Superhero and sci-fi TV shows have always been popular favorites, and many of the all time greatest ones first aired in the 1970s. The Incredible Hulk and Wonder Woman are two great examples, but they may owe a great deal to a TV series that started before these two were ever produced for television: The Six Million Dollar Man.
This was an incredibly popular series when it first aired, and it even launched a spin-off series that is just as popular: The Bionic Woman. Looking back at the show, there were some episodes that stood out as being better than others.
The Return Of The Bionic Woman: Part 2 (Season 3, Episode 2) - 7.7
In the second part of this season premiere, Steve takes Jaime Sommers back to their hometown in order to help jog her memory of their past together. After her headaches get worse, she asks to be sent on a mission instead. Steve goes along, but after they are almost killed due to her increasing flashbacks of her life with Steve, he begins to realize he must stay away from her in order to not allow her to suffer.
This is a great episode with fantastic performances by Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner in their respective roles. Their chemistry makes this episode stand out, and it is sad to see Steve make such a strong sacrifice given how much he loves her.
Return Of The Robot Maker (Season 2, Episode 15) - 7.8
After their previous encounter in the first season, the robot maker returns to replace Oscar with a new robot. This robot sends Steve on an incredibly dangerous mission, but Steve decides to take some new gadgets with him that could help his mission become a success.
Any episodes involving robots are always a favorite for fans of the show, and this is no exception. Richard Anderson gives a great performance playing Oscar Goldman and his robot counterpart, and it really brings some believability to this over-the-top, action-packed episode.
The Seven Million Dollar Man (Season 2, Episode 5) - 7.9
Steve finds out that Oscar Goldman and Dr. Rudy Wells made a second cyborg, this time with all four limbs replaced with bionic parts. This man becomes incredibly power hungry, and he begins misusing his new powers. Steve must stop him before he hurts others or himself.
This villain is a great match for our hero, and their conversations surrounding bionics and finally having someone who understands what it is like is very touching. It is definitely a fan-favorite episode in the series.
The Return Of The Bionic Woman: Part 1 (Season 3, Episode 1) - 7.9
In the season three premiere, Jaime Sommers returns as the Bionic Woman after her supposed death from the last season. However, she does not remember Steve or their love for one another, and the doctors do not know if she will ever regain those memories back. Steve slowly builds a friendship with Jaime as she recovers.
Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner's chemistry once again shines in this episode, and one cannot help but feel sorry for Steve as he watches the love of his life not remember their long history together or the fact that they were supposed to get married.
The Return Of Bigfoot: Part 1 (Season 4, Episode 1) - 8.0
In this season premiere, Steve is visited by Gillian, an alien traveler from a group Steve came across in the previous season. Someone from their group has formed their own group in order to dominate the world using Bigfoot. Steve must help Gillian in any way he can, and when things get too complicated and he almost dies, he asks the Bionic Woman herself, Jaime Sommers, to take over the mission in order to save the world.
This is a fantastic way to open up the season. The Bigfoot episodes are some of the most memorable moments of the series, and audience members can see why after viewing this episode.
The Bionic Woman: Part 2 (Season 2, Episode 20) - 8.0
Steve Austin and Jaime Sommers start planning for their wedding, and Jaime is sent on her very first assignment where she has to use her new bionic abilities. However, Jaime's bionic malfunctions and headaches get worse and worse, and Steve and the doctors do not know what to do. It ends with one of the saddest moments in the series before fan backlash caused the writers to bring Jaime back in the next season.
This episode is famous for being the introduction of Steve's main love interest. Their love for one another in this series, her spin-off series, and the three movies that followed is strong and impactful for fans of both shows. Their will-they-won't-they relationship guided most of the show even before this trope was used in other shows like Cheers and Friends.
The Secret Of Bigfoot: Part 2 (Season 3, Episode 18) - 8.2
Bigfoot takes Steve to meet a colony of space travelers inside a mountain in California. There, Steve must help them as they prepare to be destroyed. Oscar and his team prepare to trigger a small earthquake in order to prevent a larger one, and they have no idea these alien beings are living in those woods.
This two-parter is an absolute classic with fantastic performances by Lee Majors and all the guest stars including Andre the Giant as Bigfoot.
Death Probe: Part 2 (Season 4, Episode 14) - 8.2
Time is slowly running out, and Steve needs to do whatever it takes to disable or destroy the Russian space probe. It is practically indestructible, and it can easily destroy whatever is near it. Steve must use his brain rather than his bionic abilities in order to find a solution to the problem.
This episode is a lot of fun considering the villain is an inanimate object that cannot be talked to. The action scenes are great, and it stands out in the series.
Death Probe: Part 1 (Season 4, Episode 13) - 8.3
In part one, Oscar and Steve find the Russian space probe, which is built in order to exist in the environment of Venus, and it is out of control. A town is nearby, and Steve must try to figure out what to do in the time remaining before the space probe destroys everything in sight.
This story is a great setup for an episode of this series, and the probe is a fantastic opponent for Steve Austin.
Kill Oscar: Part 2 (Season 4, Episode 6) - 8.5
Parts 1 and 3 of this trilogy are episodes of The Bionic Woman, but part 2 is an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man. When Jaime is injured after being attacked, Steve tries to find the evil doctor's secret hideout after he captured Oscar. Steve tries to rescue him despite Oscar's orders to have himself killed in order to protect state secrets.
These episodes are some of the most famous episodes for both The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. Filled with action and some great villains, including the famous Fembots, this episode is definitely worth seeing.