Space: 1999
Episode by Episode

"The Last Sunset"


From: South Central (Tamazunchale@webtv44.net) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1998 11:16:22 -0800 Subj: E x E/Note to Johnny Byrne

Hello everyone! For a few moments there I thought I was going to have to unsubscribe due to some crises here at home (not on the list); but the worst has been avoided and here we go!

The next episode for discussion is The Last Sunset, for the week of February 9 - 15. Very interesting comments by all (including Johnny Byrne via Robert!).

There was a little bump in the road but WE (all of us) got over it! I for one am enjoying this discussion very much. Much of my work (including an opera--of all things!) is heavily influence by the writing in year one so this is a sort of vindication for me. So many people that I work with look at me strangely when I refer to Johnny Byrne and 1999 as a creative influence! Sorry Johnny, but in Chicano theater circles your name kind of draws a blank. To hear other people talking about the aspects of these stories that inspired me makes me believe that I wasn't hallucinating. Much of the writing of Year One has grace and beauty--but then, we all knew that already. Didn't we.

Thanks Johnny! Your work inspired me to become a writer. One day I would love to share a libretto I wrote--focusing on immigrant workers in the U.S. southwest--just so that you can see your voice intermingled with those of the people I've tried to give a voice to.

Till then, bye till next week!

Mateo


From: David Acheson (dkach@hotmail44.com) Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 02:50:20 PST Subj: Space1999: The Last Sunset

Alphans:

Only SPACE: 1999 could pull it off! What essentially is a silly idea is turned into one of the finer episodes of year one (not one of the best though). The team of Penfold and Chrichton does it again.

What makes this latest adventure different from most of the others is that it becomes a showpiece for many of our regulars. No alien or Alphan guest stars and it is far from being called THE MARTIN LANDAU & BARBARA BAIN SHOW. Kano, Alan, Paul and Sandra are as essential to the story as our main stars. Heck, even Tanya gets a speaking line.

The alien-produced gravity and atmosphere on the moon is really a backdrop to the crashed Eagle storyline. For what happens to our fellow crash victims could have easily taken place on an alien planet. Here we are faced with the basic human need to survive in a desperate situation(stranded in the middle of nowhere). Hitchcock did it with LIFEBOAT and, of course, we all know THE LORD OF THE FLIES. (No, GILLIGAN'S ISLAND is not a good comparison.)

Here, Barbara Bain shines once again as our calm and collected Doctor - trying to keep things as normal as ever. Its unfortunate though that our little screamer (Sandra Benes) played as the injured, helpless party. It just fuels the fire of those who claim 1999 did not have strong female characters. Though I believe, in most cases, Doctor Russell (and later Maya) countered these claims. It was great to see our by-the-book Paul Morrow lose it. This was the meatiest role in the episode. The reason for the comparison to the LOTF mentioned above. A story of how the most disciplined of people can change back to our basic barbaric selves in extraordinary circumstances. The magic mushrooms helped too - Smile. One would expect that our ever-popular Alan Carter would have been written to do this part which makes it more of a pleasant change to see that it was Paul who was given the chance.

What I found hard to believe in this episode? A minor point overall, but I found it hard that those little capsules from Ariel could produce enough of a gravity and atmosphere on the moon. The capsule in Victor's lab should have blown most of Alpha away in order to do what it was sent to do.

It was nice to see our Alphans frolic in the sun once the atmosphere formed and it was deemed to be safe. After 10 episodes of hopelessly being cooped up in the base the Alphans must have had cabin fever. The best comparison I can think of is the first nice spring day after a long winter. I can utterly relate to this scene.

Another point to note. Notice Koenig lowering the window to let the breeze into Main Mission. Nice scene but the window should not have been lowered in the first place. Alpha was built as a space station. The base would have been built with thick windows which would not be allowed to be opened. Otherwise, we would end up with explosive decompression when the Breakaway event occured.

As for the inhabitants of Ariel? They said it best themselves: "We are neither benign nor malevolent." The gesture of giving the moon an atmosphere and Earth-like gravity was to keep the Alphans away from Ariel rather than to be kind. However, they did come back at the end when it was obvious the moon would not go into orbit around Ariel's sun. Otherwise, the atmosphere would have crushed Alpha after it froze over.

Just some ramblings on episode #11.

