For and Against Young Indy

[Raiders112390]

For

-In some episodes, such as the "Masks of Evil" episode, SPF as Young Indy bears some of the cynicism and bad mood of the older self of the character as played by Ford
-Many of the CC episodes have the same mischevious, cunning Indy we all love
-SPF's Indy's mannerisms in quite a few are the same as Ford
-We see where Indy and Henry broke apart, and we saw how Indy became the cynical guy by the trilogy

Against

-SPF's Indy doesn't act as edgy as Ford's
-He definately isn't as street wise as Ford's Indy is
-On several occaisons, he acts with disgust towards exotic food or bugs, whereas Indy as shown in Temple has no qualms with eating bugs in order not to people of other cultures
-He's too naive and too goofy
-No scrubble!

[René Belloq]

Firstly what's scrubble? Is that a ghetto version of the popular board game Scrabble?

I don't remember seeing Indy eating bugs in Temple of Doom.

[VP]

He probably means stubble.

Indy ate bugs at the Mayapore village. More food than those people eat in a week.

[René Belloq]

Thanks, as I always thought he was eating something like currants.

[Edward The Head]

-SPF's Indy doesn't act as edgy as Ford's

That's because he's still a teenager, what do you expect? Weren't we all like that?

-He definately isn't as street wise as Ford's Indy is

He was and he wasn't. He was in some ways, very quick on his feet, espcially during the war. But again he was a teenager, still had lots to learn.

-On several occaisons, he acts with disgust towards exotic food or bugs, whereas Indy as shown in Temple has no qualms with eating bugs in order not to people of other cultures

Honestly I don't remember this, though I haven't seen all of the YI stuff. But I do know he does know how to interact with different people, though many times he thinks some things are really strange.

-He's too naive and too goofy

I really hate going back to the teenager point, but he is. Everyone is naive and thinks they know everything when they are a teenager. Hell lots of people still do as adults. Indy on the other hand learned to know he didn't know everything.

I've only gotten as far as the start of the war, though I have seen one or two otherwise. And you can see Indy grow throughout. I remember when the show first came out, I didn't want to see any of it, so I didn't. It wasn't until years later when they had redone them and made then two hours long that I saw some of them. Now I wish I hadn't been so naive, you know being a teenager and all, and watched them when they first came out.

[DarthLowBudget]

Fair points all around. I really wish people would understand that people (even fictional characters) don't act the same as teenagers as they do as adults.

[JK_Antwon]

I must agree that in the show he's a kid, so lay off. I personally was a kid, when it came out, and I loved it! seeing the great Indiana Jones as a normal kid like me (except for the part that he travels the world) was awsome! Also keep in mind how Lucas thinks. alot of stuff is for kids, and the tv show really showed that. thats my 2 cents anyway.

[The Adventurer]

I am for Young Indiana Jones Chronicles...It is a good thing. Sure, the trilogy movies are much more great, but Young Indy is a great series and more succesful in my eyes that many other TV series...

[ClintonHammond]

Against... Young Indy sucks.....

[darthsidious42]

I liked Young Indy, I hope the dvd's come out soon.

[Viper]

Well, I haven't seen most of the YIC, but I'll buy them when they come out anyway. If I don't like them, they are still good for the collection:)

[Scott Clements]

It is very weird how unlike Ford Sean Patrick Flannery was. He was much more like Luke Skywalker than Indy. However, he was very likeable and starred in some great Indy adventures, especially 'The Phantom Train of Doom'. It is strange how George Lucas decided to depict him. Sometimes I wonder if Lucas even remembers his own films. However, I'm defintiely for the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles starring Sean Patrick Flannery. The Corey Carrier episodes were just dumb and a huge mistake. I will definitely be purchasing the series on DVD when it finally comes out.

[Matinee Idyll]

I adored the series, loved it every bit as much as the films.

Ok, perhaps I was spoiled with my first two Young Indys being Curse of the Jackal and Austria 1917 - but the action quotient was high, when action was y'know, justified? - not just plonking unnecessary fights in when they wouldn't be needed.

In an episode like London 1916, which still gets the tears welling up in m'eyes (shutup Clinton, it's fantastic ;)) there's simply no need for Indy to be beating people up most of the time. Which is fine by me - he's 17 for gods sake.

