From: South Central (Tamazunchale@web44tv.net) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 09:55:27 -0700 (PDT) Subj: Space1999: The Lambda Factor
Well since it is Tuesday and no one has started the discussion of this week's episode, let me begin.
I like this episode. It has a really interesting teaser (despite that lousy scream). It also shows interpersonal relationships among the Alphans rather than just the professional relationships shown before. True, in Force of Life we saw a married couple but apart from John and Helena and Tony and Maya there have been no real relationships shown.
I also like the fact that the Alphans were shown as being flawed. In a small community under duress, these relationships would take on weight beyond what they would on Earth. The fact the Mark betrayed Caroline would indeed be a devastating blow. I wonder what the ratio of men to women was. Take that in to account and add to the mix the "biological clock" and the restrictions on childbirth (an issue never really addressed in the series) and you have a potent brew.
The scenes with Koenig were clumsily handled and Landau tries to make the best of weak, repetitive dialogue. Seeing Koenig whimper and cower was way out of character. There are more subtle ways to show deep-seated guilt. He wouldn't be afraid of them in the "ooh spooky style" but he would be wracked by the guilt of what he'd done. In my opinion it was a missed opportunity for some great character development (and acting) on the part of Koenig (and Landau, who is really a fine actor).
MODEL: The scences where Dr. Mateo is being followed by his own ghost. He shows a level of panicked fear, true--but the use of the ghost is calculated and eerie, not so simple-minded. How many times can they say, "You killed us, John Koenig. You left us to die." We should have had to figure out what they were back for, not been beat over the head with it.
The use of ESP is fascinating (as it was a popular fascination in the 70's). I enjoyed the tests and the pseudo-science.
Maya as ape to the rescue was just laughable. "Get your stinking paws off me you damned dirty ape!" Was an obligatory transformation needed for every episode?? Answer: NO but they did it anyway. The one episode I can't remember any transformations in is The Immunity Factor.
Are there others?
Mateo
From: South Central (Tamazunchale@web44tv.net) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 14:15:19 -0700 (PDT) Subj: Re: Space1999: The Lambda Factor
I don't disagree that he would have nightmares, but his REACTION to the ghostly images was way over the top. That is what I have a problem with.
Mateo
From: Brian Dowling (hellion@easy44net.co.uk) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 23:52:37 +0100 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Lambda Factor
Hi y'all,
(A greeting I have used on and off for sometime now and is much more preferable (IMHO) than "Alroit there mayte!", my literal transcription of the more stereotypical Birmingham, England greeting)
I don't disagree that he would have nightmares, but his REACTION to the ghostly images was way over the top. That is what I have a problem with.
Sounds like a case for the list psychologist... nightmares, how we react to experiencing them and how we deal with them thereafter. I must confess that I haven't had any in quite a while, and I can only recall waking up feeling scared to the almost to the point of aggressive action when they have happened. The "fight or flight" instinct, perhaps? Not having too much experience in this area, any comments I might make would be purely conjecture.
As to whether or not the episode is valid exploration of the powers of ESP, I'm not sure that it would score highly there. The statistics of those who claim to have ESP are such a minor percentage of the population that it would be very unlikely that something could come along and increase everyone's ESP capability. After all, it is still unknown whether or not we all have this ability.
Saying that, Victor said "We all know that human beings use no more than about 18 per cent of their actual brian potential, now what happens in that other 82 per cent is anybody's guess" (The Troubled Spirit).
From: Robert Gilbert (bcpgd@shaw.wave4tag.ca) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 18:17:37 -0500 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Lambda Factor
Saying that, Victor said "We all know that human beings use no more than about 18 per cent of their actual brian potential, now what happens in that other 82 per cent is anybody's guess" (The Troubled Spirit).
This is not quite true! Human's use more than 18% of their brains! I wish I could explainn it better!
From: Ariana (ariana@ndirect4tag.co.uk) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 11:17:37 +0100 Subj: Space1999: The Lambda Factor
This is, in my opinion, one of the very best episodes of Space:1999. It's definitely one of the best of season 2; unlike other episodes which were slaughtered by over rapid production and "half-cast" situations, The Lambda Factor is complete and gives us a tantalising glimpse of Y2 as it could have been.
