Meredith McCoy Movies

NBC wasted precious little time in offering up a TV-movie adaptation of one of the first truly uplifting stories of the Iraq War. Saving Jessica Lynch stars Laura Regan as the title character, a 19-year-old army private with the 507th Ordinance Maintence Company. On March 23, 2003, Jessica is captured by Iraqi insurgents after the rest of her platoon is wiped out in a roadside bombing not far from Al Nasiryah. Curiously, Jessica doesn't get all that much screen time: The primary focus is on the rescue efforts mounted by a group of Army Rangers and Navy SEALS, with special emphasis bestowed upon Mohammed Al-Raheif (Nicholas Guilak), the courageous Iraqi man who shielded the captured woman from harm while she lay wounded in an enemy hospital (it should surprise no one that the script is based on Al-Raheif's own book, Because Each Life Is Precious. An inordinate amount of poetic license is taken with the events surrounding Jessica's rescue, with a plethora of ridiculous coincidences and serial-like thrills and chills thrown in to pep up the story. To her credit, the real Jessica Lynch herself neither authorized nor promoted the film, which first aired November 9, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The destruction wrought by Vegeta's disintegration can only be remedied by the recovery of the seven Dragon Balls--and of those, one is being jealously guarded by a dinosaur. As Buu and Babidi wreak more havoc, Dende revitalizes the injured Goku at the Kami Lookout. This episode made its American T debut on September 17, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the final moments of the World Martial Arts Tournament, the lovely but lethal Android 18 squares off against the Mighty Mask. Upon realizing that her opponent is actually two Z-Fighters, Goten and Trunks, she deftly splits the Mask in twain. With Goten and Trunks out of the running, Android 18 has only to defeat the boastful Hercule to emerge victorious. First shown in Japan in 1993, "Eighteen Unmasks" debuted in America on October 23, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

His mission to save mankind accomplished, Trunks heads "back to the future," where he apprises his mother Bulma of all the events that have transpired in previous episodes. The villainous androids, Cell included, are again destroyed, and a number of earlier mistakes are rectified. Thanks to Trunks and his fellow Z-Fighters, the past, present, and future of the Earth have been set right -- but what of the fallen Goku, who has begun his new existence in the Other World? The climactic episode of DragonBall Z's "The Cell Games Saga," "Free the Future" debuted in Japan in 1993, then was shown in America on December 29, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Dragon Ball Z's lengthy "Androids Saga" was officially launched with the episode titled "The Androids Appear." Just as Vegeta's future son Trunks had predicted, the evil Androids begin their invasion of Earth. Just to show they mean business, the villains casually lay waste to a major metropolis. But the Z Warriors, who have not only spent three years training for this inevitability, but have also all learned to drive, are equal to the challenge. First telecast in Japan on February 5, 1992, "The Androids Appear" was released to home video in America in 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Continuing to voraciously devour the energy sources of others, Cell comes dangerously close to achieving completion -- which of course would be a cataclysmic disaster for everyone on Earth. Next on Cell's "menu" is the beautiful Android 18, unless Z-Fighters Krillin and Trunks can do something about it. Unfortunately, Trunks' future father Vegeta is allowing Cell to prey on his enormous ego, which may well mean the destruction of his own son. First telecast in America on October 31, 2000, "The Last Defense" previous aired in Japan in 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DragonBall Z's "Perfect Cell Saga" is officially launched with the episode titled "Saiyans Emerge." Having completed his Z-training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Vegeta sets out to do battle against the voracious energy-consuming Cell -- who is currently beating fellow Z-Fighter Tien to a pulp. Likewise entering the Chamber, Goku and Gohan both emerge as Super Saiyans. Meanwhile, the beautiful but lethal Android 18 must act quickly, lest she be absorbed by the increasingly powerful Cell. "Saiyans Emerge" first aired in Japan in 1992, and in the U.S. on October 24, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Android 16 battles his would-be master Cell over control of the Earth. Unfortunately for his opponent, Cell absorbs the energy of Android 17, making him all the more powerful -- and to add insult to injury, Cell fuses with half of Android 16's brain. Disobeying orders from the Z-Fighters, Tien stages an attack on Cell, putting his remaining energy reserves in dire jeopardy. "Say Goodbye, 17" was telecast in the U.S. on October 20, 2000, eight years after its first TV appearance in Japan. Some sources regard this episode as the final installment of DragonBall Z's "Imperfect Cell Saga," while others state that the story arc actually ended with next episode, "Sacrifice." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Insisting upon battling Dr. Gero's Androids by himself, Vegeta finds himself face to face with the beautiful but deadly female Android 18. Though she appears to be more than a match for him, the egotistical Vegeta will not allow Trunks or anyone else to intervene in his behalf. This act of bravado may well spell the end of Z-Warriors --- and everyone else in the world. "Deadly Beauty" made its Japanese TV debut on April 8, 1992; the episode would not be seen in America until it was released on home video in 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Having disposed of Piccolo, the evil energy-consuming Cell orders his power partners, Androids 16, 17, and 18, to leave immediately, But Android 17, convinced that he is just as strong as Cell, does battle against his "master" in hopes of conquering the world. As Android 16 joins the fray, Android 18 and her bitter Z-Fighter enemy Tien contemplate joining forces to end the battle before everyone is destroyed. "Silent Warrior" debuted in Japan in 1992, then was broadcast in America on October 19, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Although exhausted by their titanic battle, Piccolo and Android 17 continue to go at each other. Anxious to help Piccolo, Goku, and Gohan impatiently await their opportunity for "accelerated training" in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Meanwhile, the energy-absorbing fugitive Cell makes a surprise reappearance -- as does the beautiful but deadly Android 18. "He's Here" originally aired in Japan in 1992, then made its initial American TV appearance on October 17, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi