From: Ariana (ariana@ndirect4tag.co.uk) Subject: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome... Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 10:59:21 -0000 ...is evidently a very popular episode, considering the total lack of posts about it! So, okay, you all know me well enough to guess what I'll have to say about it, but I suppose I'll go ahead anyway. Briefly: Pros: Everyone is there - Tony goes loopy and gets to do some acting - Maya gets to be her lovely humanoid self for the whole episode - Maya and Helena actually show some concern for their menfolk - Alibe! - Bill! - The planet and the alien were well thought out: humanity as a disease rears its ugly head in Y2 Cons: Everyone goes down to the planet and leaves who? Yasko? in charge? - Tony's about to die so they drag Maya off to view alien home videos - They finally find a way of stopping Landau from over acting by putting him in a costume that makes him look like a Marks & Spencers dummy Side-note: Nadim Sawalha is the father of Nadia (of EastEnders) and Julia (AbFab and Pride & Prejudice), right? Opinions? Emma
From: "Simon Morris" (simes01@global44net.co.uk) Subject: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 19:01:49 -0000 When this episode premiered on my local tv station (ATV Midlands) it was shown..I forget,but something like a year or more apart from the other 22 episodes. There was then a break of several months again before they got round to screening THE DORCONS. Terrible scheduling,when you think that ATV was Sir Lew Grades own tv station. If *they* couldn't show the series at a consistent time,what hope was there for other stations? I think I'm right in saying that many Y2 episodes never saw the light of day in several areas of the UK..... Anyway,when I first saw it I remember being deeply disappointed with THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME. This is a feeling I experienced with a few Y1 and Y2 episodes and,as usual,my opinions have changed over time. Its one of the best Y2 episodes(far superior IMO to THE DORCONS)and marks the welcome return of Johnny Byrne to the series. How sad that his final 2 episodes were to be the swansong of SPACE 1999.... The whole idea behind the script is intriguing. A planet that seems ideal for colonization suddenly turns sour on them for no immediately apparent reason. Instruments corrode and break down,insanity affects two Lustig and Verdeschi,and food and water suddenly become poisonous. Thats an intriguing start to the episode,and as a result the hook and first act have an effective air of mystery about them. Special Effects are also pretty impressive...both the miniature effects of Brian Johnson and also the floor effects used in episode. Top of the list here must be the 'exploding commlocks' featured in the script. I was interested when I first saw the episode as to why Gerry Travers and Koenig himself whip their commlocks out and hold them in an entirely different way to the way they've been held in every other episode(ie: holding the commlocks palm up rather than palm down). When the commlocks spark and explode,you can see why!!! The scene in the Eagle is particularly interesting. Look carefully and you can see Landau momentarily wince a split second before his commlock explodes on cue. He was obviously clued-in as to what was going to happen...and what a spectacular effect it was as he hurls it aside! Other special effects are also impressive,chiefly the Eagle crash on the planet,which I suspect must look even more spectacular on a large sized tv or movie screen. I quite liked the debut of the 'Re-entry Glider' too,though I must confess that-beyond the dramtic requirements of this particular story-I could see no reason for Alpha to have one of these craft lying about ready for use. (Then again,at least we don't have one of those "We-have-a-few-hours-to-build-and-test-this-new-gadget-that's-going -to-sav e-our-skins" scenario,which I wasn't always comfortable with). The episode is also commendable in not relying too much on Maya's skills to get the Alphans out of the mire. Indeed, there is not one transformation by Maya in the whole proceedings and the episode is all the better for it. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy her metamorphic abilities;merely that sometimes they were used gratuitously for the sake of commercialism and as a convenient means of "escape" in stories crafted sometimes by lazy writers. You can't accuse Byrne of this: look at Koenig's cleverness in fashioning a scratch communicator out of fibre optics!(And one that only functions for a few seconds at that..) On the other hand I have always been amazed at the selfishness of Maya and Helena in agreeing to go down to the planet and leaving Alpha without a substantive officer in charge.(OK,so Fraser is about,but much as I enjoyed him as a character I don't think he would have been experienced or knowledgable enough to take command of Alpha after losing so many valuable top staff). There is no suggestion as far as I can see that they are going down to bring them all back;the impression I get is that both are so besotted with Verdeschi and Koenig that they just want to go down and 'be with them' (ahhh!).As Maya herself says to Helena: "Its a one-way trip for two people...". There's no way clear at that point that there will be any way to get back to Alpha,so I do think their motives here are totally selfish and probably irrational. Of course I'm braced for the flood of Posts from people who equally think there was nothing wrong with their motivation here...:-) Good fortune that the Alphans happen upon the recordings made by Zoran(who is unrecognisable as actor Nadim Sawalha. I don't imagine he is that well known outside the UK but he remains a well-known character actor here)otherwise its questionable whether they would ever have grasped what was going on. The revelation that some alien entity is killing people because it cannot communicate makes all that has happened so far fairly clear to us(and to the Alphans). What is never really explained is why the atmosphere and the planet elements suddenly all change