The Lambda Factor succeeds because it is primarily about people -- not made up entities and superhuman beings (I see people wiggling; bear with me) -- and uses the scifi aspect as a vehicule for its story of humanity.
Yes, there is a MUF (in this case something that looks like a twirling lollipop in space) and yes, Maya turns into yet another man in a gorilla suit (maybe she never saw an actual gorilla on Psychon, only a picture of a man in a gorilla suit?). But the heart of the story isn't there (unlike, say, Space Warp which is basically about Maya transforming).
The story is about humans fighting themselves. Some lose (Carolyn Powell), others win (Koenig), but even if their behaviour is influenced by the MUF, the emotions they are subject to are their own. This fits in nicely with what I said about Y2 previously -- man's worst enemy here isn't outer space, it's innerspace.
It's also an interesting episode because it shows the truly human side of the Alphans by showing them at play, as it were. I liked the glimpse we got of off-duty Alpha, with that toy-filled play room. Goodness knows they would need one!
Even the non-regulars are people in this episode, not just cardboard cutouts to be ordered around by Koenig and Co. We can see the pressures of life on Alpha and it also sheds some interesting light on the way the commanding officers may look to their subordinates.
Sally calls Russell a "hard hearted witch" (she was evidently present at the autopsy in "Matter of Life and Death" <g>). And Carolyn took great pleasure in making Tony grovel and turning Maya into a monkey (apparently the only scene of S1999 that stuck in Anholt's mind, btw). The senior staff have obviously been making friends and influencing people... Admittedly, everyone was under the influence of the MUF, but this, like The Sceance Spectre and Seed of Destruction, indicates that all is not rosy on Alpha -- how could it be? -- and in particular that Koenig could do with working on his public relations. Not mind you that anyone is going to be popular considering the situation the Alphans are in.
Nice to see some good old-fashioned jealousy at work, too. I guess Helena and Koenig aren't the only ones who go potty when their loved one might be off with someone else (as in One Moment Of Humanity and Full Circle -- btw, anyone wonder what all that stuff with Koenig capturing *Sandra* was about? Interesting view of his hidden thoughts? [just joking ;) ])
Talking about romance, Mateo was wondering about the ratio of men to women. Judging by the casualties on the series, and depending on what the ratio was to begin with, I would say that as time goes on, there would be fewer and fewer men, while the female population remained relatively stable.
After all, the first people to get killed are pilots and security guards -- both positions which in S1999 are exclusively held by men. So not only would Alpha's population be running out of time to have children, but the women are in a situation where finding a mate is increasingly difficult. Admittedly, polygyny (each man having more than one wife) would be a possibility (certainly better, reproduction-wise, than polyandry), but not necessarily something Western-raised women would easily accept.
And, um, how did we get back on this subject again? :)
Anyway, to raise another point people have been discussing, I don't think Koenig's breakdown was over the top -- for him. We've seen Koenig rant like a maniac and bite his subordinates' heads off before (how about that dressing down he gave Kano in "The Last Sunset"? Talk about shooting the messenger!). He has also shown several times that he wasn't adverse to shedding a few tears. So I don't feel it's inconsistent for him to break down like he did in this episode.
This was an issue Muir brought up in his book, and one point where I agree -- it was very unusual in the Seventies for a major male character in a story to break down and *cry* -- something every male actor in Hollywood is queueing up to do nowadays. Mind you, S1999 was also broundbreaking in the romantic attachments it gave its main characters, and the fact a female lead got to do something else than cower and scream (any instances of *Maya* screaming btw?) -- those are important elements which make the series more memorable than, say, whispering eyes in the sky. (gratuitous swipe, I know ;)
Anyway, in conclusion I just want to repeat that I thought this was jolly good and I wish more episodes had done this well.