David Acheson


From: djlerda@juno44.com Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 18:14:34 EST Subj: Space1999: Last Sunset blooper

I heard from another list member that a sequence was shot of Koenig ordering the installation of the window. He says something like, "Just put it in over there" to the technicians who bring it in. Supposedly this wound up on the cutting room floor. Can anyone confirm or deny for certain?

David J Lerda, djlerda@juno.com
"Just because we haven't experienced something
doesn't mean it doesn't exist" - John Koenig


From: LKJ1999@aol44.com Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 18:39:59 EST Subj: Re: Space1999: Last Sunset blooper

I know I never saw a sequence. About a window installation !!!

Chas P. LKJ1999


From: David Welle (dwelle@online.dct44.com) Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 18:58:58 Subj: Re: Space1999: Last Sunset blooper

About a year ago, there was some discussion on just where that opening window came from, that I thought might be of interest now too...

[....]

The whole thread is saved at

http://www.gbonline.com/~dwelle/s19/list-quo/97120win.html

[Editor's Update: now at another location.]


From: LKJ1999@aol44.com Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 18:55:24 EST Subj: Space1999: Last Sunset

My comment's on Last Sunset.

Eagle Action. Excellent in this episode.
NO. Of times the word Eagle was said... (38). Boy that's a lot !!!
NO. Of lift off's (3)...
NO. Of landing's (3)... You gotta love all that Action !!!
Eagle's that crash (2)..

The Eagle crash with Bob and John. This has to be My favorite Eagle crash From Y-1 !!!

Bloppers NONE that I could see. Well maybe the window scene.

All in all I like this episode. But not in My top 10...

Chas P. LKJ1999


From: "Mark Meskin" (plastic.gravity@newrock44.com) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 19:41:38 -0600 Subj: Space1999: Other missing scenes from Last Sunset

Yes,

That shot was cut out, along with a very touching shot of Alan fooling with the power window controls on the Eagle. Also, a scene in the same act where Helena and Sandra stick thier heads out the Sunroof on the Eagle XKE was cut to trim the length for broadcast.

-Mark


From: Patricia Embury (Patriemb@sprintmail44.com) Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 21:01:04 -0500 Subj: Space1999: Last Sunset

This was a fun episode to watch, not only for the points David mentioned, but also for some of the effects. It was great to see the supporting cast get more meat in their roles, especially Paul and Sandra. Prentiss was very believable, and frightening as a deranged Morrow. Victor tried to make the best of things, and actually came up short. (the character, not Barry Morse). I also detected more of a relationship between Alan and Tanya. Barbara Bain showed a great range of emotion and a struggle to maintain control after the crash, for Sandra's sake. I wasn't reminded of Lord of the Flies, like one of the other posters, I didn't think of it until it was mentioned. I was reminded of the bible story of Moses in the desert, and finding the mana from heaven (the mushrooms) Paul reminded me of an exaggerated version of a tv evangelist/prophet.

We got to see Carter really fly an Eagle. Granted, if it had been a heat seeking, or proton torpedo, he would have been toast, but he didn't do too badly trying to avoid it. The Eagle has its limitations in its ability to turn and maneuver. I also enjoyed watching one of Alan's co-pilot's actually survive! :) They acutally developed crash procedures too! You could see a hint of a comradarie between Alan and the co-pilot when they didn't get killed by the probe. My only real nitpick ocurred with the crash scene. The Eagle impacted initially on the nosecone/pilot module, against an outcropping of moon rocks. I don't understand how only Sandra was injured. Carter or Morrow should have sustained injuries besides a torn sleeve.

According to the novelization, Koenig ordered the opening window replaced with the old style after the corrosion problem with the Eagles was discovered.


From: "Phillip Lapointe" (jcharles@portage44.net) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 20:53:00 -0600 Subj: Space1999: The Last Sunset

Howdy all,

This is one of my favourite episodes.

One thing that has always bugged me about this episode was: As a child I always heard the sky is blue because of the water vapour in the atmosphere. When the first sunrise occurs, the commander mentions the blue sky.

I had to look at this scene several times because it bothered me for some reason. Then I noticed it, the shadows on the hills around Moon base Alpha are not being casted by the sun, but some other source.

Later,
Mike Beaulieu


From: "Mark Meskin" (plastic.gravity@newrock44.com) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 21:59:15 -0600 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Last Sunset

It has nothing to due with water vapor. The blue sky is caused by the nitrogen and oxygen scattering the shorter, bluer wavelengths of light. If the atmosphere were thinner, it would be be a darker blue. Mars has a pink orange sky from all the superfine dust in it.


