Space Rangers (TV series)

Lore & Background

The series is set in the year 2104 on the Earth colony Fort Hope, located on the distant planet Avalon. A small force of police/marines called the Space Rangers Corps serves as the only line of defense for colonists against crime and the perils of interstellar exploration. The story concentrates on Captain John Boon and his team aboard Ranger Slingship #377. The cast includes Jeff Kaake as Captain John Boon, Jack McGee as Doc Kreugar, Marjorie Monaghan as Jojo Thorson, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Zylyn, Danny Quinn as Daniel Kincaid, Clint Howard as Dr. Mimmer, Linda Hunt as Commander Chennault, and Gottfried John as Colonel Erich Weiss.

Reader's Guide

Space Rangers was a short-lived CBS miniseries that aired in 1993, consisting of six episodes. Creator Pen Densham developed the series over several years under the working title Planetbusters, emphasizing that the show focused on action-adventure rather than pure science fiction like Star Trek. The series was released on VHS for a short time and later on DVD for Region 2. On October 15, 2013, Mill Creek Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in Region 1, with episodes listed in the intended viewing order rather than the broadcast order. The series is noted for its diverse planetary settings, including the matriarchal colony New Venus, the desolate planet Skaraab, and the penal colony Catraz. Despite its limited run, Space Rangers has maintained a cult following among fans of 1990s science fiction television.

Did You Know?

• The series was produced as a six-episode miniseries by CBS.
• Creator Pen Densham developed the series under the working title Planetbusters.
• The Mill Creek DVD release contains two discs, with all six episodes compressed onto the first disc and the same episodes combined into three mini-movies on the second disc.
• The penal colony Catraz is named after the former San Francisco prison Alcatraz Island.