I for one wouldn’t have minded if once in a while David Banner is able to solve the problems he faces without turning into the Hulk, or perhaps only once in an episode. I really am annoyed by the fact that David is nothing more than a punching bag for everybody who means him harm. Up until now, he NEVER won a fight, not one, within one or two punches he is out and becomes the hulk. As himself, David must be the weakest man ever. I understand the format, I understand because the show’s title isn’t David Banner, but The Incredible Hulk, but still, why not, once a season or perhaps twice a season, break with the standard format, keep viewers on its tows. I’ve given up on the story-arc altogether, I’ve accepted that this show is episodic in nature, but still, I wish there were more stories about him battling his alter ego, trying to lose it.

The positives:

Well, this will definitely be shorter than my “concerns” but there are things I like about The Incredible Hulk. McGee is a favorite character of mine and this season he comes close more than once to find out who is the Hulk’s alter ego. He (McGee) indeed seems to come closer and closer to the truth about the Hulk. I really like the episode which was focused on McGee, “Proof Positive”, that is what I mean by deviate from the standard format of the show, this really was a pleasant surprise. What I said in earlier blogs also, I like the Hulk’s vulnerability, when he is in front of a child, an old lady or a pet. I like it when he grins or smirks, I like these silent moments when he is suddenly turning up in front of someone. I also like that, like in The A-Team, no one actually dies. That, we see enough in other shows, where people getting killed gruesomely. But this is of course a family show. I love the theme song. Finally, as I also stated in earlier blogs, I really like the familiar guest stars when you are watching an older show like this. Longer (The Positives) than I thought it would be!

Guest stars:

I just want to name a number of guest stars who appeared this season, at least the ones I clearly recognized. I realize there will be many more familiar faces to other people. In the first episode, which was mediocre at best I saw Gary Graham and Katherine Cannon. Other guest stars who graced my screen: Robin Dearden, Robert Davi; Marc Alaimo 2x; Charles Napier (also did the Hulk’s growls after Ted Cassidy died); Julius Harris; Ray Walston (Boothby, Star Trek); Anne Shedeen (Alf); Robert Alda (father of); Joan Leslie; Esther Rolle; John Davis Chandler; Diana Muldaur; Stanley Kamel, a very short role for Mark Lenard; Anne Lockhart looking exceptionally beautiful!; Judith Chapman; Allan Rich; Bruce Wright; Louis Turenne and Sheila Larken. It is quite a list and as a European, I most likely will miss other very familiar guest stars to the North-American viewers.

Episodes:

To me this season is pretty mediocre, I graded more 6/10 or 6.5/10 than 7/10 or 7.5/10. Then again, I graded 5 episodes an 8 or higher, that’s more than with season two. There is one episode that is absolutely the worst: “Babalao”! This was by far the worst episode, just plain awful. The season opens with the mediocre “Metamorphosis” but episode two was an exciting episode, “Blind Rage”, no story-arc, still, an engaging enough story, much better than the season opener. Hulk almost gave a full smile in this episode. Episode three “Brainchild” is the best up to that point, This episode really struck a nerve with me, the situation regarding the search for her mother, when she finally does find her mother, she is rejected hard. Robin Dearden, who plays Joleen, really got me teared up a few times with her fine acting! She plays a 16 year old girl but in reality she was 28 years old! Amazing how she did that. She also sees David transform into himself again and she is convinced that at one point she is able to help him. Really hope she returns for another episode. Episode 4, “The Slam” with Marc Alaimo is also engaging enough but episodes 5-7 are mediocre.

“Homecoming” where David gets to go home is definitely one of the best ones, guest starring Diana Muldaur. His sister Helen (Diana Muldaur) and his father see him transform. Both understand now why he can’t stay. As the Hulk, he cries in front of his father as he’d seen him transform. When McGee is there, his father secretly gets David’s things and lets him leave in silence. Scene between the Hulk and David’s father was a poignant one. David wanted to spend a thanksgiving with his family but in the end he was not granted that, very sad. “The Snare”, also an exciting episode, David is being hunted by a man who owns his own island, who got bored with hunting animals. He didn’t think it was a challenge any longer but giving David a weapon or something, was apparently too much of a challenge, in other words: coward. Nice vulnerable moment when Hulk picks up these two birds and put them back in the nest. Episode would have been perfect for me, had David ‘won’ the ‘game’ on his own wits instead of becoming the Hulk one more time.

Episode 13, “Proof Positive”, the McGee episode, really enjoyed that one, seeing another side of McGee, where he admits he is truly obsessed with finding out who actually is the Hulk. Granted, it is a bit of a clip show which I usually don’t like, but the other stuff was great. Another strong episode is “The Psychic”, episode 18, where it looks like the Hulk actually killed someone, which of course turns out not to be the case. Annie, the psychic, who finds out his secret, McGee again on David’s heels. Episode 20 “Deathmask”, one of better ones this season, where David becomes a suspect of a murder. It however was a bit silly though how David was accused, in the moment perhaps, yes, but it was all a bit silly, convenient for the story. “Equinox” is a good episode where McGee comes really close to finding out David’s true face, McGee really has his “teeth” in David’s neck in the latter half of the 3^rd season. Episode 22, “Nine Hours” was also an exciting story where David gets in the middle of a kidnapping of a young boy, from his neighbor. Guest starring: Marc Alaimo and Sheila Larken (X-Files, Scully’s mum). Finale episode of the season, “On The Line”, was a bit mediocre, but the McGee part, who was very close again, was interesting.

Final Word:

When I write down the “Best” episodes, I think to myself, why I am not more excited about The Incredible Hulk, because these episodes really are exciting. But then I remember, only five codes which I graded an 8 or higher, this should be standard for the whole season. There are six more episodes I graded a 7 or 7.5, so in total, about half of the season is more than decent. Still, the other half is rather…well, mediocre. Regardless, I am going to finish it in one rewatch. If I am ever going to rewatch the Hulk after this one, I guarantee you, it will only be the episodes I really enjoyed.

Screencaps taken from IMDb