Part One Afterword

Editor's Introduction:

Some wrap up and summarization discussion on Part One.



From:  JSchill824 (JSchill824@aol44.com)
Date:  Thu, 14 May 1998 10:21:45 EDT
Subj:  Space1999: Good-bye dear friends

Just a few notes on the last two episodes of year one. What can I say but I liked them both. Dragon Domain discussion has stirred a lot of comments. As for me I've always enjoyed this episode and think it still holds up well. My only criticism would be that I thought Dr. Russell was weak on the psychotherapy and seemed a little too hostel towards her patient (Tony) JMO.

As for the Testament of Arkadia, I felt that if this would have been the last of S9 series it would have been a great ending. The religious overtones, filming style, and narration were all wonderful.

What an appropriate time for me to sign off, for I have a wonderful opportunity to travel to Egypt with my husband. We've been saving for 2 years and are going with 16 students and my old art history professor from the Northern Illinois University Art History department. Its been a dream of mine to visit Egypt for a long time! We leave Saturday and I can't wait!

Robert, Petter, David(s), Ellen, Pat, Mark, Mateo, etc. keep up the great discussions! I'll miss you all.

Until Tomorrow,

Janet



From:  Brian Dowling (brian@hellion.prestel44.co.uk)
Date:  Tue, 19 May 1998 22:20:40 +0000
Subj:  Space1999: End of Season 1/ Start of Season 2

Hi y'all,

Although I've not thrown in my GBP0.02 worth on some of the episodes, I have faithfully watched them and made notes on them all. Maybe at some point I will be able to transcribe them and post them...

One overriding thing from this exercise has been that I've carefully looked at each episode rather than just casually viewing it, and enjoyed the stories more as a result of doing this. I hope that I will be able to do this with the season two stories and give them the same objective (or as near objective as I can manage) assessment.

So far I have found several things I had not noticed before, and I am looking forward to this again with season two.

At this moment, my gut reaction comparing the two seasons is that season two's stories do not have as much an intellectual level as the season one stories did. Look at the references we have quoted in the discussions thus far, as varied as Poe, de Sade and Dante.

The emphasis on a quicker pace for season two seems to have left less room for the themes of where we are in the universe, what forces surround us and such issues that were often to the fore in season one.

It will be interesting to see if I still feel the same after seeing the season two stories again...

Brian Dowling - Online Alphan #144 - Birmingham, England
Compiler of the Space:1999 UK Video Log -
http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/hellion/
"I can't resist your touch of evil"



From:  Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi44.no)
Date:  Wed, 20 May 1998 07:59:17 +0000
Subj:  Re: Space1999: End of Season 1/ Start of Season 2

Brian wrote:

Although I've not thrown in my GBP0.02 worth on some of the episodes, I have faithfully watched them and made notes on them all. Maybe at some point I will be able to transcribe them and post them...

You gave us hope that you would perhaps publish episode analysis on the UK video log. I remember finding your comments on GUARDIAN OF PIRI and ALPHA CHILD tremendous, drawing parallells nobody had though of before. You also made some rather intruiging points about the writing of Marquis de Sade in respect of one episode. Could it have been FORCE OF LIFE?

Petter



From:  Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi44.no)
Date:  Wed, 20 May 1998 07:59:17 +0000
Subj:  Re: Space1999: End of Season 1/ Start of Season 2

Brian wrote:

Although I've not thrown in my GBP0.02 worth on some of the episodes, I have faithfully watched them and made notes on them all. Maybe at some point I will be able to transcribe them and post them...

Petter



From:  Brian Dowling (brian@hellion.prestel44.co.uk)
Date:  Wed, 20 May 1998 22:40:40 +0000
Subj:  Re: Space1999: End of Season 1/ Start of Season 2

Hi folks,

In reply to my comments...

Although I've not thrown in my GBP0.02 worth on some of the episodes, I have faithfully watched them and made notes on them all. Maybe at some point I will be able to transcribe them and post them...

Petter wrote

You gave us hope that you would perhaps publish episode analysis on the UK video log.

And when life here settles down (at this rate it's likely to be through exhaution) I will transcribe those purple ink notes written on yellow paper for the site.

I remember finding your comments on GUARDIAN OF PIRI and ALPHA CHILD tremendous, drawing parallells nobody had though of before. You also made some rather intruiging points about the writing of Marquis de Sade in respect of one episode. Could it have been FORCE OF LIFE?

The Marquis de Sade comment was about End Of Eternity, where Balor preached about pushing the spirit beyond its limitations. If I can get my head out of those boring Microsoft tech manuals, I might well be able to add more from my preferred reading and listening.

That's a thought - a Space:1999 radio play...

Brian Dowling



From:  Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi44.no)
Date:  Tue, 26 May 1998 13:25:58 +0000
Subj:  Space1999: Year One Ranking

Hi all,

Here is a summary of how I feel about Year One at the moment with a quality grading from a very personal point of view (okay, good, very good and excellent). I'm not really a promotor of evaluating everything by numbers as if all things in life could be put on a line, but, nevertheless, some episodes give me more enjoyment than others, so here's my summary:

1. BREAKAWAY (excellent)
The first and the best in my opinion. Wonderful character portrayals. Wonderful first meetings between John and Victor, John and Helena. Very good direction by Lee H. Katzin. It is fast moving and has just about the right balance between special effects and drama, for my taste.

2. MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (excellent)
Superbly intelligent investigation of how the Alphans feel at the loss of the Earth, symbolised by Helena's loss of Lee, and how they have to come to terms with the idea that most of the worlds they will encounter will be no better, in fact even worse, than the barracks of moonbase Alpha. A wonderful study in grief and sorrow, enhanced by Byrne's vivid use of references to mirrors, double universes or anti-matter to illustrate the difference between dream and reality.

3. BLACK SUN (excellent)
Very similar story to BREAKAWAY, and lots of similar situations. In BREAKAWAY they had no opportunity to think about what was happening. In this installment writer David Weir give the Alphans more time, but not very much hope, and gives a wonderful description of how they prepare to die. Devastating prospects, much similar to Titanic.

4. RING AROUND THE MOON (excellent)
What is the difference between a reseach scientist and a computer? No obvious answer given here. Stupendous efforts from Landau, Bain and Morse, and stunning SPACE:1999 debut from director Ray Austin. The is my personal favourite of the series.

5. EARTHBOUND (good)
The "lonely, blind creature looking for it's own death" theme which was recycled by Terpiloff in DEATH'S OTHER DOMINION and THE INFERNAL MACHINE. Much focus on the loneliness of Simmonds as he is driven into power play with Koenig and finally more or less choses his own death as a result of desperate actions. Aliens of a dying race from a dying planet are travelling to Earth where they plan to take suicide. Neither scriptwriter nor director shows too much care for the characters, I feel, but, nevertheless, better than the two final Terpiloff contributions as I see it.

6. ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE (good)
Johnny Byrne continues on the notes of MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH with false hopes and Alphans in diaspora, simlar fate to the Jews, Serbs and Irish, Johnny would perhaps say. Much of the conflict of not having a home is symbolised through the Judy Geeson character, Regina. Some imaginative direction by cold hearted director Tomblin, but perhaps not as impressive as FORCE OF LIFE and THE INFERNAL MACHINE on visual aspects.

7. MISSING LINK (very good)
Edward di Lorenzo uses an antropologist view on Alpha as he lets Koenig be the test rat in the empty Alpha look-a-like maze. The story seems to bear strong resemblance to Shakespeare's last play "The Tempest" with the constallation Raan/Prospero, Vana/Miranda and Koenig/Ferdinand.

8. GUARDIAN OF PIRI (very good)
Weir's vision on complacency being death, where he makes room for Landau, Bain and Morse to give new dimentions to their characters like Victor growing irrationally optimistic to great surprise of Koenig. Both content and drama close to excellent, I feel.

9. FORCE OF LIFE (very good)
Byrne on his most philosophical, perhaps, drawing a picture of the dynamics of life close of Penfold's virus perspectives. On the visual side accomponied by some of the best achievements by Tomblin and Wilson, I feel.

