A Dream of Jennifer (14 Feb. 1980)

Buck is haunted by the sight of a woman, who looks like his 20th century girlfriend, alive on present day Earth. Buck follows the young girl, but she continues to give him the slip until he... See full summary »

Director:

David G. Phinney

Writers:

Glen A. Larson (developed for television by), Leslie Stevens (developed for television by),

Stars:

Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O'Connor

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Gil Gerard	...	Capt. William "Buck" Rogers
Erin Gray	...	Col. Wilma Deering
Tim O'Connor	...	Dr. Elias Huer
Paul Koslo	...	Commander Reeve
Gino Conforti	...	Sylvie
Mary Woronov	...	Nola
Anne Lockhart	...	Jennifer
Felix Silla	...	Twiki
Mel Blanc	...	Twiki (voice)
Jessie Lawrence Ferguson	...	Lt. Rekoff
Cameron Young	...	Toby Kaplin
Shawn Michaels	...	Supervisor
Dennis Haysbert	...	Guard
Marsha Mercant	...	Clerk
Mitchel Evans	...	Mime (as Mitchell Young-Evans)

Storyline

Buck is haunted by the sight of a woman, who looks like his 20th century girlfriend, alive on present day Earth. Buck follows the young girl, but she continues to give him the slip until he catches her in the resort town of City-on-the-Sea. The stranger, named Leila, reveals that it is no coincidence that she looks like Buck's long-lost girl friend: her appearance has been purposely altered by an alien named Reev so that she could serve as a lure. With Buck captured by the aliens, Reev demands that Buck stop a shipment of arms to a planet his people have plans to conquer. Buck gets Wilma to detonate a warhead to fool Reev into thinking the shipment is destroyed. Reev orders his men to kill Buck, but Leila steps in front of Buck to take the laser blast. Buck defeats the aliens, but loses Leila, and his lost love again, as she tearfully dies in his arms.

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Plot Keywords:

spandex disco jeans | spandex suit | 25th century

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 February 1980 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Glen A. Larson Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Color (technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As Buck is running through the spaceport after Jennifer before she boards her flight, a page is heard on the PA system asking for a 'Captain Christopher Pike' to report to Veteran's affairs offices. Captain Christopher Pike was of course the first captain of the Enterprise in Star Trek and was left disabled from his encounter with the Talosian's in the episode 'The Cage'/'The Menagerie'.

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Goofs

Wilma's hair color alternates between dark blonde and brunette throughout the episode.

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Connections

References Jaws (1975)

User Reviews

Touching episode

Buck (a fine and engaging performance by Gil Gerard) sees a woman who's a dead ringer for Jennifer (an excellent and appealing performance by the lovely Anne Lockhart), who was Buck's girlfriend in the 20th century. Said lookalike is really part of a cruel hoax perpetuated by evil aliens who manipulate Buck into destroying a freighter full of weapons that's being shipped to a planet that they intend to conquer. Sensitively directed by David G. Phinney, eschewing the show's usual campy tongue-in-cheek tone for a more atypically serious and reflective mood, with a thoughtful script by Alan Brennert, an appropriately sweeping and romantic score by John Cacavas, and some affecting insights into Buck's rather tragic status as a figure who's more than a little out of sync with the 25th century, this particular episode proves to be a remarkably moving and effective dramatic departure that works extremely well despite the trademark cruddy matte paintings and so-so special effects. Gerard does some of his strongest and most impressive acting here as Buck; Tim O'Connor as Dr. Huer likewise has a powerful scene in which he talks about his deceased wife. This one further benefits from memorably shrewd and no-count villains, with stand-out work by Paul Koslo as the dastardly and cunning Commander Reeve and Mary Woronov as Reeve's equally wicked and ruthless assistant Nola. Gino Conforti has a nice bit as friendly, but bumbling magician Sylvie. The startling downbeat ending packs a devastating emotional wallop. One of the definite highlights of the entire series.