kolchak night stalker hugely entertaining tv series pushy sarcastic fortysomething reporter repeatedly drawn mortal combat supernatural and occasionally extraterrestrial forces based popular pair tv movies featuring kolchak character series died quick death mids due low ratings nevertheless maintains strong cult following today average modernday viewer able dig kolchak weekly clashes undead br br thats actually tough question answer fairly detractors series tend argue formulaic hopelessly dated hand fans argue cleverly written wellacted sometimes genuinely spooky me ive got foot camps thoroughly enjoyed watching  episodes kolchak dvd recently though plainly see series major flawsbr br ill address question kolchak formula fiction first now think agree tv shows formulas  every episode columbo unfolds according pattern example repetition necessarily bad thing itself fact critics long recognized audiences often enjoy actively seek out repetitive entertainment however problem kolchak formula simply rigid  repetitive even generous standardsbr br in almost every episode kolchak investigates murder figures committed form monster tries publish story said monster editor vincenzo blocks him always grounds kolchak sufficient evidence support claims supernatural forces work and alas kolchak also obstructed police so end kolchak independent research monster figures kill it kills it without ceremony reward writing big story itbr br you see eversostrict formula might get tiresome right im particularly mystified vincenzo  kolchaks always raving monsters vincenzo never believes it well then vincenzo fire kolchak committed thats normal boss would do series eschews realism prefers keep vincenzo kolchak comical antagonists result many scenes together profoundly unbelievable  though also quite funnybr br the best episodes kolchak manage vault limitations formula however usually contain kind unexpected twist select episodes good enough think theyre largely immune typical criticisms series favorites include br br horror heights  episode thats noteworthy grimy inventive socially aware kolchaks dialog unusually sharp cynical edge though adheres closely kolchak formula script written hammer studios veteran jimmy sangster remarkably literate delves deeply monsters backstorybr br the devils platform  possible inspiration omen films episode stands villain  young tom skerritt  tempts kolchak satanic contract full goodies and doing reveals lot reporters character br br firefall  episode appears bad reputation among fans enjoyed got great red herring really creepy almost unstoppableseeming monsterbr br though ive singled three episodes praise id say stories entertaining least money two complete turkeys episode run primal scream monkeymen running rampant chicago sentry features dumbestlooking creature makeup history filmed entertainment and assessment coming lifelong doctor godzilla fan br br on balance then good series little repetitive little cheesy perhaps elements greatness even weaker episodes darren mcgavins wonderful performance caustic worldweary endlessly funny kolchak truly shines carries series effortlessly way that example sarah michelle gellar never managed buffy mcgavin one great character actor series worth watching alone