MovieChat Forums > The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977) Discussion > This series holds up surprisingly well!

This series holds up surprisingly well!

posted 17 years ago by blueingreen88
4 replies | jump to latest

All right, I'm a total nostalgia hound for almost anything from the 1970's... I was born in '72 and have very fond memories of all things 1975-1979, including THE HARDY BOYS. I've been re-watching or buying (or both) a bunch of old shows from the '70s that I grew up on and it's a little disheartening to see that old shows like SPACE: 1999, WONDER WOMAN, BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, WELCOME BACK KOTTER, et al, are actually kinda crappy. The nostalgia factor is sweet, but sometimes trudging through some of these episodes can be a real chore and eye-roller.

As much as there is a definite '70s-cheese factor to THE HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW MYSTERIES, I have to admit that while they never broke any new ground dramatically or technically, most of the episodes hold up surprisingly well and are solidly watchable. You get sucked right into the mystery, you chuckle at the lame one-liners and '70s fashions, and you stick around to see how it all ends.

The only other '70s show I'm currently watching on DVD that seems to hold up just as well is the Bixby/Ferrigno INCREDIBLE HULK.

Good, harmless fun. Hopefully my daughters will be fascinated with Parker Stevenson and Shaun Cassidy some day and watch them with their parents!

[–] mecahill 17 years ago

I agree "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" hold up much better than the other 70's TV shows we grew up with. Some of those other shows seemed really good at the time but by today's standards and also me growing up, they leave a lot to be desired. "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew" episodes are dated (because of the 70's feel) but they are still quite good regardless (and I love pop culture from the 70's so I'm not complaining)!! The stories are intriguing and they would appeal to most kids' vivid imaginations (and even adults like me). I love watching this show 30 years later for its good clean fun, charm and innocence. Sitting down watching this show at night brings back happy late 70's childhood memories. This show was definately one of the better ones from our childhood.

[–] RikerDonegal 17 years ago

I agree that HB/ND holds up very well. I've got S1999, WW, BSG on DVD, as well as Starsky & Hutch (which doesn't), WKRP (which does), Soap (which does) and Mary Tyler Moore (season 1 is all I have so far, it's brilliant but it has a dated look).

I think the final season of Wonder Woman holds up great (it's always been my favourite season), but I hated the first season and skipped the last few episodes. I'll go back and watch them another time.

I'm a passionate fan of S1999 and BSG so I'm always going to see them through rose-tinted glasses, although I do think early-BSG and late-S1999 are pretty crap.

I also watch the bionic series. I think early SMDM holds up better than late SMDM.

Hardy Boys is a really strong series. It's light and fluffy (a bit like the boys hair) but it's a pitch-perfect example of the genre. Two great leads, and a succession of top guest stars help it along very nicely. There are a few first season shows that left me bored, but the second season (which I'm nearly finished. Sigh.) has been great fun every week. I'll miss it.

http://yetanothertvreviewpodcast.blogspot.com/

[–] blueingreen88 17 years ago

A man after my own heart... I will never be able to extracate my own love for "Space: 1999" and "Battlestar Galactica" from my nostalgia/sci-fi/1970's/geek DNA, even the though you could count on (maybe) two hands the amount of classic (or even very good) episodes from both series combined (although, I will argue on my deathbed that the 3-hour pilot episode of BSG is damned fine, underrated TV, sci-fi or otherwise).

Rose-tinted glasses... I own a pair myself!

[–] WarpedRecord 12 years ago

I totally agree. I grew up with the Hardy Boys books, and to tell you the truth, I didn't think much of the TV series then, but I'm watching the episodes now and enjoying them immensely.

I don't think the series was very faithful to the book, but it stands on its own as decent entertainment, certainly better than most of what dominates the airwaves these days.