If you grew up in the 80's chances are you might have played with Captain Power action figures and playsets during your childhood. Debuting in 1986 Mattel's Captain Power toyline of action figures and playsets was one of the most popular 80's toys of the time. To honor it's debut Mattel released a series of Captain Power toy commercials that were different for each playset and figure series. Captain Power was the secret identity of Jonathan Power and needed your help to stop the evil villains which brings the uniqueness and fun of each Captain Power playset which were interactive and when hooked up to your TV brought the playset to life and there was also a series of Captain Power video games which were video tapes that were different battles for Captain Power to win and each tape had a skill level ranging from difficult to easy and when you see these commercials you can watch how the playset can interact with the TV. There was also a short-lived TV series of Captain Power that debuted in 1987 in which the Captain Power figures and playsets could interact with as well. Despite a huge success Captain Power toys were discontinued in 1988 but Mattel really pressed their luck with this series yet the commercials say it all with the famous slogan "The Power Is In Your Hands". When I first saw these commercials Captain Power reminded me so much of the Marvel character Black Bolt and I wonder if someday we will see Mattel reboot the Captain Power toyline with a new look and new commercials in the future ?

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They called it the future of television — a bold experiment that combined live-action sci-fi with cutting-edge CGI and interactive technology. Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125247/http://www.jumptheshark.com/c/captainpower.htm) was supposed to change the game. But after just one season, it vanished.

In this deep dive, we explore the untold story behind Captain Power (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Power_and_the_Soldiers_of_the_Future) — from its ambitious conception and groundbreaking production to the behind-the-scenes battles that tore it apart. Discover why one of the most daring shows of the 1980s couldn’t survive, and why it still matters today.

If you enjoy forgotten TV history, lost sci-fi experiments, and behind-the-scenes stories that never got told, hit subscribe and join us for more.

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You might remember Captain Power's (https://1900hotdog.com/2024/02/nerding-day-captain-power-%F0%9F%8C%AD/) name if you grew up in the eighties, as so many of us here on JoBlo did. Indeed, this Saturday morning live-action show, Captain Power (https://www.popsci.com/technology/captain-power-documentary/) and the Soldiers of the Future, was a favourite of many eighties kids for one unique reason. The show had a cool collection of toys, and they interacted with what was up on screen in a bizarre way. How was this possible in 1987? We dig into it in this week's Gone But Not Forgotten, but here's the thing - this gimmick barely worked.

That said, the show was an entertaining piece of sci-fi that, as it went on, got pretty heavy and dark, leading to an infamously dark final episode which killed off a main character. It was supposed to lead into a second season that never happened, but the initial run of 22 episodes has a cult following that lasts to this day. Why is that? Because the writing by J. Michael Straczynski paved the way for his own Babylon 5 and set an elevated tone that kept the show from getting too schlocky. Plus, the performances by leads Timothy Dunigan (as Jonathan Power - the hero) and David Hemblen (Lord Dread - the villain) were on-point. So join us as we revisit this neglected eighties "classic" in an episode written and edited by David Arroyo and narrated by the one and only Jesse Shade.

Power On!

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The eighties had a slew of children's TV shows that were released one after the other, all hoping to be able to capture children's imagination – the decade is practically famous for all the great cartoons that were aired and are remembered fondly to this day. One such show that cropped up was Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/CaptainPowerAndTheSoldiersOfTheFuture), riding on the coattails of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe which was reaching the end of its run in 1987.

The plot follows Captain Jonathan Power and his crew of freedom fighters on a post-apocalyptic Earth where Lord Dread's robotic army has devastated civilization. Captain Power (https://www.deusexmagicalgirl.com/2020/06/03/television-review-captain-power-and-the-soldiers-of-the-future/) and his men took up the mantle to destroy all the robot armies of the world and thwart all of Lord Dread's plans. While the premise seems like the eighties enough, with robots and science fiction for days, this TV show ran into a load of troubles that led to its cancellation after only one season. What happened? Keep watching to find out!

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Join us as we explore the history and controversy of "Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (https://screenrant.com/reasons-captain-power-soldiers-future-not-kids-show/)," the 1987 series created by Mattel.

We'll delve into the behind-the-scenes details of the show's production, including the involvement of Gary Goddard, Mark Ralston, Peter R. Brooke, and Michael Halperin, as well as the writing of Simon Furman.

We'll also discuss the groundbreaking use of interactive TV and the accompanying home video game component, which allowed viewers to play along with the show.

But we'll also delve into the controversy surrounding "Captain Power (https://www.greatgeekrefuge.com/nostalgia/captainpower)," including accusations of promoting video game violence and concerns about its appropriateness for children's television.

We'll also touch on the planned 2016 reboot (https://geektyrant.com/news/the-1980s-sci-fi-series-captain-power-is-getting-a-reboot-and-theres-a-teaser-trailer) of the series and the legal issues that ultimately halted its development. Whether you're a long-time fan of the series or just want to learn more about this fascinating and complex piece of animation history, this video has something for you!

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The 80s may have been the golden age for both toys and kids' TV. He Man, Thundercats, GI Joe... it was the best time in history for action and action figures. Mattel had a grand idea to combine the two into one experience: Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/1cxisfx/captain_power_and_the_soldiers_of_the_future_1987/) would not only present a futuristic drama, but also allow the kids watching the show to participate in real-time with interactive toys.

At least... that was the idea.

The reality of Captain Power (https://www.google.com/search?q=Captain+Power+and+the+Soldiers+of+the+Future&sca_esv=ce83f2c1ce1b0517&udm=36&sxsrf=AHTn8zpvoRZCN6G6gHulMeGK_XXDPEk5uA%3A1742424146362&source=lnt&tbs=bkt%3As%2Ccdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A1%2F1%2F1987%2Ccd_max%3A12%2F31%2F1987&tbm=) was a disastrous mismatch of concepts for the Captain Power (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092329/) toys and the show itself. Was the show made for kids or adults? Yes! Was it CGI or live action? Yes! Were the toys awesome, interfacing seamlessly with a television show that would be the next big thing for giant toy-maker Mattel?

No -- a resounding no.

Our Captain Power documentary enters the worlds of retro gaming, 80's toys, and television lore to find out what went so wrong... and what ended up going very, very right.