Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV Series) Journey to Oasis (1981) User Reviews

Buck Rogers: "Journey to Oasis"

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 23 August 2017]

PLOT: Two starships from Earth and its rival Zykaria meet in space from where Buck escorts Ambassador Duvoe (Mark Lenard) via shuttlecraft to the city of Oasis on a neutral desert-planet. Along for the ride are Wilma, Hawk and Goodfellow. Things go awry when Buck is forced to crash-land on the planet where mutant Neanderthals roam the desolate landscape. Meanwhile the paranoid Zykarians threaten to annihilate the Searcher and attack Earth if the Ambassador doesn't make his scheduled peace meeting.

COMMENTARY: "Journey to Oasis" is a worthy 2nd season double-episode (97 minutes) and memorable for several reasons: (1.) The Papa Smurf-like mutant with superpowers who befriends the protagonists. (2.) Mark Lenard as Sarek, um, I mean Duvoe, with a frightful perm and a macabre secret. (3.) The fairly well-done Neanderthals. (4.) The desert journey of the protagonists where we more deeply get to know the characters. And (5.) the fact that this is a very Star Trek-ian episode reminiscent of "Galileo Seven" and "Journey to Babel."

There are no female guests, but Wilma's part is meatier than usual and the exploration of rivalry & paranoia with Admiral Asimov and the Zykarian commanders is interesting. Unfortunately, Twiki with his new voice takes a back seat while the pompous Crichton is given more screen time. The tone is similar to the previous double-episode, "Time of the Hawk." I marginally favor this one due to the above highlights, especially the survival-trek-across-the-desert component.

The Return of Sarek

[cosmowarriorzero · 6/10 · 20 September 2006]

Two part episode oddly featuring Spock's father apparently playing Spock's father. In this two part episode, Buck and party must escort an alien ambassador from the Searcher to an intergalactic peace meeting. Tension arises from the fact that the said ambassador is an old flame of Wilma's and wants to rekindle their romance after seven years or something. This causes tension and jealousy in Buck and Wilma's relationship and is complicated more by the fact that Buck must escort the ambassador to the meeting and they instantly dislike each other. Failure to get the ambassador to said destination will result in intergalactic war between earth and the aliens as well as the destruction of the Searcher. These seem to be a rather blunt and obvious reference to the Cold War which is now irrelevant and outdated. Unsurprisingly, when en route to the meeting, Bucks ship crashes due to a radiation cloud which renders the ship and all weapons powerless. On their way, the party which includes Buck, Hawk, Wilma, the Ambassador, and Doctor Goodfellow must overcome some Indiana Jones like obstacles, including a weird light saber duel. To complicate matters, the weaponless Buck and co are pursued by some spear-throwing Neanderthals called the Atavars or something. Unfortunately, their religion consists of chopping the heads off strangers before mounting them on a pike and worshipping them. Apparently, this planet is a dumping ground for genetic experiments gone wrong. Along the way, they are aided by a bearded blue midget called ODX who speaks in riddles. The most startling thing about ODX is that when the credits roll, we finally learn what Twiki looks like under the costume. There is a strong Star Trek influence in this show no less than by having the actor most famous for playing Spock's dad on the show dominate proceedings and to behave, look and act identically to Sarek. While in Star Trek, he appears in the episode the Journey to Babel, playing an ambassador, while in this this episode is called Journey to Oasis. While ST:TOS he comes off as dignified and impressive, he comes off as extremely unlikable here. Like Star Trek, the Searcher is in danger all episode. The only difference is here Sarek sports a weird 80's Kevin Keegan bubble-perm. Another subplot is that Buck is worried about Wilma's feelings for Sarek as she is unaware that as a Vykarian, Sarek is biologically different from humans and has the ability to detach his head from his body. Apparently, this becomes an important plot point in the end. Will Buck get Sarek to the ball on time and save the galaxy form intergalactic war yet again? These two episodes were disappointing, and gave way too much focus to Sarek, considering that Time of the Hawk was relatively interesting and made the series briefly watchable again, and promised improvement.