That's one of my favourite 45 minutes of television ever, London 1916 - easily Liz Hurleys best performance ever (given she's basically playing herself, but she does it beautifully). It's freakin' wonderful, moving stuff. The scene in the restaurant with Holsts "Jupiters Theme" playing is so, so powerful. Beautifully acted. Perfect television.

Reading through the comments regarding Young Indy, I'm kinda disgusted by alot of people's attitudes. Do many Indy fans have the attention spans of 3 year olds? Just because he's not killing people every 5 minutes doesn't mean it's boring, or 'not in the spirit of Indy'. Sure, a number of the episodes were quite ****, but when it was on the ball;

Verdun, The Somme, East Africa (1908 and 1917), London, Ireland, Curse of the Jackal, Austria, Petrograd, Princeton, Mystery of the Blues, all the Paris ones, Attack of the Hawkmen, Travels with Father, Palestine, etc, etc. There are alot of beautiful episodes.

These were wonderful 'adventures' (and I'm talking about the Chronicles here, not the re-edited abominations) - which should be seperated from 'action'. It was never an action show, and it shouldn't have been. Get off your high horses.

I started watching and taping this show when I was 10 - it means a heck of a lot to me. It took me places I'd never seen, and may never be - it was wonderful for me to associate with an Indy around my age. I learnt so much from the program, it really kicked off my interest in 20th century history, of which I am still intensely fascinated to this day.

Some embarrasing episodes (personally I thought Phantom Train despite being 'actiony' was quite poor, Transylvania, Hollywood Follies - real dreck) shouldn't tarnish what was quite often a brilliant show.

I'm all for Young Indy. Adore it.

[Sankara]

My opinion:

The Star Wars Episodes I,II,II are nothing for "true" Star Wars-Fans!

And the "Young Indy Chronicles" ist nothing for "true" Indy-Fans.

[Grizzlor]

My opinion:

The Star Wars Episodes I,II,II are nothing for "true" Star Wars-Fans!

And the "Young Indy Chronicles" is nothing for "true" Indy-Fans.

Good analogy, although I would add that in the case of Indy, both are very separate entities, which is what we like. In Star Wars, they are supposed to be wrapped into the same story, which resulted in George messing up the original films.

[Violet Indy]

I agree with most of Matinee's points. That's mostly coz I was little kid when it was first on tv and grew up with it. All teenagers have the moments of brightness and goofyness and that is what's there. I love the series, there are moments I can certainly relate to and there's a lot of wonderful scenery of the world in the series. And it was a Hungarian director for the vast majority of the series so there is that Hungarian background biased in me.

[The Adventurer]

In my opinion...the comparation between Indiana Jones movies and Young Indy is not just...you see, the movies are great, but they are movies...the Young Indy is a TV series... we can compare Young Indy with other adventure TV series...not with the movies which are far more great...and from that point of view I watch Young Indy with relish. Much better in my opinion for example, than "Relic Hunter" with Tia Carrere as Sydney Fox...so I say again...I am for Young Indy!...and yes...the Indiana Jones movies are other thing than The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series...

[Scott Clements]

George Lucas always said 'Young Indy' wasn't supposed to be like the films at all and more along the lines of a show like 'The Wonder Years'. I think 'Young Indy' was the last good thing Lucas did. The show had a lot of love and integrity put into it and it shows. It would perhaps have been better with a more Harrison Ford-like lead, but Sean Patrick Flannery was like-able in his own unique way. The best episodes were definitely the WW I ones.

[Alexandria]

I know I'm for Young Indy:hat: I hope they come out with Young Indy DVDs soon! :D

[whipple]

Hmmm. I can honestly say I hated it when it first aired... After reading your opinions I look forward to revisiting it when it comes out to dvd.

[Bullwhip]

My opinion:

The Star Wars Episodes I,II,II are nothing for "true" Star Wars-Fans!

And the "Young Indy Chronicles" ist nothing for "true" Indy-Fans.

Wow, that's ignorant.

[IndySeven]

Young Indy isn't that bad.

[fixer79]

Young Indy isn't that bad.

Of course it wasn't!
In my opinion, it was a pretty good series of prequels to set the stage for the motion picture films.

