The Adventure Game (1980-86)

The Adventure Game (1980-86)

22 episodes (split over 4 series), approx 26-45 mins each.

I've probably said on more than one occasion during my time on Blogger that it's been 20-30 years since I last saw [whatever the respective post is about] and didn't know if my memories of it were accurate, but never more so has that been applicable than with The Adventure Game.

I hadn't seen it since it originally aired, which is 37+ years ago, at time of writing (i.e., 2023).

In fact, the only parts of it that I could recall prior to watching it recently were a grumbling aspidistra plant on a tall stand, some odd plastic currency, a salamander, and — the part that I remembered most, like it was burned into my brain — the triangle grid pattern that's used to illustrate this post, known as the Vortex.

The format of the show was unusual, at least to me, but describing it to someone who hasn't seen it will be difficult - unless they've seen Knightmare (1987-94) and The Crystal Maze (1990-95), both of which owe a debt to TAG. For the benefit of all, the premise is as follows:

In each episode three human explorers from Earth would visit an alien planet named Arg, which was home to shapeshifting 'dragons' known as Argonds. One of the contestants was a member of the 'general public', while the other two were television presenters, soap actors, etc.

Initially, the primary 'goal' of the explorers (i.e., contestants) was to win back a glass 'crystal' that was needed to power their vessel for the return journey back to Earth, but which had been taken by the mischievous Argonds. On Earth that's known as theft.

In order to win the prize (i.e., have their own property retuned to them) the trio were required to successfully complete a series of often perplexing logic puzzles. If the puzzles were solved correctly, the trio were allowed to return to their vessel - but only after taking one last perilous test: the aforementioned Vortex. If they were lucky, for no skill was involved in the last part, they got to board their vessel and go home safely. If they were unlucky, they were vaporised.

-The Drogna Game (Series 04, Ep 01) -

Some of the puzzles in the first series were crazy-hard, sometimes requiring 'leaps of logic' that were anything but, and necessitating prompting from the actors who played the parts of the Argonds. Such aid was in either a friendly or not so friendly manner, in-keeping with each one's specific characterisation. Puzzles got simpler in series two as the format got streamlined. It's then that the odd plastic currency I mentioned previously was introduced, alongside numerous refences to part of a certain well-known colour sequence: ROYGB...

It's technically a gameshow, I suppose, with new contestants each week, who were aided and influenced by recurring characters that functioned like actors in a play. It's oddly fascinating, as both a peculiarity in itself and as a snapshot of TV of the era, but not everyone will feel that way. To some folks it'll be tedious, frustrating, annoying, etc, or just plain ridiculous. What becomes apparent pretty quickly is that not everyone approaches a 'logic puzzle' from the same vantage point, and that it didn't require much intelligence to be a television 'celeb' in the 80s.

- Future Doctor Who actress Bonnie Langford in the Vortex Game (Series 03, Ep 04) -