Curating The Incredible Hulk: Modern viewing for streamers

We live in different times. Decades ago, if a television show was a success it would run continuously for years, across multiple seasons and countless episodes.

Back then, a show could last five seasons and clock up over 100 episodes. Nowadays, less is apparently more and a show is more likely to run two to three seasons and come in at under 30 episodes, with huge production gaps in between.

Modern audiences (aka the streaming generation) want shorter, tighter seasons (or that’s what streaming services tell us). As such, there’s no longer room for filler episodes and non-essential material, it’s all about key plot points, big moments, and instant gratification.

So, how does this fit in with new audiences who want to watch classic TV shows? For example, if you’re a streamer who only has time for all killer, no filler content, how do you access just the good stuff in an old television show?

Answer: Through curation! You simply seek out a curated list of the best episodes and key storylines, in order to get through a series in a shorter time frame.

And this is exactly what I’m serving up in this post. A curated list of episodes for the classic television show, The Incredible Hulk (1977 – 1990), which gives you many of the highlights without the need to watch every episode.

The curated list set out below covers key stories from the main arc of the show, along with all of the best/fan-favourite episodes. I’ve also included the trio of television movies which appeared after the show was cancelled, to round out the journey. 

Want to watch The Incredible Hulk in just over 20 instalments? Then keep reading!

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The Incredible Hulk – Pilot TV movie

OK, so here is where it all begins, with the feature length pilot movie, simply titled The Incredible Hulk. In this lengthy instalment, Dr. David Banner (Bill Bixby) accidentally exposes himself to unprecedented (and dangerous) levels of gamma radiation, while trying to unlock the secret to hidden strength in humans.

The accident alters David on a physical and mental level, transforming him into a green, hulking creature (Lou Ferrigno). The transformation happens whenever David gets angry, with the creature completely taking over.

Keen to rid himself of the creature, David confides in close friend and colleague, Elaina Marks (Susan Sullivan). She attempts to help him learn more about his brutish alter-ego, and perhaps reverse the process.

However, the creature – later named the Hulk – attracts the attention of newspaper reporter, Jack McGee (Jack Colvin). McGee follows up on reports of the creature attacking a young girl and her father, and refuses to let the story go until he uncovers the truth behind the monster.

But the truth is, the Hulk isn’t dangerous and won’t kill. He may be the personification of rage, and possess immense strength, but David’s humanity keeps the Hulk in check.

However, when an accident occurs, Elaina is killed and David is presumed dead, the Hulk is held responsible. Knowing he is unable to prove the Hulk’s innocence without explaining his connection to the creature, David flees the scene and goes under cover in the hope of finding a cure to his unique situation.

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747 – Season One/Episode Five

In 747, David is still struggling with his transformation into the Hulk. But under the belief a leading doctor may be able to help him, he sets off on a flight from San Francisco to Chicago under the alias, David Brown.

But what should be a simple trip soon turns into something disastrous, when the airplane is hijacked by thieves. This causes a significant problem, with David and the Hulk caught in the middle and forced to land the plane.

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The Hulk Breaks Las Vegas – Season One/Episode Six

Posing as a casino employee named David Benning, David finds himself caught up in a tricky situation involving a reporter and the mafia. And to make matters worse, he must make contact with reporter Jack McGee, who is currently tracking the Hulk’s movements across the US.

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Married – Season Two/Episode One

Next up is the feature-length episode, Married. In this story, some time has passed since David’s initial transformation into the Hulk, but a cure to his metamorphosis still eludes him.

Under the alias, David Benton, David travels to Honolulu in search of psychologist, Dr. Carolyn Fields. He believes Carolyn’s work on the human mind may be the key to controlling his anger and quelling the raging beast.

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A Child in Need – Season Two/Episode Five

In Child in Need, David is living a quiet existence under the guise of school groundskeeper, David Baxter. But his seemingly simple life is soon put to the test when he starts to believe a young boy named Mark is being abused.

Mark is continually showing up to the school covered in bruises. Believing Mark, and possibly his mother could be the victims of domestic abuse, David and the Hulk step in to help out.

