| The
Premise:
Cleopatra, a stripper cryogenically frozen after a botched boob job, awakens to
find machines called the Bailies have taken over the Earth. Keen to help
reclaim the planet, although unprepared for what she’ll find, Cleo joins a
unit – guided by the mysterious Voice in leader Hel’s head – to
fight injustice in the now underground human world and occasionally take on the
Bailies on the surface.
Background:
When Hercules came to an abrupt end with its eight-episode sixth season,
Renaissance Pictures decided to split Hercules’ hour into two
half-hour action shows, Cleopatra 2525 and Jack of All Trades,
both starring Renaissance favourites who’d appeared in Hercules
and/or Xena. Cleopatra originally began life as ‘Amazon
High’, showcasing the warrior maidens from the aforementioned series, but
the format was altered to distance its set-up from Jack. The
‘Amazon High’ pilot formed part of the Xena episode
Lifeblood.
First Run:
Cleopatra 2525 declared war on the Bailies on January 17th 2000 in US
syndication.
Number of Episodes: Twenty-eight: a season’s
worth of half-hour episodes, then, after the cancellation of Jack of All
Trades, six more hour-long instalments.
The Good Guys:
Hel, short for Helen (Gina Torres), the team leader who obeys and relays
Voice’s commands, given through a receptor in her jaw; Sarge (Victoria
Pratt), tough, no-nonsense second in command (real name the not quite as tough
Rose); Cleopatra (Jennifer Sky), screaming wimp who helps and hinders the team;
Mauser (Patrick Kake), former Betrayer android who can build anything but
isn’t programmed for sex, much to Sarge’s annoyance. Plus the
mysterious Voice (Elizabeth Hawthorne).
The Bad Guys:
Creegan (Joel Tobeck), a ‘friend’ of Hel’s dead father who knows
more – a lot more – than he’s telling. Plus assorted mutants and
Betrayers, robots that the Bailies use to replace humans which turn into
armour-plated killing machines.
And
Isn’t That... Quite a few familiar faces from Hercules
and Xena turn up, including Joel Tobeck (formerly gods Deimos and
Strife), Danielle Cormack (Amazon leader Ephiny, here playing Raina) and Marton
Csokas (Borias in Xena), who appears in No Thanks
for the Memories.
Overdone Clichés:
Fight scenes can go on for most of an episode with shields stopping anyone ever
getting hurt.
Fashion Statements:
The most revealing attire available for the freedom fighters, especially when
Cleo is called upon to strip, and a worrying amount of bondage gear for some of
the villains.
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Cleopatra 2525 is currently
airing on Fridays, 19.00