Emma
From: "Simon Morris" (simes01@global44net.co.uk) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 15:20:58 +0100 Subj: Space1999: The Lambda Factor
This episode shows that SPACE 1999 in year 2 was capable of stories as good as in Y1. It might not be as atmospheric or as spooky as THE TROUBLED SPIRIT,but THE LAMBDA FACTOR remains an effective look at how a mysterious phenomenon gives selected Alphans varying degrees of pyschic ability.(I was amusing by Emma's likening of this phenomenon to a twirling lollipop in space...that description will take some licking....). Interestingly, this episode was filmed quite a lot in bright light,with less of the lowered,moody lighting of several year two episodes. Only one or two sequences adopt the latter approach in the episode. There is no clear motivation as to how or why this phenomenon affects the Alphans or whether it is done with evil intent. IMO this is good as it demonstrates that the Alphans of Y2 *weren't* always able to deal with everything that came their way....there wasn't always an explanation for what happened to them.
I'd go along with the view that the story portrays humans,relationships,and the conflicts between them. Jealousy is a very real human emotion for example and the story explores how alien influence can magnify and distort this to the point of violence. (As Helena points out in the epilogue,what fantastic things could they acheive if they could harness the full potential of their minds on a regular basis?).
Landau's portrayal of a man who is tired and irritable was interesting in the opening scenes,especially when he is snapping at Helena,Tony and Maya in turn. (He calls Helena "Doctor" at one point. Uh-oh!). Of course,you could say that Koenig did have a tendency to fly off the handle in year 1 and year 2 anyway. Well true enough,but the portrayal here is more subtle: covering/rubbing his eyes,snapping at his subordinates,sharpness, and so forth. So I liked this performance because,when I get tired,I tend to behave the same way. As I suppose we all do.
There's the odd embarrassment in the episode. I always smile where Alan tells Tony and Maya to get away from the doors as "...There's an atomic motor about to go up in here!". As if getting away from the doors in itself is going to do them much good with an atomic motor at explosion point! Also the usual gratuitous use of the man in the gorilla suit. (Incidentally I chuckled at Emma's remark that maybe Maya never actually saw a gorilla on Psychon,but only a man wearing a gorilla suit,heh-heh...). Also I have to say that I have never liked that old staple ingredient of sci-fi series,the "standing still routine",where the actors have to stand like statues for an interminable period of time. It happened a lot in Irwin Allen series of the sixties,which may explain why I dislike it so much. (I didn't like it in the opening scenes of ONE MOMENT OF HUMANITY either).
Other than that,there is much to enjoy in the episode. Deborah Fallender turned in a good performance as far as I was concerned:alternately innocent and then sadistic as her psychic moods changed. (She could almost have qualified for my "Alpha Babe" status,but unfortunately is disqualified by virtue of the fact that she actually has a central role in the story-and actually has dialogue-rather than acting as mere background decoration. So sorry Debs:no "Alpha Babe Certificate" for you!). I also liked the continuity displayed by referring back to THE EXILES which was where Koenig first tells everyone of his experiences as an astronaut cadet,and which he expands upon in this episode. Despite not being a fan of gratuitous Maya transformations,I was impressed with the sequence where she transforms into a tiger leaping through the air...a similar sequence to the Puma sequence in THE EXILES.
As Emma has pointed out,there is much depiction of the Alphans at play. And the "extras" for once(such as Crato,Garforth etc) have at least some dimension to them. Speaking of characterisation,Verdeschi once again shows his disciplined and scientific mind with his incisive comment on the apparatus Maya and Helena have rigged up to test for the Lambda Variant,i.e: " That'll upset that whirlygig thing!" Uh yeah-right Tony....don't get applying for a job on the Science Board will you?
The scenes where Koenig overcomes his guilt via narcosyntheis are very well staged and well performed by Landau. Whether they are of 'Emmy Quality' as some have claimed is debatable IMHO but its still good acting anyway.(As well as good directing and good writing). It was spoiled a tad by Helena/Bain interfering ("Jahn!")though...:-) Certainly I think Koenig's breakdown was entirely credible given the pressure he has been under since the moon blew out of orbit. In fact its a wonder he hasn't cracked before this time. I would have liked to see Y2 explore this sort of thing far more(and before anyone says it,I don't believe there was much exploration of it in Y1 either). As far as the "leading man having tears in his eye" goes,I question whether this was actually as groundbreaking as we'd like to believe,and in any case I was more impressed with the emotion shown by Koenig as he discusses his dead wife in RULES OF LUTON.
