Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV Series) Testimony of a Traitor (1981) User Reviews

Buck Rogers: "Testimony of a Traitor"

[Wuchakk · 6/10 · 31 August 2017]

PLOT: Buck is put on trial for being a key cause of the nuclear holocaust that destroyed the Earth in the late 20th century. Although his thought-images (projected on screen at the trial) indict him, Buck curiously doesn't remember the events. Wilma & Hawk desperately assist in finding the truth before Buck is put to death.

COMMENTARY: This is one of the most austere episodes in the series, the antithesis of the goofy & amusing "Shgoratchx!" from two episodes earlier. It has elements of Star Trek's "Court Martial" and "The Menagerie," but it's not as engaging as the former and not as fascinating as the latter, although it's not bad. Like Captain Kirk in "Court Martial," it's almost impossible to believe the charges against our heroic protagonist and so the story builds suspense concerning the explanation. It's also interesting to observe events in 1987, which led-up to the worldwide holocaust. It's not great, but it's decent and unique for the series.

Where was the bridge?

[lordzedd-3 · 7/10 · 30 June 2007]

I loved season one, I was a kid when season 1 aired in 1979 and loved practically every episode. But at the end of season 1 they take it off the air and I guessed it was canceled for some stupid reason. Then in 1981 it returns and where on board this ship searching for humans in deep space. Why? I hate what they use to do on these older shows, the ratings slip half a point or so. Then they totally re-write without even a bridge story telling you how this came to be. Then the rating don't just slip, it totally goes right down the bloody toilet which results in total cancellation. Maybe they should have left well enough alone. But in this season's defense, I liked Crichton, I like Hawk. I didn't like they removed Mel Blanc as the voice of TWIKI, but they got him back. So that's cool. Also, I didn't like they removed the name of Buck's ship in the beginning credits. It was Ranger III, what's wrong with that name. All and all I wish they didn't do this to Buck, but as for the season two, 7 STARS OUT OF 10.

Best Episode of the Second Season

[traceywilliamson-41698 · 7/10 · 6 August 2019]

For me, the second season was supreme disappointment, as it did away with most of what I liked about the first season - Buck's relationship with Twikki, his revolving door of beautiful women costars, and the view of what earth might be like 500 years from now. This episode gets back to that, with a story about Buck's possible involvement in the nuclear holocaust. By going back to earth, it grounds the story back to its original premise and it's a very interesting episode. Much better than all the others in the second season where they land on some new planet each week and encounter some odd creature like a blue man, gold man, or dwarf.

A compelling episode.

[BA_Harrison · 20 May 2008]

Last seen in the episode 'The Crystals', the Optical Engram Imager (OEI) is an impossibly sophisticated machine that is used to probe the mind and visualise distant memories on a monitor. When a war crimes prosecutor accuses Buck of being directly responsible for the holocaust that almost wiped out the human race, his only hope is to pop on the OEI and trawl his subconscious for any evidence that might prove his innocence.

Totally unlike any of the episodes that have preceded it, Testimony of a Traitor is a surprisingly gripping tale that manages to be intriguing, suspenseful, and exciting, as well as rather enlightening, by showing some of the events that led up to the destruction of Earth's civilisation in the 20th Century. Not only are viewers treated to the tense courtroom drama of Buck's interrogation, but we also get to enjoy a space battle, some welcome action on Earth, Hawk deploying his spacecraft's talons (for the first time since the beginning of season two), and Erin Gray back in her sexy Spandex outfit.

This episode also sees lucky old Buck finally getting a full-on juicy lip-lock from Wilma: something worth waiting 500 years for!

Do not Jump to Conclusion

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 25 December 2023]

The Searcher leaves Earth to a new mission when Admiral Asimov is ordered to return to the orbit of Earth and wait for Commissioner Bergstrom and his team at the dock station with Buck Rogers. When he arrives, he arrests Buck Rogers for the surprise of his friends and crew. On the next morning, a court is mounted on board of the Searcher and Buck is accused of treachery and one of the responsible for the nuclear holocaust in 1987. They have just found a wallet with a VCR recorded by Buck's best friend Major Peterson that shows Buck with a group of military conspirators' officers that want to begin the war. Buck has no recollection of the event and Dr. Goodfellow proposes to use a probe to retrieve his memories and prove his innocence.

"Testimony of a Traitor" is another good episode of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". The episode begins with a serious accusation to Buck Rogers since his prosecutor has jumped to a conclusion without hearing to his defense. The end of the show, with Commissioner Bergstrom asking for pardon to Buck Rogers, is excellent. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil) "Testimony of a Traitor"

Outstanding episode

[Woodyanders · 9/10 · 25 July 2011]

The crew of the Searcher return to Earth. Upon their arrival Buck Rogers (Gil Gerard in sterling dramatic form) gets put on trial for treason for allegedly helping an extremist group in the nuclear war that decimated the planet in the 20th century. Buck subjects himself to a mind probe in an attempt to prove his innocence, but this only manages to compound the severity of the charges against him. Director Vincent McEveety, working from a smart and gripping script by Stephen McPherson, maintains a properly serious tone throughout and does an expert job of creating and maintaining a considerable amount of tension. Gerard does some of his strongest and most impressive acting as a puzzled and worried Buck; he gets able support from Thom Christopher as the loyal Hawk and Erin Gray as the supportive Wilma Deering. Moreover, there are sturdy guest turns by Ramon Bieri as the shrewd and formidable Commissioner Bergstrom, William Sylvestor as the no-nonsense Lt. Gen. Preston Myers, John O'Connell as Buck's best friend Major Preston, Walter Brooke as a pragmatic U.S. President, and Thomas Bellin as friendly caretaker Crawford. Most importantly, like the best courtroom dramas the plot isn't cut and dried; the narrative really keeps one guessing about Buck's possible guilt or innocence until the very end. Moreover, this episode is given further resonance because of the way it explores the basic themes of friendship and loyalty. One of the crowning achievements of the second season.

A gem from the forgotten era of Buck Rogers.

[HyperPup · 8/10 · 5 July 2009]

Okay, this is not the new Battlestar Galactia or an episode of the many vaunted series so bear with me and accept this for what it is. Its an masterpiece in the sense that it was possibly the best thing to happen to the Buck Rogers after being given the green light for a second season. An almost fruitless second season. Buck is enjoying some downtime when Searcher returns to Earth for resupply and refit when out of the blue an Earth Tribunal begins with designs on pinning the entire cause of the great nuclear war on Buck. Needless to say Buck saves the day and acquits himself adequately. Highlights include a small space chase which is made more impressive by having the later half take place in Earth's atmosphere. A true first for Buck and a hallmark in the annals of scifi in general. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat as well. Overall a well written show to a series that at this time was severely on the bubble. Though it is a good episode, it does have a few glaring errors. Such as why does the tactical screen of the chasing starfigher say high score on the bottom? I also like how a the dress of a 25th century park ranger hasn't changed in over 500 years. When you see it, you will wonder if Buck hadn't just landed on Earth but maybe gone back a several centuries as well. Well, with that said, check it out and hopefully you will be pleased.