In the decade that saw fans flocking to fantasy series like “Hercules: the Legendary Journey,” “Highlander: The Series,” and “Xena: Warrior Princess,” a lavishly-produced “Conan the Barbarian” spin-off must have seemed like a slam dunk. If half-hearted copycats could get big ratings, surely the original sword-and-sandals hero would become the next major TV hit. Set in the world of Robert E. Howard’s famous novels, the series takes place in the land of Cimmera, with Conan and his friends fighting to free the people from enslavement under the rule of an evil sorcerer. Each week, Conan would do battle with magical creatures, demons, and hordes of enemy warriors. But it somehow couldn’t find the success of, ironically, the fantasy films that were largely inspired by the Barbarian himself.
For starters, “Conan: The Adventurer” couldn’t match the look and feel of the classic Schwarzenegger film, and despite his massive physique, its lead actor, German bodybuilder Ralf Moeller, lacked any of Arnie’s charm. Attempts at comedy fell flat, and the show, in its attempt to appeal to a broad family audience, took all the edge out of the once gritty and brutal tales of Howard’s “Conan the Barbarian.” It was canceled after its first season.