The only bad thing about the show (and I'm sure most of you will agree) is that a lot of times, you forget that you're actually watching Indiana Jones. Sometimes, Flannery will be called 'Indy' by someone and you'd go "Oh right, he's indiana Jones. You tend to forget that, I think.

It's got nothing to do with Flannery, of course. He's a gifted actor and does an incredible job, but he's just not Harrison Ford's Indy.

Of course, there are a few personal reasons why the show's dear to me.
When the series was released I was terribly honored that Indy turned out to be in the Belgian army under the false name Henry de Vos and that his best friend was played by the sorely missed Belgian actor Ronny Coutteure.
I truly appreciate the tribute Lucas and company brought to my country.

To give a short reaction to the guy that said that Young Indy isn't for real Indy fans (and Star Wars I to III isn't for real Star Wars fans)...
I really don't agree with that, brother. Not at all.
Both young Indy and the Star Wars prequels were made by the same guy responsible for creating the original sagas. That makes 'em as much 'Indy' or 'Star Wars', in my book.
If some other guy would've created new prequel or sequel stories, it might've been a different story, but that's not the case here.
Of course, the fact that you might not like the newer stuff is something else. That's just a matter of opinion.

[Sankara]

The new Star Wars-Movies are nothing for TRUE SW-Fans - and "Young Indy" is nothing for TRUE Indy-Fans.

For "Young Indy":

NOTHING

Against "Young Indy":

- Sean Patrick Flanery (nothing against River)

- many-many mistakes (Corey says: "I hate Snakes!"

- The Storys! Indy fights against Vampires *LOL... Indy has sex with Mata Hari... LOL

- The Indy-Movie are full of action, suspense, humor. "Young Indy" is just boooooring.

[Bullwhip]

If anything, being a fan of every aspect of Indy makes you a "TRUE FAN". Your argument is asinine and insults our intelligence.

[Attila the Professor]

There's any number of ways of defining true fandom, and some will be appealing to some and others will be appealing to others. That's the way it goes.

[Bullwhip]

I think the whole idea of "true fans" is stupid. But I was arguing using his illogic.

[VP]

I was terribly honored that Indy turned out to be in the Belgian army under the false name Henry de Vos
Huh? His phony name was Henri Defense, not Henry de Vos.

[Gilles V]

Of course, there are a few personal reasons why the show's dear to me.
When the series was released I was terribly honored that Indy turned out to be in the Belgian army under the false name Henry de Vos and that his best friend was played by the sorely missed Belgian actor Ronny Coutteure.
I truly appreciate the tribute Lucas and company brought to my country.

Idem dito!
Dat is precies waarom ik deze Young Indy avatar gekozen heb. :D

The Young Indy series never reached the quality of the films but what did you really expect from a TV-series where the budgets are much smaller than with feature films. And still the Young Indy series looked really great and were (are!) a lot of fun to watch! Especially the scenes with Ronny Coutteure. ;)

[fixer79]

Huh? His phony name was Henri Defense, not Henry de Vos.

That's odd... Are you sure about that?
It really sounds like 'De Vos' to me. Plus, in every episode I've seen on TV and on home video, it was subtitled 'De Vos' as well...
It makes sense too... 'De Vos' is an existing Belgian name, meaning 'The Fox'.
I've always figured it was a reference to one of Indy's inspirations, 'El Zorro', which also means 'The Fox'...

Could anyone shed any light on this?
Gilles misschien? ;)

[Niteshade007]

I can't be a great judge of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles because I've only seen one (The Treasure of the Peacock's Eye, or something to that effect). I thought it was alright. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't something that I have to see again. I guess because I wasn't that impressed with that one that I never felt the need to watch another one. Does anyone know if I just saw a bad one? Are the others worth watching?

[Stoo]

That's odd... Are you sure about that?
It really sounds like 'De Vos' to me. Plus, in every episode I've seen on TV and on home video, it was subtitled 'De Vos' as well...
It makes sense too... 'De Vos' is an existing Belgian name, meaning 'The Fox'.
I've always figured it was a reference to one of Indy's inspirations, 'El Zorro', which also means 'The Fox'...

Could anyone shed any light on this?
Gilles misschien? ;)Indy gets the idea for his alias from a French "No Smoking" sign in the Belgian recruiting office.
Interesting curiousity about the De Vos name. I wonder if there are different names in other languages as well.
(Plus, I never knew the meaning of "Zorro". Well, you learn something new everyday. Thanks fixer79!)

It's too bad that this thread wasn't started with a poll. Personally, I find it depressing to read that
there are so many fans out there who don't care for the show but it would be nice to see the percentages.
No, the series is not like the movies but it stands extremely well on its own merit. Big thumbs up!:up:

[fixer79]

Indy gets the idea for his alias from a French "No Smoking" sign in the Belgian recruiting office.
Interesting curiousity about the De Vos name. I wonder if there are different names in other languages as well.
(Plus, I never knew the meaning of "Zorro". Well, you learn something new everyday. Thanks fixer79!)


No thanks, Stoo ;)
The sign probably said "defense de fumer" or something then... Completely missed that episode... Does anyone know the name of that ep?

Darn, that means I've been wrong for all these years, thinking it was 'De Vos'... And so was the team that subtitled the episodes in Dutch ;)

[Stoo]

Yes, the sign said "Defense de fumer". It was in the episode "Ireland - April 1916".
Let's see if the Dutch translation changes for the DVDs.

[fixer79]

Yes, the sign said "Defense de fumer". It was in the episode "Ireland - April 1916".
Let's see if the Dutch translation changes for the DVDs.

I hope so...

Anyway, thanks for the info, Stoo!

[Ben Friend of Indy]

I can't be a great judge of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles because I've only seen one (The Treasure of the Peacock's Eye, or something to that effect). I thought it was alright. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't something that I have to see again. I guess because I wasn't that impressed with that one that I never felt the need to watch another one. Does anyone know if I just saw a bad one? Are the others worth watching?

It's not really a true presentation for the rest of the series. I think it was more of an attempt to bridge Young Indy and film Indy. Other episodes are different. It's not meant to be an action show. It's got a lot of charm and fun, and some great period sets and costumes, etc. I love that old turn of the century flavor. It's definitely worth checking out.

[Niteshade007]

Ok, I will certainly have to check them out then when they come out on DVD. Thanks for the reply!

[VP]

It was in the episode "Ireland - April 1916".
No, it was in London - May 1916.

[Stoo]

Yes, I realised after I posted that I'd made a mistake but didn't have time to repost until now.
D'oh! Thanks for taking the slack, VP.

"Peacock's Eye" is one of my favourites. Young Indy Rocks!

[Inbanana]

(I'm probably gonna get crucified for this, but here it goes...)

I have nothing against any of the actors who played young Indy or their interpretations of the character, but I've always hated the idea of telling the adventures of Indiana Jones as a young boy, especially in The Last Crusade.

I've always felt that the character should remain more of a mystery... that we should never know too much about his past... or his future. As a kid, I always tried to imagine how Indy finally met his fate... did he ever go back to retrieve the Grail and was given eternal life?... or was he ultimately trapped in some undiscovered tomb... long, long ago. Neither, because the TV show tells us that his ultimate fate was probably very, very old age. Of course this means that you don't have to worry about him dying any possible upcoming movies either... not that they would kill him off, its just that there's no suspense knowing that the worst possible thing that could happen to him was to lose an eye.

Same goes for his past... I think I was 9 when I first saw Raiders at the theater, the same age as Jonathan Ke Quan was when I saw Temple, and the same age as River Phoenix (although he was playing a younger character) when I saw Crusade. And one thing that young Indy taught me was that Indiana Jones would do more things by the time he was a teenager then I could ever hope to do in my lifetime. Sure its only fantasy, but it still sucks... and kills the imagination of a kid who just wants to grow up to be like his hero.

Now to be fair, I haven't seen much of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles... in fact I tried to avoid it... for the reasons stated above. I think the only episodes I've seen were the first one, and the one with Harrison Ford, and I thought that it was definitely geared toward a more younger audience as "edutainment".

For people who were introduced to the character and movies through watching the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles as they were growing up, I think thats great... but I also understand why there are a lot of people who don't like the show as well.

One of these days, maybe when they come out on dvd, I'll try to give them another chance.

Now don't get me started on Shia LaBeouf...