10. ALPHA CHILD (okay)
Di Lorenzo's story of how the emotionless child bread in technological environment grows to become a psychopat. At least this seems to be part of the premise of this story which was also greatly rewritten by Penfold as only he is finally credited. Many fine scenes between Koenig and Jackie and Bergman and Jackie. Nick Tate gives some of his best performances in this one, I feel. Perhaps it would have been better if it had only one scriptwriter.

11. THE LAST SUNSET (very good)
Much similar to other Penfold episodes, such as WAR GAMES and SPACE BRAIN in philosophical content, I feel, the highlight of the episode being Paul Morrow going slightly mad and revealing the sort of characteristics that the aliens in WAR GAMES felt a bit uneasy with in humans. Barry Gray's music works wonderfully to illustrate hope, joy and loss of hope, I feel.

12. VOYAGER'S RETURN (good)
Byrne gives more thoughts on the agony of war or similar disasters and investigates the role of the individual under such circumstances. A story much about guilt and judgement as I see it.

13. COLLISION COURSE (good)
Terpiloff follows the footsteps of di Lorenzo and gives his contribution with this episode about logic versus faith. A fairly ridiculous story, as I see it, that nevertheless generates incredibly interesting situations and outstanding performances by all. In some ways similar to RING AROUND THE MOON, I feel, albeit lacking the philosophical aspects.

14. DEATH'S OTHER DOMINION (okay)
Terpiloff exploits his knowledge of the classics (Shakespeare, Dante) in an episode that seems to be about loneliness, power and death, just like EARTHBOUND, but this time focusing on the scientist rather than the politician. Director Crichton presents the story as if it were made for the stage more than for the screen, perhaps fitting with some of the KING LEAR type aspects of the story.

15. FULL CIRCLE (okay)
Perhaps best viewed as an hommage to 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, saying, just like Kubrick, the evolution of mankind since cro-magnon is neglectible. We are still more or less monkeys. I think Kubrick made this point even stronger with BARRY LYNDON (1975), and in case of SPACE:1999 the total loss of intelligence in some of the dialogue sequences in DRAGON'S DOMAIN does make some suggestions. In FULL CIRCLE Bob Kellett is obviously having fun filming Zienia Merton scantily dressed running through the Blackwood forrest.

16. END OF ETERNITY (very good)
Very interesting sort of Richard III character, Balor, I feel, wonderfully performed by Peter Bowles, one of the most interesting guest characters apart from Roy Dotrice's first go as Simmonds. Byrne called his character a power junkie. What the story may lack in motivation, Bowles and Austin make up for in Balor's encounters with Koenig and Helena.

17. WAR GAMES (very good)
This is the episode where Penfold gives his lesson on human kind as a virus. He also referred to it as his anti-war episode. The first two Acts get a bit tedious by repeated viewing, I feel, especially the first one, but the episode is balanced nicely off by the contrastingly philosophical third and fourth Acts. Immensly impressive and interesting in many ways, I feel.

18. THE LAST ENEMY (okay)
While very silly on some accounts, Bob Kellett trying to merge THE AVENGER with SPACE:1999 it seems, it would perhaps have worked much better if it was played more as a spoof and using more of the materimonial themes that were originally written into the script. The scene were Dione is trying to seduce Koenig while Helena and Victor are watching is the highligh, I feel, and gives indications of what might have been achieved by sticking to the original script. It seems to be a missed opportunity.

19. THE TROUBLED SPIRIT (good)
Excellent on atmosphere, but less tasty on content I feel. The use of double universes, as in MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH and In ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE, is also in this episode used, apparently, in order to illustrate the break of illusions as the scientist in question looses control of himself and causes havock. Perhaps the story can be interpreted as to have someting to do with the psychology of people at war, Byrne being deeply concerned with the Anglo-Irish conflict.

20. SPACE BRAIN (good)
Following Penfold's metaphore of humankind as a virus and the universe as an organic body, here the Alphan virus is heading for a celestial body that has the function of a brain. As the Alphans destroy the brain they hence destroy the universal body of stars and galaxies run by the brain. The morale seems to be that struggle for human survival is at all cost, and from the point of non-humans we are indeed a virus.

21. THE INFERNAL MACHINE (okay)
This seems very much like Terpiloff making a new version of his previous DEATH'S OTHER DOMINION. The content seems quite similarily to be about a lone scientist sacrificing his social network in order to achieve his dreams. Due to concluding loneliness he develops a strong urge for power, then realises the empiness of it all and turns to selfdestruction.

22. MISSION OF THE DARIANS (okay)
Accoring to Byrne there is no means to what people will do in order to survive. Perhaps thinking of the Irish conflict, he uses imagery and ideas from the Viking Sagas, ancient Greece, the Nazis and perhaps even British empirialism of the previous century. A difficult theme to handle within the SPACE:1999 concept, I suppose, and Austin's entusiastic direction almost makes it a bit in bad taste, I feel.

23. DRAGON'S DOMAIN (good)
While Landau and Bain seem to experiment with a change of style that anticipates Year Two, Gianno Garko as Tony Cellini is interesting. The easy style of Landau and Bain could perhaps have worked better if it were done in a smaller dosis, as to contrast their usual behaviour. The music (Albinoni) and the models are, of course, superb.

24. THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA (good)
A very fine way to end Series One, I think. Johnny Byrne is in the hopeful mood in this one. Excellent musical leitmotif by Serge Lancen enhance the proceedings.

Summary of how the episodes classify to my taste:

BREAKAWAY (excellent)
MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (excellent)
BLACK SUN (excellent)
RING AROUND THE MOON (excellent)

MISSING LINK (very good)
GUARDIAN OF PIRI (very good)
FORCE OF LIFE (very good)
THE LAST SUNSET (very good)
END OF ETERNITY (very good)
WAR GAMES (very good)

EARTHBOUND (good)
ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE (good)
VOYAGER'S RETURN (good)
COLLISION COURSE (good)
THE TROUBLED SPIRIT (good)
SPACE BRAIN (good)
DRAGON'S DOMAIN (good)
THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA (good)

ALPHA CHILD (okay)
DEATH'S OTHER DOMINION (okay)
FULL CIRCLE (okay)
THE LAST ENEMY (okay)
THE INFERNAL MACHINE (okay)
MISSION OF THE DARIANS (okay)

Petter



From:  Simon Morris (simes01@globalnet44.co.uk)
Date:  Wed, 27 May 1998 14:09:00 +0100
Subj:  Space1999: Re: Year One Ranking

Hi everyone

Nice summary by Petter of how he personally judged each episode of Year One. Seeing as how I didnt contribute to the Y1 analyses I thought I'd just add my own very brief summaries( using Petters excellent/very good/good/okay grading)

1. BREAKAWAY(excellent)

A spectacular and fast paced opener. No time for an real characterisation,but who cares? 50 minutes just flies by.

2. MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (okay)

I never was enthralled with this. To me it bears the hallmarks of being re-written and while I respect Petters view of it as a study in grief and sorrow, I don't think it was that well done on those terms. To me it was pure hokum with a melodramatic antimatter plot thrown in.

3. BLACK SUN (Very Good)

Years ago I hated this episode but now I appreciate it mainly for the sheer depth of characterisation: particularly koenig and Bergman. Also for the gentle humour. There should have been more of this in Y1 and this is how it should have been done in Y2! The episode has nothing really in terms of action compared to WAR GAMES for example but I can see why Barry Morse and Petter both rate it so highly.

4. RING AROUND THE MOON (okay)

As I'm using Petter's gradings, I've called this one "okay". Whereas in truth I think I would have called it "crap". Sorry Petter I think this episode is boring and with an incredible lack of any pace. I could understand and forgive it if there was any redeeming qualities(such as the characterisation of BLACK SUN). I also didn't like the loss of Barry Grays music in the episode in favour of Vic Elms pathetic efforts. One man's meat is another man's poison eh?!

5. EARTHBOUND (excellent)

A gripping hour and fine performances from Roy Dotrice,Martin Landau and Christopher Lee(even if Lee could breeze through a part like this given his Hammer background!). Genuinely intelligent and sympathetic aliens(mirrored by the Alphans mature and humane attitude to an alien race) and a truly nasty villain in Commissioner Simmonds. I don't really see the "lonely blind creature looking for its death" theme as being relevant to this episode. Like I say though: "one mans meat...." It would be boring if we all agreed on everything!

6. ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE (good)

Yes: I'd agree with Petter on this one. Its a little lacklustre but chilling in parts(Koenig and Carter coming across their alter-egos dead in the "other" universe. True-not much emphasis on special effects but more of an emphasis perhaps on human tragedy.

7. MISSING LINK (okay)

Ah yeah...well, a serious point of divergence here Petter! This is another one that I have graded "okay" when I...er...don't think it was very good. Slow and boring. However much Koenig may have been manipulated I really don't think he would have considered staying with Raan and Vana. I suppose the anthropological view is a good one though. (Interestingly I also thought Brian Ball's novelisation of this episode was the worst of all the novelisations. Whether because of the episode script of because of the way Ball tackled it I do not know...)

8. GUARDIAN OF PIRI (very good)

Hmmmm.... maybe the grading here reflects Catherine Schells performance and appearance (wow). Quite chilling when you think that Koenig damn near loses Alpha and the loyalty of his people. Who'd have ever thought someone in a halter-top *that* revealing could have been a robot.....!

9. FORCE OF LIFE (very good)

Moodily shot and quite horrific in parts. This episode has a driving pace and some interesting effects. Its probably an exercise in style over content in the final analysis but an engrossing hour nonetheless. The only problem was the usual "Why did this life force take over Anton Zoref and what was the point of it all?" This isn't really addressed but then that was part of the appeal of Y1...that these were humans in a new situation where there was no way they were going to have many of the answers!

10. ALPHA CHILD ( very good)

In my opinion we should have seen a few more children on Alpha. I'll never forget the image of Jackie Crawford suddenly growing into a 5 yr old,face pressed grotesquely against the glass of the incubator. Its a fast faced hour though I'm sure I 've seen the same sort of plot before. A touching epilogue and a nice ambiguity to it all: did Jarak and Rena sacrifice themselves for the sake of Alpha? Or was it as Koenig said: that they didn't really have any choice?

11. THE LAST SUNSET (excellent)

Fantastic special effects and a lot happening in the episode. I too think that the episode was probably Prentis Hancocks shining hour in terms of performance,and his "derangement" was the highlight of the episode. Nice interplay between Morrow and Sandra and with a suitably touching let-down for the Alphans at the end of the story.

12. VOYAGERS RETURN (good)

A fine performance by Jeremy Kemp: touching, human and inviting our sympathy. Yes, I think Petter is right on target- a story about guilt,responsibility,judgement,the blinding quest for knowledge and the terrible consequences when you get it wrong....

13. COLLISION COURSE (okay)

I never cared much for this one. And I certainly didn't see why (on the basis of her performance)Margaret Leighton was so expensive for Anderson to hire! I always thought the " great purpose of mutation(?)" was pure hokum.

14. DEATHS OTHER DOMINION (excellent)

Probably the one in Y1 that I watch the most. I loved the pseudo-Shakespearian dialogue and images and surprisingly, the stagey way Charles Crichton presented it(almost as a stage play) worked TREMENDOUSLY well within the SPACE 1999 format. Brian Blessed's performance was great(as usual) though with so much ham he should have been coated in mustard. A fantastic performance by John Shrapnel who I suspect relished the part- he plays it with so much energy! A triumph of writing and performance and one of the few occasions where the guest actors outshine the regulars. Great!

15. FULL CIRCLE (okay)

Well theres a fair amount of action but beyond that...well,its a little thin,to be honest. Nice to see a bit of location work and its well shot too(you wouldn't recognize it as the same Black Park that they used in "RULES OF LUTON" would you?). Yes theres certainly the point about there being a little bit of the savage in everyone but its a bit trite to suggest that all this was brought out by a little "mist"....

16. END OF ETERNITY (good)

Nicely portrayed psycho by Peter Bowles (who in his time in the UK played a lot of light comedy roles believe it or not!) but again this episode has always seemed a bit thin to me. Beyond the premise of "How do you kill/get rid of an immortal bastard" there is little left but a battle of wills between Balor and Koenig. It always seems to me that this tale could have been told in 30 minutes.

17. WAR GAMES (good)

22 years ago this was one of my favourites due to the action and special effects. Today I am less interested in special effects and models and consequently my estimation of this episode has slid somewhat. But yes....there is the clear message that Man's violent and suspicious nature bodes ill for the Alphans. To me the aliens are quite sadistic in the way that they hammer this home to the Alphans:was there ever much difference? It IS technically an impressive show (must be great on a full sized movie screen) but I'd agree with Petter that it becomes a bit tedious with repeated viewings.

18. THE TROUBLED SPIRIT (very good)

A nice take on the old "ghost story" when a man is haunted before he has actually died! I'm not sure I go along with Petter's view that there is more style and less content. I think it was quite a meaty theme and story personally,and the dark presentation merely the icing on the cake. Terrific writing from Johnny Byrne,and a nicely reworked version of an old theme. The episode might have gained more had they not had the obligatory Italian guest star...since I view the episode as a modern horror story which culminates in a personal tragedy.(And it is a personal tragedy,not just for Mateo but also for Koenig,who is clearly affected by Mateos death.) A stronger actor in Mateos role might have hammered this home more?

19. THE LAST ENEMY (okay)

Yeah...not bad I suppose but to me just a basic "Mexican StandOff"-type story. I think John Rankines novelisation of the episode stresses more the "Dione seducing Koenig/Helena is jealous" theme than actually appears in the episode itself(possibly a testament to an earlier version of the script?). If its true that the impetus for this scripts came from Barbara Bain then I hope they kept her away from scripts conferences generally!

20. SPACE BRAIN (good)

Good grief: I myself was overcome by that stuff this morning! (Well actually I put too much washing-up liquid on the breakfast dishes as I was cleaning them. Thankfully it wasnt necessary to open the kitchen windows to let it out.....) Nice to see old Anderson favourite Shane Rimmer in this tale of survival. Sad that a whole bunch of galaxies that rely on the brain will die following its forced destruction,but a nice touch that the Alphans recognise this and express sorrow despite their own survival.

21. THE INFERNAL MACHINE (good)

Well, I liked this one mainly for Leo Mckern as Companion(and also as the voice behind Gwent). I find the episode a bit claustrophobic and talky-no doubt due to much of the story taking place inside Gwent with just McKern and the three principal stars. I think Gwent was quite a well drawn character( for what was basically an inanimate being) and very human and sympathetic at the end when he expresses"remorse" and commits "suicide". Better done than Brian the Brain I suppose who was considerably less profound.

22. MISSION OF THE DARIANS (excellent)

Petter,you merely rate this one "okay" ?! A large scale production,aided by some neat effects. The matte effects lend an epic air to the sets and really give the impression of a huge spaceship "City in Space". One of Johnny Byrnes best and the theme of "Are there no limits people will go to in order to survive" is well illustrated in this episode. I don't think its bad taste at all----when Petter mentions parallels with the Nazis,Ancient Greeks and British imperialism,it reminds me that many worse things have happened in history IN REALITY! I also like the optimism at the end of the episode when there is the prospect that the two groups on THE DARIA will join forces for the good of all and bury the mistakes of the last 900 years.And quite poignantly in the last seconds the realisation of the possibility that the Alphans might one day face the same dilemma......

23. DRAGONS DOMAIN (excellent)

Well,it might be a little comic book,but its the way this story is presentted that sets it apart from the stuff that appeared in Y2. I don't think this was ever an experiment in style-changing,Petter...merely a sign that everything was now gelling on the production and that the writing staff,production team and acting ensemble were now in their stride and finding a rhythm. Gianni Garko isn't as bad as some Italians could have been in the role( though it would have made a tremendous role for Nick Tate if-as is said-the script had been left as written for him) I thought Landau and Bains exchanges were highly believeable. The use of Albinonis music in the episodes only serves to highlight the underrated contribution of music editor Alan Willis to both Y1 and Y2 of the show. An horrific problem to deal with and my only quibble is that it sure is lucky that Martin Landau manages to beat the monster when everyone else failed........

24. TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA (excellent)

A fitting end to year 1 and this one(as you may have seen in an earlier post) for some reason made quite an emotional impact on me-and for that reason alone deserves the "excellent" rating. Johnny Byrnes script was remarkable to me,and indeed as Petter says you can tell Johhny is in an optimistic frame of mind! The sense of spirituality and mystery in the episode...the point that there might be some FORCE that controls everything...even creation itself. We are but a small part of the universe and we can never hope to understand how it all works...bar the fact that it DOES. A brilliant end to the series. The script is the star of the episode helped by some fitting library music once again courtesy of Alan Willis.

There were tremendous achievements in Y1 and it is a shame that the production team and cast did not have the time to settle in. The excellent episodes were great indeed but as far as I'm concerned the poor ones were absolute stinkers. As we prepare for Y2 I would only say that I shall be treating Y2 as effectively a separate show----tremendously entertaining on its own terms and with both excellent and poor episodes. The poor ones to me were no worse than the ones served up in Y1 and the best episodes I think can stand up against some of the best of Y1. As I have said before,its a pity that a third season was never made as it could have preserved the best elements of both series.

Simon Morris



From:  Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi44.no)
Date:  Wed, 27 May 1998 15:24:38 +0000
Subj:  Re: Space1999: Re: Year One Ranking

Simon wrote:

Nice summary by Petter of how he personally judged each episode of Year One.

Thanks, Simon. As you see I couldn't resist making a few comments on some of your marks.

1. BREAKAWAY(excellent)
A spectacular and fast paced opener. No time for an real characterisation,but who cares? 50 minutes just flies by.

Wonderful episode. Personally I don't find the characterisation too bad. With the exception of the very first scenes with Bain and Morse which seem to have been constructed just for the benfit of displaying Barabara Bain as beautiful as possible, Barry Morse obviously not feeling very comfertable, perhaps not having too much of a grasp of who this Victor Bergman is, there are much characterisation that is noteworthy. Personally I feel Martin Landau is delivering some of his very finest work in this one, and some of the tete-a-tete between him and the others are quite outstanding from my point of view.

In my opinion Dotrice gives a much more balanced and interesting portrayal as Simmonds in this one than he does in EARTHBOUND later. As a matter of fact, I tend to go for BREAKAWAY very much because of the drama in it. The effects are outstanding, yes, but my favourite part it is the first three Acts, the convoluted story of everything happening without anyone having too much of a clue.

2. MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (okay)
I never was enthralled with this. To me it bears the hallmarks of being re-written and while I respect Petters view of it as a study in grief and sorrow, I don't think it was that well done on those terms. To me it was pure hokum with a melodramatic antimatter plot thrown in.

To me this belongs to the excellent category, a wonderful follow-up on BREAKAWAY by continuing on developing characters. As we get to know Johnny Byrne more and more, I also tend to like it for being the mother of so many of his later chapters by introducing ideas like the parallell worlds of Irish or Celtic mythology and the diaspora theme. From my point of view this is a widely underrated episode, much better than it's reputation (ITC New York weren't all that happy with it).

4. RING AROUND THE MOON (okay)
As I'm using Petter's gradings, I've called this one "okay". Whereas in truth I think I would have called it "crap".

Oops!

Sorry Petter I think this episode is boring and with an incredible lack of any pace. I could understand and forgive it if there was any redeeming qualities(such as the characterisation of BLACK SUN). I also didn't like the loss of Barry Grays music in the episode in favour of Vic Elms pathetic efforts. One man's meat is another man's poison eh?!

Alright, I suppose one shouldn't agree on absolutely every aspect of everything. On the other hand, this episode shows the kind of SPACE:1999 that is closest to my heart. A wonderfully written script about logic and knowledge, and bravoura performances by all involved. I feel both Bain and Morse come close to their best achievements of the complete series.

This is probably the episode I've seen the most times, and the story I never seem to get tired of. And I do find the music of Vic Elms/Allan Willis very fitting too. Immaculate episode! If only there were more episodes like RING AROUND THE MOON!

5. EARTHBOUND (excellent)

Well, for me this story works less well than it does for you apparently. For me it lacks in ambiguity when handling Simmonds. If only he had been written and played more like Gwent/Companion, I believe it had been a much more satisfying experience. Although we could have reason for understanding Simmonds malfunction on Alpha, I feel he is presented too much like a melodramatic villain. Too much Puccini and too little Checkov for my taste.

9. FORCE OF LIFE (very good)

Reading information researched by Martin, it now seems like Tomblin actually had worked with Kubrick prior to his work on SPACE:1999. This episode in particular strike me as very Kubrick, perhaps more CLOCKWORK ORANGE than 2001, but very stylish anyway.

While we both value this as "very good", Simon, I suspect we look at it from slightly different angles. One of the reasons I tend to like this one is perhaps as parallell to the more philosophical episodes of Penfold, the likes of LAST SUNSET, WAR GAMES and SPACE BRAIN, namely that, like Penfold, Byrne seems to say that life is not necessarily good, life is just life. In this case we have some kind of virus that is using Zoref as a host, draining him and his environment of energy.

On a less profound level, it could also read as a comment on past hippie-life experiences of Byrne, I suppose, travelling with rock groups, writing poetry, living in a collective. Zoref does seem to be motivated in the same manner as a drug addict would, I suppose.

11. THE LAST SUNSET (excellent)

I liked your comments on this one very much, Simon, nice of you to bring focus on the special effects.

17. WAR GAMES (good)
[....] It IS technically an impressive show (must be great on a full sized movie screen) but I'd agree with Petter that it becomes a bit tedious with repeated viewings.

When I said tedious I was thinking mostly of the first Act which is mostly special effects, casualties and an almost over-excited Koenig running around shouting commands.

The special effects are brilliant, of course, and Koenig showing himself as a person who enjoys shouting does seem much more fitting that him having ideas of a Unified Field Theory as he does in BLACK SUN. In fact, I think the first Act is quite good in many ways, just not all that profound as to last on very well on repeated viewing. Mike Hankinson's music is splendid, though.

18. THE TROUBLED SPIRIT (very good)
A nice take on the old "ghost story" when a man is haunted before he has actually died! I'm not sure I go along with Petter's view that there is more style and less content. I think it was quite a meaty theme and story personally,and the dark presentation merely the icing on the cake. [....]

In terms of meaty content I was thinking in lines of what this was saying about Johnny Byrne, and I can't say that I've found much of a philosophy behind this one. I would be happy to know if there was in fact a deeper meaning to it, though.

What I like the best is the sequence where Helena is doing late night research. It's wonderful to see her working away all night, just like in FORCE OF LIFE. I find this characteristic very fitting with Barabara Bain's stupendous portrayal of Helena in RING AROUND THE MOON where she is being activated randomnly to become a maniac computer programmer. Oooh! I just love that!

19. THE LAST ENEMY (okay)
Yeah...not bad I suppose but to me just a basic "Mexican StandOff"-type story. I think John Rankines novelisation of the episode stresses more the "Dione seducing Koenig/Helena is jealous" theme than actually appears in the episode itself(possibly a testament to an earlier version of the script?). If its true that the impetus for this scripts came from Barbara Bain then I hope they kept her away from scripts conferences generally!

He-he. After having read bits and pieces of the original THE OTHER SEX being posted to this list, I feel that this episode has fallen somewhat between two chairs. By sticking to the original concept, Kellett's wonderful observations on Bergman, Helena and a much more exciting use of Dione, I believe it would have enhanced the episode enormously.

22. MISSION OF THE DARIANS (excellent)
Petter,you merely rate this one "okay" ?! A large scale production,aided by some neat effects. The matte effects lend an epic air to the sets and really give the impression of a huge spaceship "City in Space".

I agree that Keith Wilson almost outdoes himself, and my favourite director Ray Austin is in brilliant form, but I'm not really all that into the stuff about small people, mutants, sacrifices, fake religion, cannabalism etc. True, the real world seem to be worse than this at times, but I feel more content with describing human kind as a virus than actually studying how depraved we may be if one would like to make that ooint.

