating bombs. While towing the disabled craft to a planet where they can safely detonate the explosives, the mischievous little persons naturally create havoc, including inadvertently destroying the Searcher's power source, indirectly damaging Crichton's positronic brain, and triggering the vessel to change course toward a vast flaming star and certain annihilation!

COMMENTARY: This one-off installment attempts to be a cute episode and it is to a degree. The amusing tone is reminiscent of Star Trek's comedy troika: "I, Mudd," "The Trouble with Tribbles" and "A Piece of the Action," although not as engaging or amusing. Still, it has its points of interest, like the little folks' psychokinesis, Twiki's self-sacrificial resolve in saving his "son" and the suspenseful close. After meeting Wilma, the "elves" are as curious as any red-blooded man concerning what lies beneath that cute sailor uniform, lol.

'Look, it has bumps!'

[Chase_Witherspoon · 6/10 · 31 August 2022]

Bordering on farce, here we find Buck and Hawk boarding a drifting ship manned by seven dwarves (!). Specifically six pint-sized Generals and one smart-mouthed, defiant Private (hilarious Tony Cox) who proceed to wreck their hosts own ship with their disruptive antics as they become enamoured by the lovely Col. Deering and her feminine form.

It's a pretty crazy concept as the dwarves behave like naughty school kids, pushing buttons and blasting asteroids, and there's an hilarious (also maybe a little uncomfortable) scene in which they telepathically undress Deering to better understand the female reproductive anatomy (which ends in a freeze-frame cliffhanger no less).

There's also a subplot involving the ship being drawn into a nearby sun causing the crew to perspire (literally), and a very 'Wizard of Oz' esque ending with Hyde-White reminding everyone to believe in miracles.

If you're a BR fan you'll appreciate the more light-hearted plot which plays more for laughs than thrills, although probably didn't help the by-now ailing series' long-term prospects.

You just know that a series is on its last legs when they bring out the dwarfs.

[BA_Harrison · 19 May 2008]

Buck and Hawk explore an old derelict spacecraft that has drifted into busy space-lanes; there they find seven (yes... seven) dwarfs in charge of a cargo of dangerously deteriorating solar bombs. The little folk are transferred to The Searcher, which is used to tow the disabled craft to a safe destination where the unstable bombs can be detonated.

Once onboard The Searcher, however, the troublesome little folk cause all manner of problems, including accidentally damaging the ship's power supply, denting Crichton's positronic brain, and causing The Searcher to alter course and head straight for a star!

I've always been of the opinion that the inclusion of a dwarf can drastically improve almost any film or TV episode (particularly if the dwarf in question is adept at kung fu), but in this particular case, I think that it's a case of a few dwarfs too many. With their constant cheeky shenanigans and annoying mannerisms (all saying the same thing at the same time), I found this group of diminutive aliens irritating in the extreme—well, at least until they teamed together in an attempt to remove sexy Wilma Deering's sailor uniform.

After that, I kinda respected them a little more.

Off-think! Off-think! You know what, next time I meet Erin Gray, I might just give that a try.

Fun if your mindset is prekubescent

[jeff-cossey · 4/10 · 24 January 2020]

I really don't know what they was thinking when they decided to make this episode.I really think they went to a class of 5th graders and ask them to come up with a script!

Stupid, stupid, stupid

[telecocydon2003 · 1/10 · 29 December 2023]

If you have ever desire to see the worst hour, in television history, look no further. This episode is absolute garbage. Buck Rogers versus the seven dwarves? Have you got to be out of your ever loving mind?

There is not a single moment in this Ridiculousness that isn't terrible. Bad writing, bad acting, and such overwhelming, emotional flapdoodle, that even the worst soap opera could not lower its self to. It's not surprising that the series ended three episodes later. Considering how bad the show was, I am amazed it lasted one and a half seasons , but this episode put a very large fat final nail into this incredibly silly and derivative show.

Annoying, Silly and Unfunny

[claudio_carvalho · 3/10 · 24 December 2023]

Buck is tired and needing to rest, but Admiral Asimov assigns Hawk and him to explore a derelict spacecraft that is adrift in space in a route of other spaceships. When they arrive, they find seven alien dwarfs on board and that the ship is full of unstable solar bombs that might explode in any moment. They bring the dwarfs to the Searcher and use the traction beam to tow the spacecraft to a specific planet to blow up the bombs. But the dwarfs bring trouble to the Searcher and crew with the childish and curious behaviors, including a damage of Crichton's brain. Twiki offers the ultimate sacrifice donating his brain to Crichton to repair the Searcher and save the crew.

"Shgoratchx!" is an annoying, silly and unfunny episode of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". It is hard to believe that someone has produced this show, wasting the cast in such foolishness. The dwarfs irritate the greatest fan of the series and are never funny. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil); "Shgoratchx!"

Enjoyably kooky episode

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 20 July 2011]

Buck (the always likable Gil Gerard) and Hawk (a fine Thom Christopher) search an old derelict spaceship. They discover a bunch of dangerously unstable solar bombs and a gaggle of mischievous dwarfs with a penchant for causing havoc. Said dwarfs go positively gaga when they see their first woman in the fetching form of Wilma Deering (the ever-lovely Erin Gray in peak charming and attractive form). Director Vincent McEveety, working from a cheerfully silly script by William Keyes, gives this atypically lighthearted episode a giddy tongue-in-cheek sensibility that's amusing and enjoyable in equal measure. The dwarfs are a really funky and colorful bunch; their wacky antics are a real hoot to watch (a sequence showing these tiny troublemakers attempting to strip off Wilma's clothing with their telepathic powers is simply hilarious). Moreover, the actors portraying these little terrors play their parts with tremendous verve, with especially stand-out work from Tommy Madden as excitable leader General Xenos and Tony Cox of "Bad Santa" fame as smartaleck Private Zendt. In addition, a subplot concerning Crichton's damaged brain and Twiki's concern for the well being of his "son" proves to be surprisingly touching. A hugely entertaining show.