While Bud's and Sandy's impulsiveness sometimes get them into trouble, the boys and their father can be counted upon to remain clear-headed in times of crisis. More often than not, though, it's Flipper who fulfills the most crucial role in any given rescue attempt. The underwater photography of marine life was cutting-edge in 1964 and holds up well to this day, providing a fascinating look at trained and instinctive dolphin behavior and marine ecosystems and, while some of the story lines may seem a bit dated to today's audiences, the bigger issues like marine preservation and doing what is right still ring true. Flipper leaves adults born in the nineteen-fifties and nineteen-sixties reminiscing fondly about their own childhoods and humming the Flipper theme song--what's more, their children (and perhaps grandchildren) will enjoy the program right alongside them and are more than likely to join in wholeheartedly on the refrain "Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning. . . ."