From: "Robert Ashley Ruiz" (espresso@dnai44.com) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 19:28:15 +0000 Subj: Space1999: Misinformation Alert

Regarding the opening window in The Last Sunset, look at the background. It's not in Main Mission but in Victor's lab. Also, the actors are looking out at the other Alphans on ground level. Main Mission is ten stories above ground.


From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi44.no) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 10:35:46 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Last Sunset

David Acheson wrote:

Only SPACE: 1999 could pull it off! What essentially is a silly idea is turned into one of the finer episodes of year one (not one of the best though). The team of Penfold and Chrichton does it again.

Essentially silly, I agree. THE LAST SUNSET is one of the episodes I remember quite well from childhood. Not because I thought it was more exciting than others, but rather because of its novelty. I even remembered Alan playing badmington in the teaser.

Penfold and Crichton is an interesting team, certainly two of the people most responsible for the general Year One feel of SPACE: 1999. THE LAST SUNSET is no exception in this manner, all the concern about alienation, lost hopes, religious issues and social speculations seem present.

While Crichton is perhaps the most conventional of directors, I often think of BONANZA seeing episodes like this, he knows his trade. No doubt about that. Penfold is certainly one of the best scriptwriters at the heart of Year One.

I do, however, prefer GUARDIAN OF PIRI to THE LAST SUNSET, although there are many similarities, both in style of writing and direction. While I think many of the ideas of THE LAST SUNSET are interesting, for me it does not work too well before the scenes with Paul and Sandra in the desert.

After THE LAST SUNSET, Penfold and Crichton continued to collaborate on episodes like WAR GAMES, SPACE BRAIN and DRAGON'S DOMAIN.

What makes this latest adventure different from most of the others is that it becomes a showpiece for many of our regulars. No alien or Alphan guest stars and it is far from being called THE MARTIN LANDAU & BARBARA BAIN SHOW. Kano, Alan, Paul and Sandra are as essential to the story as our main stars. Heck, even Tanya gets a speaking line.

This is a very good point. It's my impression that Penfold was more cencerned with this aspect than most others. I suppose one could not expect too much of this in the Terpiloff episodes or other episodes that were written by people who were only slightly associated with the series, but, anyway, I feel Penfold made a fine contribution here.

There is a certain parallell to THE LAST SUNSET in Johnny Byrne and David Tomblin's ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE. This also sheds life on the supporting cast in a similar way, I feel.

The alien-produced gravity and atmosphere on the moon is really a backdrop to the crashed Eagle storyline. For what happens to our fellow crash victims could have easily taken place on an alien planet. Here we are faced with the basic human need to survive in a desperate situation(stranded in the middle of nowhere). Hitchcock did it with LIFEBOAT and, of course, we all know THE LORD OF THE FLIES. (No, GILLIGAN'S ISLAND is not a good comparison.)

It almost seems like a story within a story, the ariel probes and the eagle crash having essentially so little to do with one another. For me the part about the lifeboat or eagle crash is the most interesting, and the LORD OF THE FLIES aspect puts it in an interesting perspective. I remember we discussed this about half a year ago.

A central character in Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST is the airy spirit Ariel, who causes the tempest of the play and a ship wreck not unlike the eagle crash depicted here. Much like Paul, some of the survivors of the ship wreck get crazy ideas of similar kind when they realize they can survive on Prospero's island.

Names and events in THE LAST SUNSET gave me the impression that perhaps Penfold had some of this in the back of his mind, but LORD OF THE FLIES is perhaps an equally illustrating parable of the savage beasts that may lurk behind the most civilized appearance. On the other hand, I find LORD OF THE FLIES perhaps even more illustrating to episodes like THE FULL CIRCLE, which seems to concentrate more on these kind of ideas. I believe William Golding used it mostly as an allegory to explain the beastliness of World War II.

The magic mushrooms helped too - Smile. One would expect that our ever-popular Alan Carter would have been written to do this part which makes it more of a pleasant change to see that it was Paul who was given the chance.

For me, Prentis Hancock's performance is the best and most interesting part of the story. Although his behavious can be viewed from the perspective of LORD OF THE FLIES, I'm more of the impression that Penfold was aiming at exploring the psychology of religious fanaticism.

