Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future aired for a single season from 1987 to 1988. The show followed Captain Jonathan Power and his team of specialized soldiers battling the robot army of Lord Dread while wearing power suits. The show featured interactive elements where kids could “shoot” targets using a toy jet called the XT-7, made by Mattel. However, parents protested against the show, arguing that it blurred the lines between a children’s show, warfare, and toy commercials.
Despite its failure to resonate with audiences as expected, Captain Power left a lasting impact on the TV industry. It was the first show to feature CG-modeled characters as part of the main cast, possibly inspiring a villain on Star Trek. The show’s creators went on to shape sci-fi entertainment for a whole generation.
Captain Power’s story is not just an example of failure but also an insight into how technology can shape our perceptions and expectations of media. Kevin Lieber delves into this monumental disconnect in TV history in Popular Science’s latest video. If you want to learn more about unique stories like Captain Power and their impact on popular culture, consider subscribing to Popular Science’s YouTube channel to explore topics such as the predecessor to Siri and Alexa called Butler in a Box and the concept of drilling holes in heads.
