The 22-episode show Hawkeye aired from September 24th 1994 to May 14th 1995. Produced by Stephen J. Cannell and filmed in and around Vancouver, Canada, it was based on a set of novels by James Fennimore Cooper called the Leatherstocking Tales. These followed the adventures of a woodsman during the time of the French-Indian War of 1755.
Nathaniel Bumppo (played by Lee Horsley) lost his parents to a raid when he was 13. He was raised to adulthood by Native Americans and Scottish missionaries, and is known among them by several names including "Hawkeye". He and his Mohican companion Chingachgook (played by Rodney Grant) encounter the strong-willed Elizabeth Shields (Lynda Carter) who is trying to free her merchant husband from the French forces. After helping Elizabeth rescue her husband, they remain in New York's Hudson Valley to help other people who are affected by both sides of the conflict.
The pair of protagonists come across as being similar to the Lone Ranger and Tonto, although it's believed that they were in part inspired by the famous American explorers Daniel Boone and David Shipman.
The series was extremely well written, with memorable characters, outstanding cinematography, and a dash of history. Unfortunately several reasons forced its cancellation after only one season: high production costs, harsh weather, and many viewers had difficulty becoming invested because episodes were not airing in a consistent time slot. However the interest in it was such that it was released to DVD by Mill Creek Entertainment in 2011.
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