The Checklist: Tarzán (S1 Ep6) “Tarzan and the Caves of Darkness”
In October of 1991, Tarzan the Ape Man returned to the small screen in the series, Tarzán. The series was a French-Canadian-Mexican production and ran for three seasons with Wolf Larson, prior to his run on PM Entertainment’s L.A. Heat series, in the titular role of Tarzan.
In this edition of The Checklist, I am going to put a randomly selected episode from the first season of Tarzán to The Checklist test…
- Synopsis: Tarzan and Jane tangle with an elephant poacher and his ivory smuggling friends.
#1. Does the show have a quality opening?
Some up tempo music (including jungle drums), shots of our hero Tarzan swinging into action, some fire, an explosion a look at Jane (played by Lydie Denier of Acapulco H.E.A.T.) and some shots of the wildlife inhabitants of the jungle… most notably Cheetah! The opening for Tarzán had everything you’d expect. 1/1
#2. Were there any notable guest stars?
The character of Cordell Winslow is introduced in the opening minutes of the episode. Winslow is an elephant hunter, who just as quickly as he is introduced finds himself tangling with Tarzan, who is there to protect his elephant friend.
Tarzan ends up getting the better of the machete wielding Winslow and ties him up and turns him over to the authorities. If Cordell Winslow was played by some unknown scrub I might have bought that he was not the main villain in this episode. But Cordell Winslow was played by none other than Gavan O’Herlihy, who you may remember from Superman III, Never Say Never Again, Willow or quite possibly, the greatest movie that was ever made… Death Wish 3.
Winslow does manage to escape and reunite with his ivory smuggling friends and worse he gets his hands on Jane and her sidekick Roger (Sean Roberge, T and T), which means we are going to get another Tarzan vs. Winslow confrontation before this episode is all over! 2/2
#3. Was there any romance teased between Tarzan and Jane?
After Tarzan rescues Jane from certain doom, there may have been a tinge of attraction between Tarzan and Jane… but unless she laid one on him, I can’t overlook the fact that earlier in the episode when Tarzan, showing concern for Jane and her expedition with Roger, is put firmly in the friend zone by Jane.
If anyone has the ability to break out of the friend zone it would definitely be Tarzan, especially since at this point the series had really just begun, but potential doesn’t earn you a point on The Checklist. 2/3
#4. Were there any Cheetah hijinks?
Tarzan’s loyal chimpanzee sidekick, Cheetah, is almost always the source of some comic relief and that was definitely the case in “Tarzan and the Caves of Darkness” when early on in the episode, Cheetah pays Jane an unexpected visit while she is showering.
Cheetah must have liked what I saw, because by the end of the episode Cheetah takes a shower complete with shower cap. 3/4
#5. Do we get to hear the famous Tarzan yell?
Why even do a Tarzan series, movie or cartoon if you aren’t going to incorporate the iconic Tarzan yell!?!?
I am happy to report that Tarzan does the yell twice, once as a victory celebration when he first takes down Cordell Winslow and then later in classic Tarzan fashion as he is swinging on a vine. 4/5
- Final Score = 4/5 (80%) Despite the passing final score, I am not sure I am sold on this series and I think that is because I am not sure I am sold on Wolf Larson as Tarzan. But since Gavan O’Herlihy’s character, Cordell Wilson, vowed revenge (and IMDb confirms multiple appearances by Gavan O’Herlihy), I am pretty sure Wolf will have at least one more chance to prove he’s a quality Tarzan in my eyes.