One of Johnny Byrnes best and the theme of "Are there no limits people will go to in order to survive" is well illustrated in this episode. I don't think its bad taste at all----when Petter mentions parallels with the Nazis,Ancient Greeks and British imperialism,it reminds me that many worse things have happened in history IN REALITY! I also like the optimism at the end of the episode when there is the prospect that the two groups on THE DARIA will join forces for the good of all and bury the mistakes of the last 900 years.

Well, I feel that there was all that much optimism displayed on the screen. Perhaps Alan and Koenig were optimistic, but the others didn't seem all that joyful. Perhaps Byrne was thinking of the endless fights and necotiations of the Irish.

And quite poignantly in the last seconds the realisation of the possibility that the Alphans might one day face the same dilemma......

I liked the punchline "Are there no limits people will go to in order to survive?". That is an interesting question I think.

Good final remarks, Simon. I don't know how literary the FORCE that controls everything was ment to be taken, but the force of life is a very strange thing, and it should perhaps be taken as literary as one prefers. it was rather openly written anyway.

I felt the SPACE:1999 concept was perfect both for drama and philosophy of life. The final episode is bits of both I feel, and quite good too.

Petter



From:  Erich P. Wise (EPWISE@worldnet44.att.net)
Date:  Mon, 01 Jun 1998 05:16:12 -0500
Subj:  Space1999: Y1 episode rankings

Hi! Thought I'd add my 2.5 cents to this topic before the 2nd season discussion begins. I've only been on this list for a couple of months so

please excuse any observations already mentioned in the past. BTW, I been watching '1999' from the beginning: October 25, 1975 in my area (when 'Breakaway' was first broadcast).

1. BREAKAWAY (excellent)
What more can be said that hasn't already? After many viewings on local TV and cable TV (edited and unedited versions), I didn't notice the opening visor until I watched the Columbia House tape earlier this year (before I read about it on this list). However, I never noticed the lower case 'this episode' until I read it here (that one hurt) or the all-red passenger compartment of the Commisioner's Eagle. Has anyone noticed the 'yellowing' of the picture following the title 'Breakaway'? It disappears when Roy Dotrice's name appears.

2. MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (okay)
I like how John Rankine ties this planet with Meta from 'Breakaway.' Renaming it 'Terra Nova' shows the Alphans optimism that it is a suitable planet and their only hope as they leave our solar system. Kano confirms this at the end in a humorous scene. It also makes it more believable that Russell could have made his way here since Meta is relatively close to Jupiter. So why is the planet blue in 'Breakaway' and red here? The picture in 'Breakaway' was a black and white picture! (It just *looks* blue!) Why does Parks say "I think we made it this time" if they've only passed through our solar system? The Alphans apparently passed other planets/moons in our solar system and, of course, they were uninhabitable. (There's an answer to every question). What ruins the episode IMHO is the scene at the end where Dr. Russell clicks her heels three times and is returned to Kansas...oops, wrong story.

3. BLACK SUN (excellent)
Great music...most of the music on Barry Gray's soundtrack can be found in this episode...but not the track titled 'Black Sun' which isn't in any episode! Low points include Sandra's fainting and the scene at the end where Koenig clicks his heels three times and the eagle appears...oops again. This scene is written more believably in John Rankine's 'Breakaway' novelization.

4. RING AROUND THE MOON (crap, er... I mean, okay)
Dullsville, dudes and dudettes. OK music, but it makes the episode seem out of place in the production order. (When I first saw this episode, I thought someone left the radio on when the Alphans are running on the lunar surface. Barry Gray must have composed this music since it's on his soundtrack, right? Other composers have been mentioned doing the music for this episode.) Worst dialogue: This is Triton's universe...This is Triton's sun... isn't the universe the same for everybody?...and the photo Koenig shows that's supposedly Triton's sun shows lots of suns!

5. EARTHBOUND (excellent)
Excellent music, acting, aliens, characters, ending.

6. ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE (good)
A shift to a more quiet style of music...more moody and mysterious. Introduction to the music heard more often (except for the theme) than any other (I think) at the end. Trivia question: Thirteen other episodes end with this music but what two episodes play this music at the end of act 4? Episode almost ruined by the "magical collision" concept (seen also in 'Collision Course').

7. MISSING LINK (okay)
Concept OK, episode boring. We want the commander back on Alpha, too! Nice deserted Main Mission scenes, though. First noticed the misspelled 'Koenig' on the Columbia House video.

8. GUARDIAN OF PIRI (good)
Nice-looking outfit on nice-looking Catherine Schell. Nice ending: "Maybe we should have stayed!"

9. FORCE OF LIFE (okay)
Worst example of "What is it? I don't know. Well, that's life in deep space for you!" type of episode. Nice camera work. Nice bikinis.

10. ALPHA CHILD (good)
Nice ending. Episode reminded me of a dream I had as a child of an alien spacecraft orbiting the moon. I assume the moon was orbiting the Earth in the dream!

11. THE LAST SUNSET (excellent)
My favorite. Different type of story, different emotions, great ending (shot of Paul and Sandra, especially). Are the Alphans watching the sunrise and sunset from the same windows? Shouldn't one be visible from the opposite side? The 'satellite' that speaks at the end should be the one that attached itself to Alan's spacecraft but instead they show one of the smaller 'invaders' that brought the atmosphere.

12. VOYAGER'S RETURN (excellent)
Great story. Great acting from Jean-Luc Picard's brother :P Space: 1999 title appears larger than usual (the S goes past the top of the TV screen); the first note of music during the first picture in the 'This Episode' sequence seems to have been shortened.

13. COLLISION COURSE (good)
Great scenes with Koenig almost crying over the certain loss of Alan and the sighting of the planet. Almost ruined by the 'magical collision' concept. First episode to not have a drum roll before the theme (or maybe we just can't hear it.) Trivia question: what are the other two?

14. DEATH'S OTHER DOMINION (crap, er, I mean... crap)
What can I say? Never liked it. Claustrophobic cave, over the top acting. Nice final shot of Brian Blessed.

15. THE FULL CIRCLE (okay)
Makes you miss Barry Gray's music. Plot ripped off by Star Trek: TNG. Only plus is less clothing on the lovely Zienia Merton. (BTW, does anyone have a videotape of 'Casanova' shown on PBS in the late 70's in which Zienia Merton appears topless?)

16. END OF ETERNITY (good)
Nice alien, acting, ending. A bit disturbing, though.

17. WAR GAMES (excellent)
Great all around. Great ending ("We've lost it.")

18. THE LAST ENEMY (good)
Good enough episode, nice-looking females (curly-haired one is cute). If the planets are on opposite sides of the sun, they can't see each other and they can't fire directly at each other, why bother at a war? Just ignore each other! Second appearance of a breathless, too-fast explanation by Barry Morse (near the end of Act 1). Trivia question: In what earlier episode does Barry Morse explain what happened rather quickly? Always thought the titles of these last two episodes should have been switched.

19. THE TROUBLED SPIRIT (okay)
Nice jam session at beginning. Final shot of moon looks like the Enterprise at the end of most Star Treks (traveling away from the camera).

20. SPACE BRAIN (good)
Final shift of music towards Classical-type music. Nice ending (better than John Rankine's in his novelization where both Alpha and the Brain survive without a scratch.)

21. THE INFERNAL MACHINE (excellent)
Great concept, acting, piano solo at end. Great.

22. MISSION OF THE DARIANS (okay)
Great shot of huge city in space. Nice tag (Helena's remembering Lowry, Koenig's final line). Sight of Joan Collins standing next to the barbarian Darian looks silly. (Imagine what Kara is thinking: "I'm supposed to mate with this guy?")

23. DRAGON'S DOMAIN (excellent)
Great music, scenes of spaceflight with no dialogue (edited by the Sci-fi Channel, of course), great use of flashbacks and narration. Y2 fans please note: The 877 days since leaving Earth is correct and the 342 days mentioned in 'The Metamorph' is ridiculous. Everything in Y1 happened in less than a year? Don't think so.

24. THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA (excellent)
Great way to end the (real) Space:1999 series. Great music during the narrations, spaceflights and 'possession' scene (when not hacked by the happy-go-lucky editors at the Sci-fi Channel). Notice how the Italian actors usually die or leave the base... hmm...

