Tek War

[Squad 51]

This name covers up four movies and a series, made up by William Shatner as novels.

Background: We are in the year 2045 and "tek" is a drug which can make you addicted as well. Like all drugs.

1) The Original Movie

Cast:
Greg Evigan - Jake Cardigan
Eugene Clark - Sid Gomez
Torri Higginson - Beth Kittridge
Von Flores - Sonny Hokori
Sonja Smits - Kate Cardigan
Sheena Easton - Warbride
William Shatner - Walter Bascom
Maurice Dean Wint - Winger

and many more

Story:
After four years, Jake Cardigan is prematurely awoken from his fifteen year cryogenic punishment to a world very different than the one he knew. Much more than before 'Tek', the highly-addictive electronic designer narcotic of the 21st century, seems to be prevalent. His wife has divorced him and disappeared together with their son. He wants them back and he wants justice for those undercover policemen who were murdered by unknown conspirators which led to his imprisonment for a crime he did not commit. He links up with his ex-partner Sid Gomez, now also an ex-cop, and they go to work for the mysterious Bascom who owns and runs the giant Cosmos security corporation. Their first job is a seemingly easy missing persons case trying to locate a missing scientist who may have developed a crystal to destroy Tek chips. The more the two men investigate the more the dark and powerful forces of the hidden Tek lords are sent to thwart them. What is the connection between this case and his wrongful imprisonment four years ago? Will he ever be able to trace his lost family through the infinite twists and turns of this new technological age? In a race against time Jake struggles to come to terms with this new world where nothing is as it seems and his place within it. — Mark Smith (taken from IMDB)

Thoughts: This is our future in around 20 years, according to 'Captain Kirk' and in the mid 1990ies. Though interesting and I think I watched all of this, mainly because I was a fan of Greg Evigan at one point in my life. The Androids were well made and the future looked interesting - with all that stuff, yet we are nearly there already. Cyberspace and all as well as hacking into the governmental security if you have the right equipment. Jake Cardigan was arrested under false accusation and it destroyed his life. Naturally he wants it back but that's impossible. He's working with his only friend, Sid and the very secret Bascom, and he realizes that the world has changed too much, even only in four years time.

Some pics:


I'll leave it here. Tomorrow then the second movie.

See you then.

P.S. My love for Greg Evigan started with "B.J. and the Bear" and later "My Two Dads".

[Tim]

Created by Captain Kirk himself

[Squad 51]

Yep, and he stood completely behind it with its production and so on.

2) Tek Lords

Additional cast:
Ray Jewers - Bennett Sands
Uni Park - Tora Hokori
Marc Marut - Denny Cardigan
Lexa Doig - Cowgirl

and many more

Story:
Despite being imprisoned tek lord Sonny Hokori manages to run his criminal empire. A virus, which not only is effective on computer software but also on physical beings, is activated in the global computer network. While Jake Cardigan tries to stop Hokori and his allies he also has to deal with his former wife's new husband trying to adopt his son. (from IMDB again)

Thoughts: Jake has to deal with a lot. First the adoption, then a virus is trying to kill his ex-wife and has taken his girlfriend. Phew! With time he finds out that Kate's new husband, Bennett, has made a deal with Sonny and is travelling around the world to get the needed money for the Tek Lords, in all currencies. The virus turns out to be Sonny's sister Tora who has died on a boat years ago but lives on in a computer, all to Sonny's advantage. With Beth's help, she wants to come back as an android, to feel and live again. Unfortunately, with the last attack, the whole system is on overload and ready to explode which it does in the end but all can flee right on time. And Jake reconsiles with his son.

Some pics:


I stop here before it might go off again.

See you tomorrow with the next movie!

[Tim]

I saw William Shatner at a convention, in Ottawa, back in 1995.  He talked about this show, which had just been cancelled.  He was pretty unhappy about that, as he felt that CTV had screwed him over.

[Squad 51]

Yeah, well, we only have here four movies which are practically Season 1 and Season 2 with 18 episodes. Not that much.

[Melinda Halliwell]

Cool, you got to meet one of your idols, Bill Shatner Tim. It must've been nice to hear him talk then I think.

[Squad 51]

Wow, so long ago but you met your idol, as Katherine had said, Tim.

3) Tek Justice

Additional cast:
Sandahl Bergman - Valkyrie
Jacob Tierney - Eugene Leopold
Barbara Eve Harris - Thalia McKenzie
Ruth Marshall - Kylie Roman

Story:
What I find amazing about viewing these TekWar movies some 20 years later is that so much of the technology shown is "everyday stuff" today - ipads, tablets, eyeball recognition, houses run by computer, etc.

This movie was made five years before flash/thumb drives were on the market. Kudos to William Shatner for producing the series.

I guess one day we will have holograms and lifelike robots - wish I would still be around! I know there are some in the works already, not just with us in daily life. (I'm one of those who still does a double-take seeing that the Dick Tracy two-way radio wristwatches from our 1940s comic books are now a reality - so bear with me!)