for the worst...is it down to the influence of the alien entity,and if so why does it choose to do that? [EDITOR'S NOTE: For one possible reason, see my character study of the being.] Chris Bentley,chairman of FANDERSON,states that the climax of the episode is disappointing in that "Koenig just stands and talks". I can see what Chris meant by this and originally I tended to agree with him. Having thought about it though,I now think its an effective showdown...and certainly atypical for Y2. There is no blood and thunder set-piece involving Koenig or the others in gladatorial combat accompanied by a driving Wadsworth score. This is a more thoughtful approach more in keeping with the Y1 style and harks back to the origins of the script as Byrne originally conceived it(in its original FACE OF EDEN guise,it was intended I think as a script for the Year 1 universe..). The exposure of the alien entity as a solitary life-form unaware of any other sort of existence or living creature seems to echo Gwent in Y1's THE INFERNAL MACHINE ("...a lonely,blind creature looking for its death..."). Doesn't anyone else find it touching when the entity in Byrne's script joyously finds that it is not alone in the universe? Doesn't anyone else feel terrible sympathy when the entity feels grief at the realisation that he has killed? And I also found that there was also a profound irony at the end of the episode,when all was said and done,that the planet could well have been one of the best they had visited-and yet they did not have the time to colonise it. Whilst overall I tended to enjoy Y2 more than Y1,I nevertheless always felt that there were elements of Y1 which were sadly missed. One was Johnny Byrne. Another was the thoughtful,philosophic side to his stories. THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME remains an exciting and well-paced episode which most effectively incorporates some of the better Y1 factors:namely a particular sort of intelligence and humanity lacking in most Y2 shows. I don't mean humanity as in characterisation(one of the strong points of Freiberger's reign)but an overall look at mans place in the universe and its interraction with it.(As opposed to comic book battles with evil alien civilisations that tended to predominate in Y2). What a pity that Freiberger and Byrne together could not have produced more scripts such as this one. Simon
From: TERALISHA@aol4tag.com Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 21:02:13 EST Subject: Space1999: RE: immunity syndrome >...is evidently a very popular episode, considering the total lack of posts >about it! Reality must have got a hold of all of us for awhile, forcing us to attend to other perhaps less enjoyable matters. Anyhow she writes: >Pros: Everyone is there - Tony goes loopy and gets to do some acting - Finally! Of course I admit that I DO like his character so I am probably a little biased here. >Maya gets to be her lovely humanoid self for the whole episode And we didn't miss her molecular changes one bit did we? (Sorry Freddie, but her character works well without it too!. LOL) > - Maya and Helena actually show some concern for their menfolk - they do, but this point always bothered me. Man or not I'm not sure that I could abandon Alpha for a situation on a planet like that leaving nobody else in Command center but Yasko- but then perhaps I don't really love my man enough to comprehend this factor (Yet). So it must have been pure selfishness on their part to go to them. Perhaps though they did think that they could help with some productive counter measures as far as the planet's declining environment was concerned? >Alibe! - Bill! - The planet and the alien were well thought out: humanity as >a disease rears its ugly head in Y2 I never really thought of it that way when watching the episode back as a kid, of course we all have different view pionts as adults. >Cons: Everyone goes down to the planet and leaves who? Yasko? in charge? - YIKES! Good gosh! Yasko - i'm evacuating alpha fast! LOL :) >Tony's about to die so they drag Maya off to view alien home videos - Perhaps this is Koenig's way of trying to lessen the shock to her.. just in case that happened? Now if I were Maya I don't think I would have gone that willingly, no matter what I was going to look at. And that has nothing to do with the fact that I like Tony >They finally find a way of stopping Landau from over acting by putting him in >a costume that makes him look like a Marks & Spencers dummy I confess I usually fast forward this section of my tape. This ranks as one of my favorites for Year 2 One of my brother's favorite parts is in the eagle - alan goes for the stick and it breaks apart and Koenig's face registers shock. Alan confesses its not one of his better landings, could have been worse though right? then again Maya can't claim any better piloting records now either, can she? In the 70s this was probably breaking the rules a little by having women pilots but hey, I like the fact that it does show that the girls can do it too. Also, I like the touching scenes between Maya & Tony on the planet and then in the Eagle at the end. I know there's hardly any dialogue but in this case it works nicely. They don't have to say much. I always was left with the question of what was "I" going to do once the Alphans left his/her planet? Sounds like a male but then in space how do we know what sex "I" was? Was "I" limited to being confined to the planet? Would anyone else ever come along to be friendly to "I" ? I confess I felt sorry for "I" because I thought what a sad existence for any creature in the universe. "I" didn't/couldn't join the Alphans leaving me to think about his/her future........ and unfortunatly Alphans couldn't evacuate to "I" 's planet - I think this was that damned production schedule's fault again! Alphans obviously had to show up somewhere else in the universe the following day. Oh well, that's all for now folks, just received new 1999 video in mail - going to watch uncut versions of alpha child & dorzak - Now if I can just get Brian the Brain & that damn rock episode I will have Year 2 complete! year 1 isn't in as good of shape, yet. By the way..I am eagerly awaiting more moon over Bajor! Hope everyone has a good weekend! Tera Alisha