That's about it for now. Bye.



From:  jcg@vh44.net
Date:  Sat, 06 Jun 1998 18:45:06 -0400
Subj:  Space1999: Year one thoughts

Here are some disjointed, unconnected and completly unwelcome year one thoughts:

Dr Russell started out as a very weak character. She grew (due not to Barbara Bain's acting, but rather Bain's probable, and necessary, nagging of the writers.) Helena would just stand there and get scared or look helpless, but as we got into the season she started acting more like a calm professional, who could think for herself, and handle what came at her.

The charge has always been that the first year characters were devoid of personality and character and were humorless. Nasty comparisons would be made with the supermarionation characters of the 60's. Watching carefully, I can see bits of personality here and there in the episodes. The problem though is that I had to sit there and watch carefully to see it. You don't have to hit people over the head with it as in year two, but it also can't be so subtle that you miss it if you blink.

As I've commented over the weeks, the dialog at times would be very bad. You cannot have the characters discussing a problem with dawning realization that the slowest member of the viewing audience has already figured out in one flash. I can hear the following:

Koenig: (In slow, whispering shock) Wait a minute! Victor, if you're in the room, and Paul is in the room and I'm in the room...

Victor: It HAS to be John!

Koenig: (Even more slow whispering shock) Then...there are THREE people in the room!!!

I find it very difficult to describe the problem. I just know it when I hear it. I've heard over the years critisims that they just stood around and talked in year one. I don't think that would be the complaint if what they were saying wasn't so inane at times.

As the season progressed they setteled down into a form that worked, and I think the stories got better, and the stuff that annoyed me decreased. This is good because when they did do a stylish episode like The Troubled Spirit, they had a handle on story and dialog, so they didn't just start throwing in stuff that made no sense cause it filled in the gaps between the artsy camera shots and mood lighting (I am refering of course to A Force Of Life.) You might think from my reviews that I only prefer the straightforward stories, like Mission Of The Darians. I like the stylish stuff too, but it cannot be at the expense of logic. Koenig putting a guard outside a closed, windowless door for protection, so when the guard enters the room he is immediatly killed. Or Helena setting up a light as a warning, and sitting with her back to said light...don't get me started on that episode again. It was very artistically shot, but I think it sums up for a lot of people what they didn't like about the show, and that is not a fair sampling. Year one had a habit of doing stuff that violated common sense too easily for the sake of plot, or even just for the sake of a convenient death of a nameless extra. They would also throw in a line or reference for no reason other then it sounded like "science fiction" (my favorite example is from the end of The Last Sunset where the alien voice says they have been watching the humans "since the dawn of time." That's just stupid. Maybe we should get a "ray gun" and shoot them.

Watching the show in production order, you can see the show get stronger. The problem is that it wasn't aired that way, so it came across as uneven...or at least that is my memory of watching it in New York in 1975. I question all of the analysis that goes into discussing trends in various writers as the year progressed. Yes, there had to be growth and development of some kind, but I question how much, because back then you made individual episodes that were supposed to stand by themselves, because you did not know what order they would run in. Also, with the committee approach to rewriting episodes of any show, there is only so much that you can put in and develop, that will survive the process.

Ring Around The Moon to me is the worst episode of the season. It is so bad that I can never remember what it is about past a certain point (and I think that is because there is nothing to really remember.) And how cheap and cheesy is it to have the menacing aliens voiced by one of your regulars doing nothing more than whispering into a microphone?

I remember reading a letter in Starlog Magazine years ago where the writer described year one Koenig as a "petty beaurcrat who is always yelling at his staff." I think that is an interesting point. I always felt sorry for Martin Landau in year one, because he was trying at times to make some very bad dialog work...it is no easy task. Even Barry Morse could not make the speech in War Games work (or he was stoned out of his mind when he shot that scene, because it is very bad.) Of course, as I've said elsewhere, I love most of the times when Victor would start to wax philosophical, sometimes at the damedest moments, and you knew one of the other characters just wanted to give him a dope slap.

It would have been interesting to see the year two characters and writing using the year one sets and costumes. I wonder how much of the lack of color and the uniformity affects what you see. I realized this when I see Koenig and Kano sitting on the steps playing a late night game of chess, and it's a nice little scene, and yet I stilll have a feeling of blandness, or sterility, and I realize that somehow what they are wearing and their surroundings is influencing my reactions. I wonder if that is why they started adding color to the wall panels (green and yellow, wasn't it?)



From:  Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi44.no)
Date:  Mon, 8 Jun 1998 10:17:58 +0000
Subj:  Re: Space1999: Year one thoughts

Dr Russell started out as a very weak character. She grew (due not to Barbara Bain's acting, but rather Bain's probable, and necessary, nagging of the writers.) Helena would just stand there and get scared or look helpless, but as we got into the season she started acting more like a calm professional, who could think for herself, and handle what came at her.

This is an interesting perspective, I think, although quite contrary to how I see it. From my point of view Barbara Bain was quite stunning from episode one and did some of her finest performances during the early episodes, reaching top performance with RING AROUND THE MOON, I feel. During the course of the series she lost some of her ice cold charm, making some less memorable performances during mid season, mostly due to bad writing, Terpiloff/Barrows come especially to mind, and some very ill-suited type of acting at the end, DRAGON'S DOMAIN being the worst, I feel, all the initial characteristics of Helena almost lost. I don't feel she is more of a person who could think for herself and handle what came at her in DRAGON'S DOMAIN than in BREAKAWAY or any other early episode. Quite to the contrary, I would say.

Interesting though, DRAGON'S DOMAIN seem to have been one of the "early 8 scripts" made before the final BREAKAWAY concept of SPACE:1999 was made, and some of the apparent changes in style for this episode may have been more similar to the change of style for episodes like FULL CIRCLE than having to do with ITC or Landau/Bain wanting to redefine there roles.

From my discussion with Martin on this subject, I've come to the impression that DRAGON'S DOMAIN may very likely have been conceptualised by an uncredited American writer and then later rewritten by Penfold to such an extent that he felt it was right that he took sole credit for the episode, much like GUARDIAN OF PIRI (concept by David Weir) and ALPHA CHILD (concept by Edward di Lorenzo and Ray Austin).

In one of the cybrary interviews one almost get the impression that Penfold wrote most of BREAKAWAY and BLACK SUN too, and was considering taking sole credit for these as well. I see to remember something about SPACE BRAIN. Was this based upon the work or ideas of somebody else as well?

I have been taking for granted that THE LAST SUNSET, WAR GAMES and SPACE BRAIN were all the brainchilds of Christopher Penfold and may give a hint at his personal philosophy of life. They all seem to rely on Lovelock's Gaia-like sort of thinking, and seem very close in spirit to 2001 I think, probably the most meaningful episodes in the series the way I see it.

DRAGON'S DOMAIN is something completely different, I feel. This one seems much closer to classic westerns like HIGH NOON and RIO BRAVO with the focus on stubbornheaded people coming to terms with themselves. It's almost the diametrical opposite of WAR GAMES, I feel.

The charge has always been that the first year characters were devoid of personality and character and were humorless. Nasty comparisons would be made with the supermarionation characters of the 60's. Watching carefully, I can see bits of personality here and there in the episodes. The problem though is that I had to sit there and watch carefully to see it. You don't have to hit people over the head with it as in year two, but it also can't be so subtle that you miss it if you blink.

I suppose the supermarionation characters was a very much expected joke at the time. I feel the point of the joke seem more to show that the journalist had done his homework research about Gerry Anderson than having anything particular relevance to the show. The first seasons of STAR TREK do perhaps appear more puppet-like, but having watched a few of the original STAR TREK episodes of season 2 last week, I was impressed even by this, although some of the acting came closer to the original BATMAN TV series of the 60s than first year of SPACE:1999.

What alienated some viewers, however, must have been that SPACE:1999 was modelled on 2001, not only in visuals and special effects, but also in some aspects of characterisation. While some of us think this was one of the reasons for liking the series, others wanted less sophisticated and more cartoonlike characters. Fred Freiberger was one to realise this, and made drastic changes for the second season.

