From: South Central (Tamazunchale@web44tv.net)
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 11:49:38 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Space1999: Episode by Episode
Well, fellow listmembers, this marks my last weekly announcement with
regards to an episode discussion. I first came online in early
September 1997. Before that time I had little to no knowledge of the
internet itself, much less online Space: 1999 fandom. Very quickly I
found the Cyber Museum (and later the Cybrary). Marcy was very kind and
helped me to find my first copy of Earthfall--and find this listserve.
Once subscribed to this list I realized that I was NOT alone--I had, for
years, thought I was the lone fan, having never met anyone else who even
remotely LIKED the show. I also realized that there was a LOT that I
didn't know about the show.The more I learned, the less I knew...to
paraphrase someone we all know.
Episode by Episode was initiated by me in an effort to get the list back
on task. A heated disagreement had arisen over the MORESPACE campaign
(I won't go into it now.). People were unsubscribing and generally
getting pissed off. ExE, I feel, was a concept that pulled us back
together (most of us). It has gone on for 51 weeks now. 47 episodes
and 4 original novels. This is the start of week 52, episode 48. So
here goes:
This week's episode is THE DORCONS by Johnny Byrne. Discussion will
last from Monday, November 23 through Sunday, November 29.
After this, a two week SERIES REVIEW commentary period will begin.
It's been a pleasure and an honor!
Mateo
From: "Brian Dowling" (hellion@easy44net.co.uk)
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 21:33:35 -0000
Subject: Re: Space1999: Episode by Episode
And so the end is near...
47 episodes down, 1 to go then fan fic and novels. Where do we go after
that?
What has the exercise done for you? Perhaps it has shed new light on
episodes you might not have seen for years, given you a boost to seek out
your favourite episodes on video, reinforced long held beliefs, shattered
others, made you laugh at others' witticisms, made you cry with anguish at
opinions you disagree with, made you scream at the mention of certain
episodes (Brian the Brain is stil the pits, IMHO)... all this and perhaps
more. If any of the above is true, then the ExE exploration has been worth
doing.
The last 4327 messages (or thereabouts - there have been a couple of
crashes in this padded cell) since 30 Nov 97 have covered many topics - an
average of 80 postings per week is a pretty good figure, 30 postings higher
than the Doctor Who mailing list average over the last four months or so.
Some have been issues where there have been disagreements, but folk being
folk these things will arise. For the most part, we are still here
discussing one of our favourite tv series. Whilst it has fared well on-
list, how has Space:1999 fared in real life with its big anniversary
approaching?
Video releases in Australia, the USA and Canada (though there is
questionable commitment by Columbia House) and something planned by
PolyGram for the UK next year. Put your money on VHS releases, alongside
whatever Comet Miniatures are planning. TV showings elsewhere I know
little about, but Space:1999 sporadically occupies the Monday 1825 slot
when the BBC hasn't got any sport or anything trendy to show then. Current
progress suggests that with its usual sporting commitments over the coming
year, there will still be episodes of Space:1999 waiting to be aired on the
BBC after the Breakaway convention.
DVD releases seem very unlikely, but I would love to be surprised.
Soundtrack releases - well, you know my opinions on that issue.
In many respects, Space:1999 and Doctor Who are on very similar ground.
Before you start flaming me, let me explain... Both with fairly
significant anniversaries now or impending, both with owners who aren't
that in touch with the fans of the series, and both getting shabby
treatment from the channel with the rights to show it. As far as
anniversaries go, Blake's 7 gets a complete reissue with cool artwork, and
negligible publicity. Doctor Who gets The Ice Warriors set - 2 videos, a CD
of missing audio soundtrack and a book, all in all a fascinating package
demonstrative of the great deal of work put into it.
What will 1999 hold for Space:1999? On-list, I hope for the stimulating
discussions to continue. In real life, the optimist in me says "I hope it
will be good", the cynic in me suggests otherwise.
I'm off to celebrate a very special 35th anniversary...
Brian Dowling - Birmingham, England
Online Alphan #144
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no)
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 11:01:45 +0000
Subject: Re: Space1999: Episode by Episode
You know, Mateo, your idea of the ExE thread is the best thing that
has appeared on this list as long as I've been around there, since July
1997 that is. The way I see it, it was the right thing at the right
moment.
One very positive thing about the ExE discussions, I think, is that it
has made it possible for people to speak their hearts content about
episodes, directors, writers, producers etc. without risking the stirring
the waves too much as we have all become more or less a family by now, it
seems.
My impression is that the list has now matured to the level where
everybody seem to respect each other and yet do not hesitate to defend
what they like and express what they like less. The ExE discussion has
been of great help in achieving this, I feel.
It is especially nice that so many Year Two fans have expressed their
feelings for the series and contributed with analysis and comments. As
a person who is not a fan of Year Two and still find this nice and healthy
for the group, the pro and contra discussion during the Y2 sequence of
ExE being every bit as lively and philosophical as the Y1 sequence.
I have the greatest respect for people like Simon, Emma, David Welle
and the rest who for various reasons prefer Y2 over Y1 although my
personal preferences are the other way around.
Thanks Mateo, for a wonderful initiative and well executed job as
moderator during this extremely creative and enjoyable period on
the list.
Petter
[EDITOR'S NOTE: First part refers to a thread I have not yet posted.]
From: David Acheson (dkach@hot44mail.com)
Subject: Space1999: Maya and Year Two
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 06:36:20 EST
In regards to Teralisha@aol.com who feels put off by what she feels to
be constant negative criticism towards what she enjoys about Maya and
Year Two.
I understand you completely but please do not take the criticisms
personally. I, and probably a lot of other listmembers, went through the
same sort of feelings at some point in regards to something that they
enjoyed about the show only to have it laughed at by others. We are all
individuals who have different likes and dislikes. Sometimes those who
do feel the same as you do not speak up right away but you will find
that usually over time there are indeed those who feel the same as you
on any one topic.
I know for a fact that there are indeed those on the 1999 list who
prefer year two over year one. David Welle, for example, has been a
constant advocate but, like everyone else, has a busy schedule so does
not appear often to give us his detailed comments. I myself believe Maya
to be the best character on the series because of the wonderful
portrayal by Catherine Schell. Ms. Schell was able to give us a three
dimensional character who sometimes was more human than the humans on
the base. I also feel the metamorphing idea was interesting and probably
way ahead of its time. Odo on DEEP SPACE NINE owes a lot to her.
Although I prefer year one over year two I do find that there are some
episodes of year two I still enjoy. I love THE DORCONS and find it a
fascinating HAMLET/GREEEK TRAGEDY meet 1950's B film combination.
Although not a good closure to the series it is a good action story. The
Dorcons had the potential to be 1999's recurring aliens such as the
Klingons on STAR TREK. For many years during my childhood and to this
day I have made up several storylines with the Dorcons it it. Some more
hilarious than others. How about the Dorcons as members of STAR TREK's
federation? I do know how you feel as I decided not to comment on this
episode myself after Petter's rambling about Byrne's intentions to
destroy Maya and the series. I don't feel the same as Petter but I am
not going to start World War Three.
So I'll conclude by saying if one feels put off by criticisms just sit
back and take a deep breath. I find your time comes around eventually.
We have lost listmembers in the past over personal attacks of which many
were from perception rather than real criticism towards one. I almost
left a few times in the past but have managed to make it through one and
a half years so far.
David Acheson
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no)
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 15:37:04 +0000
Subject: Space1999: The Dorcons
David Acheson wrote:
> Although I prefer year one over year two I do find that there are some
> episodes of year two I still enjoy. I love THE DORCONS and find it a
> fascinating HAMLET/GREEEK TRAGEDY meet 1950's B film combination.
Heh heh. Wonderful description, David. Not too sure about the 1950's
B film production though, but there is a certain cheap-element in the
episode that could easily blend with some of the visuals. Maya is
perhaps rather 1950's kitch in a sort of way. At least the costume
she wore in THE METAMORPH indicated that the visual designers perhaps
wanted to assosiate with 1940's and 50's sort of glamour, Billy Wilder's
SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950) set in space so to say, or perhaps even closer
to the sort of trash-glamour that Andrew LLoyd Webber went for in his three
last musicals; PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1986), ASPECTS OF LOVE (1988) and
SUNSET BOULEVARD (1992).
