Editor's Notes: Being the last episode of the first broadcast season, there were some general comments in this thread about the season as a whole.
From: South Central (Tamazunchale@web44tv.net) Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 10:02:33 -0700 Subj: Space1999: Episode by Episode
This week's episode is The Testament of Arkadia, from Monday, May 11 to Sunday, May 17.
On Monday, May 18 we start discussions on the four original Space:1999 year one novels. The first of these is: Alien Seed by E.C. Tubb.
I never liked Tubb's novelizations when I was younger; I felt they didn't follow the episodes close enough. This prejudiced me against his original novels. However about 10 years ago I read all the Space: 1999 year one books in order. I realized that I liked Tubb's original novels alot. (So I tried some of his other novels...let's just say that didn't last long.) Alien Seed was very entertaining. I look forward to reading it again.
Now, if I could just finish the book I am reading now, AND WE ARE NOT SAVED by Derek Bell--you know, critical race theory, the usual. :-)
Mateo
From: David Acheson (dkach@hot44mail.com) Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 06:34:14 EDT Subj: Space1999: The Testament of Arkadia
Episode 24 and the final one of the first year of the exceptional series SPACE: 1999. How many of us thought that when we started the episode by episode discussions that we would make it so far? I myself thought we would die out after a few weeks!
THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA is one of my new-found favourites and, in my opinion, a fitting end to the season. As a child, I did not care so much about this non-action episode but, like so many others, I have learned to appreciate the philosophical approach as an adult viewer.
So why is it a fitting end to the season? Although many questions remain unanswered, the episode ties up some mysteries from prior episodes and brings humanity full circle. BREAKAWAY led us all to believe the event of September 13 was purely an accident. BLACK SUN, however, hinted that a mysterious unseen force was watching over our runaway Alphans. How else could the moon survive the entry into the black sun? Koenig and Bergman even got to talk with this entity - god perhaps? This force was hinted at sparingly during the remaining course of the show as the series was more focused on the Alphans as fighters and not as pawns for intergalatic gods. However, this force was hinted at again in COLLISION COURSE as was the possibility the Alphans were out there on some purpose. What that purpose was, no one knew! THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA completes this chapter nicely by having the Alphans drawn to what turns out to be the intergalactic birthplace of humanity. Two Alphans are selected as the catalyst to bring life back to the long-dead world.
Should 1999 have not been renewed for a second season, THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA would have served as a second-best possibility for wrapping up the series. The best, of course, would have had some storyline of determining the remaining Alphans' futures.
Johnny Byrne delivers one of his best scripts this time around and I am glad David Tomblin came back to the show to direct it. Their best partnering since ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE. Tomblin's "son-of-Kubrick" style works best with such metaphysical stories. His style and Byrne's Catholic background, in many ways, turn this episode into a religious experience. Austin, Chrichton and Kellett would not have been able to do the same with this type of storyline.
One question though! Why did they do this episode in the narrative/flashback style since this approach was done in the previously filmed DRAGON'S DOMAIN? While DD had to tie in events from the past into recent events, THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA could have easily been told in real time. Was the attempt to make Koenig's log entry something akin to writing the bible and continuing the religious theme of the episode? I'll leave this to others to ponder.
Not a lot of new growth for our regulars here but I loved the scene where Helena confronts Luke and Anna in the Eagle on their way back to Arkadia. She's not afraid to confront her captors and try to rationalize with them. I think she is better here than with the bald aliens in WAR GAMES. Unfortunately, Luke and Anna are too determined to want to listen - they have their own purpose.
Orso Maria Guerrini who played Luke Ferro was one of RAI's commitment to put an Italian actor on the show. Okay but nothing spectacular from him. This practice ended with this episode as RAI failed to return for year two. ITC continued on their own. His British co-guest Lisa Harrow (Anna Davis)was not that much better but is more known by me. She has appeared from time to time on British television shows and movies.
So there we have it. Year One all wrapped up. Should we go onto the four novels as the vote is suggesting then I will eagerly listen and wait four weeks until the next episode entry, THE METAMORPH. Perhaps though we should spend some time this week as well summing up our feelings over year one in general? Anyone game?
From: Simon Morris (simes01@globalnet-co-uk) Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 14:35:18 +0100 Subj: Space1999: Re:TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA / SPACE:1999 GENERALLY
I have been fascinated by the episode by episode analyses over the past few months. They have really opened my eyes to a whole new side of SPACE:1999 that I never really appreciated. To be honest I have not contributed to the analyses till now because -to me at any rate - SPACE:1999 was primarily a science fiction ADVENTURE series and rattling good entertainment. When the first year was screened in the UK starting in September 1975 I was 13 years old,and in those days I was not inclined to look too deeply into the scripts for hidden meanings and subtexts.
Having the entire two years worth on video now (and with the series starting tonight again on BBC2) I can look again at the series with the sensibilities of a 36 year old rather than a 13 year old. Some episodes that I appreciated first time around (such as the effects-laden WAR GAMES) I now regard as clinkers,whilst stories that I disliked in 1975/76 such as TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA I find repeatedly make gripping viewing. And there are episodes which I now as in 1975 regard as barely watchable- MISSING LINK and RING AROUND THE MOON are the candidates there (sorry Petter).
