Airwolf (TV Series) Mind of the Machine (1984) User Reviews

Airwolf - Mind of the Machine

[Scarecrow-88 · 8/10 · 15 July 2018]

It is hard not to get jazzed when you have Vincent and Carradine dueling in mutual Airwolf fighter planes, even if in simulation, located in some warehouse in the middle of a desert. Add Currie as the scientist spying for terrorist Jason, included with catchy Levay synth score, and the threat of design plans of the Airwolf falling into the hands of terrorists bound for Mexico (such an 80s plot, for sure), and this episode has plenty for those who love their 80s action television. I admit for geeking out at seeing David Carradine as former pilot/aerial combat scientist, Dr. Robert Wincester, mistakenly fallen in love with Sondra Currie's Diana Norris, secretly in cahoots with Alexi Provov (Harvey Jason), while working on the simulation project, programmed to study Stringfellow Hawke's piloting of the Airwolf. The plan is to have a simulation in place for future pilots, hoping to potentially pilot Airwolf eventually. Norris seeks to steal information / design plans of the Airwolf for her terrorist allies, looking to build their own similar/identical equivalent to the Firm's own-well, in possession of Hawke, but of their use through him for missions-prototype. The macho posturing between the two of them is amusing, while Hawke confronts him about how the simulation regarding his flying and execution of targets isn't accurate, Wincester (and Norris) assure him he wasn't 100%. With Wincester holding contempt over Hawke's dismissal of his work (at first, both are adversarial), the tension is quite palpable. But the two find common ground when, during their combat simulation duel, Provov's men try to break Archangel's security detail, and they realize both want what's best for Airwolf. Too bad Wincester can't anticipate Provov's ability to gain access to the site through Norris' assistance, hit by a gunshot to the stomach when he tries to stop him from gaining a hold of Airwolf's design plans. Taking off in a chopper (loaded with weaponry and tech that can interfere with Airwolf's programming and mimic Hawke's flying and attack behavior), Provov and Norris try to escape to Mexico while hoping to engage in their pursuer, taking out Airwolf and their pilots, Hawke and Santini, in the process. Along with the Vincent and Carradine drama (and eventual show of mutual respect), the campfire chat between Hawke and Santini (and their discussion of leaving behind a legacy in regards to Airwolf) as they bark at the moon is a lot of fun. The storage location of Airwolf is shown, there is plenty of Airwolf in performance, Currie's working over Carradine building her into a serious threat, Hawke facing the idea of not always being the go-to pilot for Airwolf, and Carradine getting to live his dream of flying the Airwolf although it is as he is dying; this episode is a real treasure in the first season. And Hawke losing control of the Airwolf thanks in part to the computer theft and programming held hostage by Norris makes for a resilient and crafty escape from a really tricky situation.

An Excellent Episode Wolf vs Wolf!

[verbusen · 10/10 · 2 June 2008]

Airwolf, of the little I watched TV in the mid 80's (I was busy with being at sea and when not at sea out on the town as a 21'sh man in So Cal and points along the Pacific), was unquestionably a favorite show of mine. So rewatching the episodes today I get a rush back to those days, it's just a love it or hate it show, kind of like the music of the 80's, if you lived the life then you are more likely to really be fond of it when it was "fresh". This episode is cool because we have a great nemesis in the form of David Carradine of Kung Fu fame (a show I grew up on in grammar and middle school, lol). The plot is a teaser to what actually happens but it's a very cool episode because there is a decent amount of character development involved and those are what makes a tech show such as a Star Trek or Air Wolf enjoyable. I liked the way it ended, unlike a show like Night Rider and A Team, Airwolf had deaths, it makes any attempt at drama a lot more believable. Umong the aerial shots we see Airwolf navigate a row of cones meant for a car! I don't think there will ever be a TV show that utilized so many real aircraft in it, its all CGI from here on boys. Very entertaining episode, 10 of 10.

Mind of the Machine

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 19 July 2018]

David Carradine joins the cast and not a kung fu kick in sight. I think the producers took a risk with the casting, Carradine surely would had given tips to Jan-Michael Vincent as to how to up his game as a hellraiser.

Carradine rather improbably plays Dr Robert Winchester a former test pilot who helped design Airwolf but now testing an advanced simulator that mimics Airwolf in order to train future pilots to fly Airwolf.

The real Airwolf is hooked up to the simulator to improve its programming but it also allows a Soviet agent to attempt to steal Airwolf.

Carradine does give this episode an edge as you wonder if he is a baddie or not. The lighted cords that hook up the computers must have been discarded from the television series of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Kind of lame but hey it's Airwolf!

[mm-39 · 4/10 · 7 January 2020]

Mind of the Machine was pretty cool, back in the day before Sony playstation etc. The flight simulator was all right. There is a plot to steal Airwolf. Some cold war spy games, which make for a great plot twists. There is the guy from Kung Foo series vs Hawk in the simulator. Old scores to be settled. The ending turns mean, but a friend ship is built with some Airwolf action. More of a action show then Airwolf show with a sad ending. Okay episode, but forgettable. 4 stars.