> Although not a good closure to the series it is a good action story. The
> Dorcons had the potential to be 1999's recurring aliens such as the
> Klingons on STAR TREK. For many years during my childhood and to this
> day I have made up several storylines with the Dorcons it it. Some more
> hilarious than others. How about the Dorcons as members of STAR TREK's
> federation?
Byrne might have scored some points with Freiberger here, adding elements
of STAR TREK to SPACE:1999. Personally, though, I think THE DORCONS
should be read in more of the style of MISSION OF THE DARIANS, putting
a civilasation of culture and sophistication against barbariens, the
Dorcons representing the civilised and the Alphans the barbarians, of
course, studing behavioural patters in order to survival in both
groups and concluding with how the civilised world collapse as they
are outnumbered by the barbarians.
Favourite theme of Byrne this, is it? MISSION OF THE DARIANS is, of
course, significantly more substancial in that it makes explicit
references to Hellenistic history in particular, using the loss of
science and culture that was inherit in this culture in much a similar
fashion as the gene bank of the Darians.
It is anyway an interesting theme in history, similarities with the
fate of the Greeks are of course the fate of the Roman empire, the
British empire and perhaps the Nazi empire, Byrne making some wordplay
on Darian/Aryan, and apparently wanted the story to have a much more
focus on Nazism, science and survival in earlier scripts as he comments
in an interview somewhere.
In this perspective THE DORCONS comes across as a light version of
MISSION OF THE DARIANS. As Johnny Byrne also contributed to DOCTOR WHO,
a fact that has been mentioned by some in relevance with MISSIONS OF THE
DARIANS, I've noticed, I assume that even if THE DORCONS seem to have
strong elements of satire in it, it was, nevertheless, a format that
was not entirly unknown to him.
> I do know how you feel as I decided not to comment on this
> episode myself after Petter's rambling about Byrne's intentions to
> destroy Maya and the series. I don't feel the same as Petter but I am
> not going to start World War Three.
Ramblings indeed, but, nevertheless, having in mind that Johnny Byrne,
the heart and soul of Year One, had three of his apparently best
contributions to SPACE:1999 ever wrecked by Freiberger, only two of
them surviving in close to lobetomized condition, he couldn't have been
all that cheerful about the dictatorship I suspect.
> So I'll conclude by saying if one feels put off by criticisms just sit
> back and take a deep breath. I find your time comes around eventually.
> We have lost listmembers in the past over personal attacks of which many
> were from perception rather than real criticism towards one. I almost
> left a few times in the past but have managed to make it through one and
> a half years so far.
I don't think there has been much critisism of individuals on this list.
There are different opinions, that's right, and while some find pleasure
in THE DORCONS in reading it as a Johnny Byrne statement about what
went so terrible wrong with the second season of SPACE:1999, others
enjoy reading it as adding context to the SPACE:1999 universe, now
also including Dorcons who apparently are in conflict with Psychons.
One of the strong points about the list, as many have posted recently
and to which I strongly agree, is the diversity of it all. Some are
in it for the episode analysis, some are in it for the models, some
for the fan fiction and so on. If there is something this list has
shown to full extent during the last 12 months, it must have been that
there is more than room enough for all.
Petter
From: "Simon Morris" (simes01@global44net.co.uk)
Subject: Space1999: The Dorcons
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 16:10:53 -0000
Could I just preface my comments on this episode by just briefly saying
that I could identify with the pissed-off feelings of Teralisha and the
perception of antipathy by a number of List members to Y2 in general and to
Maya in particular. I suspect the vast majority *do* actually think
Maya/Catherine Schell was one of the most positive aspects of Y2...its just
that many were unhappy with the comic-book way she was sometimes used. And
thats an opinion I can sympathise with. What annoys me more(and I vented my
spleen on this before Teralisha joined the List I think ) is that a number
of Y1 fans are quite rudely dismissive of Y2 supposedly as it is too
brainless for them etc. Intellectual snobbery...that sort of thing. I can
remember no Y2 fans treating Y1 with the same discourtesy.....but all the
above said, I do not think there is *anyone* on this List who would wish in
any way to prevent Teralisha from commiting a particular point of view to
print. Whether it be about Y1v Y2,Freiberger,Maya or whatever.
I think it was John Kenneth Muir in EXPLORING SPACE 1999 that said that THE
DORCONS is the best episode of Year 2. I am equally adamant that it is not.
Watching it today I have a slightly higher opinion of it than I have ever
held before,but to me it remains a disappointment given that it came from
Johnny Byrne. THE METAMORPH (even after being revised by Freiberger to fit
his Y2 mould) remained a superlative script which retains a certain "Y1
air". THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME for me was a very effective melding of Y1 and
Y2 in that there was a certain philosophy,humanity and thought behind the
story whilst being clothed in the pacier and more immediate style of the
Freiberger era. THE DORCONS is by comparison standard Y2 fare, higher in
standard than,say, BETA CLOUD or SPACE WARP,but otherwise unremarkable. I
don't think I'd have guessed that Johnny Byrne wrote it if I didn't
know...though there are one or two flashes of brilliance now and then.
As I may have said before, I hate the old sci-fi standby of characters
being 'frozen',ie actors standing stock still- a technique much beloved in
the Irwin Allen days of tv sci-fi. This is how the episode starts and for
me its not a good beginning:-) Anyway,we are faily briskly launched into
the story from here on in.
A word about the guest characters. Ann Firbank is quite effective as a
silkily polite alien with a very hard centre. She never strikes me as
evil...she is doing a job which has to be done for the sake of millions of
people,and I suspect she does not relish it. Firbank does,I think,give a
good portrayal as someone with at least a veneer of civility and fairness
about her(she vetos Aarchon's instruction to kill Koenig on the grounds
that she promised that he would not be harmed).
Patrick Troughton as Aarchon isnt given much to do or base his performance
on,but Consul Varda gives us the impression that he rules for the benefit
of his people,that he has brought peace and stability,and that he has kept
them all from misery and disaster(as she tells Koenig). OK,so he and all
the other Dorcons are bastards for wanting Maya's brain stem,but there is a
certain Byrne-like examination of motives etc here. The Dorcons don't seem
to be inherently bad people...and to me there does seem to be a certain
reluctance in what they are doing. Varda tells Koenig that the security of
an empire is at stake and asks "What is one Psychon life against that?".
I'm not saying here that the attempt to rob Maya of her brainstem was
justifiable of course...merely pointing out that there is a nice "Does the
end justify the means?" question being posed by Johnny Byrne somewhere-I
suppose-along the same lines as that posed in the smashing Y1 episode
MISSION OF THE DARIANS. Its all right for the viewer to side with Maya and
Koenig over their 'inhuman' intentions for Maya-but what would we do if
*our* civilization depended on Aarchon surviving?. There's no easy
answer,is there? Going back to the character of Aarchon,when he says about
Maya: " To reduce a beautiful living creature to a living husk...." I get
the distinct feeling he is not at peace over what is being done in the name
of securing his immortality. (He could also be mourning her loss as a
potential bed-mate as well I suppose....)
Gerry Sundquist as Malic is totally evil in a camp sort of way. In fact the
performance is completely over the top IMHO. To me it always comes over as
a hammy performance of a Shakespearian type villain.....a different actor
might have transformed Malic into something rather harder-edged than we
got. As it is we have a typical power-monger who wanted to rule for his own
pleasure and benefit rather than his people. Nonetheless Malic generates
some effective conflict in the script with his dealings with Aarchon and
Consul Varda..and this is always a good element in the SPACE 1999 series.
Another question Byrne poses in the episode is how far would the Alphans go
to protect one of their own? Verdeschi rather immaturely strikes down an
operative for daring to suggest that perhaps they should let Maya go for
the safety of them all. When Verdeschi belts him I always mentally pat him
on the back as any Alphan who can be so callous towards such a lovely
creature should be torn limb from limb....but then I thought: "Well,hang
on! If *I* was on Alpha and facing certain death because of an alien in my
midst,would I necessarily feel any different?"
