The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. by Jeffrey Boam and Carlton Cuse (1993-1994)
12 October 2007I have a fan of Bruce “The Man” Campbell since I saw the original evil dead film, and have wanted to see this show for some time, but it was my friend Tony that turned me onto it by lending me the first disc, and from there I picked it up because I was hooked. This is B movie material, which is exactly what Campbell was made for, and in this turned into a turn of the century Western following a Bounty Hunter who is always looking for the next big thing, meaning we see a lot of references to modern technology, and here we see their first uses, as well as some fun science fiction thrown into boot. This show is fun and as silly as can be, but it has great characters that you really care about, and want to keep watching, all the way until the series ends. This show only lasted one season, but the Episodes are long, so the adventure lasts some time, and if you B Movie Westerns you will have one hell of a time.
The story starts with the most famous Marshall in the west, Brisco County Sr. (R. Lee Ermey in a role perfect for him) taking in the John Bly (Billy Drago) gang on a train, but the remnants of the gang ambush the train, kill County Sr. and escape. The robber baron’s then need a Bounty Hunter, so they hire the ivy league lawyer, and bad ass Brisco County Jr. (Bruce Campbell) to capture the gang. He is assisted by his liaison, a lawyer named Socrates Poole (Christian Clemenson), and sets off to take in the gang, also becoming involved with John Bly’s search for a trio of mysterious golden orbs that posses great power. Brisco has a nemesis to begin with, the best tracker around, another bounty hunter named Lord Bowler (Julius Carry) who was a former soldier, and who eventually becomes Brisco’s partner and friend.
REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…
Brisco and Bowler set off on many adventures to capture the gang and meet many bad asses (many of whom return again and again, even after being thought dead), as they take on the John Bly gang and eventually Bly himself. They run afoul of the magic orbs, which turn out to be technology from the future, sent back to help human history, but it turns out Bly is in fact a time traveller from the future trying to get the orbs so he can take over the Earth and become all powerful. Brisco of course must fight and defeat him or the Earth will know no end to suffering.
Brisco meets many fine women on his travels, but meets one special one, who was once bad, but now has a heart of gold. This is Dixie Cousins (Kelly Rutherford), who Brisco falls for, and she for him, but their timing is never right.
They also meet Professor Albert Wickwire (John Astin) who helps Brisco with technology, as well as his faithful horse Comet who doesn’t know he is a horse, the gunslinger Whip Morgan (Jeff Philips), the Elvis like SHeriff Aaron Viva (Gary Hudson) and even his dead father, and even some of his enemies become friends along the journey,
Eventually Brisco and Bowler take down Bly, and his gang, and then they become special agents for the President working their way to making the west a just place, but always getting into trouble along the way.
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This show is so much silly fun, that it is really a must see for any Campbell fans, or fans of B Movies and Westerns. This is fun and well worth the purchase price.