Petter's thoughtful analyses of each Year 1 episode have helped my appreciation of the series. I freely admit that I continue to regard SPACE 1999 as an adventure show above all else,and some of the aspects which Petter and others see I fail to see myself. Yet who can argue with the superb writing of Johnny Byrne and Christopher Penfold,who both wrote scripts that had a little bit more to them than the general "hackwork" which many TV writers crank out. You only have to read the interviews which Johnny has given to see that he deeply cared about the series,and that his episodes were carefully crafted as explorations of mans condition,examinations of mans sense of wonder in a universe where he is but a tiny part. If we genuinely HAD a Moonbase with earthmen thrust into this fantastic adventure,you get a sense that this is how it REALLY would be: a group of flawed people who don't have all the answers and who are struggling to come to terms with their situation.
As I see SPACE 1999 primarily as a superlative adventure show, I was less disappointed than many with the change of direction in Year 2. I suppose the show had set out its stall clearly for the second seadsonand it was now unequivocally (for better or worse) an action adventure show. I personally liked Year 2 on its first screening and continue to do so(more for certain individual elements than as a "whole package"). But I thought that the loss of Byrne and Penfold was a grievous error. If they had been allowed to stay and nurture the image of the show that they had AND added extra characterisation as Freiberger did I'm sure the series would have gone from strength to strength. As it is,Y2 remains very entertaining and a swift way of passing 50 minutes. Y2 probably is my favourite series in some ways.....but I don't think it can be viewed on anything other than one level in the majority of episodes. And thats a great pity.
TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA is probably my favourite Y1 show,and on its first screeing I didn't appreciate it at all.(after all,I was only 13 years old as I said...) Since that time,I have seen it many times and I would like to share with you all why. Quite simply,several years ago I was a fledgling member of an Ambulance Service here in England(and indeed I remain employed in the Ambulance Service to this day). One night I was called along with my partner to a remote farmhouse in the middle of nowhere after a 999 call alerted us to a young lady in early labour. The weather was appalling...we did not have a four wheel drive vehicle. And we had a 30 mile journey to the Maternity Hospital. We battled our way to the address,loaded the lady and gingerly made our way towards civilisation. Not 15 minutes into the journey she went into labour. You can have no idea of the panic that sets in when something happens that you are totally unprepared for ....that you have only recently covered in basic training...that only YOU can sort out because you've got no back up. I cannot to this day describe the sense of pride,wonder,and achievment that I felt as I delivered that lady's baby(my partner shouting encouragement but leaving me to the hard work as I had to do it some time!!!). All too often in my job we see distress,suffering,and destruction...and we are called upon to put broken things back together. The opportunity early on to actually see the gift of CREATION.....I had stars in my eyes for the rest of my shift,an unbelievable experience. And when I got home,one of the first things I saw on TV was the episode of TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA. I've never been a religious person,but the sense of wonderment and spirituality which seemed to permeate the episode just struck a chord with me....a story of creation and the mystery of life,I suppose-exactly that which I had experienced earlier in the day. This was the clearest evidence of a script being elevated to an "experience". Nothing on TV has so touched me since,solely because of this unusual experience. Of course,my own imagination and interpretation comes into play when I view the story...but what a memory to give a person,and for that I thank Johnny Byrne. Any script which can tap into a person's experiences like that,you take your hat off to. It only makes you weep for the loss of Johnny's "Children of the Gods" story..........
I look forward to discussing Y2 and hope to contribute somewhat more. I agree with David Acheson that perhaps a brief summing up of Y1 would be in order(mine stands as above I think)...and -as Petter stated- these comments will attest to a magnificent series containing some of the best drama ever in a science fiction series.
Simon Morris
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi1tag.no) Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 10:22:22 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Testament of Arkadia
THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA is one of my new-found favourites and, in my opinion, a fitting end to the season. As a child, I did not care so much about this non-action episode but, like so many others, I have learned to appreciate the philosophical approach as an adult viewer.
I agree to this, THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA being a perfect ending to season 1, bring attention back to the basci premises of early scripts like MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH and ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE.
After THE LAST SUNSET (episode no. 11) there was not very much talk of finding a planet to settle down. In itself this was fair enough, I feel, otherwise every episode would have to be a footnote to MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, so it's nice that the writers tried to explore other themes. Nevertheless, the final episode of the season hitting upon this again was a fine thing, the way I see it.
THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA completes this chapter nicely by having the Alphans drawn to what turns out to be the intergalactic birthplace of humanity. Two Alphans are selected as the catalyst to bring life back to the long-dead world.
I don't feel like taking the narrative as literaly as this, but still I feel metaphysical questions from episodes like BLACK SUN and ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE are being reinforced.
I don't feel COLLISION COURSE being a metaphysical episode, but rather a psychological episodes investigating the meaning of hope and belief contrasting rational thought using quasi-religious imagery. The focus seems to be on Koenig rather than on Aetheria.
Anyway, THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA gives a post-apocalytic view of the world, and investigates how there after winter is always a new spring. Whether the planet is called Arkadia or Earth doesn't seem be much of a point. Johnny Byrne had already described how the Alphans finally set foot on a future Earth in ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE, and THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA seems almost to be just an anecdote or an elaboration on an aspect of that episode.
Unlike Penfold's description of humankind as a virus, Byrne describes the same yearn to live and multiply even under the most un-livable conditions in a more sypathetic manner, although Luke and Anna are throwing all concern of the well-being of Alpha aside following the divine suggestion to settle down on Arkadia.