There are some exchanges of dialogue in the script which I relished...both
in Byrne's writing and in the performances. I am thinking chiefly of Koenig
and Varda here. I particularly liked the segment where Varda is telling
Koenig how Aarchon has brought peace and stability,kept them from war and
misery etc and Koenig replies(Landau plainly and effectively sneering his
dialogue here) "What are you doing-trying to justify your actions to me or
to yourself?". Nicely played and written.
The SFX (both miniature and on the studio floor) were quite spectacular as
Alpha is being blown to pieces stage by stage. I wonder if these FX ate
into the rest of the episodes budget, as I got quite fed up with the
spartan sets and also the makeshift cut-outs which the actors were standing
behind in lieu of tv-comm screens seen elsewhere in the series.
Finally I would be amazed if Johnny Byrne wrote the epilogue as I found it
quite embarrassingly unfunny...as indeed I suspect the cast did. I liked
the addition of humour to Y2 and I liked many of the epilogues(such as Maya
changing into an old hag as Tony is about to kiss her in THE EXILES),but
some were just excruiciating...and this was one of them. What a shame....
Overall a reasonably enjoyable episode lifted for me by some individual
Byrne touches. I would dispute Petter's contention that Johnny had any
intention of making a comment on his view of Maya as a tool of convenience
in Y2,or that Johnny was perversly trying to "kill Maya off". I can see why
Petter might think this,and indeed its a good way of starting a
debate/argument,but nowhere in any interviews with Johnny has he ever
stated that this was his intention. He has,however,said that the episode
was written to fulfil his contractual obligations and Freiberger's
requirements rather than to offer a personal view of anything or any
particular philosophical take on the series. In my view, THE IMMUNITY
SYNDROME would have made a far better episode on which to end the series
but it was not to be,alas.
'Damn good job they never got hold of Maya though....I'd never have
forgiven them!
Simon Morris
From: "Ariana" (ariana@ndirect4tag.co.uk)
Subject: Re: Space1999: RE: Space: 1999
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 10:56:35 -0000
>I'll start off tonight by saying: HELP! HELP!
>I feel lonely in my defense of Year 2 and the introduction of Maya's
>character.
Do not despair: there *are* Y2 fans out here. Personally, I haven't been
very active because I've been concentrating on writing (it's all very
well threatening to post my story here -- I could do with having a story
to post! ;). I have already expressed my interest in Maya at length on
the list and did not feel the need to reiterate the points already
discussed. Suffice it to repeat that she was the main reason I got hooked
on the show in the first place -- at last a female role model in scifi...
it certainly beat dressing up as the Y1 computer!
>Therefore I'm seriously debating as to whether I should post any thoughts on
>the episode "The Dorcons" since I detect extreme hostility towards the Dorcons
You're only detecting extreme hostility from Petter. Ignore him.
I enjoyed the Dorcons very much. It gave the Psychons some back history
and also offered an interesting insight into the way the other Alphans
might view Maya -- we already saw Carolyn Powell's hostility toward her
in "The Lambda Factor" and now that guy Tony punches expresses the view
that they should hand her over to be lobotomised. Petter can read in dark
motives from the writer, but what I see is that humanity's good old
xenophobia is still at work on Moonbase Alpha. Some rare exceptions
notwithstanding (Dave Rilley, perhaps), I get the impression that Maya
has very little interaction with the Alphan population at large, beyond
her relationships with Koenig, Russell and Verdeschi. She's fortunate to
have the affection of the command staff (and the security chief so
utterly besotted) -- btw, I wonder, in the light of this, how good
Alpha's internal race relations are...
The personal aspect aside, I believe this is the first time (and last
time) we see Alpha getting a RL pasting from a superior force capable of
warp speed and beaming... oops, wrong terminology. :) The Alphans were
jolly lucky again; without that usurping Dorcon twerp, they wouldn't have
got away at all.
I agree that the extreme vehemence of some Y1 fans is sometimes
depressing, but I suggest we Y2 fans try to rise above this and not
descend into calling things "pure crap". This is RL, there's no such
thing as absolutes, only subjective opinions, and value judgments lead
nowhere. Let the Y1 fanatics talk themselves into their little blinkered
ghetto and meanwhile, the rest of us will enjoy the show. :)
Emma
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 14:11:27 -0800 (PST)
From: "Anthony D." (atd1999@yahoo4tag.com)
Subject: Space1999: The Dorcons - Petter for a Day - Pt. I
Hi!
I thought I'd throw in my .02, too.
I rather enjoy this episode. I like the "Shakespearean" style show.
I agree with Simon (?) who said that it is not the "best" way to end
the series. Who knows, perhaps they thought they would be renewed for
a third season? The simple sets add to the script...*many* episodes of
Y1 (if I recall correctly) used simple large sets similar to those
seen here. I think Y1 had more "grandeur" (re: Collision Course) in
those simple sets, but hey, I'll take what I can get. There is only
one or two simple Maya transformations, but nicely, they FIT into the
story!!! I mean, hey, why not change into a human if you see PSychin
hunters on the big screen! Nively done, though I think the extra that
she turned into was not much of an actress!
As for the Dorcon's being Space:1999's Borgs or some such, it's
interesting to note that the phrase "Resistance is futile" came from
this episode! I did not realize that until I read the Columbia House
box and then watched the episode...now, before we all get sweaty about
the possibility that a Trek writer was a 1999 fan...the phrase is not
that unique, though it is WAY COOL to see it used 20 years (+/-)
before Trek! Has anyone done any research to see where this phrase
came from in the Trek world (God forbid I got off my butt and did it,
of course ;)??
I would not want the Alphans to land and settle on any planet,
unless the series was to be spun off ala Babylon 5's spinoff this
January, 1999. Think about it...if they have an episode that has them
find a new home planet, what would you feel when you watched the other
48 episodes? It would be a bit of a let down I would think. For those
of us in the US (perhaps it was shown in Europe too), the 1980's had
three Gilligan's Island TV movies (one of them had Barbara Bain and
Martin Landau too!). The first one had the castaway's find their way
home. Then the next I think they got shipwrecked again. Forget the
third, but the point is that you don't want them to find a new home.
You want the adventure to continue! Now, saying that, I could see Star
Trek: Voyager making it home at the end of its TV life. This would
open up the possibilities of a spin-off series. Since Star Trek is all
about space travel, galaxy travel,etc. the idea of a ship lost is not
that "over the top". That is, it doesn't really add much to the series
as you hardly see the ships in the other series interact with Earth on
a consistent basis anyway...
Oh by the way, Petter...I disagree about Space:1999 being a career
"killer"...Martin Landau went on to win an Oscar and play some very
good roles in film. Barbara Bain seems to have chosen a lower profile,
but has played guest roles in a few different series. Nick Tate has
appeared on Star Trek...I think he might also be on a future Voyager
episode. I'm not sure about the rest, but I don't think being on
Space:1999 had anything to do with their future careers.
Well, I've got more to say....I'll be playing "Petter for a day"...
Anthony
From: Mark Meskin (plastic.gravity@new44rock.com)
Subject: Re: Space1999: Maya and Year Two
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 21:34:56 -0600
From: David Acheson
>
> So I'll conclude by saying if one feels put off by criticisms just sit
> back and take a deep breath. d
Well said David. One of the things that has always kept me coming back is
the people here, you folks are just about the most insightful, thoughtful
bunch on the Internet. This list is the best thing that ever happened to
Space:1999's fandom!
I disagree constantly with some people on this list, but hey, its never
personal. I'm glad everyone else is somewhat different than me, life would
get pretty boring otherwise. And now this is just my personal opinion, but
I like Y1 much better than Y2, although when I was 8, the situation was
reversed! We all change, even Space:1999.
Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and managed to catch "Sleeping in
Light" last nite....it was incredible, wasn't it? I'm still misty eyed
today about it!