Koenig: (Even more slow whispering shock) Then...there are THREE people in the room!!!
I find it very difficult to describe the problem. I just know it when I hear it.

He-he.

While not being too bothered by this myself, often feeling that this was to focus on the process of thinking, sometimes perhaps more important than doing.

At times it seemed a bit odd though, like Victor explaining to Helena what a "deja vu" is in ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE. Luckily Helena kept her stone face, so it seemed more like Victor absentmindedly talking to himself rather than patronising her.

I've heard over the years critisims that they just stood around and talked in year one. I don't think that would be the complaint if what they were saying wasn't so inane at times.

I can't remember anything particular inane about the dialogue. The strange critisism of "people just standing around talking" I've taken as a symptom of a 1970s cultural crash between European and American taste in what entertainment is all about.

I don't think that show would meet too much of that kind of critisism today. SPACE:1999 seems much less dated today than the original STAR TREK episodes, I feel. Sometimes I even get the impression that SPACE:1999 was ahead of it's time, and is now perhaps becoming more relevant than ever.

As the season progressed they setteled down into a form that worked, and I think the stories got better, and the stuff that annoyed me decreased. This is good because when they did do a stylish episode like The Troubled Spirit, they had a handle on story and dialog, so they didn't just start throwing in stuff that made no sense cause it filled in the gaps between the artsy camera shots and mood lighting (I am refering of course to A Force Of Life.)

It's strange you say this. To me FORCE OF LIFE seems like a much more philosophical episode than THE TROUBLED SPIRIT. In fact, my feelings are quite contrary here, feeling that THE TROUBLED SPIRIT was high on style and low on content while FORCE OF LIFE was one of the episodes that Johnny Byrne dug most deeply into the questions about meaning of life, an episodes that makes perfect sense in all aspects the way I see it.

The only thing I think better with THE TROUBLED SPIRIT is the way director Ray Austin gives life to characters. While Tomblin goes about with his son-of-Kubrick style of fascination with things and sets more than people, Austin's approach to crossover between gothic and sci-fi works with a strong focus on characters makes his episodes immensly more watchable, to me at least, although I can't see that Byrne is trying to say very much with this story apart from showing how the two genres can be joined.

You might think from my reviews that I only prefer the straightforward stories, like Mission Of The Darians. I like the stylish stuff too, but it cannot be at the expense of logic. Koenig putting a guard outside a closed, windowless door for protection, so when the guard enters the room he is immediatly killed. Or Helena setting up a light as a warning, and sitting with her back to said light...don't get me started on that episode again. It was very artistically shot, but I think it sums up for a lot of people what they didn't like about the show, and that is not a fair sampling.

I don't think people are all that logical. If we were, we would be like machines, confer RING AROUND THE MOON and MISSING LINK who try to discuss this in detail. My impression is the MISSING LINK is trying to say something like man being a missing link between apes and machines.

The Zennites would probably appreciate the way you are thinking about plot construction. For them the world was light and logic as the only truth. What kind of life is that? People with metal skin and blank unfocused stares who calculate and reason devoid of emotions.

No. I like the Edward di Lorenzo episodes that reside on a much more emotional approach to plot while at the same time discussing the line between feelings and rationale.

Year one had a habit of doing stuff that violated common sense too easily for the sake of plot, or even just for the sake of a convenient death of a nameless extra. They would also throw in a line or reference for no reason other then it sounded like "science fiction" (my favorite example is from the end of The Last Sunset where the alien voice says they have been watching the humans "since the dawn of time." That's just stupid. Maybe we should get a "ray gun" and shoot them.

You find the ending of THE LAST SUNSET ("since the dawn of time") stupid? Good heavens, this was the best part of the complete episode from my point of view, the message from Ariel that made sense of the episode and binds everything together.

ALIEN VOICE: "We were neither benevolent or malevolent, Commander Koenig. Our absolute need was to prevent you from penetrating the atmosphere of our planet. So we gave you what you wanted, in the hope that you would not further disturb us."
KOENIG: "Can you hear me?"
ALIEN VOICE: "And understand your thoughts."
KOENIG: "Then you must have known we came in peace!"
ALIEN VOICE: "We believe your intentions, but we have been watching the progress of your world since the beginning of time. Human nature is such that we could not afford to take the risk."

In my opinon this is some of the most essensial script writing in the whole of SPACE:1999, the essence or philosophy of SPACE:1999 so to speak.

Ring Around The Moon to me is the worst episode of the season. It is so bad that I can never remember what it is about past a certain point (and I think that is because there is nothing to really remember.) And how cheap and cheesy is it to have the menacing aliens voiced by one of your regulars doing nothing more than whispering into a microphone?

To me RING AROUND THE MOON is the episode that I assosiate the strongest with all the good things about SPACE:1999. To me it had wonderful visuals and marvellous special effects, the spinning eagle returning to Alpha is one of the finest sequences of this type through the whole series I think. The acting is stupendous under the direction of Ray Austin who also manages outstanding creative camera work. Furthermore, the dialogue is fantastic, and the story of emotions, existence and knowledge is by far one of the most philosophical and though-provoking ones from my point of view. On all acounts a fantastic episode, the way I see it, the highligh of the series.

It would have been interesting to see the year two characters and writing using the year one sets and costumes. I wonder how much of the lack of color and the uniformity affects what you see. I realized this when I see Koenig and Kano sitting on the steps playing a late night game of chess, and it's a nice little scene, and yet I stilll have a feeling of blandness, or sterility, and I realize that somehow what they are wearing and their surroundings is influencing my reactions. I wonder if that is why they started adding color to the wall panels (green and yellow, wasn't it?)

The chess scene was of course from DRAGON'S DOMAIN, the episode that in my opinion comes closest to Year Two in characterisation and visuals, one of the episodes I like the least, well except the flight of the Ultima probe with the Albinoni adagio which I find excellent. I'm happy others enjoy other parts of it, however.

It shall be interesting to hear your views on Year Two, JCG, your favourite season perhaps?

Petter



From:  Mark Meskin (plastic.gravity@newrock44.com)
Date:  Mon, 8 Jun 1998 20:06:50 -0500
Subj:  ROTFL!!!!!: Space1999: Year one thoughts

but as we got into the season she started acting more like a calm professional,

I think all the characters showed some "evolution", but yes Dr. Russel changed the most.

Koenig: (In slow, whispering shock) Wait a minute! Victor, if you're in the room, and Paul is in the room and I'm in the room...
Victor: It HAS to be John!
Koenig: (Even more slow whispering shock) Then...there are THREE people in the room!!!

ROTFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My side still hurts from that. So TRUE!

I find it very difficult to describe the problem. I just know it when I hear it.

No, I think you got it just fine :-)

This is good because when they did do a stylish episode like The Troubled Spirit,

Truly terrifing epsiode, especially when I was 7 or 8 years old, and watching it alone in the Living Room. One the best eps of 1999.

they had a handle on story and dialog, so they didn't just start throwing in stuff that made no sense

Well, the whole communing with plants part was a little hokey, but it only was a doorway to the main story, and what a great concept-haunted by your own ghost!

cause it filled in the gaps between the artsy camera shots and mood lighting (I am refering of course to A Force Of Life.)

Troubled Spirit is easily one of the most stylish Year 1 romps, but it did so with a story to back it up.

convenient death of a nameless extra.

This is big problem on many shows, Voyager is a chronic offender. A web site(I can't rember which one) had a running total of Vger's remaining crew, and believe me, they were hurting!! I can't believe they'd be so stupid to write things like this and never realize"umm, is there really only 140 or so crew on this thing??? Hmmm, maybe Johnson doesn't die from that killer plant after all....." Season one also had this same problem with Eagles, not surprisingly, Voyager is also careless with its shuttles. Its amazing how many parralells exist between the 2 shows. They have learned nothing.

They would also throw in a line or reference for no reason other then it sounded like "science fiction" (my favorite example is from the end of The Last Sunset where the alien voice says they have been watching the humans "since the dawn of time." That's just stupid. Maybe we should get a "ray gun" and shoot them.

When youre done, go gunning for the "Tritons". Without a doubt, the dumbest aliens ever. After that go have a word with Victor about that rubbish he was spouting in that same episode...............