The scenes at the end of the final act where Koenig and Carolyn lock in a psychic battle were quite impressive(difficult to remain standing still with bits of the ceiling coming down and consoles blowing up etc..and trying to remain impassive throughout it all). I could've done without the bit where that gibbering slobbering creature crawls around Command Centre(and I daresay the monkey didn't much care for Anholts performance either,heh heh). Incidentally did anyone else notice Zienia Merton visibly blink while the monkey was climbing over her console? Makes a change from her screaming and fainting though I suppose.....
And finally I thought the epilogue tied things up quite well I thought. There was a touch of humour,but springing mainly from Koenig's tiredness and irritation that he doesn't have any psychic ability- in other words,character based humour rather than forced and unfunny dialogue. Also Helena makes a better attempt then usual of making sense of everything that happened,and I suppose a "Telepathic Web" is as good a way as any of explaining it. At the same time there is no attempt to look too closely at the motives(if any)of the lollipop in the sky...rather,a more thoughtful conclusion as Helena speculates as to the potential of the human mind...
Terrance Dicks must take the credit for much of the episode. He has said in interviews that he discussed the idea with Freiberger over the phone,wrote the script,sent it off,got the payment through,and forgot all about it until the day he saw it on tv. He said that although there had been "minimal tinkering" with it,it was basically the script as he had written it(so I suppose some could say that stories tended to turn out better the more Freiberger stayed out of them? Please discuss in 40 words or less...!)
A few more stories like this and I suspect Year 2 might have been better-remembered.
Simon Morris
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 14:44:03 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Lambda Factor
Emma wrote:
The Lambda Factor succeeds because it is primarily about people -- not made up entities and superhuman beings (I see people wiggling; bear with me) -- and uses the scifi aspect as a vehicule for its story of humanity.
This is a very good point, I agree very much. In fact I also feel like Emma that this is probably one of the best Year Two contributions to the series. At least in my opinion it is.
I haven't seen all that much DR WHO, but if this is the typical quality of that show as well I have no difficulty understanding Brian's fascination with it.
The story is about humans fighting themselves. Some lose (Carolyn Powell), others win (Koenig), but even if their behaviour is influenced by the MUF, the emotions they are subject to are their own. This fits in nicely with what I said about Y2 previously -- man's worst enemy here isn't outer space, it's innerspace.
Right on, Emma. Wonderful comments!
He has also shown several times that he wasn't adverse to shedding a few tears. So I don't feel it's inconsistent for him to break down like he did in this episode.
I agree, more realistic than BRINGERS OF WONDER at least. This has perhaps more to do with Koenig's trauma being a vital component in the execution of the plot, not just a method of having him look at things from another point of view.
Petter
From: "B" (camillus@earth44link.net) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 02:01:23 -0400 Subj: Maya as Ape
Maya as ape to the rescue was just laughable. "Get your stinking paws off me you damned dirty ape!" Was an obligatory transformation needed for every episode?? Answer: NO but they did it anyway. The one episode I can't remember any transformations in is The Immunity Factor. Are there others? Mateo
Good review and noting of the ever present "obligatory metamorphosis," even DEVILS MOON had to throw one in as part of Koenig's brain scan, though Maya, Tony, and Helena were not in the episode at all. As for your quote, loved it and it reminded me of the APES discussion some time ago. The local supermarket had the 30th Anniversary PLANET OF THE APES video on sale for $9.99 and I couldn't resist getting it. I remember when it first came out and the weeks of beging before my parents relented and took me and my siblings to the drive-in to see it.
Watching APES immediaitely brought 1999 to mind when the astronauts assessed their situation while marching through the Forbidden Zone, trying to figure out where they were, "strange luminescence, but no moon...." was the excact quote. Certainly food for thought, since the movie revealed that they were indeed on Earth in 3955.
From: "Petter Ogland" (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 09:09:26 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: The Lambda Factor
Simon wrote:
This episode shows that SPACE 1999 in year 2 was capable of stories as good as in Y1. It might not be as atmospheric or as spooky as THE TROUBLED SPIRIT,but THE LAMBDA FACTOR remains an effective look at how a mysterious phenomenon gives selected Alphans varying degrees of pyschic ability.
Well said. More than being an episode on psychic powers, however, my impression is that what Terrance Dicks is really investigating here is emotions on the run in a small claustrophopic society.
Anyway, this is what I find the most interesting with THE LAMBDA FACTOR, an episode that is not too unlike ONE MOMENT OF HUMANITY in this respect, and about the same quality I would say, although, as some have pointed out, the participation of a complete cast is definite positive aspect of this episode.
IMO this is good as it demonstrates that the Alphans of Y2 *weren't* always able to deal with everything that came their way....there wasn't always an explanation for what happened to them.
It is certainly different from THE BETA CLOUD in this respect, but we've had similar unexplained phenomena before. The heat causing phenomenon in CATACOMBS OF THE MOON is the first one the comes to mind. I feel the space phenomenon in THE LAMBDA FACTOR plays an equal part as that in THE CATACOMBS OF THE MOON, not much of an entity in its own but more a reflection of the mental state on Alpha.
I can't remember if they did much of this sort of thing in Year One, but THE LAST SUNSET certainly has some of it as we never get the chance to understand what the inhabitants of Ariel are like. In like most of the Penfold episodes, WAR GAMES and SPACE BRAIN for instance, the story is not really all that much about aliens or space phenomena but about the prospects of the human race.
I get some of the same feeling from the Terpiloff episodes, although perhaps not all that subtle as the Penfold ones, and, talking about Year Two, Terrance Dicks' THE LAMBDA FACTOR is also an example of the same type of writing, I feel. Very good.
I'd go along with the view that the story portrays humans,relationships,and the conflicts between them. Jealousy is a very real human emotion for example and the story explores how alien influence can magnify and distort this to the point of violence. (As Helena points out in the epilogue,what fantastic things could they acheive if they could harness the full potential of their minds on a regular basis?).
This is perhaps where THE LAMBDA FACTOR comes closest to ONE MOMENT OF HUMANITY. While Barwick's view of humans as robots and robots as humans in terms of perhaps pointing out the emotional difficulties of being human, Dicks' makes a different approach by letting people letting go of their super-egos and behave according to basic instincts without any concern of the consequences.
In a way the episode is reminisent of Alain Resnais' ANNEE DERNIER A MARIENBAD (1961), I feel, at least in the absurd handle of human characters and emotions. I assume Terrance Dicks was influence by the French "nouveau roman" of Robbe-Grillet, Duras, Butor etc. and also the French existensialist school like most of his British contemporary writers.
Petter
From: bjscannell@spry44net.com Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 13:59:56 -0000 Subj: Space1999: The Lambada Factor
Alphans,
The Maya changing to Ape scene reminded me of 2001:A Space Odyssey. The ape grunting sounds were similar also.
It was interesting to hear the Eagle Engineer say to Allen he had been working with Eagles all his life. This makes me wonder how long the design has been flying. I had always thought of them as new but they could be like F-18s these days, some newer than others with upgraded hardware. This would help explain the differences in the details on the Eagles, there could be earlier and later models of the design.
Later,
Barry
Cut all the checks, Lift off!
Barry's Eagle Modeling Page, "Main Motors"
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/bjscannell/
From: actingman-jc@World44net.att.net Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 18:28:41 -0500 Subj: Space1999: The Lambda Factor
This was one of the more lamer opening status reports to establish the back history of Sally doing inventory. It ranks up with a classic Trek Gold Key comic where the yomen is sent by the Captain to get more towels in the storage room, so she can be there when whatever is the story can happen. I think I would have rather heard Sally talk to herself with a couple of well chosen lines and we would have figured it out.
Has there been a cheaper effect than that swirling Lambda phenomenon?
For whatever reason, Koenig is wearing his belt in such a way that we cannot see the buckle.
Has this been the first time in year two that we see windows (in the rec room)?
That clean control covered square box is a booster motor? Wish my car motor looked like that.
Helena says "it was some kind of Venusian plague" (or words to that effect) indicating that she was only remembering what Koenig had told her. Shouldn't she be more familiar with the incident based on her own studies and medical/space training?
