Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV Series) A Dream of Jennifer (1980) User Reviews

Buck Rogers: "A Dream of Jennifer"

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 20 August 2017]

PLOT: Buck is fascinated by a stranger he observes in public (Anne Lockhart) because she's identical to the fiancé he left behind 500 years earlier. The whole masquerade, however, is a set-up by red-skinned aliens.

COMMENTARY: The highlights of this segment include: (1.) The beginning open-air mall sequence followed by a spaceport (airport) sequence; both parts feature a peripheral petite brunette with a red mini-skirt and go-go boots. (2.) Lockhart as "Jennifer." (3.) An entertaining "Mardi Gras" sequence. (4.) The tall red-skinned aliens. (5.) The melancholic "Love Story"-like refrain; and (6.) the corresponding serious tone with a shocking (sad) climax. (7.) There's also an amusing gag at the end focusing around a certain 70's blockbuster.

The Human replica!!

[elo-equipamentos · 6/10 · 27 November 2017]

A good news to us Buck Rogers will be out in few months according the Brookfun media, the entire series in a dubbed classic version, very expensive by the way, this episode is about human replica, something like that comes across in movies only, a perfect human replica from just a simply photograph they got every single piece including the same voice, even didn't have nothing to share, anyway the plot is contrived but somehow works in the final has the perfect solution!!

Resume:

First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD-R / Rating: 6

A dream of Jennifer

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 29 March 2022]

This is a more emotional episode with Buck returning to the past when he sees the girl he left behind. He spots her a few times but fails to catch up to her. When he finally does, not everything is what it seems.

Gil Gerard stretches his acting chops, doing well as a love torn guy stuck in the past. Anne Lockhart equally good as his flame, and the villainy - tomato-faced villains- are suitable menacing.

Emotionally driven episode with a good closing gag

[amesmonde · 8 October 2013]

Buck goes in search of his girlfriend who inexplicably shows up in the 25th Century 500 years after he last saw her.

The title possibly plays on 'I dream of Jeannie'. Opening as mystery episode with plenty of locations it's notable for giving some background into Bucks past prior to Ranger 3's ill- fated mission, complete with a flashback/dream scene with Buck in his 80s Formica and Velo pad.

Col. Deering's (Erin Gray) hair is initially particularly dark then changes tint throughout. In addition Wilma sports a the less fitting white jacket/belt skirt then later the blue jump suit. Sadly she isn't given much to do in this episode aside from bark orders.

Beneath the surface it's an emotional episode for Buck with Gil Gerard giving full commitment especially during a death scene.

The carnival aside and despite its colourful costumes, makeup and masks this is one of the more serious toned episodes. That said, Jaws (1975) is mentioned with Twiki cracking a joke about an associated tag-line in the closing.

One of the more poignant episodes.

Tragic and Dramatic Love Story

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 6 December 2023]

While shopping in New Chicago with Twiki, Buck Rogers sees a woman that resembles his beloved girlfriend Jennifer from the Twentieth Century. He follows her but loses her track. Meanwhile Dr. Huer and Col. Deering are planning a secret operation for the transportation of weapons to a colony that needs protection against alien invaders. Buck Rogers learns that the woman is Lela Markeson and travelled to the City-on-the-Sea to a mask festival, the former New Orleans and the Mari Grass. Buck follows Lela and learns that she was submitted to molecular surgery to look like Jennifer for an amount promised by an alien race that intends to conquer the colony. They capture Buck and wants him to destroy the freighter in order to avoid a diplomatic incident with Earth.

"A Dream of Jennifer" is a different episode of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". The plot is a tragic and dramatic love story, with a sad conclusion. This time, Buck Rogers forgets Wilma and puts his eyes on the woman that looks like his former lover that he left behind in the Twentieth Century. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Dream of Jennifer"

Buck discovers a young woman who is an exact look-alike for Jennifer, his 20th-century love.

[jefffisher65-708-541158 · 9/10 · 13 July 2013]

A Dream of Jennifer is a decidedly different episode of this series, a much more emotional tale, and a darker one as well. Buck spots a beautiful young woman(lovely Anne Lockhart) who looks exactly like his lost girlfriend of the 20th-century, Jennifer. Pursuing her to the City-on-the-Sea(the 25th century New Orleans), Buck discovers it's a cruel hoax as part of a plot by aliens to help them conquer a distant world with Buck's aid. The young woman, Leile Markison ,proves to be not such a bad type, and tries to help Buck against the aliens, - Buck is willing to give her a chance. Holding Leila as hostage to make sure Buck destroys a cargo ship of weapons on its way to the world these aliens wish to conquer, Buck(with Wilma's help) returns, and tries to rescue Leila - who dies by taking an energy pistol charge meant for Rogers in what must have been a surprise for everybody who watched this series regularly. Thus, Buck loses Jennifer again after a fashion in a decidedly downbeat turn of events.

Despite the corny red-facial make-up for the alien warriors, this must be one of the program's best entries from Season One. Anne Lockhart as Jennifer/Leila manages a touching performance(and resembles her mother June a great deal when June was in her own prime). The darker tone to this episode includes a bit more for Tim O'Connor's Dr. Huer other than giving Buck and Wilma assignments when he discusses his own grief over his late wife. O'Connor has always been a fine character actor, and it's nice to know he still is acting at times.

One of the in-jokes which many probably missed is in the shuttle port when "Captain Christopher Pike" is paged on the intercom, I notice. The bit at the end with the copy of Jaws discovered in the archives which Huer gives Buck was no doubt to lighten matters up some at the conclusion. Still, this entry in the series really shows that Buck is a man alone forever in so many ways(Wilma notwithstanding).

Touching episode

[Woodyanders · 9/10 · 29 May 2011]

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.

A touching episode.

[BA_Harrison · 8 March 2008]

Whilst not exactly one of my favourite episodes (there's not enough of Wilma in a variety of sexy outfits for it to qualify), A Dream of Jennifer is interesting in that it is a much more emotional tale than usual, and we get to learn a little more about the Buck from the 20th Century, before his accident in space resulted in his being frozen for 500 years.

Travelling through the New Chicago spaceport, Buck (Gil Gerard) sees a woman who is an exact double of Jennifer (Anne Lockhart), his girlfriend from 1987. Buck pursues the doppelganger to The City by the Sea to find out more about the mysterious lady, but discovers that he has been the victim of a cruel hoax perpetrated by aliens, who need our hero to destroy a freighter full of weapons being shipped to a planet which they intend to conquer.

There's definitely less camp (Mary Woronov's red-faced alien aside) and more pathos in this episode than usual, and the change of approach is refreshing. When Buck discovers that the lookalike for Jennifer is actually a woman named Leila, who has undergone molecular surgery in order to dupe him, we really feel for him. On realising that Buck is a nice guy, however, Leila decides to help, and, Buck being Buck, he forgives her (and even decides to try and get to know her better). A surprisingly downbeat finalé sees Leila killed, with Buck losing the woman of his dreams once again.