The Incredible Hulk – The Complete Fifth Season (Universal DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Episodes: C

 

 

All good things eventually wind down and with the Fugitive-type storyline played out and no villains or other characters licensed from the comic books, The Incredible Hulk wound up its hit run after five season, Universal has justly issued the final Complete Fifth Season on DVD and it shows that the show quit while it was ahead, though several revival telefilms with more of the Marvel characters would eventually turn up with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno.

 

We covered the first season at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4016/The+Incredible+Hulk+-+The+Complete

 

 

Then the Ang Lee film twice, including the Blu-ray edition at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7636/The+Hulk+(2003/Universal+Blu-ray)

 

 

 

The final episodes include:

 

1)     The Phenom (with guest stars Anne Lockhart and Brett Cullen)

2)     Two Godmothers (with guest stars Kathleen Nolan and Suzanne Charny)

3)     Veteran

4)     Sanctuary (with guest stars Diana Muldaur and Edie McClurg)

5)     Triangle (with guest star Charles Napier)

6)     Slaves

7)     A Minor Problem (with guest star Linden Chiles)

 

 

As almost an in-joke, the second episode has two of the actresses who co-starred (but never appeared together) in The Vampire episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker playing together in this unusual episode.  However, the show was over and this short season wrapped up things on a good, intelligent note.  Arriving as the second Hulk feature film with the title of this series is due to hit Blu-ray and DVD (along with a complete series set that includes this season) there is no doubt that Lou Ferrigno remains the definitive Hulk.

 

Sure, others have done an interesting job in animated TV shows and even video games, plus the comic marches on, but Ferrigno remains the high standard for the character, even voicing the computer animated version for the new film and rightly so.  His performance is underappreciated and the way he and Bixby melded together to create the single man is one of the greatest pieces of chemistry and casting in TV history and beyond.  They also sowed the seeds that finally put marvel Comics permanently on the live action film world.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image still looks very good for its age as was the case with the first set and for a 1980s show (1981 - 2 here) looks colorful, clean and even detailed.  For so many shows of the time got sloppy in the film processing, this is exceptional.  Again, the TV broadcast copies look pale by comparison.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is also good, with dialogue and music sounding fine for their age.  I wondered if this could have been upgraded to stereo.  Extras include a gag reel and wrap up featurette about the show’s conclusion.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo