MovieChat Forums > Hogan's Heroes (1965) Discussion > Season 1 vs. Seasons 4,5

Season 1 vs. Seasons 4,5

posted 9 years ago by DontBogartMe
4 replies | jump to latest

I've seen every epiosode at least a few times over the years, including recently picking up Seasons 4 and 5 on METV. Now, Season 1 is being aired. The formula was established early and didn't change much over the run of the series. Exceptions, in Season 1, Newkirk didn't speak a word of German but must have studied Berlitz because he became fluent in later seasons. Also in S-1, the Heroes were more brazen in their extracurricular activities. Klink not only spotted LeBeau, Newkirk, etc. working at the Hofbrau, but also Hogan in a German officers uniform. Their excuse, earning money to help Klink, was feeble.In later seasons, Klink suspected Hogan (who wouldn't) but, except for tunnels Hogan wanted him to find, didn't have such hard evidence of his sabotage activities.

[–] Tjanssen411 9 years ago

1. 'early Installment weirdness'... much like the Pilot being in Black and White

2. Klink is a Vainglorious Idiot... and note that the episode in question, 'Hilda's Hofbrau" ended with Hogan saving Klink's Neck... and the antagonists being set up to be exposed as frauds, by passing Fake Money
-- is it really out of the question that within Weeks, Klink convinced himself that HE outsmarted 'fraudsters' raising money for a Fake Charity, and that it was his idea to loan out prisoners for a 'work detail' to help a local business woman

3. alternatively there is a Fan Theory (here or TVTropes, I forget) that operates on the idea that Every season is a retelling of events by each hero as they remember it; this explains
- the redundancy of the plot types
- the 1-2 episodes a season visit from 'guest stars' (Marya, Tiger, Crittendon, etc)
- permanent Winter
- the scale/audacity of some of their plans and the operation in general

[–] DontBogartMe 9 years ago

Every 5 yrs of so, I return for a helping of Hogan's Heroes, this time a double serving twice weekdays on METV. I don't mind the redundancy of the plots because the sabotage formula is so appealing. Same with the repetitive humor thanks to the deft comic performances. A welcome element is the most beautiful guest stars in a 1960s sitcom or any series at any time (And I don't mean J.Pat O'Malley).

One of the greatest challenges for the writers was maintaining Klink's record of no escapes. Either the escapee was from a different camp, the victim of a phony killing,or some other contrivance. The viewer really has to suspend disbelief in swallowing Stalag 13 serving as a waystation and clearinghouse for prisoners from other Stalags.

[–] Tjanssen411 9 years ago

of course... I'm currently watching the MeTV double serving... and introducing the show to my co-workers (too young to directly remember it) via the DVDs on our lunch hour

and don't be dissing my boy O'Malley, that man is a sexy beast lol (a name that Irish I figured I remembered him, but I had to search to be sure)

But I was not insulting the 'redundancy'... they often changed just enough to be original in some way... but you need some kind of theory to explain how no one saw this repetition 'in universe'... and the fan theory cited is as good a reason as any

[–] DontBogartMe 9 years ago

I never looked for a different narrative from season-to-season but never noticed one either. Wouldn't it have been apparent?