Space Vampire

Buck Rogers and Wilma fly to Theta Station to leave Twiki helping to fix the computerized system while they spend five days in Genesis invited by Hieronymous Fox. They arrive at the station where Commander Royko is an old friend of Wilma. Out of the blue, a freighter crashes the station and Royko, Buck and Wilma find all the crew dead. After listening to the records, they believe that a lethal virus has attacked the crew and now is released in the station. However, Dr. Ecbar notes that the freighter's crew is neither alive nor dead, and proceeds his exams of the bodies. But soon he is attacked by an alien creature and also dies. Buck Rogers and Twiki retrieve the information stored in a robot that belonged to the passenger of the freighter, and he learns that a creature named Vorvon is the responsible for turning humans into zombies. But Commander Royko does not believe him and believes he is having hallucinations, and Buck is arrested. But soon Wilma is possessed by the Vorvon, and Buck Rogers cannot protect her.

"Space Vampire" is a highly entertaining episode of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". Vampire stories are always captivating, and this episode is no exception to the rule. The conclusion is rushed and could be better, but is among one of the best. Good also to see Christopher Stone, in the role of Commander Royko, who certainly have a past with Wilma Deering. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Space Vampire"

This is the most ridiculous episode in a ridiculous show. It's like the producers gave up on creating a legitimate sci-fi action show for a campy sci-fi parody in the style of 60s TV show "Batman." The Vorvon aka vampire isn't scary, but comical with the worst unibrow ever and fangs that are apparently for show, because it drains blood through its fingers on a person's neck. Wilma is Mina, Buck is Jonathan Harkness, and the audience is incredulous. Only his victims can see the vampire until the end of the show when everyone can see him in order to fight him. And of course, Wilm completely cured of being a vampire. Such a disappointment from the beginning of the season.

With its silly titular monster, this episode of Buck Rogers is almost impossible not to enjoy.

Buck (Gil Gerard) and Wilma (Erin Gray, in a sexy two-piece outfit) are on their way to the planet Genesia for a vacation, but stop at Theta Station on the way, to drop off Twiki, who needs repairs. While they are there, a craft appears from a nearby star gate and crashes into the space station.

After searching the vessel and discovering that the entire crew were already dead before the crash, Space Station Commander Royko places Theta under quarantine, believing a virus, EL-7 (which causes fever and hallucinations before death), to be responsible for their demise.

But the real cause of death is a Vorvon: a space vampire that drains the soul from the living. And he's got the hots for Wilma ('I want you', he tells her. 'Oh yeah...well get to the back of the queue, Vorvon... I saw her first!', says I).

Sporting a massive forehead, giant pointy ears, long nails, glowing red eyes, purple lips and huge fangs (even though he doesn't need them), the Vorvon is one of the series' most memorable creations. His victims become soul-less zombies that do his bidding, and even Wilma eventually falls under his power (becoming a slutty space vampire babe).

Fortunately, Buck saves the day when he realises that a huge blast of energy will destroy the creature, and programs the station's escape craft (which the Vorvon will inevitably take, of course) to fly into a sun!

Apart from the freaky monster (and Wilma, of course), my favourite part of this episode is when Buck and Twiki watch a video recording in which a victim is killed by the (invisible to the camera) Vorvon; the guy throws himself energetically around the room, putting in a bravura performance, before finally falling to the floor dead. Hilarious!

A space craft crashes into the space station where Twiki is getting repairs and Buck and co. try to figure out what happened to the ship's crew.

Directed by Larry Stewart and written by Kathleen Barnes and David Wise- Space Vampire is a homage of sorts to Nosferatu, Dracula and a possible nod to Romero's zombie films. The concept was debatably borrowed later by Lifeforce (1985).

This is one of the most eerie and the only horror toned episode of the first series. Should the makeup design of Nicholas Hormann as the spine-chilling Vorvon had been better designed this could have been the most rounded of all the episodes. Drained bodies, the morgue like environments, a ghost ship, the victims coming back to life it's all good tawdry horror sci-fi stuff.

Wilma Deering gets more to do in this episode as she begins to see things and is subjected to entranced states. Here Erin Grey gets to show some range and not just her infamous tight outfits.

Hightlights also include Buck and Twiki watching a recordings of the invisible (to the camera) assailant killing its victim. Buck's investigation and him taking on the tranced hordes is also a blast. Notable is Christopher Stone as a doubting Space Station Commander, Royko who would later appear in the Howling (1981).

One of the stronger and more memorable episodes.

I probablly shouldn't have been watching this at such a young age, but it was such an interesting take on the vapire mythology and I recall being both terrified for Wilma and thrilled at the idea of it for some reason. I don't remember any other episode as vividly as this one so maybe it actually scarred me in some way. Anyway, I loved this show as a kid and enjoyed watching it, but his episdoe still, all these 45 years later stands out to me.

I think I'll go back and watch the old episodes on netfilx or something to refresh my memory. All I remember about this show was Wilma, the vampire and the Hawk dude.