Young Indiana Jones (addendum)

[palusbuteo]

(more at bottom)

Muses_Realm and I decided to take re-visit of "Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" from the early 1990s

This consolidated re-issue combines two episodes from the two seasons, for each episode, so, like, Down is Labelled Up to Avoid Confusion

but then again, since when does George Lucas know what "Continuity" is ammiright?

I barely remember this show when it aired.

I seem to remember it either competed with or was on right before or after Star Trek Next Generation, which we the family, or at least myself, brother and Dad were watching "together".

I really don't remember any of the episodes where Indy is a kid, but seem to remember a handful of episodes where he's in WW1. Maybe it was because WW1 Aviation was my Jam at that time.

And I seem to vaguely remember some (cameos) of Harrison Ford and the Really Old Version of Indy with the eyepatch

So, anyway, looking at it again some 30 years later

It's.....A mess.

Yes, it was the 90s and Racial and Class Issues were at the forefront of pop culture and TV culture.
it does feel a bit heavy-handed in a number of episodes so far.
Also: Africa and Wildlife Conservation/Concerns.
Expecting South America/Rain Forest Concerns at some point.

The "meeting random Historical figures, Artists, etc" is kinda cheeky but kinda neat at the same time.
Yes, it's a series from the 90s and it wasn't intended to be wholly "accurate"
It does have a lot of Forrest Gump vibes going on in that regard to Indy meeting and befriending/adventuring Historical Figures.

Recently we watched the episode where Indy runs into Picasso & Brache, Norman Rockwell, and Degas.
That episode I found...Grating. Although I admit IRL I've never been a big fan of Picasso in the first place, but this portrayal certainly didn't help

It of course leads me down massive Rabbit Holes (the modern Internet as I've talked about several times is both a Blessing and a Curse for rabbit holes and my ADHD, usually at the same time)

Turns out, Picasso never met Degas, although he did apparently interact with Matisse.
His "real" story with his marital troubles and tragic situation with his kids was unnerving and depressing.

Norman Rockwell wasn't even near Paris at the time, so, why the hell did Lucas choose to have him there, and, it also being Norman Traditional Family Values Rockwell living the Paris Night Life with Picasso and Brache is....A reaaaaalllly weird flex IMHO.

Last night we saw the episode where they go to Pisa and run into Puccini.
And Mrs. Jones almost has an affair and almost runs off with Captain Keep It In Your GD Pants
Or as Mrs Seymour put it succinctly "His intentions were obvious"

But also, WTF is wrong with you, Lucas?! You have some seriously messed up Mommy and Wife Issues.
Jeezes.

I haven't spent the time to read up on Puccini yet, and, not sure I want to.
The actor who played him and the way he was made up in the show, with the mustache, made me think of...Yanni.

I'm also not thrilled with the portrayal of Dr Jones. The actor I think was a good choice visually, but, terrible attempt at Sir Connery's brogue, and, surprisingly silent at surprising moments and instances compared to what he was saying in Last Crusade. I dunno, maybe the idea was that his perfectly appropriate smartass quips was something he develops later on in life.

Did I tell you to warsh behind yer ears? No. I taught you Shelf Releyeannssh

There was the episode with TC Lawrence and Howard "what curse" Carter. That was...An eye roll fest.

And there was the episode where Indy learns to make up a Moorish disguise (blackface much?) and gets sold into slavery with his token slave buddy. Here I think the series was probably trying to flesh out more of Indy's character that was never really touched on in the movies.

Although he does seem to have a fairly good report with Captain Takenga in Raiders of the Lost Ark, and there's his befriending of Short Stop in Temple of Doom (where he's also of course saving enslaved children)

I sorta liked the "In Love" episode where Indy has to confront Franz Ferdinand. His portrayal seeeeeems to track with what little I've read about him and what he was trying to balance.

It was a nice jab too by the series to have Dr Jones point out that Indy needs to learn the local language and be respectful of artifacts and cultures (sort of), etc.

Since we're missing the added context of the Older Indy's reminiscing of Childhood Memories and whether those memories are even "accurate" unto themselves, it makes me think that Maybe these Older Indys are remember it different than actually happened, or, maybe he's embellishing a bit.

There's also that time at the intro to Last Crusade that just doesn't seem to match up at all with this series, which is what makes me wonder if that was done on purpose, that it was trying to push more "creative freedom" and expand on the character and world of Indy, and of course, also keeping it "Historical / Educational Enough"....I wouldn't be surprised if this was around the same time period that Lucas is forming his Edutopia company.

But, we'll try to keep watching and see where it goes. I'm hoping the Teen Years/WW1 will be a little better.

Addendum

Tonight we watched another episode. The first one, Indy's in Russia and meets up with Tolstoy.
The actor for him Muses_realm informs me is the same guy who played Alfred in the (early) Batman movies. And seeing as the series is 1993, only a few years since the "first" one....Yipes)

At least here, they did a much better job of making Tolstoy LOOK like Tolstoy.
But he died in 1910. So, probably right after Indy left Russia....For Greece

But, that episode, egads. How Many Tropes can you cram into an episode?!

the banter between Indy and Tolstoy was very much that of 3PO and R2 which is of course based on characters from Kurosawa.

....And yet somehow in the far reaches of Russia, Everyone recognizes Tolstoy by face.
Amazing!

Even though his books didn't really gain much traction until after his death?

OK so, onto Greece.....

What. The. Fuck. Was. That.

I don't even know where to begin.
So. Many. Problems.