Shouldn't the medical officer or the security chief be able to open any door, even the commander's door in an emergency? Tony has to shoot it open?
It was good that Maya had to be saved, instead of just transforming into some damn thing.
(the former jcg@vh.net)
From: David Acheson (dkach@hot44mail.com) Date: Sun, 01 Nov 1998 07:34:30 EST Subj: Space1999: The Lambda Factor
I haven't been contributing much to these episode by episode discussions lately. Just too darn busy but I thought I'd jump in by mentioning the last two episodes being discussed - which I think are two of the better episodes of year two.
THE LAMBDA FACTOR was written by DOCTOR WHO writer Terrence Dicks. Unlike the silly treatment Pip & Jane Baker gave A MATTER OF BALANCE, Mr. Dicks actually gave us a good storyline which could have easily fitted well into the year one format. I commend him for writing this for 1999 and not giving us an episode in DOCTOR WHO style. The episode was directed by veteran Charles Chrichton - his last for the series. Mr. Chrichton gives us a good ride down psychotic lane and appears to have even borrowed from techniques mastered by David Tomblin and Ray Austin earlier in the series. Although I am not sure whether he was inspired or simply tired and used something old. Nevertheless, it works here.
The story works well, as many here have said and as I did back in the CATACOMBS OF THE MOON discussion, because it was a story of internal conflict on Alpha. There was indeed a celestial phenomenon but it acted only as a catalyst for emotional drama that had been brewing on Alpha for quite some time. Without Freiberger's BEMs and cartoon jokes, year two worked wonders when it came to emotional drama within the base. Deborah Fallendar gave quite a good performance as Carolyn Powell - the date from hell. I agree with everyone too that even the minor characters (Crato, Garforth, etc.) came across more than being cardboard cutouts. I think they could have done better than Jess Conrad as Mark but one can't have everything.
This episode was also a showcase for the talents of the Landaus who really haven't had much to do since the earliest episodes of year two. Again, I agree that Martin Landau's over-the-top performance as a man about to lose it was great. The edginess showed throughout...the walking back and forth, rubbing his face over and over, his snapping at his staff, etc. I have to disagree with Mateo here. I believe this does fall into Koenig's pschye. We have mentioned before how Koenig's faults made him a more realistic character than most TV leaders such as Captain Kirk. We have seen him lose it before. Remember his hysterics in MISSING LINK during Raan's experiments? I for one am thankful we see Koenig having old memories that haunt him. Having one face his guilt makes for powerful drama.
Barbara Bain also shines as the the one who is determined to break down Koenig's defences and get to the heart of the matter. We see a caring and worried Helena which shows a loving relationship rather than a bunch of school kids making silly jokes and googly eyes at each other. She is definitely hurt by Koenig's hurt and is torn between being a doctor who must analyze the situation and a mother-figure who wants to comfort and protect him. Barbara Bain rarely yelled angrily on the series so it was a treat having Bain being the one to yell at Koenig to face his fears during the final confrontation with Tess and Sam. I do believe she would have either slapped him or shook him silly if that was what would be needed.
Maya was not essential to this storyline but Catherine Schell still managed to remind us how great an actress she is. Remember when Helena and Maya were performing the tests and Garforth (I think it was him) bent that metal strip? Ms. Schell's underperformance of a surprise look was just perfect for the situation. The scene where Maya turned into a big cat to go after Carolyn was also a nice scene both due to Ms. Schell's execellent cat-like look and the wonderful editing job done here. The best however was when Carolyn wanted Maya to transform into a monkey. Catherine Schell gave us a look of a woman actually in pain and trying all her best to resist a force against her will. The realization she lost and was about to transform was a classic. A nice close up of her face and her eyes opened wildly. I've always enjoyed Ms. Schell's facial expressions as much as her acting.
Sure the episode was not perfect. That "whirly gig" was rather dumb looking, Sam and Tess' disease looked like plastic barf and the man-in-the-gorilla suit was downright embarrassing. However, we got to put the special effects away for an episode and concentrated on a rather powerful psychological drama that had the right mix of good performances and issues. Overall, one of the better episodes of the series.
Running long so will put THE SEANCE SPECTRE in a seperate message.
David Acheson
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