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Mystery Man: Part One – Season Two/Episode Fifteen

In Mystery Man – Part One, David is involved in a car accident which injures his face and causes a bout of amnesia. Wrapped in bandages, and adopting the name ‘John Doe’, he is soon befriended by reporter Jack McGee.

McGee believes ‘John’ has some vital information about the Hulk’s whereabouts locked in his mind. He hires a plane to take them both to Los Angeles, with the aim of helping ‘John’ regain his memory, but things take a deadly turn when their plane crashes.

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Mystery Man: Part Two – Season Two/Episode Sixteen

Picking up the story from Part One, Mystery Man – Part Two sees ‘John Doe’ and Jack McGee forced to work together in a desperate fight for survival. However, this union comes at a price: McGee uncovers a shocking truth about the creature.

Up until this point, McGee was under the impression the Hulk was a raging monster. But after witnessing ‘John’ transform into the creature, he now knows the Hulk is really a man with a unique condition.

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Homecoming – Season Three/Episode Eight

In Homecoming, it is Thanksgiving and David returns home to his family farm in Colorado, reuniting with his estranged father, as well as his sister, Helen. Both were under the belief that David had died in the same accident that killed Elaina Marks, resulting in an emotive reunion.

But can David reconcile with his father without revealing the truth behind his apparent death? And what will happen when Jack McGee tracks the Hulk to the Banner homestead?

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The Snare – Season Three/Episode Nine

Still on the run and searching for a cure to his Hulk transformations, David finds himself stuck at an airport when his travel plans are cancelled. After accepting temporary hospitality from the seemingly mild mannered, Michael Sutton, David is taken to a private island for refreshment and relaxation.

However, Sutton has an ulterior motive and plans to hunt David for sport on his island. This game then gets a considerable upgrade when Sutton discovers David’s secret, and decides he would much rather hunt the Hulk.

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The Psychic – Season Three/Episode Eighteen

In The Psychic, David meets a young woman with the ability to see the future. Not only does she see the connection between David and the Hulk, she also predicts the death of Jack McGee.

With McGee in trouble, it’s up to David and the Hulk to step in to save him. But can they help the reporter without getting too close?

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Deathmask – Season Three/Episode Twenty

While working incognito as a library assistant named David Brent, David is accused of being a serial killer. Held by the police, David is questioned about his different aliases and is at risk of having his true identity exposed.

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Equinox – Season Three/Episode Twenty-One

In Equinox, David is once again posing as a librarian, only this time it is at the private residence of a spoiled heiress. Unfortunately, the heiress has her eye on David, and is keen for him to attend a masquerade ball whether he wants to or not.

During the course of this episode, Jack McGee comes very close to discovering the truth about ‘John Doe’/David Banner/the Hulk when he attends the ball. The two interact, and David’s secret is almost exposed.

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Prometheus: Part One – Season Four/Episode One

In Prometheus – Part One, David is making his way through Utah when he stumbles upon a recently crashed meteorite. The object is emitting gamma radiation, which has an unusual effect on David.

After David transforms into the Hulk, he is unable to return back to human form. He can still become the creature, but as far as his human side goes, he becomes stuck as half-David, half-Hulk.

Transforming back into the Hulk, the creature is mistaken for an extraterrestrial being and is captured by the US Government. His only hope for escape appears to lie in Jack McGee, who knows what the Hulk really is.

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Prometheus: Part Two – Season Four/Episode Two

Picking up directly after Prometheus – Part One, this second instalment continues the story, with the David-Hulk creature held captive in a government facility. Still under the belief the Hulk is of alien origin, the US scientists have plans for the creature, putting David’s life in jeopardy.

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Dark Side – Season Four/Episode Four

While boarding with a family, and using the alias David Bernard, David begins to experiment on himself in secret. One of these experiments goes drastically wrong, and unlocks a dark, primitive persona which takes over David’s mind.

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Bring Me the Head of the Hulk – Season Four/Episode Six

When a well-equipped mercenary takes it upon himself to track down and kill the Hulk, David’s life is once again put at risk. This new adversary means business, and he certainly has the fire power to back up his threat.

