For a very early (1920) serial, this outing seems to follow a lot of the conventions which would be tirelessly repeated for years of serial-making: first, LOTS of chase scenes, with both good guys pursuing bad guys and bad guys pursing good guys, and if death is involved, make sure to put it at the end of episode so as to serve as the compulsory cliffhanger; second: far too many bad guys - in this serial, the disaffected rival of Tarzan is accompanied by nefarious Arabs and greedy rapacious Swedes in efforts to kidnap the heroine and/or get even with the title character or his father; finally, thwarted affections of the hero and heroine: Korak and Meriem come together, are separated, come together, are separated etc. so often that during the interminable scenes of her wandering through the 'jungle' (actually, much more of a deciduous, Californian forest) while he's doing the same, the viewer's expectations are heightened - Will they meet? Sadly, the answer depends more on the episode number than the actual plotting of the writers: only when you get to the final, fifteenth episode can you be assured of the final consummation.
Well done, but unlike the Perils of Pauline from 1914, totally lacking in originality and truly interesting plot twists, characterization and cliffhangers.
Well done, but unlike the Perils of Pauline from 1914, totally lacking in originality and truly interesting plot twists, characterization and cliffhangers.