Most of the story line was pretty good. I thought the ending could have been better - it just sort of stopped. - by max843 on IMDB

21st Century detective Jake Cardigan is arrested for murdering the husband of his ex-wife. It seems like a frame up, yet Cardigan refuses to let the authorities investigate further or even deny any involvement in the killing. (taken from IMDB)

Thoughts: Jake gets arrested once again but doesn't want to tell the truth, obviously. To protect someone - which is clear to Beth and Sid. At the prison, they find out that it's Denny Jake is trying to protect who killed Sands. Jake's lawyer, just a kid named Eugene, points out to the judge and DA that something doesn't add up, according to the police file - and that's true since Sonny plays behind the scenes with, though he's been burnt after the last encounter. Grudges can be held long and this is more like revenge but Sonny finally dies at the end. Denny can accept Beth in his family and we shall see how it goes on here. Oh, Jake is free again and lives happily (ever after). lol

Some pics:


I'll leave it here again. Tomorrow then the last movie.

And on Friday then the start of the series!

[Tim]

Nov 2, 2022 14:12:54 GMT -5 Melinda Halliwell said:

Cool, you got to meet one of your idols, Bill Shatner Tim. It must've been nice to hear him talk then I think.

It was.

[Melinda Halliwell]

It seems like this show was ahead of its time in terms of technology introduced which is everyday life today then.

Gerry Anderson puppet series's did this as well having Monorails as trains or rescue vehicles that were space rockets or a one-man sub in Thunderbirds naturally.

And a boy spy in Joe 90 who could mimic a person's knowledge and act like them by receiving their brain patterns from a machine when wearing glasses which had electrodes inside them obviously.

[Tim]

Yeah, it did.

[Squad 51]

So, last movie here before tomorrow the series starts.

4) Tek Lab

Additional cast:
Michael York - Richard Stewart
Joel Bissonnette - Tristan/Mark Stewart
Laurie Holden - Rachel Tudor
Catherine Blythe - Centra
Geoff McBride - Lancelot
Liisa Repo-Martell - Galahad
Jody Racicot - Merlin

and many more

Story:
The actual sword of Excalibur has been stolen in London, and futuristic detectives Jake Cardigan and Sid Gomez are assigned to track it down and to find out who is trying to block the British reign from its rightful heir. (taken from IMDB)

Thoughts: Well, by reading these names you might think this sounds familiar and it seriously does. Welcome to the legend of Excalibur, settled in the 21st century and with Tek involved. After the current heir is killed, Prince Richard wants to take over but no one knowing that the Tek Lords from all over the world finance his campaign - and possible empire. Yet he has a rebellion at his hand, formed by Tristan who in reality is his dead believed cousin, Mark. Complicated. Never mind, unknowing that Rachel Tudor is helping the rebellion and well, here we've got an open fight about who is the rightful heir to the British throne. The fight begins like in the medieval times with a glove thrown and we have a sword fight then, yet Prince Richard turns out to be an android. Not nice, cheating. However, the final battle happens in the Tower of London. How fitting - and the old values win.

Some pics:


Well, more I couldn't find and I hope there's no reaction coming off. EDIT: One more found.

So, as said, tomorrow then start of the series - after "Walker".

[Tim]

Michael York was in this one, i see.

[Squad 51]

Yep, and now welcome to the series "Tek War".

Remaining cast from the movies:
Greg Evigan - Jake Cardigan
Eugene Clark - Sid Gomez
William Shatner - Walter Bascom
Maurice Dean Wint - Lt. Winger

Newly added: Natalie Radford - Nika

Episode 1 "Sellout"

In a high-tek future, a prototype of Oculus has become the addiction of the times. Jake working for a detective agency is contacted by an old acquaintance, who has secrets she wants to sell him. She is killed and the secrets are stolen before they can meet. Jake investigates. (from IMDB again)

Guest stars:
Torri Higginson - Beth Kittridge
Cynthia Belliveau - Trudy
Barry Flatman - Marty Dollar
Belinda Metz - Sharmayne
Michael Caruana - Lyle Kribs

Thoughts: Well, shopping channel extreme and Tek gets also involved - by being sold into a music watch which makes someone addicted to it. Nice way. Beth unintentionally helps her new employer, Marty at IVN, and Jake can play the hero again, along with Sid. lol

Some pics:


I hope there's no reaction coming off.

See you tomorrow!

[Tim]

And there's Mr. Shatner himself.

[Squad 51]

Yep, that's why I chose this picture.

Episode 2 "Unknown Soldier"

Story:
Electra is a military vet who was modified and made into an X-class soldier. She ends up being hired to work at Cosmos but things do not go well as she is being controlled by a former superior officer. (from IMDB again)

Guest stars:
Jennifer Griffin - Electra Dutton
Brett Halsey - Frederick Braymar
Ernie Grunwald - Spaz
Lexa Doig - Cowgirl
Dana Brooks - Shelley Grout

and others

Thoughts: Well, Jake lands into trouble at the beginning but got saved by a soldier named Electra. He can convince Bascom to hire her but with no one knowing that she's secretly controlled by her former officer. She kills people who were involved in a war in Brasilia where Jake also lost his brother Danny (same name like his son). Electra should also kill Bascom but he's secured but with time they find out what's really going on but still, many people have died in the end, even Electra.

Some pics:


I'll leave it here.

See you tomorrow!