In GUARDIAN OF PIRI, Penfold and Crichton used Victor as a similar mad high priest to the Guardian, in the final real of that episode. The madness of Paul is more like Jack Nicholoson in THE SHINING (1979), I feel. Seeming perfectly natural to being with, his speach grows more and more messiahianic, and the others start exchanging worried looks.

I found Paul perfectly cast in this role. While his normally has a tendency for loosing his temper, by overdoing this slightly, the metamorph to the mad prophed seemed perfectly natural. It also sheds wonderful light over Paul in other episodes, illustrating how little in control he perhaps is in tense situations.

What I found hard to believe in this episode? A minor point overall, but I found it hard that those little capsules from Ariel could produce enough of a gravity and atmosphere on the moon. The capsule in Victor's lab should have blown most of Alpha away in order to do what it was sent to do.

I really enjoy reading Mark's and others scientific explanations of how things really would have behaved or looked like of Gerry Anderson et al had been more scientifically plausible, but it doesn't bother me very much. If Ariel can bring an athmosphere and gravity to the moon, how utterly ridiculous this might be, it is at least played with a straight face and it is used for dramatic reasons. I find this easier to accept than living rocks and talking trees in later episodes.

As for the inhabitants of Ariel? They said it best themselves: "We are neither benign nor malevolent."

I liked the "voice of God"-like sequence when we hear the inhabitants of Ariel message to Alpha. The message is somewhat typical of Penfold, I think, the episode WAR GAMES bringing about very much the same kind of feeling.

Just some ramblings on episode #11.

Excellent ramblings as usual, of course.

Petter


From: jcg@vh44.net Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 16:57:47 -0500 Subj: Space1999: The Last Sunset

As has been pointed out, this is a great ensemble episode. And while I may spot others later on, it is certainly one of (if not the) best Dr. Russell episodes there is. She is a competent person in this, she takes charge, she has personality, she gets into the fight with Paul and Alan (though I was screaming at the screen for her to give Paul a "well-placed" kick when he was strangling her)and I wish she had just been written like this in more episodes. (And the flip side is poor Sandra...write her one scene where she is strong, and not cringing in the corner.)

I like Dr. Russell at a console in MM as the scouting party is analyzing the planet...that is exactly where she should be.

I wonder if the producers had any clear idea as to when eagle pilots would and would not wear spacesuits when flying their ships. In this episode they are not as they approach the planet. (They had the same problem in year 2 when Koenig would be wearing his pink parka when flying an eagle...and there was no chance that he was going to be leaving the ship. By the end of the series I think they had figured that out and had him wear his black jacket on the ship.)

I may not have been paying attention, but I noticed a lot of movement in the scenes in "This Episode"...more then in past ones. It occured to me that was because there is a lot of physical movement in this episode. One of the complaints over the years was that year one was a lot of people just standing around talking...I know Freddy tried to address that.

It is dramatic, but why land the eagle on a launch pad right near the base with a possible explosive on it when you can land the ship on the other side of the moon and the two pilots can high tail it out of there in their spacesuits (which are hanging in the rack in the passenger compartment). Or the pilots could have gone into the passenger compartment and MM could have detached it and flown the bomb away, and another ship could have attached to the floating compartment and brought the men home.

I wonder if Landau was playing a joke with his commlock and making silly patterns with the missing buttons. Because otherwise there is no reason why the star of the show has a visible, defective prop while everyone else has a proper one.

MM's scanners all of a sudden do not see thousands of objects landing on the moon, but Tanya just happens to look out the viewport and sees them...come on!

I complained in "Alpha Child" about everyone leaving their post to look out the viewports, but this time when they do it, to see their new atmosphere and first sun rise, it is SO right.

Nothing need be said about morning over Alpha...it was the best.

In one of the shots in the archway connecting MM with Koenig's office the wall panels are green. I don't remember this in any other episode, and I suppose it was an effect to tie in the idea of a new living atmosphere being brought to the moon (Paul saying it smelled like country air.)

The scene outside with the Alphans sunning themselves is great...their first shore leave.

I commented on this a year ago, and I remember what I thought watching this episode in 1975...I didn't need a scene to explain why there is a window that opens. It has been said that a scene was written where Koenig orders a window to be put in. It has occured to me that we saw a window explode out from the atmosphere the space probe was releasing...it could be that was the window that was replaced with an opening one...since it has to be replaced anyway.

I cannot tell if the scene where they are playing out in the rain next to the airlock was a sound stage, or if it was actually shot outside.

I notice that they had to rerecord dialog when the window was open and the breeze was blowing, and when the rain was hitting the windows.

I can't explain why, but I have never liked that speech that Koenig makes when he sends the recon party out. I think it's because there is no reason for it except to let the viewer know what is happening, and so to try and make it sound more real, they only made it more contrived.

In the crashed eagle, if every circuit is fried, why do they have to shoot an electronic panel in order to force open the door...or do we need to pretend that is where the physical locking mechanism is that holds the door closed?

The lightning hits the ship...not the people. Why don't they just call the overhead ship with their commlocks? (I know, I know...but it takes just a second to think of these things and deal with them when writing, or later when filming.)

Is Alan sleeping while people are walking over him, and opening the hatch, and all that dust is falling in, and the wind is howling, and Helena is shouting for Paul to come back?

In any other episode Alan would go with Koenig to help carry Sandra back, and to deal with Paul, no matter how much he is hurt. But in order to have a final fight scene with the star, Alan is suddenly not the man he usually is...to the point he doesn't even warn Koenig about Paul.

They could not do this and still have the dramatic sunset at the end, so we have all of the probes leave having sucked out the atmosphere, and the last one is hovering talking to the Alphans, and the sky is still atmosphere blue. Not logical, but I know why they did it. The ending would have been weaker if we saw the spectacular sunset, and then heard the space probe's explanation...it would have been anti-climactic.

The alien's speech is just stupid...or at least the part where he says "we have been watching you since the beginning of time." Where do I start? Let's see...neat trick since we haven't been around since the beginning of time...neat trick that they managed to find us on our tiny little planet how many light years away and yet managed to ignore all of the spacefaring races out there that have powerful weapons and are willing to use them...not bad, you were around since the beginning of time, was it dificult to get a newspaper back then, I mean before time began? The line was put in because it was science fictiony...without any thought as to what it meant. I have no problem with an unseen race who has the technology to observe our heros as they wander by and dispatch the one thing that will distract our friends until it is too late to turn back...but to bring in this beginning of time nonsense just cheapens the whole thing.

Their last sunset was spectacular. Period.

Anyone notice the moonbase buildings don't look as real in daylight at they do in the usual nightime vacuum shots?

Why doesn't Suzanne Roquette get any screen credit as Tanya? And more importantly, why don't I have any pinups of her???


From: djlerda@juno44.com Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 12:28:44 EST Subj: Space1999: The Last Sunset

  1. Goofs / Nits: Koenig's desk is pulled so far forward that if the doors from Main Mission to his office were closed, he would still be in Main Mission.

    Where did those magic mushrooms come from anyway (far out, man)? I think they were a natural phenomenon rather than "manna from heaven."

    Helena says the oxygen content of Ariel is four times that of earth. Since Earth's atmosphere is 20% oxygen that would make Ariel's 80%. Wouldn't Ariel go up like a match at the slightest spark? I know, I know. Picky, picky.

  2. Plot holes: Why didn't the Alphans send a reconnaissance to Ariel at the same time they were scouting the moon? Surely there are enough specialists to conduct to evaluations simultaneously.

  3. Artwork / visuals: The opening shot of the Moon and Ariel is one of the best of the series.

  4. Modelwork: Good, as usual. When is Alan going to be grounded by Stan/Eval?

  5. Dialog Triumphs:

    Paul: "That was sacred bread Alan! Pick...It...Up!"

    John: "Somehow, I don't think I'ld like the people."

    Ariel Satellite: "We believe your intentions. But we could not afford to take the risk."

  6. Dialog Disasters:

    Helena (as Paul is choking her): "No, Paul"

  7. Continuity: Why didn't they take the satellite to the isolation facility seen in "The Exiles?" Probably because no one had thought of that yet. :-)

    This is the first time an open relationship between Sandra and Paul is shown and it has grown from what we saw in "Black Sun." True, they were shown together in "Another Time, Another Place" but that was a parallel time which may or may not occur in "our" universe.

  8. MUF: Not applicable. This was just a cosmic billiard ball episode where they bumped into another planet by chance.

  9. Roots: This one probably has the most religous references of any Year 1 episode. "Sacred bread", "Second Coming". Not much of a leap from "Israelites" to "Arielites." And of course we have Koenig as a latter-day Moses leading his people to the promised land - except this time it isn't Ariel.

