Charlie's Angels (TV Series) Island Angels (1980) User Reviews

Angels against terrorism

[aramis-112-804880 · 7/10 · 21 January 2023]

The fifth season of "Charlie's Angels" was pretty dire, as they plugged the last and least of them, Julie Rogers (Tanya Roberts) into the lineup.

So they set lots of episodes in beautiful Hawaii and shoehorned in lots of special guest stars, 1970s style.

One of the many guest "stars" in this episode is the preternaturally lovely Barbi Benton, erstwhile "Hee Haw" honey and girl friend of Hugh Hefner. Not, perhaps, the world's most renowned thespian, but very famous at the time. She made many trips on "The Love Boat" and to "Fantasy Island." She knew how to sport a bikini.

And this episode has enough guest stars to sink "The Love Boat." Collectors of 1970s faces can observe Carol Lynley ("The Poseidon Adventure"), Lyle Waggoner ("Wonder Woman), Richard Jaeckel ("The Dirty Dozen"), and Randolph Mantooth ("Emergency"). And Keye Luke, who was an actor more than a star and who goes way back. And who has shamefully little to do.

The stories in "Charlie's Angels" always took a back seat to the fashion show, but it's another Julie-led episode. This time, she can recognize a terrorist and that leads to a terrorist hunt. Or something like that. Which 1970s celebrity is it? Who cares? Watch the totally superfluous Benton and enjoy.

Humdinger in paradise!

[robrosenberger · 9/10 · 16 June 2013]

Fears of a lame duck final season, begone! The Angels help the police I.D. and apprehend a terrorist assassin, whom they must suss out from amidst a package tour of...resort singles! Yes, absolutely yes. The writing is sharp enough that, even with the unfair advantage of knowing that the killer must be among the recognizable guest stars, most audience members will be chasing red herrings. And oh, what herrings! How about Lyle Waggoner (THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW, WONDER WOMAN) frolicking in the surf one day, then found floating tits up in it the next? Or Randolph Mantooth (EMERGENCY!) as a reclusive doctor? Toss in Barbi Benton (DEATHSTALKER) as the resort entertainment director, and Keye Luke, whose KUNG FU experience doesn't help him escape a hand-to-hand beatdown from Kel! Plus Carol Lynley (THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, eleven FANTASY ISLANDs), cracking an all-boys club with charm and grace. The ride goes on and on. If you're not careful, your laughter will too.

It's the Julie Rogers in a bikini show.

[neilclack · 5/10 · 9 October 2022]

After the gritty two-parter of Angel In Hiding that opened the 5th (and last) series, and was set in the Angel's natural habitat of downtown LA, this episode (no. 5 in the series) is now the third episode in a row of the Angels sojourn in Hawaii, and it's now becoming clear that the main reason for opening up a Townshend Agency branch in Hawaii is to show off Julie Rogers (Tanya Roberts) amazing body in a bikini at every opportunity (with plenty of accompanying shots of supporting cast and extras scantily-dressed around swimming pools etc).

It's the 1980's now, and even Kris (Cheryl Ladd) has a perm, and the fashion is pegged trousers and boiler suits (when they're not in bikinis).... The charm (from today's perspective) of the original Charlie's Angels is that it's so 1970s, wiih Kate Jackson and Farah in flares, big collars etc...

(Kate Jackson, by the way, was by now sporting a horrendous perm in the Scarecrow and Mrs King, so thank god she'd left the Angels, and didn't ruin her iconic Charlie Angels status with silly hair, which she no doubt would have been sporting by now had she stayed).

The programme has changed, and is now a long way from the original Charlie's Angels, and, for me, these episodes are only interesting in the context of what came before then. Julie (Tanya Roberts) has centre stage in this one, and the other two, and Bosley and Charlie, go out of their way at the end to make it so clear to Julie how well she's doing, and how much they like her.

Considering quite a lot must've been spent on the budget, filming on location etc, you would think they could have done better than the photo with the heads so obviously stuck on bodies - most amateur drama groups/school plays would put more effort into coming up with something better than that.

The Love Boat Meets Agatha Christie

[samimichalek · 5/10 · 11 July 2020]

And here we are again in Season 5 episode 4. I say Love Boat because a single's tour bus is carrying a terrorist on board and the angels must track the assassin down before he or she attacks.

This episode is hit and miss. And this time I am going to spoil a bit. Why do the police need Julie's help to find a terrorist when they already know what he looks like from his pic? Why does the bad guy break into Julie's hotel room dressed as a burglar and come through the front door? Did he walk down the hallway that way and no one noticed?

The only good moments in this one is the lovely Carol Lynley who is attracted to Bosley, Kelly's fight scene, and the only angel group hug of the season.

Not a bad episode, but not great. If you wanna skip this one go right on.