Johnny Byrne delivers one of his best scripts this time around and I am glad David Tomblin came back to the show to direct it. Their best partnering since ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE. Tomblin's "son-of-Kubrick" style works best with such metaphysical stories. His style and Byrne's Catholic background, in many ways, turn this episode into a religious experience.
I couldn't agree more. Byrne and Tomblin seems like the perfect combination for this final entry. From what I've understood David Tomblin also had a great say about the script. I believe he, in fact, requested a script of this kind from Byrne while Byrne was a bit hesitative about what he felt would be too explicit use of religious metaphors, too obvious.
Personally, though, I think of THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA along with ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE as two of Byrne's most accomplished pieces for the series, the two episodes where I feel that Byrne is speaking his mind most clearly. FORCE OF LIFE is also quite good, but less obvious, and as a metaphore for how life lives on for it's own sake, not as efficiently communicating as, say, Penfold's WAR GAMES, at least this is how it works for me. END OF ETERNITY is perhaps a further elaboration on this theme, but ending up being somewhat weak on the philosophical side, as Byrne himself has stated, although quite magnificent in terms of direction by Austin and stupendous guest appearance by Peter Bowles as one of the most interesting villains of season 1.
Was the attempt to make Koenig's log entry something akin to writing the bible and continuing the religious theme of the episode? I'll leave this to others to ponder.
This is the best suggestion I've heard considering the point of voice-over narratives. The only explanation I've heard before was that Landau was contracted to spend more time on the episode than it required, so they had to through in some voice-overs.
Nevertheless, David's speculations about reference to writing the Bible seems artistically very plausible, I feel. I believe Byrne had already some of these voice-overs in his early manuscript, but additional ones were added later on.
Not a lot of new growth for our regulars here but I loved the scene where Helena confronts Luke and Anna in the Eagle on their way back to Arkadia. She's not afraid to confront her captors and try to rationalize with them. I think she is better here than with the bald aliens in WAR GAMES. Unfortunately, Luke and Anna are too determined to want to listen - they have their own purpose.
Personally I think both sequences are magnificent. It never occured to me to compare these before, but they represent highlights in each of the two episodes, I agree to that. Another very fine sequence, that Ellen has written a lot and very well about before, is the early moring routine on the eagle as they are about to enter Arkadia. I find this superb.
Orso Maria Guerrini who played Luke Ferro was one of RAI's commitment to put an Italian actor on the show. Okay but nothing spectacular from him.
There have been some comments on the dubbing of Orso Maria Guerrini. Some of the Italian actors had difficulty with the English language, I've understood, and therefore dubbing was necessary. According to Johnny Byrne, who telles about it in some interview concerning THE TROUBLED SPIRIT, says it was done with an English expert with fake Italian accent.
So there we have it. Year One all wrapped up.
It's been tremendous to watch all these 24 episodes systematically. Perhaps a four week break is fine way of recharging the batteries for season 2.
A four week summing up of feelings for year one in general sound fine by me. The two last episodes DRAGON'S DOMAIN and THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA are very interesting as a point to start summing up, I feel. While DRAGON'S DOMAIN start to look forward, and is to a certain extent already changing aspects in the direction of year two, THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA is more like a reflection of the episodes made so far, in particular looking back to the origin of the series and what motivated the Alphans in the early episodes.
Petter
From: South Central (Tamazunchale@web35tv.net) Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 09:44:43 -0700 Subj: Space1999: Episode by Episode
I have seen new people on the list this week. I invite you all to participate in our ExE thread. In it we discuss the episode one by one, week by week. This week concludes the Year One episodes (Yes, we've been at it for 24 weeks!) with The Testament of Arkadia. The next four weeks will focus on the four original Year One novels. One novel per week in the following order:
Alien Seed
Android Planet
Rogue Planet
Phoenix of Megaron.
Then we move on to Year Two episodes, starting, of course, with The Metamorph.
We watch the episode and discuss/debate/analyse/reminisce about it. You are all welcome to participate in this very successful thread.
The next for weeks are also for any straggling thoughts on Year One or any observations of the season as a whole.
Welcome to the list (not that I have anything to do with running it or anything)!
Mateo
From: Mark Meskin (plastic.gravity@new77rock.com) Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 19:44:17 -0600 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Testament of Arkadia
I really like this episode from a story side, its a great story, and it does tie in nicely with the MUF and metaphysical themes of previous episodes. I only have one big gripe....I think personally the concept proposed in TOA is pure bunk. Its such a nice closed loop, but I find the idea that life on earth arose somewhere else pure crap. Isn't that funny?
I enjoy watching this ep. immensely for the acting, the story(not the concept!!!), the great music, I even think Koenigs voice over is superb, and does a nice job of setting the tone of the episode. I guess its a personal belief problem, but I'd still give TOA 4 out of 5 stars.
What that purpose was, no one knew! THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA completes this chapter nicely by having the Alphans drawn to what turns out to be the intergalactic birthplace of humanity. Two Alphans are selected as the catalyst to bring life back to the long-dead world
I could have gone for this, if the whole birthplace of Humanity was left out.
I don't feel like taking the narrative as literaly as this, but still I feel metaphysical questions from episodes like BLACK SUN and ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE are being reinforced.