  10. The bottom line: A- / B+. A litle draggy in spots.

  11. Misc: A great episode for the supporting cast who usually had only one or two scenes per episode. This episode really gave the impression of an ensemble of players. However, Martin Landau, Barbara Bain and Barry Morse were being paid stars' wages so they have to be the focus of the stories. It was nice to see the Alphans react as real people at the sight of the first rainfall, frolicing outside, etc. The ending shot of the last sunset itself was poignant and very touching.

    To those critics who say that 1999 didn't have strong female roles, I would point to this episode for rebuttal. Even though Sandra was the helpless victim after the crash she was actually out of the base participating in a major survey. We never saw Uhura do anything like that. And Helena saved everyone's butts.

    It was also interesting to see Space:1999 commit science fiction heresy by having the Ariel satellite frankly tell the Alphans that they were not welcome. It always seems like the advanced cultures in other shows act hostile to "test" the intentions of our intrepid little heros. Test is passed and mankind is welcomed with open arms. Not so here. Sorry folks but your track record makes you a risk. Come back in a few millenia. I wonder what the inhabitants of Ariel would have done had an Eagle actually gone down? Blast it and say, stay away? Although Koenig was pissed at them for diverting the Alphans I'm sure he realized later the Arielites probably would have done just that.

Until next time.

David J Lerda, djlerda@juno.com


From: "Mark Meskin" (plastic.gravity@newrock44.com) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 20:07:01 -0600 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Last Sunset

Helena says the oxygen content of Ariel is four times that of earth. Since Earth's atmosphere is 20% oxygen that would make Ariel's 80%. Wouldn't Ariel go up like a match at the slightest spark? I know, I know. Picky, picky.

It would go up like an Apollo capsule with a faulty wiring harness. Its scarry to think that the Apollo engineers didn't have enough brains to realize that even a little spark from the hatch closing, or a switch could be(and was) disasterous.

Plot holes: Why didn't the Alphans send a reconnaissance to Ariel at the same time they were scouting the moon? Surely there are enough specialists to conduct to evaluations simultaneously.

I think that was the whole idea behind Ariel sending the probes to the moon, keep 'em occupied until they are outta range.

Artwork / visuals: The opening shot of the Moon and Ariel is one of the best of the series.

Yes, indeed.

Modelwork: Good, as usual. When is Alan going to be grounded by Stan/Eval?

I love the close ups on the Eagles in this episode, you can see how much care was put into the detailing of them.

Continuity: Why didn't they take the satellite to the isolation facility seen in "The Exiles?" Probably because no one had thought of that yet. :-)

Would you transport something that latched onto the Eagle any further than you had too? But bringing it into Victor's lab was sheer stupidity. It easily could have been a nuclear bomb or some type of robot. Putting it INSIDE of Alpha was foolish.

This is the first time an open relationship between Sandra and Paul is shown and it has grown from what we saw in "Black Sun." True, they were shown together in "Another Time, Another Place" but that was a parallel time which may or may not occur in "our" universe.

Sandra "gets around". At least with the writers. She's had what, 2-3 fiance's, 3 boyfriends on Alpha, gee, I'm glad I'm not engaged to her :-)

Roots: This one probably has the most religous references of any Year 1 episode. "Sacred bread", "Second Coming". Not much of a leap from "Israelites" to "Arielites." And of course we have Koenig as a latter-day Moses leading his people to the promised land - except this time it isn't Ariel.

I think testament of Arcadia was a more religious episode. I always liked the fact that Space:1999's weren't devout agnostics, and believed in something more than warp drive.

The bottom line: A- / B+. A litle draggy in spots.

I wish I had more time to comment on this episode, its one of my all time favorites. Its story hits dead center on what Space:1999 is all about. These people are lost, just trying to find a home, and all of a sudden one appears right under there very feet.

Misc: A great episode for the supporting cast who usually had only one or two scenes per episode. This episode really gave the impression of an ensemble of players.

Yes.

To those critics who say that 1999 didn't have strong female roles, I would point to this episode for rebuttal. Even though Sandra was the helpless victim after the crash she was actually out of the base participating in a major survey. We never saw Uhura do anything like that. And Helena saved everyone's butts.

Yes, It wasn't until STTNG that women in Trek got strong roles. Too bad Denise Crosby wanted to pursue a prolific and rewarding career of commercials and guest apperances on "Lois and Clarke".

