Awakening

Awakening
Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2
File:Awakening title card.jpg
Air date	September 20, 1979
Written by	Glen A. Larson Leslie Stevens
Directed by	Daniel Haller
Episode guide
Previous —	Next Planet of the Slave Girls

For 500 years, Captain William 'Buck' Rogers has been miraculously preserved, frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. Now, in Earth year 2491, he is rudely awakened by the sinister forces of the Draconian realm.

 — Narrator

"Awakening" is the series premiere of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, aired as the first and second episodes of its first season. Following the success of the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century film, a television series was commissioned, and the theatrical release edited to act as the kick-off to the series.

Plot

• Coming Soon

Synopsis

In the year 1987, the United States launched the last of National Aeronautics and Space Administration's deep space probes prior to World War III later that year. On board Ranger 3 is a lone astronaut, Captain William "Buck" Rogers. However, the spaceship has moved from its planned orbit, and instead of being gone a few months, it returns to Earth 504 years later. Captain Rogers is placed in a deep hibernation by forces beyond his control, and remains frozen at the controls until the year 2491. The ancient lost ship is found perfectly preserved by fighter craft of the Draconian Empire, who fire on Ranger 3, then tow it to their alien flagship, Draconia.

After being revived, Rogers meets Princess Ardala and her ship's commander, Kane. Although Ardala is supposed to be on her way to Earth on a peace mission, in reality she is preparing to invade the planet, one that has long been the enemy of her race. They use Rogers, who still thinks that his entire alien encounter is nothing but a dream, by sending him ahead to Earth to discover the location of a safe corridor through Earth's defenses. The ploy works because of a transmitter aboard Rogers's ship that sends back messages with the corridor's location.

Rogers finally realizes that he actually has traveled into the future after meeting Col. Wilma Deering and Dr. Elias Huer, but the Earth Defense Directorate considers him to be a traitor when the transmitter is found on board Ranger 3. In an attempt to clear himself of a death sentence and execution, Rogers returns to the Draconia and pretends to join Ardala and her army, in the process learning of the plans to invade Earth. Rogers decides that he must stop the attack, no matter what the odds. As the man from the 20th century prepares to make his move, he is held at gunpoint by Twiki and Dr. Theopolis. Rogers must prove his innocence to the two mechanoids before the attack can be launched.

Notes

• The opening two-hour episode is basically the feature film Buck Rogers in the 25th Century re-edited, with new footage to lead into the TV series. (Joseph Wiseman's brief appearance as King Draco was completely edited out of the broadcast.)
• The broadcast version of "Awakening" was released on DVD in 2013 as an extra on the Season 2 re-release. However, it is not quite complete. The scene is missing in which Dr. Theopolis shows Rogers footage of World War III in which civilization was destroyed, explains the causes of its destruction, and refers to "Anarchia" (the 25th-century name for the ruins of Chicago). This scene takes place during the 16 hours Rogers spends in the room with Dr. Theopolis.
• Originally aired as a 120-minute episode, but has been formatted as two 60-minute episodes in most subsequent re-airings for scheduling reasons. While many guides list it as a two-parter, its initial airing and release on DVD as one double-length episode should make this the official recognition.
• Not to be confused with the Star Trek: Enterprise episode of the same title.

Cast

Episode Cast

• Gil Gerard as Capt. William "Buck" Rogers
• Erin Gray as Col. Wilma Deering
• Tim O'Connor as Dr. Elias Huer
• Pamela Hensley as Princess Ardala
• Henry Silva as Kane
• Duke Butler as Tigerman
• Felix Silla as Twiki
• Caroline Smith as Young Woman
• John Dewey Carter as Supervisor
• Mel Blanc as Voice of Twiki
• William Conrad as Voice of Narrator (uncredited)
• Tony Epper as Drunk (uncredited)
• Vic Perrin as Voice of Draconia P.A. Announcer (uncredited)

Episode Crew

• Directed by Daniel Haller
• Written by Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens
• Produced by Richard Caffey, Glen A. Larson, Andrew Mirisch, David G. Phinney and Leslie Stevens
• Music by Stu Phillips
• Cinematography by Frank Beascoechea
• Film Editor - John J. Dumas, David Howe and William Martin
• Casting - Robert D. Edmiston
• Art Director - Paul Peters
• Set Decorator - Richard Reams
• Costume Designer - Jean-Pierre Dorléac

Production Management

• Jack Cunningham - Unit Production Manager
• Edward D. Markley - Unit Production Manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

• Phil Bowles - First Assistant Director
• Jerry Sobul - First Assistant Director
• Robert Villar - Second Assistant Director
• Judith Vogelsang - Second Assistant Director

Art Department

• Jerry Allen - Model Builder
• Ted Wilson - Carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department

• Peter Berkos - Sound Effects Editor
• John R. Carter - Sound
• Andrew Gilmore - Sound
• William H. Kauch - Dialogue Editor
• Clyde Sorenson - Sound

Special Effects

• Chuck Arrigo - Special Effects Coordinator (uncredited)

Visual Effects

• Peter Anderson - Visual Effects Supervisor: Universal Hartland
• David M. Garber - Miniatures
• Wayne Smith - Miniatures
• Harry Walton - Miniature Department Head (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

• Gary Armstrong - Assistant Camera
• Kenneth Hale - First Assistant Camera

Music Department

• David Kahn - Music Editor
• Stu Phillips - Conductor
• Johnny Harris - Composer: Theme Music (uncredited)
• Glen A. Larson - Composer: Theme Music (uncredited)
• Stu Phillips - Composer: Theme Music (uncredited)

External links

• Awakening at IMDb
• Awakening, Part I at NBC.com
• Awakening, Part II at NBC.com