Mark
From: actingman-jc@Worldnet.att4tag.net
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 1998 00:25:24 -0500
Subject: Space1999: The Dorcons
This episode has what I think is an interesting mix of elements. You have
long dialog scenes of slight philosophical content with the aliens, you
have explosions and fires, you have chases, and you have a hokey tag. But
I think it works. It is one of the better episodes. Anybody tempted to
say it's another chase episode should be reminded that halfway through the
episode they are still on Alpha.
I thought this episode was more violent then most...from the destruction of
the buildings on Alpha, to the brain probes and the intended violence we
saw prepared for Maya.
It's a little strange (or stupid) seeing Stewart standing there when Varda
arrives, after what he did, with a laser in his holster. Also, in the tag
he is there again with a weapon, looking like nothing has happened.
It will take a starving actor to point this out, but Maya changing into the
Alpha technician gave that actress whom we have seen in the background this
season a nice little bit of business.
Once again we see the use of scrim and lighting to create the effect of
viewscreens on the alien ship, when it is actually the actors standing
behind the wall doing the communications scenes in real time. That saves
quite a bit of money and time, especially with the number of times they
used the effect in this episode.
I've always thought it would have been a more interesting and stronger
ending if instead of Varda's weapon going off and starting the destruction
of the ship, Maya, in the confussion, was able to get a weapon and she
instead purposly sets the destruction in progress. Then they could have a
more philosophical tag where she either is in conflict with herself for
doing what she had to do by destroying a ship full of people (even though
they are the dreaded enemy) or that she felt no guilt, and seeing how the
Alphans react to this in her.
the former jcg@vh.net
From: South Central (Tamazunchale@web44tv.net)
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 23:45:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Space1999: Varda=Gwent
Think about the similarities:
1. The polite threats
2. The Alphans have something Varda/Gwent wants...supplies/brain stem
3. To back up her/its threat various surface buildings get blown up.
4. Koenig has to beg for the bombardment to stop..."Whatever words
appeal to you!! "/ "Surrender is sufficient" (I can't remember the
exchange with Varda.)
5. Koenig eventually gives in.
6. He does something from the INSIDE of the alien ship to make it
explode/die.
This had never occured to me before.
Mateo
From: "Petter Ogland" (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no)
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 1998 11:09:39 +0000
Subject: Re: Space1999: The Dorcons
Simon wrote:
> I suspect the vast majority *do* actually think
> Maya/Catherine Schell was one of the most positive aspects of Y2...its just
> that many were unhappy with the comic-book way she was sometimes used. And
> thats an opinion I can sympathise with. What annoys me more(and I vented my
> spleen on this before Teralisha joined the List I think ) is that a number
> of Y1 fans are quite rudely dismissive of Y2 supposedly as it is too
> brainless for them etc.
I can't remember anything about people saying that Y2 is brainless for
them or similar, far less any rude remarks of any kind. On the contrary,
actually, I think there has been a splendid discussion of both Y1 and Y2
with lively participation.
More than ever I feel that the inhomogenity of the group makes this into
a very versatile and interesting list. While some find Maya a symbol of
what went wrong with the show others find her the major reason for watching.
Whatever opinion, most seem to be happy with Catherine Schell as a very
good actress indeed. As an interesting parallell, Yasko does also have
the ability to stir up emotions in a similar way. In this case the
majority, or at least what appears to be the majority, have very little
nice to say about her while there are a few persons who think she is
absolutely the tops and even get frustrated by people hacking on her
pronounciations.
To me SPACE:1999 is mostly about RING AROUND THE MOON and the other
early Y1 episodes slightly reminicent of this style. To me Helena
Russell is an immensly more interesting character than Maya, at least
in the early episodes such as BREAKAWAY, MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH,
BLACK SUN and RING AROUND THE MOON. I don't know how many times I've
heard negative comments on Barbara Bain in relation to some of these
episodes. Quite extraordinary, I must say, but, nevertheless, we all
have different tastes, and I accept that.
If peopel start to trash RING AROUND THE MOON, however, rather than
finding it offensive, I read this as an invitation to discuss my
favourite episode, and RING AROUND THE MOON that gives me very much
enjoyment, I can easily go on discussing this episodes for days and
days, weeks and weeks, perhaps even months and months.
Other favourite moments of SPACE:1999 are the incidents in FORCE OF
LIFE and THE TROUBLED SPIRIT where we see Helena sitting at her desk
at night doing research. Quite fantastic, and wonderfully congruent
with the prologue of BREAKAWAY that really gives away her character,
and such highlights as the keyboard punching sequences in RING AROUND
THE MOON. If there is something that really gives me pleasure it
is to watch Helena on the punchboard panel seen through the eyes of
Triton. Absolutely fantastic!
> .....but all the
> above said, I do not think there is *anyone* on this List who would wish in
> any way to prevent Teralisha from commiting a particular point of view to
> print. Whether it be about Y1v Y2,Freiberger,Maya or whatever.
I don't think there are anyone who would really prevent anybody from
writing anything about SPACE:1999 on this list. In the beginning of
the Y2 ExE discussion there were quite a lot interesting comments on
Maya, what she represented, what kind of person she was, what she felt,
what she liked and so on.
Just like DORZAK was an excellent opportunity to try to figure out
how Penfold felt about SPACE:1999 and its development, I think THE
DORCONS is a wonderful opportunity to make some comments about Maya. It
is, anyway, one of the few episodes that try to give some insight into
her character, and, as I see it, we really only have two people, apart
from Catherine Schell of course, that seem to have helped deveoping
her character and that is Johnny Byrne in THE METAMORPH and THE DORCONS,
and Fred Freiberger in his Woodgrove trilogy.
As far as I'm concerned, the insights into human nature given by Johnny
Byrne are far more insightful and interesting than those of Freiberger
although he has some points as well.
As both THE METAMORPH and THE IMMUNITYSYNDROM were written before the
production of Y2 had started, at a time when Johnny Byrne was appointed
the script consultant role of Chris Penfold that was eventually given to
Fred Freiberger, it comes as no surprise that both these episodes have
much of the Y1 air about them, even though they are heavily watered down
in order to fit the Y2 format, as is explained on the Catacombs sites.
THE DORCONS is, contrastingly, written at a moment when Y2 had gotten
a shape, and was not an adaption of another script in order to fit in
with the new concepts. I have personally chosen to read it as partly
a satire on SPACE:1999 with some sad and bitter utterances about what
was going on behind the scene, why there would be no Y3 for instance
and partly as development of the MISSION OF THE DARIANS episode.
I don't think it is the worst of episodes, although far to much time
is being spent just running around according to my taste, but it is
neither the best episode of the second series, if though, a nice
conclusion to the series the way I see it, a bit like the Monty
Python boys just snipping of the film in the final act of THE HOLY
GRAIL (1974), a voice-over shouting "Show's over! Go home!" while the
cast is being arrested by the police, filmed documentary style, THE
DORCONS makes a splendidly absurd ending to it all in the finest
expressionist and surrealist traditions of Bert Brecht and Jean Cocteau,
I think.
> Patrick Troughton as Aarchon isnt given much to do or base his performance
> on,but Consul Varda gives us the impression that he rules for the benefit
> of his people,that he has brought peace and stability,and that he has kept
> them all from misery and disaster(as she tells Koenig).
I like this too. The quiet desperation displayed by Firbank and Troughton
is immensly fit for the Shakespeare and Sofocles subtext of the episode.
There is much the same type of characters in MISSION OF THE DARIANS, but
I think the characters in this episode are no less interesting. I
even though Gary Sundquist made a good Hamlet/Oidipus in a performance
that comes rather close to what Malcom McDowel did in CALIGULA (1979).
> I'm not saying here that the attempt to rob Maya of her brainstem was
> justifiable of course...merely pointing out that there is a nice "Does the
> end justify the means?" question being posed by Johnny Byrne somewhere-I
> suppose-along the same lines as that posed in the smashing Y1 episode
> MISSION OF THE DARIANS.
These are some of the very good points about the episode, I agree. It
poses some of the very same questions of MISSION OF THE DARIANS indeed,
although, interestingly, while the Alphans were observers to the conflict
in that episode they are every bit involved in this one. Interestingly
enough Byrne makes the assosiation between the Psychons and the primitive
barbarians on "Level 9" or whatever it was called in MISSION OF THE
DARIANS, probably a comment on to what level the series had sunk I believe,
but, nevertheless, interesting point of view as the purpose of the
Alphans is not to save humanism like the Darians but it is a question
of survival at all cost, the question of the survival of their alien
friend Maya put against the survival of Alpha and civilization as we
know it. It is the paradox of war, I suppose, individuality being
ignored for the sake of community, probably one of the major reasons
for human beings having conquered this planet.
> Another question Byrne poses in the episode is how far would the Alphans go
> to protect one of their own? [....] but then I thought: "Well,hang
> on! If *I* was on Alpha and facing certain death because of an alien in my
> midst,would I necessarily feel any different?"
Perhaps Johnny Byrne was contemplating the problems of those who were
housing Jews in Europe during WWII. Would you risk your home and family
for the sake of a stranger living in the attic? There were some brave
people who did, but I suppose most would be thinking about their own
survival. Very much the same type of conflict that was the main thread
in THE SURVIVORS, wasn't it? I don't remember that one as well as
SPACE:1999 back in the 1970's, but I still have an image of some of the
grim bits.
> There are some exchanges of dialogue in the script which I relished...both
> in Byrne's writing and in the performances. I am thinking chiefly of Koenig
> and Varda here. I particularly liked the segment where Varda is telling
> Koenig how Aarchon has brought peace and stability,kept them from war and
> misery etc and Koenig replies(Landau plainly and effectively sneering his
> dialogue here) "What are you doing-trying to justify your actions to me or
> to yourself?". Nicely played and written.
Johnny Byrne in top form, I agree.
As we go on discussing this episode, it appears to me to be more below
the surface than what might seem at first. Personally I still have
difficulty reading the sequences where Maya pleads of getting killed
off as not having anything to do with how Johnny Byrne was feeling
about the series when he wrote this. Nevertheless, the episode seems
to be about other things as well, and apart from the "standing still
and being investigated by an omnious light" routine once again and
the boring running around on the Dorcon space ship, there is much good
that can be said about the episode, I think.
Petter
From: TERALISHA@aol4tag.com
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 1998 11:30:36 EST
Subject: Space1999: RE: Space: 1999
Hi All!
Fortunately my sense of humor has returned. Me fellow & I did something
different this year for Thanksgiving - we stayed away from all of them - easy
for him to do because he doesn't get home from work until 1:00 am so he can
sleep late everyday. We did leftovers in the late afternoon. Nice & quiet.
Now I sit here drinking Orange juice and battling a head cold & have lost my
voice completely. I wonder if Dr. Russell has a cure for the common cold?
As for being po'd, nah never. It must have been the pre-effects of the cold.
As for the Dorcons - this is one my favorite episodes of Yr2
"Resistance is futile" - I think someone already mentioned the possibility
that a 99 fan had written this into the trek world so I won't.
The Dorcons are an interesting bunch, aren't they? But one question: If they
knew of Maya's existence, how come they didn't know of Dorzak's?
How did they find out about her being on Alpha in the first place?
One would think that if they had gone back to Psychon & found that the planet
no longer existed that they would have assumed there were no Psychon's left.
Are their scanners that sophisticated that they "sensed" Maya clear across the
galaxy, after if I remember correctly, that the moon had gone through a space
warp catapulting it several light years further into the universe?
Oh my I'm rambling, oops!
I like the opening, but could have done with a little less screaming
Bravo to the performance of Catherine in the beginning - I think she did a
superb job in showing both total fear and yet trying to explain to her Alphan
friends that there was no way to get out of this situation, at least not totally
intact.
The scenes of Alpha being blown to bits were nice - but very eerie.
While I can understand Tony's viewpoint, I do think that the rest of Alpha
would have preferred to give her up - one life compared to 200 some? I also
thought that Helena's refusal to kill Maya was a nice friendly gesture and
that the scene where Maya is on the floor and Helena is with her is nice too
and then Varda kicks the laser away. Ouch, you're thinking Maya's in trouble
now!. Bain has a way of not saying anything but yet using that hug or pat or
touch very effectively.
Koenig's effort to buy more time by threatening to shoot Maya was clever on
his part - a Commander who thinks on his feet is always handy to have around.
Then there's the internal conflict between the Dorcons Malic and the Archon -
and Varda's loyalty to the Archon - very good subplot.
Koenig's last ditch effort by jumping into the transporter beam is a good way
of showing that he cares for what happens to his personnel and with Tony &
Alan knocked out he had to do the crazy "Look at me, I'm a hero bit!" I liked
that characteristic in him - it reminded more of the Commander that we saw in
Breakaway in Yr1.
Most of the action on the Dorcon ship was ok but I feel we missed out by not
checking back in with Alpha to see their reactions. Poor Tony was probably a
wreck and Helena too, afterall she had no idea if John successfully got to the
ship or if he was disintegrated as the beam cut off.
The last scene on the Dorcon ship was too easy, almost. And just how
convenient that they could beam back to Alpha. But I'm glad they got back.
Depending on how you look at it the ending scene on Alpha can be successful or
not.
If they were planning to do the 3rd year, & I think they still were at that
point - then it works because it just goes with the Tony/Maya's relationship -
keep the viewers in suspense as to where it's headed - just like other shows
have done & still do - don't let the romances go to quick or the viewer will
lose interest in that aspect. Nice humor with John/Helena as she flirts with
him. Nice friendly humor and just lead right into the 3rd season opener.
BUT:
if you look at it as the closure to the series - it just - excuse me for
saying this- bites. I mean really "Damage repairs are well in hand, 100%
imitation coffee?"
Wait a minute - I think the base just suffered HOW much damage? People
killed, , The least they could have done was shown them complaining about how
long repairs would take, yetta yetta...........and that titanium or tiranium
supplies were nearly depleted, that hydroponics was in deep serious
trouble...........
Oops, I'm rambling again.
By the way, do they have any laser cannons left at this stage of the game?
And how many Eagles are still functional?
How many personnel left alive & functioning on Alpha?
Well, I think I'll quit rambling at this stage of the game and go get more
orange juice
It's become obvious that this episode leaves a lot of open room to discuss
lots of things..........
Maybe that's why I know of a fanfic story using this as a jumping off point.
Now where is Dr. Russell with that cold cure?
Bye all & Have a very good day!
From: "Simon Morris" (simes01@global44net.co.uk)
Subject: Re: Space1999: The Dorcons
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 1998 17:20:43 -0000
Petter wrote:
>I can't remember anything about people saying that Y2 is brainless for
>them or similar, far less any rude remarks of any kind. On the contrary,
>actually, I think there has been a splendid discussion of both Y1 and Y2
>with lively participation.
Oh yes they have Petter!! You're right about the splendid discussion but
some of the remarks made(including some of your own) have made it quite
clear that,intellectually, Y2 is a poor relation to Y1. That's fine if
thats your opinion and that of others. For the sake of my blood pressure I
shan't requote some of your own phrases that you have used but I think your
memoery is being somewhat selective here.....
>More than ever I feel that the inhomogenity of the group makes this into
>a very versatile and interesting list. While some find Maya a symbol of
>what went wrong with the show others find her the major reason for watching.
Thats right. She wasn't the major selling point of Y2 for me but I still
found her a neat addition to the cast. Thats not to say that I didn't miss
Victor Bergman because I plainly did;however I did not find the loss of
Kano and Morrow especially upsetting as there was very little
characterisation in either role. At least Barry Morse did inject a little
personality into his role. Maya and Victor together on Y2 would have been
fascinating!
It all depends how it is done,doesn't it? I was not always happy with the
comic book way that Maya was used(gratuitous transformations etc) but I
never kept repeating the "Hanna Barbara" approach either,which was beaten
over the head by certain people. Freiberger had a background(amongst many
other things)in childrens tv which sparked his imagination. That's all he
ever said.....
>To me SPACE:1999 is mostly about RING AROUND THE MOON and the other
>early Y1 episodes slightly reminicent of this style. To me Helena
>Russell is an immensly more interesting character than Maya, at least
>in the early episodes such as BREAKAWAY, MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH,
>BLACK SUN and RING AROUND THE MOON. I don't know how many times I've
>heard negative comments on Barbara Bain in relation to some of these
>episodes. Quite extraordinary, I must say, but, nevertheless, we all
>have different tastes, and I accept that.
Right again. I felt Helena came over a lot better in Y2,certainly a lot
less starchy. She was also a far more attractive lady in Y2 IMO. She didn't
really have a hell of a lot to do in either year though...though THE LAST
SUNSET in Y1 gave her a more active role than normal and likewise I suppose
ONE MOMENT OF HUMANITY(and others)in Y2. In RING I didn't see any
discernible characterisation..she just goes about whispering a lot.
>If peopel start to trash RING AROUND THE MOON, however, rather than
>finding it offensive, I read this as an invitation to discuss my
>favourite episode, and RING AROUND THE MOON that gives me very much
>enjoyment, I can easily go on discussing this episodes for days and
>days, weeks and weeks, perhaps even months and months.
Yes, we noticed Petter! To be fair,RING *has* had more than its fair share
of detractors-and not just on this List. I watched it again the other night
and my opinion has not changed: that it is essentially boring,slow moving
and a 30 minute story stretched to 50 minutes. My opinion of MATTER OF LIFE
AND DEATH and MISSING LINK is much the same. OK if you think otherwise. I
liked DEATHS OTHER DOMINION(my favourite episode of Y1 *and * Y2)and
DRAGONS DOMAIN...but these two episodes that I thought fabulous,you were
not so impressed with. As you say,we're all different.
>I don't think there are anyone who would really prevent anybody from
>writing anything about SPACE:1999 on this list. In the beginning of
>the Y2 ExE discussion there were quite a lot interesting comments on
>Maya, what she represented, what kind of person she was, what she felt,
>what she liked and so on.
Absolutely Petter,and I hope Teralisha takes this point on board.
>As far as I'm concerned, the insights into human nature given by Johnny
>Byrne are far more insightful and interesting than those of Freiberger
>although he has some points as well.
Well I agree with you here. Watching THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME just makes me
ache for more of Johnny Byrne in Y2. If only some of the positive
influences of Freiberger could have married with the thoughtfulness of
Johnny Byrne,we might have had a Y2 that *all* SPACE 1999 could have
praised. The thing that I liked most about Y2 was its fast pace compared
with Y1. I also liked the addition of humour but not especially
Freiberger's idea of humour...rather the wittiness of Terence Feely in NEW
ADAM NEW EVE,for example.
>THE DORCONS is, contrastingly, written at a moment when Y2 had gotten
>a shape, and was not an adaption of another script in order to fit in
>with the new concepts. I have personally chosen to read it as partly
>a satire on SPACE:1999 with some sad and bitter utterances about what
>was going on behind the scene....
No,I don't think it was intended as a satire or comment about Maya or Y2 .
It was Johnny knocking a script out as quickly as possible so that he
could get off the series. Interesting thought occurs to me here...would THE
DORCONS have been better thought of if it had not been the last episode?.
To me, the episode is not of sufficiently high quality for the show to have
"gone out with a bang". It was the last show in production and yet there
is no sense of "Well,this is it...the least ever. Lets make it
unforgettable!". And as others have pointed out,a little bit of re-writing
could have made THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME a suitable and quite poignant final
episode,though not as much as the CHILDREN OF THE GODS story could have
done.
>THE DORCONS makes a splendidly absurd ending to it all in the finest
>expressionist and surrealist traditions of Bert Brecht and Jean Cocteau,
>I think.
Interesting comparison but I haven't a clue what you mean here Petter. I've
never seen Y2 in intellectual terms,but then I didn't see Y1 in such terms
either. Its all entertainment to me. Y1 was science fiction with
action-adventure. Y2 was action adventure with science fiction. The mix was
different.
>I like this too. The quiet desperation displayed by Firbank and Troughton
>is immensly fit for the Shakespeare and Sofocles subtext of the episode.
>There is much the same type of characters in MISSION OF THE DARIANS, but
>I think the characters in this episode are no less interesting. I
>even thought Gary Sundquist made a good Hamlet/Oidipus in a performance
>that comes rather close to what Malcom McDowel did in CALIGULA (1979).
Good point Petter! I especially like your comparison of Sundquist and
McDowell in CALIGULA,which I don't think is too wide of the mark at all.
>Perhaps Johnny Byrne was contemplating the problems of those who were
>housing Jews in Europe during WWII. Would you risk your home and family
>for the sake of a stranger living in the attic? There were some brave
>people who did, but I suppose most would be thinking about their own
>survival. Very much the same type of conflict that was the main thread
>in THE SURVIVORS, wasn't it? I don't remember that one as well as
>SPACE:1999 back in the 1970's, but I still have an image of some of the
>grim bits.
Well,its the same sort of principle isn't it? If I'd been on Alpha as an
operative somewhere other than Command Centre I wouldnt have had a great
deal of involvement with Maya. Someone else said that Maya probably didn't
inter-react very much with anyone other than Koenig,Helena,Tony, etc. I
wouldnt therefore want my life and survival to be on the line just to save
her from an unpleasant death!. Actually,there is a theme that could have
been explored here but wasnt. We all know that in 1998 racism is still
apparent in the world. There's nothing to suggest in SPACE 1999 that it
isn't an issue then(and ok there is nothing to suggest that racism is a
problem either;it just isn't mentioned,but maybe it should have been?)but
supposing there were members of the Alphan community who actively
discriminated against Maya as an alien being?
>........ apart from the "standing still
>and being investigated by an omnious light" routine once again and
>the boring running around on the Dorcon space ship, there is much good
>that can be said about the episode, I think.
Its not one of my favourites Petter,but anything which Johnny Byrne has a
hand in can't be all bad.
Simon
[EDITOR'S NOTE: This subtopic, already half-straying from 'The Dorcons',
then proceeded to further "evolve" into a fully separate thread called
Intellectualizing 1999.]
From: David Acheson (dkach@hot44mail.com)
Subject: Space1999: The Dorcons
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 1998 21:34:44 EST
Here goes! What I like about THE DORCONS is not substantially its chase
and destructions sequences (although the base being blasted is visually
spectacular) but rather the sequences with Varda, the Archon and Malic
and the Varda-Koenig scenes. Here, we move away from a cartoon cut out
and into a real flesh and blood storyline.
To me the real interesting and well-acted character is Consul Varda as
played by Ann Firbank. I believe Ms. Firbank is an accomplished stage
and film actress but is mainly unknown outside of Britain. I think I've
only seen her in one old film so far. She gives Johnny Byrne's lines
real life as a believable character torn between what her job is and
what is right. Her duty first and formost is to the security of the
empire and its leader, the Archon - at all costs. This doesn't
necessarily make her a bad person nor the Dorcons an evil race. I
believe someone earlier brought this up. She constantly had to tell
Koenig the reasons for her actions which prompted Koenig to shout out
whether she was justifying her actions to him or herself. Its probably a
bit of both.
In fact, I never got the impressions they were pure evil - except maybe
Malic. The Dorcon empire seemed plagued with political problems. I
believe, in the end, we really see no differences between the
technologically advanced Dorcons and the backwood Alphans. My how some
of those Alphans were so willing to sacrifice Maya for their own lives?
1999 touching on a risky subject as racial intolerance was interesting
indeed. Are we (and any race) only civilized when our bellies are full,
we are comfortably sheltered and there are no threats to our lives?
I agree (with whoever mentioned it) that Patrick Troughton did not have
much to do in the episode. Bringing him onboard to play such a small
role was more for star power than anything. However, as the wise and
gentle Archon who appears to be the glue holding the empire together, we
can understand Varda's loyalty to him. In many ways, we may even feel
sorry for the old fella. He looked tired and reluctant to go on with
this mission but understood quite well why he had to do so. Duty calls.
Petter relates the episode to Johnny Byrne commenting on the demise of
the series and the death of Maya but I sometimes feel he had the British
royal family and its set of duties and pageantry in mind when writing
about the Dorcon hierarchy. Its particularly relevant in the post Diana
and Fergie days.
As for that brat Malic. Any hack actor could have played the role just
as hammy so Gerry Sundquist does not go down as a memorable 1999 guest
actor. However, the over the top jealous nephew thwarting to take the
throne himself is the closest to Shakespeare this episode can get. Don't
you just want to swat him when he takes the amulet off his dead uncle
and proclaims himself the new Archon. It is Malic that is representative
for all the evils in Dorcon society - evils that again are easily found
in our own human civilization.
Like all Shakespearean tragedies the players have to die. Thus the
internal gun fire and the destruction of the battlecruiser.
As for the Alphans, this is John Koenig's episode. Koenig is thrown in
as the unofficial referee between the two opposing Dorcons sides
represented by Varda and Malic. He also shows himself as the protector
of his base by risking his own life going after Maya. Maybe not a smart
move but he definitely doesn't feel the same as that Alphan who Tony
hit. Maya is one of his family. Except for Maya who was the reason for
the Dorcons' arrival in the first place, Tony, Alan, Alibe and Helena
had little to do and were virtually non-existant in the last half hour.
With the Alphans not pertinent to the story THE DORCONS does not make a
great swan song to the series as a whole. However, it is still an
interesting action story that has some philosophical depth to it which
tended to buck the Freiberger direction. Maybe, Johnny Byrne was smarter
than Mr. Freiberger realized. Smile.
So we reach the end of the episode by episode discussions. Its been a
fun 48 episode review and enjoyed the comments. What next?
David Acheson
From: David Acheson (dkach@hot44mail.com)
Subject: Space1999: Return of the Dorcons
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 06:05:01 EST
Someone asked how was it that the Dorcons were able to cross space to
find Maya but did not know of Dorzak's existence?
First of all, I believed the Dorcons stumbled across Maya quite by
accident. They, like most other races, truly believed the Psychon race
to be mainly destroyed upon the destruction of the mother planet.
However, they could understandably be prepared for the accidental
arrival of a rogue Psychon. Rumours have flown since even before
Psychon's destruction that several inhabitants had flown off into space
seeking a new home. Remember that Maya told us this back in THE RULES OF
LUTON and told us that her brother was one of those who left. Although
communication with the others was cut off that does not mean there are
still a few Psychons out there.
That probe in the beginning of the episode was probably just doing a
rountine patrol and was only lucky in finding Maya on the base. However,
as soon as it detected a Psychon lifeform it alerted the Dorcon
homeworld and the battlecruiser flashed across space appearing over
Alpha.
Once in their capture, they prepared Maya for the surgery but I don't
believe they ever actually read her memories. If they did that they may
have known that Dorzak was still alive and was on his way to a penal
colony. Hmmmm, I smell a sequel.
David Acheson
From: South Central (Tamazunchale@web44tv.net)
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 12:13:41 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Space1999: Return of the Dorcons
If the Dorcons DID find Maya by accident, then it was pretty damn lucky
that it was by a ship on which the Archon was traveling, and pretty damn
unlucky (and stupid for the Dorcons) that the the Archon, his heir AND
his "First Minister"--or whatever Varda's title was--were on board.
Seems like a dangerous way to run an empire--then again, the Minbari did
the same thing.
Mateo
From: actingman-jc@Worldnet.att4tag.net
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 15:27:57 -0500
Subject: Re: Space1999: Return of the Dorcons
I was under the impression that the first ship was more of an unmaned
probe, and when it reported back that it had located a Psychon, then the
Flag ship with the Archon materalized at that point to capture Maya.
From: TERALISHA@aol4tag.com
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 15:10:09 EST
Subject: Space1999: re: those dorcons
I mentioned the questions on the Dorcons finding Maya because I assumed that
since Varda said something like "We've journeyed across the galaxy to meet
your people" (something to that effect) that it was a planned journey for the
Dorcons.
Oh well I could be wrong.
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 14:24:46 -0600
From: "Robert Gilbert" (bcpgd@shaw.wave4tag.ca)
Subject: Re: Space1999: re: those dorcons
Unless they are Omnipotent, so know the Future!
From: "Brian Dowling"
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 23:09:31 -0000
Subject: Re: Space1999: re: those dorcons
Look at things like this.. Dorcons have been going around using Psychons to
achieve immortality for ages when suddenly the planet is destroyed. That's
a bit of a blow, especially if you've been looking forward to immortality.
What more important thing to look for than any remaining Psychons?
Lo, Dorcons were sent to all parts of the known galaxies in search of
Psychons - they had heard the rumours that there were those who had escaped
before Psychon went up, and they were tasked with finding any Psychons and
reporting their locations to the Archon.
It came to pass that the Earth moon was believed to have a Psychon living
on it, as the Earth moon had been the last object seen around Psychon
before it was destroyed. So the Archon summoned his most trusted subjects
and his son and made haste for the Earth moon.
And there was rejoicing when the Archon found that there was indeed a
Psychon amongst the Earth people. His immortality was all but assured...
Brian Dowling - Birmingham, England
Online Alphan #144
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 18:08:41 -0600
From: David Welle (dwelle@itol4tag.com)
Subject: Space1999: The Dorcons
Alphans,
Although we sadly have to say farewell to the original Space: 1999, in
terms of ExE-based commentary, with this episode, it helps that the series
ended on a strong note (well, IMO anyway) with "The Dorcons," to which I
must contribute comments before my last chance on the ExE thread expires
(especially considering my erratic contributions due to all the usual
reasons and then some).
Anyway...
This story starts out innocently enough, with the sighting of an object
radiating some energy but otherwise inactive and apparently lifeless. It
quickly escalates into a nightmare for Maya as a sort of scan leaves
everyone but Maya in stasis (had to have made her feel a little alone),
damages a computer panel, and then focuses on her, causing intense pain.
No one can help her, and she screams for help and collapses as the others
are freed again.
She's revived, and states it was a mind probe, one that obviously focused
on hers. The object is shielded and unresponsive, and Koenig is almost
ready to send out Eagles when it suddenly starts shifting with cascades of
light and then vanishes into a cloud, only to expand and reappear as a
completely different object that strikes terror into Maya and, for the
first time, reduces her to whimpering fear, very visibly frightened for
reasons that aren't at first clear to Tony and the other Alphans, who try
to calm her down and find out the reasons for her reaction.
It's a ship Maya recognizes as being from the ancient enemy of the
Psychons. She has obviously learned about the Dorcons from her father or
through history/political studies while growing up.
Alan's scans recognize a meson converter, apparently a device Maya upgraded
the scanners to look for, because none of the others no about it. "It's a
means of transforming matter into energy and reshaping in whatever form
they like." That description -- and the ship's change itself -- shows it
bears a remarkable similarity to the capabilities of Pscyhe, her father's
powerful machine, which prompts one to wonder, given Maya's subsequent
description of them, if they have been stealing Psychon technology in their
"hunt" for Psychons.
The Dorcons believe they can achieve immortality "through" the Psychons, as
Maya puts it, and Counsel Varda of Dorca is soon demanding that Commander
Koenig hand her over. The Alphans intend to defend against the Dorcons,
and even Varda recognizes that he is defending principles as well.
"You are bringing death to your people," Varda adds, and Maya begs to let
them have her, having already cried, "You can't help me," to the Alphans,
and now verifying, "Resistance is futile" (that phrase sounds familiar :-).
She has already described the Dorcons as being extremely powerful, and
certainly believes Moonbase Alpha is no match for a Dorcon ship, and fears
the destruction of the base and her friends. Catherine Schell's acting is
once again superb, shining as she shows a new and unexpected side to Maya.
The Commander, however, besides indignation at the Dorcon's demand and
defensiveness regarding his people, flatly denies Varda's "request" and
Maya's plea, perhaps also fearing starting a slide down a slippery slope of
loss of honor and more importantly principle. As the episode progresses,
it presents an interesting and powerful conundrum. Is the life of one
worth the risk of the death of all? Some Alphans would demonstrate that
their answer would be "no," others reaffirm Koenig's stand, though Maya
herself insists the answer is "no." It is in defending another person that
the best can often be brought out of people, but the worst is as well.