Mark


From: Kenetrw@aol44.com Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 16:22:29 EST Subj: Space1999: THE LAST SUNSET

Hi Alphans!

This is one of my favorite episodes and even though I am late tossing in my comments, I must say this is one of my favorites. I rate this episode an A+. I find that I particularly like the episodes that really stretch my imagination to full-time. Breakaway did this. Not only must I imagine a group of earth scientists travelling thru space but they are also on a broken-away moon! This episode does this as well. Not only are they on a barren moon but suddenly it has an atmosphere and a blue sky!

I found Victor's remark that the object resists analysis very impossible to believe. Why didn't he get out a ruler and start measuring? Taking a sample? We find alot of strange details thrown in on this episode that may or may not have anything to do with the situation: the UV filters turned off a 20,000 feet! Eagle 15 grounded for seizure of it's lateral stabilizers! Cloud forming crystals! Rain over the Taurus Mountains! Potassic Acid tank leaks!

It's also in this episode that we see direct evidence that Paul and Sandra are well on their way to each others hearts. Koenig's comment to Victor that Alpha will be right at the bottom of that lake was rather odd. Alpha is a contained unit-totally leak-proof from the outside. Unless he meant the pressure from the water. How deep would the crater Plato be if filled with water?

Carter's fight with Morrow is even greater. Morrow definitely strikes me as a religious person and the drug effect from the mushrooms only enhances his beliefs no matter how deranged he ends up. His yelling at Carter "You had to pick this area. You had to fly low over these clouds for kicks" is just great. We've always liked our heroes fighting each other. Remember Kirk and Spock teeing off in Amoc Time? How shocked we all were as our heroes, always helping each other, suddenly face-off against each other! pure nostalgia! And a graphite compund fixes it all. great episode!


From: Mark Meskin (plastic.gravity@newrock44.com) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 17:25:36 -0600 Subj: Re: Space1999: THE LAST SUNSET

We find alot of strange details thrown in on this episode that may or may not have anything to do with the situation: the UV filters turned off a 20,000 feet! Eagle 15 grounded for seizure of it's lateral stabilizers! Cloud forming crystals! Rain over the Taurus Mountains! Potassic Acid tank leaks!

Yeah, these are some strange comments. I don't remember the UV one though. The lateral stabilizers make sense, I'm assuming Victor means the small rockets that keep the eagle from drifting or sliding sideways(laterally).

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Triggers a thread on lateral stabilizers.]

Alpha is a contained unit-totally leak-proof from the outside. Unless he meant the pressure from the water. How deep would the crater Plato be if filled with water?

I think its at least a couple of miles deep, its over 60 miles across if I remember correct.

And a graphite compund fixes it all.

I liked the fact that Space:1999 has actual MECHANICAL solutions to problems, and graphite does make a good lubricant. If this were a Trek Ep, Geordi(or Obrien, or dax) would have waved a tricorder over the Eagle, the TC would have bleeped and blurped, and then(insert name of favorite psuedo engineer here) would have have explained in pure technobabble about the flux dampening field being contaminated with anti-tachyons from the plasma guide waves in the core...or something equally bogus. The next scene would have one of our favourite characters in the rear service section with a 1 foot square panel removed(which, despite the fact this is a critical area or so we are told, the panel removes with a little pull, and uses no fasteners of any kind). Then, we would see a small bogus looking tool made of plastic inserted into a neon lit grid work of colored clear plastic, it would beep or gurgle and poof, our favorite character would talk about the modulation being off or whatever, and its all fixed. Ick!

great episode!

Yes, I agree!


From: LKJ1999@aol44.com Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 19:04:44 EST Subj: Space1999: Plato.

Hi All...
Just to let You know. That's if I remember right.

The crater Plato is 59.7 mile's in diameter & 1.8 mile's deep.
Plato is very easy to see in small Telescope's!

I just thougt. You would like to know that !!!

Chas P. LKJ1999


From: Mark Meskin (plastic.gravity@newrock44.com) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 18:23:27 -0600 Subj: Re: Space1999: Plato.

Ahh, the brain still works, I guessed 2 miles deep, and slightly over 60 miles wide :-)

Does this count as a correct trivia answer?

Mark


From: LKJ1999@aol44.com Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 19:25:19 EST Subj: Re: Space1999: Plato.

You did very good Mark. You seem to know a little about Astronomy!
I like that !!!
And Yes. That does count as a correct Trivia answer...

Chas P. LKJ1999


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