I love this show, like many others who posted here. I too, grew into my teenage years watching this show. When I was first told about this show, at age 10, I was led to believe it would be some kind of "horror show", about "Some scientist who turns into a monster, when he gets mad" as I recall my sister putting it. Nonetheless--for some reason, I watched "Death in the family", my first episode...and was sold from there---and still am.
Here was a show where a "scientist DOES "turn into a "monster" when he gets angry or upset"...but it was MUCH, MUCH more than that!! The "green monster" is only a small part of the show, and when the "hulk" DOES surface--he ALWAYS changes something for the better, albeit causing a lot of destruction in the process.
NO person or persons who got to "know" David "Banner"(or the MANY "B" aliases he used) during the course of the show, came out not being touched, for the better--and often had their business, family or even lives saved. As Banner roamed across the country in search of research jobs and such that would enable him to get access to gamma-ray irradiation equipment--he would invariably get "Drawn into" the lives of some people along the way....and in doing so, found out that some nefarious schemes were going on, by someone who either wanted someone's business, was a corrupt official or politician, engaged in some illegal and dangerous experiments, or trying to cover up some conspiracy. Banner would normally try to intervene on his own, only to be bullied by the bad guys, occasionally even women, and would invariably get beat--up and tossed into some dark corner...and then--the "hulk" would suddenly emerge. When he did surface--the Hulk knew EXACTLY what needed to be done, to resolve a situation--though he DID sometimes do things "the hard way" (such as in "Ricky"--a retarded man is in a race car, and getting gassed by the fumes...all the Hulk needed to do was to "REACH IN THE CAR--and TURN OFF THE IGNITION--instead...he slams the hood of the car down, mashing the car to the ground , jamming out the engine and collapsing the suspension!! Of course..he DID save the guy..).
The Hulk has been called by many a "gentle giant". This is true, as he would not EVER really hurt anyone, and often even saved bad guys who either got caught in their own trap or were double--crossed by their cohorts. The most the Hulk would normally do--was to toss a bad guy across the room, but NEVER did he actually hurt them--though he DID destroy ANY weapons they had--such as the favorite--of bending a gun barrel down or even crushing one in his hand. Often, after he caught the bad guys, the Hulk would bend some conduit or such around them--making it unable for them to escape, and be caught by the ensuing police. Not to mention--the Hulk was VERY gentle to someone who appeared to be injured--and he would gracefully remove that person from danger--and carry them to safety.
Always in pursuit of the Hulk was a pesky reporter, named Mcgee. Mcgee was curious about the origin of the hulk from the beginning, and his meddling causes an explosion in a lab where Banner and his friend were working, as he is hiding in a chemical closet, and when Discovered by Banner--he knocks a bottle of something, presumably an acid, over, and it runs on the floor over to some chemical, possibly potassium,--and a hypergolic reaction results, blowing up the lab. Mcgee only sees the Hulk carrying a scientist--and he thinks he killed her, Elaina Marks and Banner. From here--he is always in pursuit of the hulk--and a few times along the way--ends up in trouble himself that only the Hulk can resolve. At least twice-the Hulk saves Mcgee's life directly.
By the end of each episode...Banner has reverted back to himself, and is normally seen heading out of some town ...on foot, to another town. Along the way--someone's livelihood--and possibly life--was changed for the better. Except for his own. Even though he helped countless people and saved many lives--banner NEVER was able to "help himself" by finding a "cure" for his "Hulk--outs". He does come VERY close a couple of times--notably in "the First" where he actually gets a chance at a cure"--but alas--not quite. It was hard not to feel bad for Banner....giving himself to others EVERY time--but never getting his own recourse. Of course....without the Hulk--Banner is nearly powerless to do much of anything to help anyone--as he is a wimp--and pretty much anyone can overpower him--UNTIL those "eyes start to change"....
I am glad this show is now being shown in the Cincy area on RTV. I still watch it--and always will.
