I saw someone's post a few days ago somewhere who thinks Crystal Skull is much better than Dial. It got me thinking, how is that even possible? Maybe its better because Indy is 15 years younger?
So I started thinking of the characters -- you know, who really bugs. Who's annoying? Other than Raiders, Indy usually has one annoying taveling companion: Willie, Brody (made to be an idiot) or Teddy... but with Skull you have a cavalcade of annoying characters...
Mac - that annoying triple-dealing ass who's big catchphrase is: Jonesy!
Oxley - poor John Hurt, the babbling truth-keeper who's... under some kind of spell, I guess?
Marion - just terrible, and sometimes she seems almost psychotic
Mutt - a "Greaser" is the last style someone should be wearing in an adventure film -- and yet, somehow his acting isn't as bad as the others - he's just so out of place it isn't even funny, Daddio
So that's Skull's biggest crime -- every single character that surrounds Indy is utterly annoying and mostly unlikable. Add Indy's age, few memorable action set-pieces, and a villainess ripped from Rocky-and-Bullwinkle, and you are not left with much to like.
So, yeah... Dial of Destiny is a good show relative to that...