retrocrunch84

In an era where the term “lost media” haunts the streaming landscape, rendering entire series inaccessible, the timeless allure of classic television is making a triumphant return. The latest example of this resurrection is none other than “Doctor Who,” the venerable sci-fi institution that has been captivating audiences for an astounding 60 years. For those who have yearned to explore the annals of this iconic series, the wait is finally over as Tubi, in celebration of Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, has generously made all of “Classic Who” available for free streaming. Before the advent of streaming platforms, viewers were relegated to the whims of television schedules and reruns. Doctor Who, with its remarkable six decades of history, became a symbol of this bygone era. However, Tubi’s bold move to make the pre-2005 reboot episodes accessible marks a groundbreaking moment for fans, old and new alike. Tubi now boasts a library of over 600 episodes, a treasure trove for enthusiasts eager to delve into the roots of the show. The format, characterized by serialized storytelling, weaves captivating narratives across multiple episodes. A notable exception, the pilot episode “An Unearthly Child,” is not available on Tubi due to a rights dispute but can still be found on BritBox. However, the vast majority of these classic episodes were lost to the BBC’s “junking” policy, where numerous episodes were erased and retaped. Thankfully, Tubi has stepped up to the plate, featuring animated recreations of some lost adventures, preserving the essence of the Doctor’s timeless journey. For those unfamiliar with the classic era, these episodes offer a glimpse into the show’s humble beginnings and showcase the birth of iconic elements that persist in the current iteration. Aliens and villains from the classics, such as the Zygons, the Silurians, and the Sea Devils, have left an indelible mark on “New Who.” The 60th-anniversary specials even promise the return of the enigmatic Toymaker, originally featured in a lost First Doctor episode, now reincarnated through Neil Patrick Harris. The decision to make classic Doctor Who episodes freely accessible on Tubi is a boon for fans and a nostalgic trip for those who remember the heyday of the 4th Doctor episodes airing on PBS. Every classic episode, whether standing the test of time or serving as a captivating relic of low-budget science fiction, holds significance in the rich tapestry of Doctor Who. For those eager to experience the excitement of bygone eras or witness the birth of iconic elements that continue to shape the series, the invitation is clear: venture into the archives without any paywall hindrance. Tubi has opened the doors to time travel, and you don’t need a TARDIS to embark on this journey. So, grab your sonic screwdriver and get ready for an adventure spanning six decades of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey goodness.

If you grew up watching 80s cartoons, you probably have some favorite villains you rooted against from your childhood. From some of the cheesiest to the most memorable, 80s cartoon villains left a huge mark on our childhood and are still hugely popular even today. To celebrate the ranking of big baddies, were gonna list the Top 10 cartoon villains of the 1980s.  So, let the countdown Begin!   #10  Miles Mayhem, from the show M.A.S.K. He is the cruel and aggressive leader of a deadly criminal organization named V.E.N.O.M.   Miles actually killed the leader of  M.A.S.K.’s brother, Andy Tracker – so he’s one cold blooded killer. #9  Gargamel, from The Smurfs He’s a evil wizard and the sworn enemy of the Smurfs.  His sole purpose in life is to hunt down all Smurfs and either eat them, turn them to gold, or use them in his potions for making spells.  So, When it comes to hating something as cute as a Smurf, you just have to be evil for that. #8   Mon*star, from Silverhawks He is an evil mob boss that is determined to rule the galaxy and destroy the Silverhawks in the process.  This monstrous feline humanoid  turns all muscle bound and spiked armor plated when he  gets power from the beams of Limbo’s Moonstar.  #7   Hordak, from She-Ra: Princess Of Power Hordak is the leader of the Evil Horde. He is the most powerful of the evil beings in Etheria, which is  Eternia’s sister planet.  Hordak killed King Grayskull and was the former mentor of Skeletor, until Skeletor betrayed him and trapped him in another dimension. He now operates as the evil ruler of Etheria and is the main villain in the show She-Ra: Princess of Power. #6   Venger, from Dungeons and Dragons Also known as The Force of Evil, he’s an evil Demon Sorcerer that has great and mysterious powers.  He is the main enemy from Dungeons and Dragons and later in the series its found that he is actually the son of the Dungeon Master (Spoiler!!).  Venger’s sole purpose in life is the Kill the Dungeon Master and Rule the Realm.  He possibly knows nearly every spell in the D & D RPG books, so this would make him one formidable enemy.  Especially if your playing DnD. #5   Shredder, from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Any villain that can take on 4 martial artist turtles has to be in the top 5.  He had some real flunkies though in Bebop and Rocksteady, so he wasn’t very good at hiring his minions, and he was second in command behind the freak of nature Krang.  But still, he was one evil SOB, and pretty much anyone that comes in his path trembled in fear. #4   Skelator, from HE-MAN and he Masters Of The Universe This bad guy is classic – One of the most well known and  ruthless villains that 80s kids would remember.  Skeletor is just the epitome of a villain.  He had that maniacal creepy laugh that was perfect for his character,   some crazy magical powers,   and was hell bent on the total destruction of He-Man and Eternia! #3   Mum-Ra, from Thundercats He looks unassuming in his weak mummy form until he calls on the ancient spirits of evil to becomes a huge muscle bound monster.  Mum-Ra would kill every Thundercat and eat their souls if given a chance. He’s bound in servitude to four undead evil sorcerers, known as the Ancient Spirits of Evil – so he’s not completely in charge of the underworld.. But close. #2   Cobra Commander, from GIJOE: A Real American Hero When you think of an 80s terrorist that wants to rule the world, kill GI JOES,  and will stop at nothing, Cobra Commander is near the top of the list.   He was great at picking his sidekicks, with having Destro and Baroness at his side, and he runs a huge and ruthless terrorist organization meant to bring terror and destruction upon all of Earth. Before we get to #1, I know there’s some of you that are probably disappointed yours favorite villain didn’t make the list, but maybe it made it in our top #15 through 11. At #15.  Prince Lotar From Voltron,     #14.  Cy-Kill from Challenge of the Go-Bots,    #13.  Dr. Claw, from Inspector Gadget,   #12.  Baron Greenback from Danger Mouse,     and #11.   Doc Terror from the Centurions. And now that we got that out of the way!  Coming in at the #1 spot is: #1 Megatron, from Transformers He’s absolutely ruthless and has a awesome backstory to boot.  Sorta reminds me of Zod from Superman.  Megatrons motto is Peace Through Tyranny, and aside from always taking crap from Starscream, this baddie is ruthless and will stop at nothing to Enslave and Destroy anyone or thing in his path.  Plus, he actually DID KILL Optimus Prime, who is  one of the most beloved cartoon HERO’s of all time.  So, that’s our top 10 villains from 80s cartoons. Let me know which ones you’d pick for your top 5 Villains of the 1980s. You can post them  in the comments section below. And Remember, if it aint Retro, It aint worth reading!