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 21:49:52 -0500 (EST) From: "Ellen C. Lindow" (sfdxb@scfn.thpl.lib4tag.fl.us) Subject: Re: Space1999: RE: immunity syndrome All acknowledgements to production schedule aside, I feel that this was the best jumping off point the Alphans had. They were obviously doing a very thorough investigation of the planet, and not that stressed about time limits-- then this crisis turns up and suddenly they don't have time to come here! What an incredible cop out! It grates on my nerves worse than Helena and Maya deserting Alpha. And having them just up and leave Alpha was pretty bad. It showed a complete lack of responsibility on their part. And I say this knowing that if my own husband was in the same predicament, I _would_ be climbing into that re-entry glider for certain death in exchange for a few more minutes with him-- and would have no qualms about offing anyone foolish enough to get in my way. It's not sane, or logical, but it's the way I feel. I'm just not sure I see Helena and Maya doing this. I've always been rather intrigued by the re-entry glider. The only reason I can come up with a need for a 2-man glider like that on Alpha is to save the ass of some high-powered VIP (or Commander, present commander's excepted, of course) in the event of a complete disaster on Moonbase Alpha. I can see Gorsky or Simmonds either one turning to a trusty pilot at the last minute and saying "prepare the re-entry glider" as things go sour and the moon is about to blow. Not unlike Darth Vader's handy TIE fighter that gets him off the Death Star.
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 11:59:17 +0000 Subject: Re: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome... > ...is evidently a very popular episode, considering the total lack of posts > about it! Strange logic, Emma, but interesting nevertheless. In fact, according to my book this is one of the better Y2 episodes, an episode that is in many ways Y2 indeed, the silly glider is one such example I suppose, added for no apparent reason except, perhaps, to pay a hommage to the THUNDERBIRDS days of Gerry Anderson, but still an episode where Johnny Byrne summarises most of his contributions to the Y1 series. The central theme of the episode is, of course, the environmentalism suggested by the title, a main theme in many of his Y1 episodes, ANOTHER TIME/ANOTHER PLACE in particular, I suppose. This environmental concern is then followed by another typical Johnny Byrne theme, namely how "progress" in its most mindless form is a threat not only to our environment but also to ourselves as is perhaps most potently described in THE END OF ETERNITY. Finally, of course, we have the religious themes, prevailend in many of his episodes, in particular in THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA, which is utilised in this episode with the parallell to Moses encounter with God in the burning bush parafrased as Koenig's encounter with the Deity who even bares the name Jehova ("I am the one that is" or similar sounding translations of what lies in this name). In my opinion THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM is to Johnny Byrne similar to what DORZAK is to Christopher Penfold, a revival of Y1 imagery and thoughts using Y2 context. In my opinion THE IMMUNITY SYNROM is a much better episode than DORZAK, getting rid of most of the awfulness of Y2 by having most of the story take place on an alien planet with minimal use of monsters and Maya transformations, while Penfold got completely dragged into the mud as if Freiberger was deliberately trying to humiliate him by making the worst possible out of the episode. Instead Byrne uses the Y1 imagery of seeing death face to face, as he does in the Hitchcock PSYCHO (1960) pastiche that is being used when they walk through the cave. Well done, and quite reminicent of the VERTIGO (1958) similarities in the dream sequences of ANOTHER TIME/ANOTHER PLACE. While there is much nice to be said about the episode, there is, of course, not very much new to his writing in this episode. Whatever Byrne manages to communicate, he has already done it better in Y1, although, perhaps not as concistenly as in this one. More than any other episode of his, this comes across to me as a parallell to ANOTHER TIME/ANOTHER PLACE, probably one of his most personal episodes, reflecting his view on life at the moment I believe, the philosophy of SPACE:1999 to a certain extent as some of us perhaps feel. The legacy of Johnny Byrne is very inherit in this episode, I think, and it paves natural way to his further work on the ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL series where Penfold eventually also joined up. Another interesting aspect with IMMUNITY SYNDROM is its relationship to SPACE BRAIN. Considering the main idea of the plot, the Alphans viewed as a sort of organism contagious to Cosmos and ultimately destroying themsleves, the episodes are very similar. However, as Penfold is perhaps more philosophical and less political than Byrne, the Penfold tales becomes similar to Thomas Mann, one could perhaps say, in that they describe the rise and decline of human kind without giving much hope for new life, Schopenhauer perhaps being the most natural influence, while Byrne is still willing to give the human species hope by his dictum "the future is the past" meaning that the only hope is by learning from past generations and past civilisations. Personally I think the Byrne twin episodes is an excellent way to end Y2. THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM summing up everything that was good about SPACE:1999 and Y1 in particular and THE DORCONS trashing everything that was bad about Y2, Maya in particular. Nevertheless, THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM is a very positive episode, reusing sets from DEVIL'S PLANET and giving glimpses of what Y2 could be like at it's best when Freiberger was tired of the whole thing and just let the writers do their job as he obviously did in the three last episodes. Petter
From: "Petter Ogland" (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 13:51:35 +0000 Subject: Re: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome Simon wrote: > Anyway,when I first saw it I remember being deeply disappointed with THE > IMMUNITY SYNDROME. This is a feeling I experienced with a few Y1 and Y2 > episodes and,as usual,my opinions have changed over time. Its one of the > best Y2 episodes(far superior IMO to THE DORCONS)and marks the welcome > return of Johnny Byrne to the series. How sad that his final 2 episodes > were to be the swansong of SPACE 1999.... Far superior to THE DORCONS is how I value it too, except, perhaps, if one prefers to view THE DORCONS as a sort of intellectual parody of THE BETA CLOUD with added bitterness concerning the pure delight of removing the brain stem from Maya. Nevertheless, in my opinion the three last episodes of Y2 are like some of the first episodes among the best of the Y2 series. Even though it is the swansong, by having Johnny Byrne making his contributions and Freiberger staying somewhat more in the backgound than usual, the result is much more worthy than one could have easily expected I feel. > The whole idea behind the script is intriguing. A planet that seems ideal > for colonization suddenly turns sour on them for no immediately apparent > reason. Instruments corrode and break down,insanity affects two Lustig and > Verdeschi,and food and water suddenly become poisonous. Thats an intriguing > start to the episode,and as a result the hook and first act have an > effective air of mystery about them. It is, interestingly enough, exactly the same as in Johnny Byrne's first contribution to the series, MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, one of the real masterpieces of Y1 and science fiction in general in my opinion. While THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM is far from this level of quality, it is still nice to see Byrne rework some of his initial ideas, now with a much more ecological angle than the hasty doctoring he did on Art Wallace's original script. Seen from this perspective THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM becomes even more interesting as it can be read as a comment on his earlier work, his early and enthusiastic work, and shows how miraculously well he contributed to the early style of SPACE:1999 and made his impression on it when it was at its best. It is almost as if SPACE:1999 begins and ends with Johnny Byrne in more than one meaning of the word. > Special Effects are also pretty impressive...both the miniature effects of > Brian Johnson and also the floor effects used in episode. Top of the list > here must be the 'exploding commlocks' featured in the script. Exploding commlocks and crashing eagles are very much quotes from MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, I feel, and no matter how well they are done in this episode, it is very difficult to outdo the magnificent final act of the marvellous Y1 episode. However, as is apparent too, I think, from reading Martin's comments on the development from THE SIREN PLANET to MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, the Terra Nova sets were originally intended to be used much more extensively than was the case of the final production. While I personally, just like with BREAKAWAY, find the psychological build-up much more interesting than the actual climax, which, of course, just boils down to explosions and running around, the focus on the natural disaster and using the as a central plot point in THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM is an excellent choice. What's more, by trancending the psychological explanations given by Lee in the final act of MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, the introduction of theological themes in THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM, just like in THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA, makes a splendid augmentation to the story. In a way THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM seems to me to be an amalgam of some of Byrne's perhaps most personal and defintely best episodes of Y1 such as MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, ANOTHER TIME/ANOTHER PLACE, THE END OF ETERNITY and TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA. > The episode is also commendable in not relying too much on Maya's skills to > get the Alphans out of the mire. Indeed, there is not one transformation by > Maya in the whole proceedings and the episode is all the better for it. > This is not to say that I didn't enjoy her metamorphic abilities;merely > that sometimes they were used gratuitously for the sake of commercialism In my opinion the introduction of Maya was one of the most important of Freibergers attempts at destroying SPACE:1999. While everybody agrees that Catherine Schell was a wonderful actress and so on, I certainly think so, her character Maya was absolutely stupid, at least from my point of view, and only contributed to make the series appeal to those who didn't like SPACE:1999 in the first place, one of several changes Freiberger and Mandell did to "commersialise" the series, as Simon puts it, and consequently destroy it. It is pretty much the same as buying bottles of 70 year old Chateau Latour only to drink it with orange juice and ice. Revolting. > The revelation that some alien entity is killing people > because it cannot communicate makes all that has happened so far fairly > clear to us(and to the Alphans). What is never really explained is why the > atmosphere and the planet elements suddenly all change for the worst...is > it down to the influence of the alien entity,and if so why does it choose > to do that? It is pretty much SPACE BRAIN over again, isn't it? Nevertheless, while SPACE BRAIN is typical Christopher Penfold's view of the cold universe where humans are nothing more than a virus determined by destiny more or less to cause plague and destruction, Byrne's more sympathetic view on how we lack the ability to communicate with nature is our reason for destroying it, is interesting, and very typical, I think. The episode the dealt most intensely with our problems of understanding and communicating with nature is THE TROUBLED SPIRIT, I suppose, although the only thing the resulted from that one was the rapport between Mateo and his darker self conceptualising as a vengeful ghost. My impression is that THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM is to a certain extent very much of the same story. A story about communication with nature, understanding of how we should live, no doubt influenced by Byrne's experiences both with Irish Catholisism and his experience with hippie communities in the late sixties and early seventies. As others have pointed out, there seems to be much influence from JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and GODSPELL in episodes like THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA and perhaps this is also reflected in THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM although in a more subdued form. > Chris Bentley,chairman of FANDERSON,states that the climax of the episode > is disappointing in that "Koenig just stands and talks". I can see what > Chris meant by this and originally I tended to agree with him. Having > thought about it though,I now think its an effective showdown... This illustrates the different universes of Y1 and Y2 quite well, now doesn't it? In year one the climax was often psychological, people thinking or discussing, in year two it was people doing. A favourite example of mine illustrating this is RING AROUND THE MOON, in my opinion the very best SPACE:1999 ever made, and an episode that illustrates to full extent the concept of "a thinking man's science fiction" that SPACE:1999 has been honourably called, an episode relies almost purely on fine tuned psychology, the relationship of the violin maker and the violinist so to say, with every piece of action being only background to understanding the extremely complex characters that are portrayed in this wonderful chamber piece of TV drama. Unfortunately THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM is no RING AROUND THE MOON, but, nevertheless, it is perhaps the only Y2 episode, with the exception of the thrillingly interesting ALL THAT GLISTERS, that reaches some of the subtleties of early year one, MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH in particular, one of the very finest episodes of SPACE:1999 in particular, and I respect Johnny Byrne for trying to write something with substance. Well done. Petter
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 21:51:32 +0000 From: Ina Litera (ilitera@idt4tag.net) Subject: Re: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome > episode relies almost purely on fine tuned psychology, the relationship of > the violin maker and the violinist so to say, with every piece of action > being only background to understanding the extremely complex > characters that are portrayed in this wonderful chamber piece of TV drama. I've read and reread this paragraph. I've had my husband read it. I've tried to understand what you mean by "the relationship of the violin maker to violinist" and yet I can't. It makes no sense to me. A violin maker is a craftsman who creates something which (when done right) is both tool and art. The violinist is the artisan who uses the tool to bring art to life. I have a relationship (business, that is) with a violin maker (in my case viola maker). Maybe I'll ask him what you meant, but I don't think he'll know either. Later, Ina
From: "Petter Ogland" (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 13:19:52 +0000 Subject: Re: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome Thanks Ina for following up on this. Actually I was referring to a wonderful discussion I had with Emma on the relationship between the films of French filmmaker Claude Sautet and RING AROUND THE MOON, one of the finest if not the finest filmmaker of today as I see, Sautet being a former music critic and script writer, I believe, probably having something to do with his astoundingly subtle chamber works as a filmmaker. One of his later films, UN COEUR EN HIVER (1989), is an extremely sensitive and psychologically complex story about a female violinist (Emmanuelle Beart) who is doing a recording of the Ravel Trio, while Daniel Auteuil plays a violin maker who by the means of very subtle methods of pulling her psychological strings causes great emotional waves. Personally one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. The feeling I get from watching RING AROUND THE MOON is somewhat similar. In a previous post Emma helped me describe some of the similarities in the way both of these works of art move us, move me at least, and on further afterthought, not at least Horst's wonderful comments on how he perceived Barbara Bain as Helena in the mid seventies, I begin to recognise more clearly some of the ingredients that makes RING AROUND THE MOON into such a magnificent work of art that it is. Much of the essence behind the triumph of RING AROUND THE MOON lies within the extreme complexety of Barbara Bain's performance, I believe, a role that at least I who am a mathematician spending most of my working time in front a computer, relate very much to. The extreme balance between the utmost controlled and the violence of emotions make me immediately think of a violinist. David Oistrach, one of my favourite interpretors of Tchaikowsky's violin concerto has some of the same expression, I've seen in documentaries, but, the often fragile beauty of Helena behind the mask of control makes me think more in lines of Viktoria Mullova who I've had the pleasure to watch in an extravaganza performance of the concerto. Fantastic. Petter
From: "Mark Meskin" (plastic.gravity@new44rock.com) Subject: Re: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 17:28:16 -0600 Ah-hah! I think weve come to the crux of the matter now. Petter, she behaves like a machine in RATM and MOLAD, she reminds you of your computer. Emotionless, and rigid, I think her performance is more bad acting than it is a clever portrait of a reserved woman. I think you need to spend more time away from Big Blue, and spend more under the blue outside with real people. Mark
From: "Petter Ogland" (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 11:22:28 +0000 Subject: Re: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome Thanks Mark, but, nevertheless, the quality performance of Barbara Bain was something I noticed as early as in 1975, long before I had anything to do with computers, and, more than anything else, I think Barbara Bain's strong point in her performance in RING AROUND THE MOON and MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH has to do with her extremely controlled and realistic portrayal of the kind of person that one would expect to do the kind of work that Helena Russel and others with responsibilities on Alpha would react. Mind you, John and Victor, John in particular, often react quite contrary to how a responisble person would act. To me the picture of the controlled, non-smiling, keyboard punching or paperwriting Helena of RING AROUND THE MOON and other Y1 episodes where she behaves similarily is the perfect description of what Alpha must be like, a scientific community of quiet desperation, having no idea whether they will survive tomorrow but still keep up a high morale expecting every man do to his duty, never giving up on a patient, as Victor explains to Helena in BLACK SUN, and keeping a happy facade while knowing they are only minutes away from ultimate disaster and destruction. This life under the Democles sword was at least what the early Y1 episodes seemed to be all about, BLACK SUN being perhaps the prototype of this sort of episode. Excellent, in my opinion, serious drama using futuristic settings and technology in order to discuss and illustrate the joys and sorrows of conteporary life. As a series SPACE:1999 was much closer to classic sci-fi of the 1984 and BRAVE NEW WORLD type, the rather pessimistic 2001:A SPACE ODDYSEY being it's prime model of course, than having very much to do with STAR TREK or even the optimism of Jules Verne. I like it for what it is, though, a television sensation when it appeared with wit and intelligence contributed by people who were young and trying to understand the world and their place in it during the turbulent early seventies. A magnificent opus whoose impact still echoes today, not at least on this list. Petter
From: David Acheson (dkach@hot44mail.com) Subject: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 12:48:53 EST I can't comment in too much detail on THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME as I have not seen it very often. However, I must admit it does indeed have Johnny Byrne's wonderful penmanship (Welcome back to the series Johnny)and appears to be one of the few year two episodes not heavily contaminated by Fred Freiberger's touch. Unlike previous attempts by year one writers Anthony Terpiloff and Christopher Penfold, our Mr. Byrne managed to script a second episode for Freiberger and still kept his work intact. Although this is definitely Byrne's story I often feel like its one of Christopher Penfold's year one-type storylines. You know - mankind is a virus infecting an alien environment. Still, Byrne does give us a message episode which certainly goes against silly humour and bug-eyed monsters. I rather liked the idea of the entity not being fully seen in this episode beyond the flash of light - the mystery of what this thing is I feel adds something to the episode. How this entity connects with the planet's environment is an interesting idea. Again, mankind simply cannot compete against nature. I am glad Alibe got to join the landing party giving her another chance for major exposure. Bill Fraser gets to risk his life flying Helena and Maya down to the planet in their glider. As for that part, many have criticized their decision to abandon Alpha. While theoretically they did not use good judgement in leaving Alpha, I do believe they had done what most people in their situation would still do. Many abandon common sense when it comes to being with loved ones when things look hopeless. Look at the wives who stayed with their husbands when the Titanic went down. And did they leave Alpha out of capable hands? Fraser probably would not be senior enough to command but who knows what yet unseen character may be there to take over. Maybe Winters from THE INFERNAL MACHINE? As for the re-entry glider I personally like to think it was one of many experiments that the Alphans were working on since Breakaway. If Carolyn Powell can conduct experiments with pressure I am sure some department can work on developing new types of air and space craft. I rather believe it was developed this way because why would a glider be stationed on Alpha during the time the moon was in Earth orbit? There were many space stations and Eagles nearby. No need to make an emergency glide to Earth. Still its not one of the best of year two. Maybe if Ray Austin or David Tomblin directed it I would feel differently. I still feel the conflicts-within-Alpha storylines (such as THE SEANCE SPECTRE) worked better within the year two format. Nevertheless this was a step in the right direction and I feel that the latter part of year two was when the series was really sorting itself out. Unfortunately, most insiders and viewers lost interest by this point. A third year was a very remote possibility by now. Next week, THE DORCONS. Another Johnny Byrne episode and the swan song for the series. While not a good closure for fans, I will disagree with Petter and say that Mr. Byrne gave us great crap. I enjoyed the simple alien invasion story and can easily drink red wine with this one. Smile. David Acheson