Ring Around The Moon to me is the worst episode of the season.

No shit, eh? I hate that episode, its embarrassingly stupid. I'm surprised that this one episode didn't kill the series right then and there.

It is so bad that I can never remember what it is about past a certain point (and I think that is because there is nothing to really remember.)

The only memorable thing about it is just how stupid it was. THe whole thing, the dialog, the plot, the acting(a series low) and the awful music.

And how cheap and cheesy is it to have the menacing aliens voiced by one of your regulars doing nothing more than whispering into a microphone?

Budget cuts.

Had to pay for real expensive Tritonian "eyebrain" VSFX.............

thats why there is no set for the inside of the probe.....no money....had to buy new music, spent it all on that 33rpm LP of Bartz's Halloween Favorites.........

Even Barry Morse could not make the speech in War Games work

I disagree here, his speech in the abandoned main mission is a defining moment for the series...and damn moving if you ask me.

Nice observations....I have to go get some water now to make these hiccupps go away!

Mark

EDITOR'S NOTES: The next note is only has part of its contents shown in this thread, because the rest really applies to another thread: BxB: Rogue Planet.



From:  Paul Dorion (pdorion@mediom44.qc.ca)
Date:  Tue, 09 Jun 1998 00:37:07 -0700
Subj:  Re: Space1999: Rogue Planet, Y1 ranking

This is as good a time as any to list my evaluation of the 24 episodes of Y1 (please excuse any observations already mentioned in the past) :

Excellent:
------------------

- Breakaway

I have nothing more to say as others praised the episode before. Surely the best pilot I have ever seen.

- Another time another place

Nice plot of the parallel universe kind, engaging characters... The best Y1 episode for me.

- Force of life

I certainly liked the Alphans ultimately not comprehending exactly what the alien was about, and not being able to communicate with it in any way. Very realistic from a scientific point of view. Great suspense and action scenes. Great cinematographic work.

- Last sunset

The is probably the only episode that dealt with the aftermath of Operation Exodus (what would happen after they left the moonbase to colonize a new world - only here the new world was actually a moon with a breathable atmosphere). Events could go wrong, Koenig leadership might have to undergo a change ...

Helena at her best and actually shining as leader in an out of control situation (a real growth of character IMO... - Now will I receive a reply from Petter on this ? ;) ).

- Full circle

All right folks, what can I say ? It works for me... probably because of the shot-on-location feel (finally a planet that doesn't look like a soundstage set) , the secondary characters coming to front stage, the suspense (again) ... the Zienia Merton outfit ;) ...

All in all a very different and special kind of episode...

- End of Eternity

Excellent portrait of evil as its nastiest. The violence in this episode had far more impact on me (at age 10) than the horrific scenes of Troubled spirit or Dragon's domain, because the nastiness of the Balor character seemed more real. It truly became real for me a few years later when I was beaten up on a street in broad daylight by a gang of thugs ... not to rob me, but (as they were so kind to let me know) just for the *fun* of it. Balor sure seems to delight in his sadistic ways.

A worthy addition to the �ten-ways-how-to-get-rid-of-an-immortal-bastard-list�; and this five years before Alien!

- Troubled Spirit

This episode has a great mystery, straightforward plot, a tormented main protagonist, horrific mood, shocking ending, great music...

Good
-------------------- - Black sun

This episode is somewhat slow .. and moody (but facing an unescapable death tends to do that to people ;) ...) Nevertheless a good episode, with the highlights being the �it's ingenious / it's insane� line, the admission of Koenig and Bergman that their �stunt� on the testing of the energy barrier is for morale purposes only, the leaving of the survival pod ... er Eagle... and Bergman casually dropping some ashes from his cigar on the corridor floor in the epilogue! But the return of the Eagle is pure �writer's magic�, and my willing sense of disbelief does not go that far... (I for one prefer the ending written by Tubb in his narration of this episode).

- Earthbound

again, a slow episode... but the Koenig-Simmons leadership tug-of-war is interesting and the shocking (and ironic) ending is unforgettable...

- Missing Link

The whole subplot of the unraveling of the Alphan community over the �death� of its leader is what makes the ep works for me... One again (as in Last Sunset), this episode brings home tha fact that the Alphans are unprepared for the impacts of a tremendous but probable event, and that unforeseen complications may arise. The surrealist scene of Koenig wandering through an empty base is also marvelous... But I guess the Zennite subplot doesnot grab me as much.

- Collision course

It has been fourteen years since I last saw this ep, so I cannot explain in details what seems a bit wrong with this ep. I agree with various list members that this is first and foremost a story about faith, and it adresses this question fine. I just do not include it on my top list, that's all...

- Death other dominion

Again something different (here an ice planet, something I can relate to as I live In Canada ;) ). I have read with interest the various posting relating this ep to the works of Shakespeare, although the works of the �great bard� are not my cup of tea. Anyway, another truly shocking ending (and one I had not predicted the first time I saw the ep).

- Last enemy

Average story about the morals on getting involved - or not - between two titans at each other's throats. I have not seen much about the war-of-the-sexes theme, nor is this an interesting theme for me.

- Space Brain

I know some list members hate *very* much the foam sequence (and I sure agree that it is cheesy FX at its best), but I liked the characterization, the unraveling of the mystery, and the numerous events in this tale. I also liked that there were no good or bad protagonist, but rather a catastrophic event that no one could predict nor prevent.

- Mission of the Darians

Great sets, not-so-great story... But I liked the three different plot lines merging together at the end.

- Dragon's domain

Yes I liked the the flight of the Ultima probe scene with the Albinoni adagio. I also liked the main protagonist pugnacity and sheer dedication to its goal (only rivaled, IMO, with the Sanderson character in the Y2 episode Seance Spectre). But monster stories are not exactly a favored item of mine...

- Testament of Arkadia

I concur with others that is is a fitting end to the so-called arch of Y1. But (once again), it is a somewhat slow episode, and the magic of it wears off after two or three viewings.

Yeech !! - ;) -
----------------

- Matter of life and death

Sorry Petter, but the �click-your-heels-three-times-with-wishful-thinking-and-you-will-be-magically-returned-to-Kansas� plot point *really* disappoint me and annihilates the few good points I might have found in this ep. IMO, this is more the sign of *real* bad writing than anything else.

- Ring around the moon

Already discussed earlier.

- Guardian of Piri

Once again, an episode that might best be viewed as an allegory. Unfortunately, I a somewhat tired of computers (or robots) that want to rule the world... or develop a conscience... and as such cause the demise of their creator. Has noone heard of the reset button ?? Or pulling the plug ?? ;)

- Alpha's child

ZZZ ... Just plain uninteresting in my taste...

- Voyager return

same here....

- War games

We're at war... We're losing... We're dead... But do not fear : after the viewer has wondered for fifty minutes how a reasonable way out of this mess can be explained, we'll expose the shocking truth : (roll of drums......) It's a *dream* !!! (maniacal laughter ...)

Did I say click your heels ... ??? ;)

What is it With Gerry Anderson ? The same dream plot is used in episodes of Captain Scarlet, UFO and S1999. Somehow one can get tired (pun intended) with this plot twist used over and over again...

I guess I mostly like stories that deals with the consequence of the events they describe. Both MoLaD and WG most surely lack in that department. I guess Black Sun and Collision Course also have the same problem, but I feel the focus in both episodes is on faith, and as such relying to a �miracle effect� seems a bit more appropriate than in War Games.

Nevertheless, while I hate this episode *very* much, it also includes probably the best scene of both years of S1999: the Bergman's �seek us out� speach... Just when you least expect it, you find something worthwhile... Oh well ...

- Infernal machine

Really gives a new meaning to the expression �talk a computer (or robot ... or ship ...) to death�. As I said with GoP, I tend to rate computer stories as cliched and boring. This one is no exception.

OUF! Sorry about the rather long posting... But summarizing the whole Y1 is not an easy task.

Y2 is definitely a different thing, but as such it has its moments. It will be fun to discuss it here in a week.

Paul :D

Next Chapter: Alien Seed (Y1 original novel)

Return to Episode by Episode
or to Space: 1999 Metaforms