# Riptide (1984)

> Two Vietnam veterans and their high school computer whiz friend run a Los Angeles detective agency, solving cases with grit and their own helicopter.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/4162

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 56
- Episode runtime: 48 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: crime, action, drama
- Created by: Frank Lupo, Stephen J. Cannell
- Network: NBC
- Cast: Perry King, Joe Penny, Thom Bray, Jack Ging, Ken Olandt, Anne Francis, Deborah Voorhees, Barbara Keegan
- TMDB rating: 6.8/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086789/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: breezy, adventurous, playful, escapist

## What critics say

Viewers remember Riptide as a light, nostalgic 1980s action-adventure with likable leads and a playful tone, with audience ratings that were mixed overall.

## Synopsis

Riptide (1984-1986) is an American NBC crime adventure series created by Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell. Two Vietnam War veterans, Cody Allen (Perry King) and Nick Ryder (Joe Penny), run a private investigations agency in Los Angeles with their computer-savvy high school friend Murray Bozinsky (Thom Bray). Armed with toughness, their own helicopter, and Murray's technical ability, the partners take on a steady stream of cases for paying clients, from missing persons to schemes that demand fast action. The engine of each episode is the chase: a client's trouble, a trail of clues, and a dangerous confrontation that the trio resolves together. Ted Quinlan (Jack Ging) appears as a recurring figure in the agency's orbit, adding a steady presence to the team. The series spans three seasons and 56 episodes, with each story wrapped up within the episode, so viewers can dip in at any point. Its tone is breezy and escapist, with a buddy camaraderie and a classic 1980s network energy. Fans of The A-Team, Magnum, P.I., and Hunter will find the same blend of ex soldier heroics, light humor, and case-of-the-week action.

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