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 12:11:34 +0000 Subject: Re: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome > our Mr. Byrne managed to > script a second episode for Freiberger and still kept his work intact. This was also what I thought until I read Martin's description of the development of the early draft FACE OF EDEN that ended up as THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM. From what I've understood Johnny Byrne wrote three contributions to the second series before the new format was decided, THE BIOLOGICAL SOUL, THE CHILDREN OF THE GODS and FACE OF EDEN, all fairly similar episodes, slightly reminicent of his contributions during the final cycles of Year One, more introvert and socially concerned like THE TROUBLED SPIRIT and MISSION OF THE DARIANS, episodes that clearly shows that Byrne was no longer interested in the basic premises of SPACE:1999, but wanted the series to develop by adding different type of stories. Neither of the three scripts he submitted were accepted in the original form by Freiberger. THE BIOLOGICAL SOUL merged with Freiberger's brainless contributions into the awful METAMORPH, which can be viewed as a Y2 version of DEATH'S OTHER DOMINION at best, I suppose, sacrificing the human spirit to science, but which is mostly devoid of meaning as one would suspect with anything that has the Freiberger mark on it. It would be interesting to know, of course, what the original script was like, the script without Maya, no doubt a much more interesting piece, perhaps a product of his ideas from the Kellet-period and the final period of Year One as some of the surviving ideas in the produced version indicate. As we all know, CHILDREN OF THE GODS, was what both Byrne and Gerry Anderson regarded as Byrne's masterpiece and his finest contribution to SPACE:1999. It is only natural that Freiberger would reject that, I suppose, probably not enough possibilities for men in gorilla suits running around acompagined by disco music in that one. FACE OF EDEN was another ambitions script which, from where I'm standing at least, seem to have been an attempt of joining SPACE:1999 with APOCALYPSE NOW (1974), or perhaps more likely the Joseph Conrad's HEART OF DARKNESS which the film was based upon as it uses the same type of jungle metaphores about a man, John Koenig in this case, on the border of madness, trying to understand himself and the essence of man, going deeper and deeper into the jungle, getting more and more difficult and primitive as he journeys, and finally, at the heart of darkness, meets Kali, the Hindu god of creation and destruction. Martin has written a very interesting article about how the script changed, and may be found on his excellent Catacombs site. According to interviews, Byrne tells that he had devastating fights with Freiberger in order to produce the script, Freiberger obviously didn't think it was crappy enough to his taste. After numerous rewritings it finally ended up as THE IMMUNITY SYNDROM, which resembles the final act of MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH more than THE FACE OF EDEN, as Martin nicely puts it. Worse things could have happened, I suppose, so all in all it probably was a benefit to the series that it got produced. Johnny Byrne, no doubt fed up by having to work with idiots, so it seems to me at least, after having spent most of the season reworking excellent scripts that he had written before production in order to fit the new trash format, made one final contribution, the satirical DORCONS where he, as I see it at least, try to find ways to torture Maya and ridicule the whole concept of the new show and even get Freiberger to accept. THE DORCONS is a script born out of agony, no doubt, an excercise in running and shouting, matrimonial conflicts, war, destruction, hoplessness etc. just piled layer on layer without any sort of motivation, Maya shouting "Please kill me!" and so on. Let's hope Byrne smiled on his way to the bank. > Next week, THE DORCONS. Another Johnny Byrne episode and the swan song > for the series. While not a good closure for fans, I will disagree with > Petter and say that Mr. Byrne gave us great crap. Great crap, that's good, matches my feeling for the episode completely. > I enjoyed the simple > alien invasion story and can easily drink red wine with this one. Smile. I look forward to more insights on THE DORCONS. Personally I feel that popcorn and coca-cola would be the best choice for this episode, but, of course, viewing the episode from a satirical point of view, which I suppose corresponds with how it was written, it could perhaps be seen as a greek drama, Oidipus Rex comes to mind, being used for paraphrasing the BETA CLOUD sort of thing. Not as amusing as ALL THAT GLISTERS, I would say, but still worth discussing. Petter
From: actingman-jc@World44net.att.net Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 13:04:57 -0500 Subject: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome Many people point to Next Gen's "The Inner Light" as the first time they went "You mean that wasn't really outdoors?" I point to this episode. I keep forgetting that they are actually indoors on a sound stage. This was the first time in year two (and the only time) they used the working commlock screen. I've always wondered why they didn't use it more in year two. I like seeing all the different crew in this episode, and the fact that most of them get to actually speak. How many times have we actually seen Koenig in the audience left eagle cockpit seat? For me this was always the most gripping of the eagle crashes, and I think it is because we see their fellow crew watching in horror from the ground as they see the ship crash. There are two shots of Koenig getting shaken around in the eagle. They are from Devil's Planet, but he was in the right hand seat, so they decided to reverse the image to make it look correct...which of course it doesn't since his badges are reversed, as well as his hair and his face. All together now: "Re-entry glider? Why would an airless moon have a glider?" I wonder if the spacesuits wouldn't burn out anyway. They have power sources and much more metal in them than just the seals. Seeing the men carry their lasers in to the alien structure: don't they have metal in them, and wouldn't they just burn out or explode if fired? And what about anybody's fillings? A pin in an injured bone...etc. As the alien body is revealed, there is a scream. Yet I've always felt that none of the three made that scream, which to me made it more effective hearing it as we see the body (and that's something I can't even explain to myself.) Once again they have used an effective technique that also saved money and time. The holographic recording is actually the actor sitting behind a scrim lit to make it look like a screen. You don't have to do any inserts or other post-production, and the camera can move as the scene is playing, without having to worry about matching superimposed shots. Maya can fly a glider? It seems to me even an experienced pilot like Alan would have trouble with that, cause it is a whole different thing from flying a powered ship with no wings (but hey, have we explained yet how the bumble bee flies?) Of course everyone can fly an eagle it seems (at least they could in year one.) the former jcg@vh.net