Holly Cow! I agree with Peter!! :-)
I don't feel COLLISION COURSE being a metaphysical episode,
Oh well, now I disagree...
Collision Course is in the same vein as Black Sun, Another Time ANother Place, and TOA. The metaphysical aspects are undeniable.
but rather a psychological episodes investigating the meaning of hope and belief contrasting rational thought using quasi-religious imagery.
Ok, I'll go along with quasi-religious imagery, but I disagree with your interpretation of its purpose.
Anyway, THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA gives a post-apocalytic view of the world, and investigates how there after winter is always a new spring.
Nice Observation, I thought the same thing.
Unlike Penfold's description of humankind as a virus, Byrne describes the same yearn to live and multiply even under the most un-livable conditions
That's what a virus does, but yes, Byrne puts a more humanitarian spin on it.
Should 1999 have not been renewed for a second season, THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA would have served as a second-best possibility for wrapping up the series. The best, of course, would have had some storyline of determining the remaining Alphans' futures.
I for one, am glad it remained openended. I hate a story that is all done. :-( And Space:1999 lives because of this. Space: Above and Beyond put the capstone on its story by killing all the characters off in the final episode, thus ending the story. I like the fact that the Alphans didn't find a home, well not yet. Ithink there Journey should be more like that of the Jews leaving Egypt, and wnadering for 20 years....it fits the epic scope of Space:1999 better I think.
Tomblin's "son-of-Kubrick" style works best with such metaphysical stories. His style and Byrne's Catholic background, in many ways, turn this episode into a religious experience.
I agree with you David!
Personally, though, I think of THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA along with ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE as two of Byrne's most accomplished pieces for the series, the two episodes where I feel that Byrne is speaking his mind most clearly.
Duho! I have to agree with Peter...again!
This is the best suggestion I've heard considering the point of voice-over narratives. The only explanation I've heard before was that Landau was contracted to spend more time on the episode than it required, so they had to through in some voice-overs.
Yes, I heard the same thing, but aside from being to flashback eps in a row, I have no problem with it, I think it was handled quite well, and as I said earlier, helps to set the tone of the epiosde.
Perhaps though we should spend some time this week as well summing up our feelings over year one in general? Anyone game?
Year 1 rocks! Hows that.
It was definately groundbreaking, and certainly more of a thing man's Sci-Fi than previous TV attempts. Its odd that as a child year one's ominous mood, and cold style had such an impact on me, even though I(as an 8 year old, mind you) prefered series 2(Maya was a big attractor, yes). Its now as an adult, that I really appreciate series 1. There will never, ever, be anything like it again.
What a loss.
Mark
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi1tag.no) Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 10:25:16 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: Re:TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA / SPACE:1999 GENERALLY
Magneto wrote:
Byrne had to fight for THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME, I understand, and other scripts, such as CHILDREN OF THE GODS, Byrne's greatest achievement ever in terms of SPACE:1999 according to Gerry Anderson, were rejected by Freiberger.this is the first I've heard of this script. is it in the cybrary, or is there anywhere else with more information about it?
I believe the script is lost. There is a lot of information about it in Robert's Cybrary, however, both in terms of what Byrne has explained in interviews and what others have said about it.
David Welle has also communicated with Johnny Byrne, I believe, so he may have something on his site. Another interesting site in respect of fascinating and obscure scripts is, of course, Martin Willey's site.
Petter
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi2tag.no) Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 10:26:38 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Testament of Arkadia
I really like this episode from a story side, its a great story, and it does tie in nicely with the MUF and metaphysical themes of previous episodes.
I keep wondering why people speak so much about a Mysterious Unknown Force (MUF) in SPACE:1999. After discussing the 24 episodes of season 1, I can't remember talking all that much about MUFs. Who introduced the MUF concept anyway? My impression is that it has come from some American critic who wanted to talk about SPACE:1999 in a derogatory way after failing to understand FORCE OF LIFE on STAR TREK terms.
Nevertheless though, I agree with you, Mark, about the MUF and metaphysical themes, metaphysical themes in particular perhaps, not feeling that the MUF concept had very much to do with SPACE:1999. Were the words "Mysterious Unknown Force" ever used in the series?
I hope you're not talking of the unknown force, not gravity, not magnetism, as Victor says when the moon stops on its way past Arkadia. These kind of forces, perhaps introduced to poke fun at elementary physics, is not something I'm very much in favour of. I feel it's OK to stretch and at times slightly ignore the laws of physics for the sake of drama, but I feel more comfertable when the writers are not overdoing this. Sometimes overdoing this thing tends to draw attention away from the more interesting aspects of the story I often feel.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: These questions and comments trigger a discussion of the 'Mysterious Unknown Force.' Though the discussion of the MUF and of 'Arkadia' do have bearing on each other, the MUF topic was largely separate and made little mention of the current episode, so I have made it a separate thread.]
I only have one big gripe....I think personally the concept proposed in TOA is pure bunk. Its such a nice closed loop, but I find the idea that life on earth arose somewhere else pure crap. Isn't that funny?
Personally I don't take that aspect of the story too seriously. I assume that since Johnny Byrne had already done ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE, he didn't want to make another story that was too similar and didn't want to use Earth again in a similar fashion, or perhaps he would and someone else, Tomblin perhaps, didn't want to repeat the formula.
I believe it could easily have seemed too depressive to have the Alphans return to an extinct Earth, although this is more or less what it must have been like for the first group of Alphans in ANOTHER TIME, ANTOHER PLACE. On the other hand, the return to an extint Earth seems to be very much the content of the TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA fable. Byrne is telling about how life arouse on Earth, and how it will arise again after human kind has destroyed itself. Byrne is taking a rather sinister point of view on human kind as a premise, but this is more or less his usual style it seems, at least then. Personally I like the idea of Arkadia.
I enjoy watching this ep. immensely for the acting, the story(not the concept!!!), the great music, I even think Koenigs voice over is superb, and does a nice job of setting the tone of the episode. I guess its a personal belief problem, but I'd still give TOA 4 out of 5 stars.
I felt Koenig's voice over was much better than Helena's in DRAGON'S DOMAIN which I found awful, the way she used her voice that is. This was a Helena very different from BREAKAWAY, MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH and BLACK SUN. It sounded as though she was already into season 2.
I agree with the music, Lancen's "Appassionata" especially, enhancing the beauty of the visual splendor of Brian Johnson and Keith Wilson. I felt less confertable with Arel Dutur's "Picture of Autumn", in particular finding the part with drums, bass and chorus making what should be emotional highlights sound a bit cheap.
I don't feel like taking the narrative as literaly as this, but still I feel metaphysical questions from episodes like BLACK SUN and ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE are being reinforced.Holly Cow! I agree with Petter!! :-)
Excellent!
Ok, I'll go along with quasi-religious imagery, but I disagree with your interpretation of its purpose.
One of the reasons I like COLLISION COURSE is that it's only Koenig and Alan that are having revelations. Just like the Alphans I feel that not even the viewers are too sure about whether Arra exists. Personally I prefer to think of it as Koenig and Alan going psychotic, hearing voices and seeing angles, perhaps as a result of radiation sickness. This seems to be the way Victor and Helena are perceiving it.
The lines Margarth Leighton are given seem almost deliberately ridiculous. Perhaps Terpiloff was trying to stretch his imagination on how stupid or confused he might manage to make Koenig appear while still make the Alphans unsure as to whether he was well intact or not.
This feeds well off during the climax, I feel, and it's wonderful to see the determined and rational Helena and the equally sensible Victor Bergman giving in on John at the final moment. Says a lot about human kind, doesn't it?
While not the top five sort of episode, I nevertheless feel director Ray Austin's wonderful understanding of social dynamics and feel for subtle psychology makes this immensly entertaining. For me it has very little to do with metaphysics, perhaps with the exception of what actually happend when they actually should have crashed. On the other hand, just like in MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, WAR GAMES and perhaps even the actual breakaway in BREAKAWAY, the final solution to the drama feels like being of less importance, it's the building up to the climax that is interesting.
This was a deviation from THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA, however, but perhaps anticipating some of the general season 1 summary for the next weeks.
Its now as an adult, that I really appreciate series 1. There will never, ever, be anything like it again.What a loss.
A loss yes, but as Victor says in BLACK SUN: Cheers to all that was! I remember having a great time in 1975/76, experiencing and living the world of SPACE:1999 as a child. It really struck a chord with me then, as I now, almost 25 years later, still feel the vibrations of it.
SPACE:1999 was a fantastic experience. For me it appeared just at the right time and contained the perfect balance of action, drama and philosophy. While my initial reason for rewatching the series was nostalgia, today I find the series a wonderful example of what television drama can be at its very best.
Magnificent!
Petter
From: Mark Meskin (plastic.gravity@new10rock.com) Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 23:10:33 -0600 Subj: Re: Space1999: MUFs and all that other stuff
[Returning from the MUF discussion...]
So Mark, why do you think the Arkadia thing is pure bunk! So is the premise of 1999 when you really think about it!
My first and biggest problem with it, is that it reminds me too much of the creation vs Evolution argument. Now, let me preface these comments with the fact that I am a Catholic who believes in evolution and do not see a conflict with that and my religion. All the evedince that points to evolution in the world would have to be some grand trick in the creation argument. Same thing would apply to the Arkadia argument. For Arkadia to be so similar in terms of flora and fauna, the ENTIRE ecosystem would have to have been recreated here on Earth. The scale is just massive, and for the plants and animal fossils to have been recognizeable to the Alphans there would have had to have been no evolution fo the species between the time Arkadia was abandoned and present day Earth. This brings us to the timeline problem. For the Alphans to have found remains on Arkadia the time that has passed must have quite short, from a geological and evolutionaI time frame. Even a few hundred years would have been enough to turn those trees to dust. But lets just say, that for the sake of the argument, Arkadia is completely inert, with no bacteria, no harsh radiation from its sun, and has a dry, cool, windless climate. Say we really stretch believabilty and say 5000 years have passed. Nothing would remain, not exposed like that, out in the open.Not to mention, why isn;t there any residual radiation from the holocaust which destroyed arkadia. Even if we give plenty of time, and push the arrival on Earth way, way, back in time we are stuck with the fact, that humanity would be incompatible with the ecosystem on this planet(everything, the proteins, the bacteria, etc) and would never be able to just "live off the land" unless they brought there entire ecosystem with them. Then what the hell are all those fossils in our rocks? Why the grand scheme to decieve us. IF another ecosystem were supplanted by an alien one the eveidence would we undeniable. And an ecosytem would have had to develope here first, on its own, for there would be no oxygen in the atmosphere without it. Otherwise it would look just like another dirty ball of rock to a traveler in need of a new home. I could go on and on about this, the idea is pure crap.
I have no problem with stories about mankind starting elsewhere. Its the flip side of us setting up colonies elsewhere. I believe the FOUNDATION stories by Isaac Asimov had the same idea about mankind starting eons ago on one planet. Although no one knew which planet it was and Earth was just one of a number of possibilities.
Thats a whole nother argument, and one that any archeologist worth his salt on a world in the Foundation could prove easily. A lot the foundation series was written in the 50's when we didn;t no as much about evolution as we do today. But its still my favorite series of Novels.
I rather live with this scenario that with the crap of two worlds touching and one transforming as we got in COLLISION COURSE. As we said before, to each his own.
That another example of an MUF. Face it folks, the moon would have been torn apart by tidal forces long before it reached the surface of Arkadia.
I hardly think Petter that DRAGON'S DOMAIN is the spiral downward for the series as you make it out to be. It is not my absolute favourite but I must disagree about it being somewhat on the road to year 2.
I never said that! Oh, youre talking to Petter now. I agree, DD has nothing to do with s2.
Mark
From: Mike Lynch (Mike-Lynch@big16foot.com) Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 10:39:43 -0400 Subj: Space1999: Arkadia vs. Evolution
I have to agree with Mark on this. As much as I like "Testament of Arkadia," and feel that it is an excellent note to end Series 1 on, there are inherent problems with the presented evolutionary timeline.
Perhaps the biggest issue is the fact that if human life began on Arkadia and was transplanted on Earth then at what point in our evolution did this happen? It would have had to have happened at the point that humans evolved to to classification of homosapien, only because if it had been at any time prior to that it would be almost impossible to ensure that the evolutionary path of the Arkadians would match that of Earth. However, even if the Arkadians populated Earth at, or around, the time of the evolution of homosapiens the ability to evolve along the same lines as Arkadia would be damned near impossible... especially when looking at global evolutionary paths that encompass both plants and animals.
There is also the problem of the use of Sanskrit on Arkadia. This would insinuate in and of itself that Arkadia and Earth did not evolve along the same lines. Humans haven't used Sanskrit as a common form of communication for hundreds of thousands of years, yet it was still in use on Arkadia when it was destroyed (or so it can be presumed). Also Sanskrit was not used by all human beings, only those of a specific geographical region, so this would seem to indicate that perhaps only a small portion of Earth's population originated from Arkadia... or that a small population of Arkadians came to Earth, and then proceeded to populate the entire planet!
However, there is one particular aspect of this episode that wonderfully ties together several other episodes of both seasons: in "Missing Link" Raan states that Zennites are every bit as human as Koenig, and that Koenig represents the Zennites before they evolved to their current point. This statement would seem to indicate that the Arkadians "seeded" planets other than Earth. There is only one small problem: the Zennites are proof positive that evolutionary paths varied for the human race once off Arkadia. The presence of other humanoid races throughout both seasons of the show could also be linked to Arkadia - such as Psychons, Golosians (Cantor and Zova), Dorcons, Dorians, etc. But again, each of these would indicate variations in evolution.
All of this aside, I still enjoy "Testament of Arkadia" and I'm willing to suspend my disbelief because of that. I guess that's part of what being a loyal fan is: that you are able to look past such problems and enjoy the show all the same.
Mike Lynch
From: David Acheson (dkach@hot27mail.com) Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 09:21:13 EDT Subj: Space1999: Evolution and Arkadia
I think Mike Lynch hit it right on the mark. I myself believe in evolution and realize that there are some inherent problems in the Arkadia storyline. However, its a nice little story even as such. So like Mike, I can live with it.
As for the possibilities the Arkadians populated other worlds? I brought up the Zenno thing back during our MISSING LINK discussions so I thank Mike for mentioning it again. He also brought up the possibilities of all the other humanoid races encountered. I believe STAR TREK: TNG did a storyline to that effect. An alien gene was found which was the ancient forerunner of what would eventually split into humans, Klingons, Romulans and Cardassians among others. This stays within the idea of evolution but must admit its a totally different evolution of the type we understand today. For me good sci-fi can deal with other possibilities as well as realities.
I've mentioned before scientific facts do not play the overwhelming role in me accepting a sci-fi storyline. I don't care about the aerodynamics of the Eagle or whether a nuclear explosion can actually knock the moon out of orbit without destroying it. That's just me. Perhaps one of the reasons I enjoy 1999 so much but that so many non-fans out there think its the stupidest thing ever made. That is how my own brother views the series. To this day he still picks on me over my childhood fascination with the show. (I have learned to ignore his comments).
Anyway Mark I understand your hesitancy to accept the Arkadia thing. Now if someone can convince me that COLLISION COURSE is actually a good story than I will be happy. Thanks everyone for hearing me out.
From: Mike Lynch (Mike-Lynch@big99foot.com) Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 13:52:14 -0400 Subj: Re: Space1999: Evolution and Arkadia
I believe STAR TREK: TNG did a storyline to that effect. An alien gene was found which was the ancient forerunner of what would eventually split into humans, Klingons, Romulans and Cardassians among others. This stays within the idea of evolution but must admit its a totally different evolution of the type we understand today. For me good sci-fi can deal with other possibilities as well as realities.
Interesting that David should mention this. We all know that several Star Trek: TNG "borrowed" plots, characters, technology, and theories from Space: 1999 (just as Space: 1999 "borrowed" from the classic Star Trek series). Now I am not criticizing the borrowing idea, in fact I see it as a form of homage to an acknowledged and acclaimed source. However, borrowing from a source and not expanding upon it or offering a new perspective can lessen the impact of the original source as well as make the new "version" appear cheap and shallow. That being said: did anyone catch the preview for next week's Deep Space Nine? For those who didn't let me fill you in: O'Brian's daughter is sucked through a "hole" in space/time and re-emerges a savage protohuman-like woman... ring any bells? Can we say THE FULL CIRCLE? Now going by the preview it looks as if there is enough of a variation in the surrounding story line that won't come across as a direct re-make, but I just found it to be a little amusing.
Getting back to the discussion at hand: The ideas presented in TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA are some of the best from the first season, and I think that this episode could have conceivable been called NEW ADAM, NEW EVE (though being relatively new to this group this may have been mentioned earlier). Admittedly, had the name been that of NANE then the focus of the episode would have been shifted away from the Arkadians and the impact may have been lessened, if not lost. But the ideas and theories present in TAO, though somewhat flawed, are excellent. Whether they were the basis for the Star Trek: TNG episode that David mentions, or not, is not necessarily as important as the fact that the ideas in TAO examine classic elements of sci-fi. TOA for that reason becomes (for lack of a better word) a classic example of science fiction.
Anyway, I wont harp on this subject since it has already been hashed out over the past week.
I've mentioned before scientific facts do not play the overwhelming role in me accepting a sci-fi storyline. I don't care about the aerodynamics of the Eagle or whether a nuclear explosion can actually knock the moon out of orbit without destroying it. That's just me.
Agreed.
(Just a thought: why would the aerodynamics of the Eagle ever fall under criticism? The Eagle was designed primarily for use in low to zero atmosphere - where aerodynamics would be of little consequence. So it would just seem that criticizing the ship's aerodynamics would be... well... pointless.)
Mike Lynch
[EDITOR'S NOTE: This triggers a thread on Eagles. A little humorous interlude follows below, before returning to serious again, so hold on!]
From: Chris Hlady (chlady@escape-ca) Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 11:16:53 -0500 Subj: Space1999: Mysterious Unknown Force
yada yada
artistic licence
yada yada
abused but so what
yada yada
chris
Chris Hlady http://www.escape.ca/~chlady
From: Chris Hlady (chlady@escape-ca) Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 10:40:36 -0500 Subj: Space1999: Yada bits
Yada yada
arkadia funny sanskrit
yada yada
muf amuses
yada yada
loved asimov's foundation series
yada yada
fiction reinforces the wonder of reality
yada cheers
chris
From: Mark Meskin (plastic.gravity@new21rock.com) Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 13:54:24 -0600 Subj: Re: Space1999: Yada bits
Its over.
He's gone man.
No more Seinfeld.
No more yada yada yada.
From: Chris Hlady (chlady@esc--ape.ca) Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 00:58:53 -0500 Subj: Re: Space1999: Yada bits
Hi Mark,
Yeh it's over, and I don't care. Why should I? But, the lessons of Jerry are ubiquitous. Why ramble over something if you can "yada yada" it? If I "yada yada", it's because I'm too bored or unimpressed to compose a sentence. Now, you might think of this as rude, but I find it saves a lot of time and, at the same time, reminisces about things that no longer exist...like Space: 1999.
Ho hum, enough lecture. I've been re-coloring a lot of old space: 1999 pics from the archives and may soon put them up on my webpage. It's always nice to make something old something new.
Cheers,
Chris
From: Patricia Embury (Patriemb@sprint70mail.com) Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 20:13:43 -0400 Subj: Space1999: Testament of Arkadia
This is one of the best episodes of the first season, and a fitting way to wrap the first season. The narrative viewpoint worked better than if it had been done in a straightforward storytelling mode. It adds to the overall mysticism of the episode.
My friends, mysticism is the key to this episode. Mysticism/religious belief surrounding the creation of humanity, combined with "the circle of life" idea is the focal point. The setting of an Earth-like, post-apocolyptic world and the combination of classical pieces and a more "Jesus Christ Superstar/Godspell" sounding piece with the revelation in the cave add to the wonderment, and spiritualism of the events. The time frame for the Arkadians to supposedly bring life to Earth is deliberately difficult to plot out. It's not supposed to make sense. We as the viewer, must believe, take on faith, that the Arkadians visited Earth at some point and either mingled with the local population, or just camped out and stayed. They planted the seeds of modern society, as the Alphans were to plant the seeds of life back on Arkadia. The end shot of Koenig closing the book, laying his pen on top of it, could be interpreted as Koenig writing a new "Testament" or biblical chapter for the people of Alpha. Very effective.
The Alphans who went to the planet were completely blown away by their discoveries. Koenig looked to be in a state of deep worry, or at least very upset by events when Luke and Anna approach him with the idea of living on the planet. It can be argued that he was concerned with the future of Alpha, but, we've never seen him that upset before. Everyone else was very subdued, including Alan, who was remarkably restrained during the events of Helena's abduction. You could tell that he and Morrow really wanted to do something, but they were either more accepting of Koenig's leadership, or resigned to playing out the events as they unfolded.
