THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN: EPISODE 3 – MINDOCK THE MIND MENACE (1980)


THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN: EPISODE 3  – MINDOCK THE MIND MENACE (1980)

In this one Thundarr, Ariel and Ookla seem to be chasing a sorcerer they already know into a space station. The sorcerer’s name is Mindock and his goal is to take over earth. He has been waiting 2,000 years to find humans that were frozen alive with the knowledge to put his mind into a robotic body. Yeah – that is how this thing is going down. Oh yeah, if Mindock doesn’t like you, he shrinks you down and puts you into a container the size of a bowling ball. 

Thundarr and his companions have to face a crazy prehistoric whale threat and ultimately being shrunk themselves in this one. It’s a pretty crazy and pretty inventive episode. Ariel also breaks the fourth wall talking to the audience in this one which I thought was pretty funny, since so many people think this was a something only done in the 90’s or later. She’s pretty much calling out Thundarr and it’s pretty comical.

One thing that is a little off in this episode is that Mindock is clearly smart enough to build war machines and even a space ship, but couldn’t figure out how to put his brain in a robot? Seems a bit rocky in regards to writing? I do really like this episode though and Mindock ends up having a kind of AGE OF ULTRON feel to him. All the villains in this are great. 

This episode is the 3rd at this point in the series where the week to week villain was never killed. I am guessing that had more to do with the 80’s era kids television censors than anything. Ariel as a character starts to get a bit more assertive in this episode while Thundarr seems even dumber than usual. 

Fact – A least before this episode, Thundarr had no concept of what space or orbit was. 

Best Line – “Just what I always wanted, a wet Mok around my neck” – Ariel

Second Best Line – “No time for talk!” – Thundarr (not a dude to waste time trying to find out why or how things work, or making plans or any of that.)

For me this one gets a 6 out of 7. Feels like the creative team spread its wings a bit on this one. Everything in this episode is pretty damn cool.

GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF FILMWAYS TELEVISION AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY. 

A look around the series...

THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN: EPISODE 1 – SECRET OF THE BLACK PEARL
THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN: EPISODE 2 – HARVEST OF DOOM
THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN: EPISODE 4 – RAIDERS OF THE ABYSS
THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN : EPISODE 5 – TREASURE OF THE MOKS
THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN : EPISODE 6 – ATTACK OF THE AMAZON WOMEN

Please check out the link below by clicking on the picture. Because no one should die buttonless or magentless.



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