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 15:16:35 -0600 From: "Robert Gilbert" (bcpgd@shaw.wave4tag.ca) Subject: Re: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome > This was the first time in year two (and the only time) they used the > working commlock screen. I've always wondered why they didn't use it more > in year two. Likely because the prop they had busted --- they just fixed it for this ep, then it busted again! > All together now: "Re-entry glider? Why would an airless moon have a > glider?" Excellent question --- but do you think it was that kind of Glider? > Once again they have used an effective technique that also saved money and > time. The holographic recording is actually the actor sitting behind a > scrim lit to make it look like a screen. You don't have to do any inserts Ah scrims --- if I had a dime for every scrim which was used for a show I was either doing Tech or stage crew for in the live theatre --- I'd be rich! They are incredibly effective, aren't they? > Maya can fly a glider? Maya can fly a glider????? > It seems to me even an experienced pilot like Alan Alan "proof positive that man was not intended to fly" Carter? > would have trouble with that, cause it is a whole different thing from > flying a powered ship with no wings (but hey, have we explained yet how the > bumble bee flies?) Of course everyone can fly an eagle it seems (at least > they could in year one.) Basic Moonbase Alpha Training? -- Robert C. Gilbert
From: "Mark Meskin" (plastic.gravity@new44rock.com) Subject: Re: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 15:28:44 -0600 > Excellent question --- but do you think it was that kind of Glider? It does state in the episode that its a "re-entry glider" I believe. As for why its on the moon, perhaps in case of an emergency evacuation of Alpha, dozens of these gliders would be used. After all in the weak gravity of the moon, a very small booster could be fitted to lift the glider free of the moon. Also, it may have been used as an escape vessel for deepspace missions. > Ah scrims --- if I had a dime for every scrim which was used for a show > I was either doing Tech or stage crew for in the live theatre --- I'd be > rich! They are incredibly effective, aren't they? This example was much better done than the one used in the Metamorph, although I'm not crazy about the technique. > Maya can fly a glider????? Although I am not a pilot I have flown a glider. Its quite simple, and the sensation of being up in the sky without any motor is unbelievable. Its so quiet, the only sound is when you turn, the air rushes over the raised aelierons (sp?). An orbit to ground glider wouldn't be any more complex, just a longer flight. The glider is based on a REAL design that NASA did in the late 60's early 70's. Its a lifting body shape, the winglets provide control surfaces, not the lift. Mark
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Don't forget the existing space-to-ground glider: the Space Shuttle! Though it uses engine power to slow itself for re-entry, once the Shuttle is back in the atmosphere, it glides. Of course, the Shuttle isn't just a glider, but a launch vehicle and orbiter as well, so its systems are far more complex than a pure glider's.]
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 18:04:05 -0600 From: "Robert Gilbert" (bcpgd@shaw.wave4tag.ca) Subject: Re: Space1999: The Immunity Syndrome [regarding scrims:] > This example was much better done than the one used in the Metamorph, > although I'm not crazy about the technique. why not? it's an excellent technique --- so simple it's brilliant!
From: TERALISHA@aol4tag.com Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 20:28:18 EST Subject: Space1999: space: 1999 Hi All! Hope everyone is doing well, I believe Petter wrote >In my opinion the introduction of Maya was one of the most important >of Freibergers attempts at destroying SPACE:1999. While everybody >agrees that Catherine Schell was a wonderful actress and so on, I >certainly think so, her character Maya was absolutely stupid, at least >from my point of view, I'm very curious as to your reasons why the character was absolutely stupid in your opinion. I always thought it made rather good sense to include someone not from Earth in the little Alphan community. Although I don't believe the stories were handled in Yr2 as we might have all liked, an alien living among our Alphans was a very clever idea, in my humble opinion. After all, the moon is journeying through deep space, and they had already encountered many life forms, why not one who would end up residing on Alpha? As for her metamorph. abilities, well all our aliens are not made in the image of Earthman. Of course, there again, perhaps the stories were not handled efficiently around this aspect either. I think there were many good opportunities for storylines involving Maya (and not necessarily the Tony/Maya romance issue either - although that does provide tons of opportunity as well) Food for thought: If the stories would have been handled differently, would you have approved of her character addition or did you just plain dislike her? Just wondering Thanks Tera Alisha [EDITOR'S NOTE: This gets discussed more in a different thread, but at this point, it is not posted.]