Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon is a science fiction television series that aired on the Syfy channel in 2007-2008. The show is a contemporary reimagining of the classic comic strip created by Alex Raymond in 1934. The series is developed by Peter Hume, who carefully crafted this new version to encapsulate the spirit of the original, yet ensures it resonates with a modern audience.

The story revolves around the eponymous character, Flash Gordon, who is portrayed by Eric Johnson. Far removed from the dashing astronaut of the old strips and serials, this incarnation of Flash is a marathoner and ex-high school football player who still lives in his sleepy, small-town home of Kendal. The character's laid-back demeanor and relatable struggles are intended to make the heroic transformation more remarkable.

When his mother disappears mysteriously, Flash's life takes a sudden turn. He discovers that his father, the eminent scientist Dr. Lawrence Gordon, did not die in a laboratory accident years ago, as he was led to believe, but was instead lost in a parallel dimension called Mongo. The series balances Flash's ordinary life on Earth with his adventurous life on Mongo, a planet fraught with civil strife and monstrous creatures.

Throughout the series, Flash is joined by two important and intriguing characters. Dale Arden (Gina Holden), who is Flash's ex-girlfriend and a television reporter, is by his side from the start. She remains a beacon of strength and level-headedness in the face of strange encounters. Dr. Hans Zarkov (Jody Racicot), a former assistant of Flash's father, is an eccentric yet brilliant scientist responsible for maintaining the inter-dimensional rift between Earth and Mongo.

On Mongo, Flash frequently crosses paths with the ruthless dictator, Ming (John Ralston) who rules the dimension with an iron fist. The character is a significant departure from the classic, "yellow peril" caricature of the comics and serials. Instead, he is portrayed as a more complex, calculating figure whose motivations stem from protectiveness over his world and people, bordering on paranoia and cruelty.

The series masterfully establishes an array of diverse environments within Mongo, each inhabited by its unique civilization or species, including the hawkmen, the deviates, and the water-dwelling Dactyls. Additionally, it weaves political intrigue, social commentary, and environmental issues into plots. Each episode explores themes of loyalty, friendship, and the eternal battle between good and evil.

Flash Gordon’s focus on the foray into the strange dimensions, survival amidst hostility, and the ultimate fight against the tyranny is the consistent driving factor across 22 episodes of the series. Furthermore, it successfully bridges the gap between the modern day and a fantastical parallel world by skillfully integrating everyday technology like cellphones and laptops into the mix along with alien technology.

Visually, the series offers a blend of conventional set designs and location shooting with more outlandish and chromatic settings reflecting the alien landscapes of Mongo. Furthermore, the use of special effects enhances the show's Sci-Fi appeal. The character costumes are also worth mentioning; they are a mix of Earthly plainness for our human characters, contrasted against the more extravagant and exotic attire of the Mongo inhabitants.

The series had a mixed reception from both long-time Flash Gordon fans and newcomers to the character. Some appreciated the fresh take on classic material, including developing a more complex villain in Ming and reinventing Flash as a more grounded, relatable figure. Others found the series strayed too far from its source material or critiqued the quality of its special effects.

However, there is no denying that Flash Gordon is unique in its commitment to embedding social and moral themes within a Sci-Fi narrative. With its array of characters, from the heroic Flash to the despotic Ming, its parallel Earth-Mongo realities, and the dizzying inter-dimensional adventures, Flash Gordon provides an entertaining viewing experience. It is a must-watch for fans of character-driven science fiction, comics history, and those interested in seeing an old hero reimagined for the new era.