After watching (most of) the episodes on the Anchor Bay release of Hunter: The Complete First Season, there?s only one thing to say... but I can?t bring myself to use Hunter?s trademark phrase, the one he says at least two or three times each episode (which is okay if you?re still living in an era when at least a week passes between episodes. I heard it so much in the DVD review period that I wanted to grab Hunter?s own gun and end this review in an overtly tragic way).

So don?t make me say it, okay?

Hunter is about the adventures of renegade cop, Sgt. Rick Hunter (Fred Dryer), and the long-suffering Sgt. Dee Dee McCall (Stefanie Kramer). Dryer, who worked very hard to land a starring role (or any role) after a very successful NFL career, had an unexpected hit on his hands with Hunter. The series ran from 1984 to 1991, and then went on to provide additional Made for TV movies for the lead characters. What makes this DVD release memorable is the faultless chemistry that existed from the outset between Dryer and Kramer. Who knows what they really thought of one another when the camera wasn?t rolling; on screen, their portrayals are very competent and they depict equal parts caring and concern, as well as testiness, anger, impatience, and just plain grumpiness ? just like it should be between two partners on the beat. The first season also shows more than the requisite amount of deft writing which manifests itself in clever dialog, smooth transitions, and clever, unforced plot twists.

You?ll recognize the Stephen J. Cannell thumbprint on Hunter because he was also the producer of such beloved cannon fodder as The A-Team and Renegade. Car chases? Yup, they?re here. Shoot ?em ups? Oh, yeah... Fans of the original series will probably enjoy dissecting each shot frame by frame to see just how badly the stunt doubles stand out from the genuine actors during fight and action sequences.

Hunter: The Complete First Season includes all 19 episodes from the 1984-85 season. The extras are wafer thin, but considering how much time has passed, I?m grateful that there are any at all. This is the only reason I?m giving this box set a lower score. The extras include 32 minutes of new interviews with both Stephen J. Cannell and Stefanie Kramer. It would have been nice to be able to include a little walk down memory lane with Fred Dryer, but maybe they?re saving that for Season Two (or the possibility of a Special Edition blockbuster mega content platinum casing DVD box set).

Works for me.

Aaaaaagh!!! I said it!!!

Get Mr. T on the phone, I feel a car crash coming on. Somebody hold me back!!!