How to End a Series: M.A.N.T.I.S.

How to end a show is nearly as important as how to begin one. Take, for example, Bob Newhart's second show- very old spoilers ahead. In the end, he goes to bed and wakes up with his wife from his classic 1970's show. The entire show was a very long dream he had as the Bob from that show- genius. On the flip-side, you have Batman Beyond, which ends on a random episode of a kid learning Terry's identity and a flashback story. Unplanned finales are always the worst. Now, for today's study...

To the uninitiated, this show is about a paralyzed black scientist who develops an EXO Suit that allows him to walk and fight crime. The Pilot was a landmark production with an all-black cast of Leads and was made, in part, by Sam Raimi. When the show got picked up, everyone but the Lead was re-cast and show got generic. When the ratings went down, the show went all 'villain of the week' and got very strange. Recurring threatss included a group of inter-dimensional villains who viewed this one guy as the lone obstacle to their goal.

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On the positive side, the producers saw the cancellation coming as Season One (of one) ended. As such, they made this episode to end the whole series:

Ghost of the Ice

During a random test-flight, our hero's flying vehicle malfunctions and crashes. Why? Good question. So they wander around the woods for a while, one of them injured and the other running on tenuous battery power. The M.A.N.T.I.S. suit is much like the Sega Game Gear and barely has any battery life at all. Of course, he doesn't bring a spare set with him when he goes flying and could possibly get lost. They get stalked by a mysterious creature that is barely visible- that saves on the Budget!

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The whole thing is prefaced Sunset Boulevard-style by MANTIS' friend talking about how this was his last adventure. I wish that this was the beginning of a non-existent Season 2. Imagine if you knew that MANTIS would die, but you could not guess when. Unfortunately, he does in this Episode- chance lost.

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Our heroes run into a weird mountain man (played by the security chief from Club Dread) who has lived for almost 20 years with the monster. That's right- nearly 20 years. That sure takes a bite out of the 'deadliest predator ever' name, huh? Anyhow, the monster hears my commentary and attacks MANTIS. It shakes him about, but is scared off by some shotgun blasts. Okay, you're just digging your own grave now, beasty.

To cut a long story (or a 44 minute show) short, MANTIS and friend meet up with his young (read:30) assistant and his cop girlfriend. They are seemingly in the clear when the monster attacks again. It traps the guy and girl in their jeep & tries to tear its way in. They plan to use their ship's battery (note- they don't use it to power the suit) to stun the beast to death. Little do they (or the monster) know that their is a gas leak from the attack. The battery blasts and the car blows up. We finally get a real look at the monster...as a shadow...from dozens of feet away. If blacked-out dinosaur shots get you hot, this is a good episode for you.

Another failed comic book show dies on television- what a shame. Fortunately, the lead ended getting a much better superhero gig: the voice of Martian Manhunter on Justice League. One of the directors on this show was also the man behind the terrible two-some of sequels: Trancers 4 and 5. Also, to be fair, Sam Raimi's only superhero work at this point was *snicker* Darkman. I kid, I kid. His ability to turn from Liam Neeson into Arnold Vosloo was damn impressive! Even so, this show was certainly missed. A black superhero finally gets his due, even if he has to be shot in the spine to do so. Ah well, there's always Blade...oh crap, they cancelled that in one season too. Oops.

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Will there be more of these? Wait and see. Stay tuned...