From: "Petter Ogland" (petter.ogland@dnmi-no) Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 09:41:56 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: Testament of Arkadia
Good points, Pat! I never thought of Dutur's "Pictures of Autumn" as a reference to "Jesus Christ Superstar" or "Godspell". From this point of view it makes a lot more sense. While I initially felt the Dutur theme was rather awkwardly chosen, obviously not making this link, now I feel it gives new dimentions to the story. The parallells to the filmed version of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (1973) are quite striking, I feel, the early seventies search for a deeper meaning to life by a combination of post-hippie thought wich casted new lights on religion, politics and their interplay. Wonderful, Pat!
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi-no) Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 09:25:59 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Testament of Arkadia & the MUF
[EDITOR'S NOTE: The 'MUF' part is in the aforementioned MUF thread.]
Earlier, I wrote:
One of the reasons I like COLLISION COURSE is that it's only Koenig and Alan that are having revelations. Just like the Alphans I feel that not even the viewers are too sure about whether Arra exists.
Mark responded:
No, I never get that impression when I watch this episode, especially since we get to "meet" Arra early in the episode. Maybe if the sequence in the alien ship had been deleted in favor Koenig just going out, being captured, and returning without us the viewer ever knowing what went on in the alien ship.
Initially it seems like there is someone external to Alan speaking to him, yes. On the other hand, later when is on Alpha and believes he is speaking to Arra, and strechting out to reach her, he is in fact standing nose to nose with Helena.
This sort of switch between internal and external worlds sees almost to be a tradmark of director Ray Austin. At least it is a trick he uses in many episodes; RING AROUND THE MOON, MISSING LINK, THE END OF ETERNITY. Suddenly the camera is watching from some of the casts point of view. In COLLISION COURSE we are sometimes observing Alan and sometimes we are being presented with what he is experiencing from his own psychotic view.
The psychologcial aspect of the episode is what makes sense to me. If it were made by somebody else, Crichton perhaps, who tend to focus on other aspects, I believe I would have found it of very less quality, perhaps more like the other Terpiloff stories EARTHBOUND, DEATH'S OTHER DOMINION and THE INFERNAL MACHINE, which in spite of their references to E.A. Poe, Shakespeare, Dante Alligieri etc. feel like some of the weakest episodes of season 1.
No, I think you are thinking on our terms again. Arra was an alien, an alien on a much different plane than Humanity. Can you imagine if Her way of convincing Koenig was to say, "Look here Commander, we've got a little problem...I need your moon to smack my planet..............." It just wouldn't work. I like the dialogue, its suitably mysterious, and its no help to Koenig who as usual, is on his own.
I still find the dialogue mysterious and ridiculous. How could she possibly convince Koenig that the most sensible thing would be to have the moon smack into Aetheria? It is incredible how a man like Koenig accepts to "do nothing" when his normal pattern of behaviour is to do just anything, whether sensible or not, in similar situations.
The whole scene seems be constructed on the logic of dreams the way I see it. Obviously Koenig is communicating with someone or something, or perhaps just being programmed like Helena was in RING AROUND THE MOON.
All the Alphans see is that his eagle is being swallowed by this ship and then later returned back to the moon. His meeting with Arra seems as real to me as his meeting with "Victor" in MISSING LINK.
Petter
From: jcg@vh4tag.net Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 23:26:19 -0400 Subj: Space1999: The Testament Of Arkadia
I wasn't kidding about being lucky to get in an episode each week. It's taken two weeks, plus a few days after viewing to get five minutes to write this unwanted review. Anyway...
Another episode that hard cuts to the opening credits...cutting the drum roll. I again wonder if it was for effect or for time constraints.
Anyone else wonder why the power loss doesn't affect the eagle? (And I know someone is going to say the unknown force who wants the ship to reach the planet to restart the seed...The problem with that is why don't the characters wonder about that?)
A few reviews back I made an off topic reference to Lost In Space (tv) using a slide rule in 1997...and I forgot Bergman uses one in this episode. Although I don't think it's the reason, one could argue that it is in character for him to still be using one.
A great deal of the dialog, including the scenes in the eagle are dubbed, and I can't figure out if they had a lot of technical problems during this episode, or if it was to match the sound of the guest actor's dubbed lines.
Dialog on the planet surface was also dubbed, but the funny thing is that gives it a more removed feeling which helps create the feeling of them being outside, even though in this episode they are on a sound stage.
It is hysterical that they never take notice that all the aliens they encounter speak an earth language (english) but they are shocked to find a different earth language (sanskrit) on the planet. Of course we understand there are some things we must blink at to make the story possible.
Mathias' scenes were the worst in the series. The dialog made him sound like a petulant child, and was completly unbelievable. Also, I question how there always seems to be critical care patients in Medical Center that are unrelated to the current story when there is a power outage. I would think under their cirmstances, the odds would be that the medical facilities would be empty (or certainly not critical care patients) at any given time. This business of patients dying because of power cuts (and this is not the first time this was used) is a cheap device (like having a nameless guard outside a closed, windowless door so he can rush blindly in and get killed.)
One minor blooper: we see the docking tube within inches of attaching to the ship, and we cut directly to the inside where the eagle hatch is open and someone is standing there in the hatchway, and we hear the sound of the tube attaching!
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