Line #5 Series/HarshRealm

Context Series / HarshRealm

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1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/harsh_realm.jpg]]
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3	'''Very''' short-lived TV series loosely based on a comic book and created by Creator/ChrisCarter in 1999 which was so thoroughly ScrewedByTheNetwork (FOX), that's hard to believe that HanlonsRazor really applies. Nine episodes were filmed but only three were originally aired before the show was cancelled.
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5	The story mostly takes place inside the titular Harsh Realm, a perfect VR simulation of the real world created by the U.S. military for training purposes, with the difference that in this world, a nuclear bomb was detonated in New York City, thrusting the simulation into a post-apocalyptic scenario. The main character is Lt. Tom Hobbes (Scott Bairstow), who is sent into Harsh Realm to "assassinate" Omar Santiago (Creator/TerryOQuinn), a Major (now self-appointed General) who managed to become the dictator of 5 U.S. states in Harsh Realm. There was a lot of conspiracy and paranoia, which is not entirely surprising in a series created by Creator/ChrisCarter.
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7	Despite its short length, the show was the focal point of a major lawsuit. James D. Hudnall and Andrew Paquette created the original comic and objected to Carter having sole creator credit on the show while they weren't acknowledged at all. According to Website/{{Wikipedia}}'s [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harsh_Realm#Harsh_Realm_lawsuit page]], part of the legal battle involved noting the differences between versions, and Hudnall and Paquette ultimately getting a SuggestedBy credit.
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9	!!This show provides examples of the following tropes:
10	* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: In "The Three Percenters", Hobbes and Pinocchio find refuge in a village whose peaceful inhabitants turn out to be VR zombies, in essence. After they escape, [[TheDragon Mel Waters]] shows up, immediately smells a rat, and destroys the village.
11	* EverythingFades: Invoked. One of the things that distinguish the virtual world from the real one is that dead bodies fade away like in a video game. It's visually impressive, but doesn't make a lot of sense for a simulation supposedly intended to model disaster management for the real world (wouldn't dealing with the dead bodies be a thing you'd need to plan for?).
12	* HealingHands: Florence
13	* MythArc: Hobbes' mission to eliminate Santiago, as well as investigating his plan to conquer or destroy the real world.
14	* NaiveNewcomer: Tom Hobbes, although his unshakable faith actually seems to be an advantage.
15	* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Hobbes after philosopher Thomas Hobbes, Florence after Florence Nightingale, Omar Santiago after General Omar Bradley.
16	* ReplacementGoldfish: One of the characters in the virtual reality is a digital replica of the protagonist's fiancée.

Context Series / HarshRealm