The Six Million Dollar Man: Deadly Countdown (part 1)

episode number: season 5, episode 3 (1977)
viewing setting: home DVD, 7/23/12

episode synopsis: Steve becomes a target because he's going up into space to fix a satellite.

impressions: And this was the space episode, or at least part one. After the cliffhanger, it's uncertain whether we'll actually get to see Steve launch into space, but there was plenty of launchpad/control room excitment including a last-minute escape from the doomed rocket, and a lot of NASA stock footage. The female lead (a scientist played by Jenny Agutter) was cute, competent, and realistic. Steve's really been on a roll lately - this is just the latest in a string of good-looking female guest stars who he's interacted with in seasons four and five, including Pamela Hensley (Princess Ardala from Buck Rogers), Kathleen Beller (the princess from The Sword and the Sorceror), Kim Basinger, two-time Bond girl Martine Beswick, singer/actress Barbara Luna, and of course Farrah Fawcett. All of those showed up since season four started. Perhaps related, Steve now drives a Corvette.

notable guest stars: Jenny Agutter is the cute scientist who's set to go up into space with Steve. Philip Abbott is the head NASA guy. Lloyd Bochner is the #1 bad guy, and Mills Watson is the #2 bad guy. Martin Caidin - who wrote the novel that became the pilot for this series - has a minor role.

significant bionic antics: Steve shows off on a treadmill, breaks the door off of a high-pressure chamber, swats aside a heavy weight, clotheslines a bad guy on a motorcycle, and forces the space capsule's door open so he and Leah can escape.

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