There is some Zako action in a first season episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century called Planet of the Amazon Women. I’ve tried to find a video of it online but the only one I can find seems unable to play. However, below is a link to an episode recap that has some pictures along with description.
The episode takes place on the planet Xantia. Xantia had been at war with a neighboring planet and most of the men were killed or captured in the war. Therefore, the planet is run nearly exclusively by women included the Prime Minister who’s a bit evil.
The Prime Minister has legions of Zako guards who wear gold uniforms with v-necks over black turtlenecks with black boots and black utility belts.
Anyway, Buck gets lured to the planet by two girls who pretend to have trouble with their spaceship so he can be captured. Apparently, to make up for a lack of men on the planet, the bad guys (gals) kidnap men from other planets to sell them to the wealthy elite women of the planet. Of course Buck gets sold and it’s to the Prime Minister’s daughter who disagrees with her mother and wants to do something about it. She and Buck stage an escape and, of course given the corny-ness of the show, they make peace with the other planet and return the men to Xantia.
The Zako action is limited but there is something. There is one missed opportunity scene. Wilma comes to find Buck and after she arrives she is seen in one of the Zako guard uniforms. She calls base and says sarcastically that she had to “borrow” a uniform. The clear implication is that she took out a guard and stole her uniform but unfortunately we don’t see that.
Also, when he’s in a holding cell with a group other men who have been captured they decide to try an escape. However, the Zako guards easily subdue Buck and the others.
There is one Zako action scene that is okay. Albeit a bit quick and confusing. Buck and his “owner”, the Prime Minister’s daughter, launch their plan. However, the Prime Minister has found out about the plan and has increased the guard at the spaceport. However, while Buck and a groups of men can’t battle the Zako, the Buck with just the Prime Minister’s daughter alone apparently have no problem dealing with them.
As for the scene, as Buck and the daughter head down the catwalk leading to the spaceport, they stop before they get to the short flight of stairs heading down to the hanger bay. At the base of the stairs stand two Zako guards, one blonde one brunette. The guards are scanning the bay but not looking behind them. The guards are apparently kind of clueless as they are not looking in the direction the most likely attack will come from.
Buck runs and leaps off the steps and lands in front of the two startled guards. The Zako are shocked but try to draw their laser pistols. Before they can draw and aim at Buck, the Prime Minister’s daughter garbs each of them by the neck. She seems to do some kind of Vulcan Neck Pinch to them as both girls begin to sink to the floor apparently being knocked out by whatever she is doing to them.
As the Zako are going down, Buck takes the blonde’s gun and leaves the daughter to finish them off. By now other Zako guards are coming to fight and Buck shoots past the first one causing some explosions of the machines behind her. For some reason, the girl falls to the floor apparently unconscious. Another guard appears and suffers the same fate as Buck also shoots past her and she too falls to the floor out cold.
As Buck and the daughter run to the ship, two more Zako try to stop them. Buck shoots at their feet and these two girls go down too. Buck then says “they’re not going to stay unconscious for long, let’s get out of here.”
The scene is a bit confusing in that it is not clear why shooting near the Zako knocks them out. Perhaps you’re supposed to believe that the blast is strong enough to stun them and knock them out.
My guess is even though in the Buck Rogers world there were stun settings, the Practices and Standards people didn’t want to show female guards being shot, even if they were just being stunned. That is probably also why they add the line from Buck confirming they are “just unconscious”.
Here is the link that has the episode description and some pictures. The pictures include two with the Zako guards in the background as well as two with Wilma in her stolen uniform. We also seen a scene from the Spaceport where the two steps guards are being finished off and the first attacking guard is going down. If anyone can post the episode that would be great.
http://buckrogersguide.blogspot.com/2013/08/ep-110-planet-of-amazon-women-november.html