The Piece Conference in Oasis

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 18 December 2023]

Earth and Zykaria are on the verge of war, and the last chance is the piece conference in Oasis on the desolated planet R-4. Buck Rogers is assigned to transport Zykarian Ambassador Aram Duvoe in a shuttle with Wilma, Hawk and Dr. Goodfellow to Oasis. Seven years ago, Wlma and Aram met each other, and they felt in love with each other. However, Ambassador Duvoe has a secret of his race, and his head is removable. When they meet each other, their love rekindles. During their journey, the shuttle crosses a magnetic storm and all the systems damage. Buck and Hawk successfully land on the desert and after leaving the shuttle, the soil collapses below and it goes underground, making impossible to the sensors to communicate with the Searcher. They are forced to walk through the desert while a tribe of mutants follow them. Out of the blue, they meet the blue skinned dwarf Odee-x, who has the power of using energy to move objects and helps them providing riddle to the group. Meanwhile, the is tension on board of the Searcher, since the Zykarian suspect that the Earthling have abducted the ambassador, and they bring several warships to surround the Searcher.

"Journey to Oasis" is another entertaining adventure of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". The flawed plot is not bad, but there are important questions to be made. Why Zykarian Ambassador Aram Duvoe goes to Oasis with Earthlings, if the Zykarians have so many suspicions of the Earthling. At least, a liaisom should have come with him. What is the silly and idiotic Dr. Goodfellow is doing in this series? He is supposed to be funny but is ridiculous indeed. Now the series seems to have a higher budget but should not forget the gorgeous guest starlets that were part of the First Season. Erin Gray continues beautiful and sexy, but Gil Gerard seems to be fatter. The blue alien looks like a Smurf. Good to see Mark "Sarek" Leonard in the show. Poor Wilma when she discovers his secret. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Journey to Oasis"

Not quite as trashy as I like 'em.

[BA_Harrison · 6 April 2008]

I've no love for disco music, nor the fashions associated with it, but without its influence, series one of Buck Rogers would probably have been a lot less fun. In fact, it would have been a lot like the second series.

With the disco fad almost over, series two saw a distinct shift in approach: there was a lot less camp humour evident, a whole lot less gold lamé being was being used for costumes, and more serious issues began to be addressed in the stories.

Journey To Oasis, another double length story, is, in my opinion, a rather weak allegory for the mounting troubles between the US and Russia: two planets, Earth and Zykaria, are on the brink of war thanks to an inability to communicate and a lack of tolerance. In a last ditch effort to sort out their differences, Duvoe, a Zykarian Ambassador (and ex-flame of Wilma's) is to travel to a peace conference in the city of Oasis, on the otherwise desolate planet R-4, accompanied by several of the Searcher's crew (Col.Deering, Hawk, and Dr. Goodfellow), in a shuttle piloted by Buck.

Unfortunately, before they make it to their destination, the shuttle is hit by a radiation storm, killing its power and forcing it to crash in the inhospitable wilderness that surrounds Oasis. With their ambassador lost, and suspecting foul-play, the Zykarians threaten retaliation.

Meanwhile, on R-4, Buck attempts to lead his passengers (all of whom have survived the crash) to the safety of Oasis—a job not made any easier by the friction between him and Ambassador Duvoe (who both, quite understandably, 'care' for Wilma).

Whilst nowhere near as fun as it might've been with the inclusion of a few light-rope disco dances, Journey to Oasis does have giant man-eating lichen, and a mischievous 'Papa Smurf' type creature with energy emitting eyes (played by Felix 'Twiki' Silla) to lighten the mood. Oh, and the lovely Erin Gray, of course.

Engrossing episode

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 20 June 2011]

Earth and the rival planet Zykaria are on the cusp of war. Zykarian Ambassador Duvoe (a sound and dignified portrayal by Mark Lenard) travels on a shuttle piloted by Buck Rogers (a solid and likable performance by Gil Gerard) to a peace conference in the city of Oasis on the otherwise desolate desert planet R-4. Things go awry when the shuttle gets caught in a sudden radiation storm and Buck has to crash land the craft on the harsh surface of R-4 that's populated by a savage tribe of primitive mutants. Director Daniel Haller, working from a thoughtful and involving script by Bob and Esther Mitchell, relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, maintains a basically serious tone throughout, develops a good deal of tension, makes inspired use of the arid rocky locations, and delivers a few exciting action set pieces (a fierce fight between Buck and an invisible man brandishing a deadly glowing sword rates as the definite thrilling highlight). The ever-lovely Erin Gray is in fine charming form as Wilma Deering, who once had a fling with Duvoe. Len Birman likewise does well as suspicious Zykarian Admiral Zite. Moreover, the mischievous, yet helpful diminutive simian gnome character of Odee-X (Felix Silla in funky purple make-up) supplies some highly amusing and much appreciated comic relief. Best of all, this episode makes a strong and provocative point about the necessity for understanding in order to beget peace and tolerance between two races. A worthwhile show.