Okay, I'll admit it. When I think of the A-Team the first thing that comes to mind is a giant explosion. One of the fun aspects of the 1980's television show was how the problem was always solved through blowing something up, yet no one ever got hurt. I watched a few episodes over the weekend and laughed when cars were shot at, crashed, and rolled until they were smashed yet the bad guys got out unscathed. I don't think that the special effects (though cool) are the only reason the show was so loved. I think it has to do with two things: first, the main characters are simply drawn with distinct traits; second, the A-Team unfailingly uses their finesse to free good people from bullies.
There were four main characters that made up the A-Team: Col. John "Hannibal" Smith, "Howling Mad" Murdock, B. A. (Bad Attitude) Baracus, and Templeston "Faceman" Peck. Each character had a specific role to play on the show and on the team.
Hannibal is the leader with the plan so crazy it has to be effective. He's always got a grin on his face while biting down on a cigar. The other team members respect him as well as have a healthy fear for his ideas (even though they always work).
Murdock is the mad genius. The team has to break him out of a psychiatric ward. The Vietnam War played a part in his madness. It's a light-hearted take on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. His value on the team is that he seems to be able to fly any plane or helicopter there is. He's also the comic effect guy as he teases B. A. and assists Face with stealing the supplies they need straight from the bad guys storerooms.
B.A. is played by Mr. T. Not only did we know he was tough by the 30 pounds of gold necklaces he wore in every episode, but by the crazy things he could lift. B.A.'s the lovable giant, the guy who is constantly manipulated by clever Hannibal, and teased mercilessly by Murdock (because B.A. is scared of flying).
Face is the handsome guy who is constantly hitting on the ladies at the same time he's swindling the crooks. He's also a bit more selfish than the other guys, always emphasizing that they're helping people for money.
The A-Team is made up of simple, yet heroic, figures that we can count on not to change episode after episode. This simplicity wouldn't work for every show, but for their purposes (which involves the strong A-Team freeing the innocent from bullies) it works well.
Bullying is about a person or persons using brute force or verbal abuse to subjugate an individual or group of people. The A-Team almost always were hired to combat bullies that would not (or could not) be removed through legal channels. At the beginning of every episode an announcer would say, "If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team."
Even though they were being paid to help the victims, that never tarnished their image. There was always danger, and whatever they were paid wasn't usually enough to provide all of the ammo necessary to deal with the bullies. One of the episodes I saw this weekend featured a scene where Face and Murdock con dynamite from one of the suppliers that they were trying to take down. It helps that there's never anything nebulous about the side they are on. The A-Team always represents the innocent, and the other side is always clearly wrong. The producers of the show never worry too much over realism. That, truly, would have ruined the whole concept.
There is an A-Team movie being made, and the timing of it is interesting to me. The current trend is towards showing imperfect heroes that face every day challenges. The A-Team never was about the every day. It was about freeing the innocent using wit, muscle, and dynamite.
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