”Visionaries Vol. 2: Feryl Steps Out” (Hi-Tops Video, Heron Communications Inc., 1988. Running time: 25 minutes. $14.95)
More Top Picks Best Sensory Bed Sheets For Kids
This may look like standard Saturday morning cartoon fare but it isn`t.
”Visionaries” is actually on Sunday mornings (WGN-Ch. 9, to be exact). This explains the tape`s 25-minute-instead of 30-minute-running time: It`s the same stuff (square-jawed heroes battling nefarious evildoers) only without the commercials.
The Visionaries` motif is an inexplicable mix of merry olde England and some distant futuristic planet. Characters speak with English accents (”You insolent knave . . . .”) and travel in space-age vehicles-or on horses, when the vehicles are out of commission.
In this episode, Feryl, one of the good guys, suffers a crisis of self-confidence and banishes himself from the faithful band good and true. Of course, the bad guys (collectively called the Darkstorm and including one named Mordred-now doesn`t that sound familiar?) try to recruit the despondent ”I have my honor” Feryl.
The Darkstorm ends up kidnapping one of Feryl`s good friends, setting in motion a triumphant rescue that redeems Feryl and his self-confidence.
Why should you buy this tape when you can simply tape a similar episode any Sunday morning? Beats me.