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The First: Part One – Season Four/Episode Twelve

In The First – Part One, adopting the alias of David Barr, David heads to the town of Vissaria to learn about deceased scientist Dr. Jeffrey Clive and his work on radiation. While in town he comes across old news reports involving a mysterious green creature not too dissimilar to the Hulk.

After speaking to one of Dr. Clive’s old friends, David comes to believe Clive had created an antidote for a similar Hulk-like being, which could provide David with the cure he has been so desperately seeking. For the first time in a while, David is filled with hope about his situation.

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The First: Part Two – Season Four/Episode Thirteen

Continuing the story from Part One, David’s hope of a cure is put on hold as a second creature is on the loose. Dr. Clive’s former assistant, Del Frye has gained the ability to transform into a hulking monster, and unlike David, he lacks the compassion to quell the rage inside him. 

As David struggles to get Del’s creature under control, his chances of curing himself appear to drift further away. Meanwhile, with this new creature causing havoc, it’s not long before Jack McGee arrives on the scene to investigate.

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Interview with the Hulk – Season Four/Episode Fifteen

After making his way to Atlanta, and posing as a construction worker named David Butler, David is tracked down and recognised by science reporter Emerson Fletcher. He has followed a tip-off about the Hulk, which has led him to David.

Cornered, David agrees to tell his story, believing Emerson to be a decent person. But little does he know that Emerson works for the National Register – the same paper as Jack McGee.

Once McGee learns of the tip-off he follows in pursuit. Could McGee finally be about to discover the truth about Dr. David Banner?

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The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988) – TV movie

Onto the TV movies now, which essentially conclude the story set out in the television series. Two of these movies also introduce Marvel heroes Thor and Daredevil.

First up is The Incredible Hulk Returns, which picks up David’s story a few years after the conclusion of the television series. Within this time, David has managed to lie low, largely by avoiding situations that would cause him to transform into the Hulk.

After David builds a machine which could cure him of the Hulk persona for good, he encounters new problems when he crosses paths with former student, Donald Blake. Blake reveals he is in possession of a magical hammer with the ability to summon the mighty Thor!

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The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989) – TV movie

In The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, David is once again on the move, attempting to lay low. However, after he is wrongfully arrested, David is assigned legal assistance from blind lawyer, Matt Murdock.

Unbeknown to David, Matt is secretly the vigilante super hero known as Daredevil. And it’s not long before David and Matt, as well as the Hulk and Daredevil, join forces to take on the Kingpin of crime, Wilson Fisk.

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The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990) – TV movie

And finally, this curated list ends with the last chapter in the saga of The Incredible Hulk – the final television movie, The Death of the Incredible Hulk. The spoiler-filled title of the movie gives things away, but yes, this is the definitive end point for the show.

In this TV movie, David attempts to cure himself of the Hulk once and for all, and comes very close. However, he soon gets caught up in a plot involving terrorists, which leads to an abrupt and tragic conclusion.

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Recap

Below is the curated list of The Incredible Hulk episodes, which takes you through the series from start to finish in just over 20 moves. Should you simply want to visit the highlights and main story beats, without watching every episode (especially the bad ones), then follow this list:

• The Incredible Hulk (1977) – TV movie 
• 747 (S01 E05)
• The Hulk Breaks Las Vegas (S01 E06)
• Married (S02 E01)
• A Child in Need (S02 E05)
• Mystery Man: Part One (S02 E15)
• Mystery Man: Part Two (S02 E16)
• Homecoming (S03 E08)
• The Snare (S03 E09)
• The Psychic (S03 E18)
• Deathmask (S03 E20)
• Equinox (S03 E21)
• Prometheus: Part One (S04 E01)
• Prometheus: Part Two (S04 E02)
• Dark Side (S04 E04)
• Bring Me the Head of the Hulk (S04 E06)
• The First: Part One (S04 E12)
• The First: Part Two (S04 E13)
• Interview with the Hulk (S04 E15)
• The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988) – TV movie 
• The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989) – TV movie 
• The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990) – TV movie

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