
Blah, blah, blah
Review created: 06/05/08(updated 06/05/08)

I never saw this when it first ran, but some of my friends made it a weekly not-to-be-missed ritual. I bought this to try to understand why it had so much appeal to them, and because I like Bill Bixby's characters. I still don't understand the appeal of The Hulk and do understand the appeal of Bill Bixby.
It's not really the low-tech, cheesy non-special effects that bother me-- I can forgive a show of that era those weaknesses. I guess I don't like the rootlessness of the program. I prefer so-called ensemble shows which can draw on the interactions of the characters and their changing relationships.
This show seemed to just hop from one issue to the next -- a mentally retarded adult, child abuse, etc. etc. When the issue drives the storyline, the storyline is compromised, in my opinion. Ensemble shows can do this better, because the issues can be embedded in recurring characters and dealt with a little bit at a time rather than as the flavor-of-the-week. As the-issue-of-the-week, one gets the strong impression of being randomly preached at.
There's another flaw in The Hulk, too-- (sorry, die-hard fans!) As I stated, I really like Bill Bixby characters (the few I've seen, that is). They are so mellow and rational, just the guy you would like as a brother-in-law, father, coworker, neighbor, whatever. . . I'm sure the casting people chose him because of the contrast to The Hulk. This works for Clark Kent/Superman (mild-mannered reporter) because the reporter persona is a disguise, and because the essential character traits are the same. But Dr. What's His Name (in the Hulk) is so completely phlegmatic and rational, that it stretches credibility for the little nuisances in the plot to drive him to anger the way they do. I wish the characterization of the scientist depicted someone a little more ambitious, a little haughtier, slightly more aggressive, so that the morphing to the Hulk would be more believable and also more suspenseful.
Even though I think Bill Bixby was adorable.
Review ID: 10000000007426351

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