TV’s first disabled detective came years before Morse. Paralysed by a sniper’s bullet, Robert T Ironside (Perry Mason star Raymond Burr) kept crime off the streets of San Francisco during the turbulent late ’60s, rolling in his wheelchair as Quincy Jones’ siren-like theme blared. Prioritising brains over brawn, the ’67 pilot and first, 28-episode season develop the character dynamic with strong brushstrokes: Burr’s outwardly cantankerous (but really rather cuddly) hero is locked in a love/hate relationship with his long-suffering support team as they tackle cases and big issues (racism, flower power, police shootings) in no-nonsense fashion. Just like Mission: Impossible, the ’60s vibe is seriously dated, yet Burr’s knowingly ironic/iconic turn and some gobsmacking before-they-were-famous casting (Bruce Lee, Harrison Ford) give it a nice touch of retro chic. Ironside’s downside? The price tag and a complete lack of extras.
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