I wonder what the Alphans would have felt if, in the end, Maya was indeed
surrendered by the Alphans -- irretrievably -- to the Dorcons. Maya is
obviously -- but not quite universally -- liked, but even beyond that hit
to morale, what would they have felt about their collective honor and
principles. There would have been some awful wrenching soul searching, I
would imagine, and perhaps a permanently diminished sense of their own
rights to a happy future. But back to *this* "reality."
Varda, interestingly enough, seems to believe being "reasonable people"
means the Alphans would hand her over, obviously working from different
belief and actions than the Alphans. The Dorcons look human enough, but
are nonetheless aliens. Yet their are stuck with some of the same petty
emotions as humans, particularly in Malic, jealous that his uncle is so
close to an immortality that will basically shut Malic out of the position
of Archon.
When the Dorcons start their devastating attack, that is when cracks start
showing, with two Alphans insisting Maya be handed over (and one promptly
getting slugged by Tony for his effort). Maya begs Helena to kill her ("If
I'm dead, they'll leave"), but her friend can't. It's all very believable.
Then we get more explanation from Maya.
Looking "nearby," in the realm of SF TV, it also reminds me -- curiously
enough -- of the last episode of /Buck Rogers in the 25th Century/, which
was entitled, even more curiously, "The Dorian Secret." In that episode,
the Dorians were insisting that a woman be handed over to them, confronting
a passenger ship full of confused and frightened people with trying to
discover where this woman was and then later whether to hand her over.
Some said "no" and some "yes," and she was eventually handed over by some
of the passengers, while one of the crew (Wilma?) said something to the
effect of "I don't know who I feel sorry for -- the woman you just
condemned to death, or you." The woman was actually Dorian, but I was --
and still am -- struck by the similarities between "The Dorian Secret" and
the earlier "The Dorcons."
The Alphans did not actually hand her over. Before that, but after the
attack concludes (with some clever talk by Koenig), there is a tactless
moment where several command personnel, including Helena, rattle off the
toll the attack has taken, including people missing and killed. It's
routine and necessary, I suppose; but obviously painful for Maya to hear
the cost of her friends.
Alpha is then invaded. On Helena's order, Maya attempts to hide in a way
unique to her, by transforming into an Alphan visage. It doesn't help.
Not only do the Dorcons have transformational machinery, but are also able
to deal with the Psychon biological ability, and find her with the same
sort of scanner they used before, which not only inflicts pain, but forces
her to stay in or revert to her base form.
Tellingly enough, the very person that got slugged by Tony for suggesting
to hand Maya over is now the first that tries to defend her (well, it could
be argued it was for Alpha) by being the first to try shooting one of the
invaders. He is stunned for his effort.
They aren't after her metamorphic ability, but her brain stem, shockingly
enough. Apparently, though Psychons do eventually die, their brain stems
are surprisingly hearty, while Dorcons' are their bodies' weakest links.
For Psychons, perhaps part of the metamorphic ability is based there, and
the stem either has to be that much more resistant to damage or it is kept
healed more than any other organ, by the same ability. Aarchons probably
die sooner or later by accident, or this one wouldn't be seeking a Psychon.
Psychons probably get themselves destroyed before giving up, so it's
probably rare for a Dorcon to actually get what they want.
It's this episode's most difficult point, in several senses, including that
it's somewhat hard to make sense of, requiring some suspension of
disbelief. Yet the surrounding plot and characterization is so well done
that it is smoothed over, and I simply accept that part of the premise for
the length of the story.
Eventually, after Tony and Alan are also knocked out trying to defend Maya,
and after some final struggles of her own, she is captured and removed to
the Dorcon ship. Besides the Archon's future health, I think there is one
other concern with him: senility -- if only because I am surprised he
doesn't actually recognize a Psychon on sight. Maybe he had no reason to
know of them before if they were but one of dozens or hundreds of races
they were warring with or had subjugated, but it shows a degree of
intellectual laziness that he hadn't found out more *now*, when he is
staking his future on finding a Psychon.
Of course, it is his right-hand woman, Varda, who's really doing most of
the work, while his nephew snipes away with words of spite. The Archon
himself *does* seem keenly aware of Malic's ambition and frustration.
Koenig steals aboard the Dorcon ship, but is promptly stunned and
imprisoned. This was a good setup. The first time I saw this episode, I
couldn't figure out how Koenig would be able to help after that point. The
drama that ensued and set him somewhat free turned out to be very
interesting. It was hinted at with the sniping between Varda and Malic
over the Archon (position and person). It caught me by surprise that time
(but not now, of course) that Malic set Koenig free. It seemed so highly
irresponsible, but turned out to be calculated (and still irresponsible).
Then, I figured that Malic was free Koenig to free Maya in hopes they'd
both leave and deny Archon his immortality. Of course, where could the
Alphans really go? So I still couldn't figure Malic's intent. What
purpose did it serve. I can still remember entertaining the thought that
Malic had a shred of decency in him. Definitely not.
Koenig was set loose as a distraction for Varda and the rest of the crew,
drawing most away from the task at hand and allowing Malic to wreak his own
havoc. At his release into the rest of the ship, you can see high
suspicion on Koenig's face. He knows Malic is playing him, and Malic has
to prod Koenig to try to save Maya, and in the end, Koenig knows he still
has to try to do that, regardless of Malic's greater intent. It's an
excellent scene which starts an almost Shakespearean style story of
betrayal from within as Malic's actions indirectly and then directly start
to unravel the Archon's world.
While Koenig's movements distract Varda and many guards, Malic makes his
own moves, eventually ending up in the same room Koenig finally stumbles
on: the surgery room, where Maya has already been forced to
unconsciousness and the Archon lays helpless.
The betrayal happens in front of Koenig's eyes as Malic kills a doctor and
then the Archon, Malic's own uncle. Koenig jumps in at this point and
fights with Malic. Malic has already made a mistake in mishandling the
equipment. He's used it to kill the Archon, but has released the
restraining beam from Maya, who now comes to and knocks Malic aside to
escape with John.
They sneak around in the ship for a bit, but there's only one place they
know to go: the main control room, where the Meson converter could
transport them to the planet. Varda is there with guards, and John and
Maya are brought to a standstill while Malic shows up and blames them for
the Archon's death.
It's all too convenient for Malic, with everything having essentially
fallen in place. Koenig is with Maya, and it seems he had to have freed
her; there's no reason to even suspect anyone else in the deaths of the
Archon and the surgeon; Koenig has already proven to be a minor irritant in
resisting "reason" in the demand to hand Maya over and in getting on board
the Dorcon ship.
The tragedy for Malic is he set the ground for his own undoing. He's
already tried to get Varda on his side. She obviously had no prior thought
of the possibility of Malic betraying the Archon in such a grand manner,
and even teased him without realizing he might take horrifying steps to
become more than just the heir. Maybe it's not often in Dorcon nature.
Maybe Malic never took action in his life, as much as he huffed and
bluffed. Maybe Varda was naive, blind, or arrogant.
But Malic's huffing, as much as Varda dismissed it at the time, comes back
to haunt her, and as Koenig hurls accusations at Malic, some start to stick
in Varda's eyes, and her expression turns into one of horror as she begins
realizing how much it fits. Malic set up Koenig -- and everyone else --
well, but he set himself up for scrutiny as well, and that becomes his
undoing.
Varda still has more authority, and her order to detain Malic prompts him
to kill her -- his next major mistake. It's old hat -- a "bullet" going
dangerously awry from the gun of a shot person -- but I guess I don't have
a problem with a series using this lightly. In fact, there wasn't much of
any other way out of it. Even if Varda had survived and Malic was taken
prisoner, it wasn't like she'd free Maya. Varda would still have her held
for some other worthy Dorcon, probably the next person to take the position
of Archon after Malic was discredited. It was also still better than
having the Alphans shoot their way out. The power plays among the main
three Dorcons was excellently plotted and acted, and I liked the
confrontation occurring the way it did.
Varda's dying shot does fatal damage to the ship. It's a bit too
convenient that the beam down capacity just goes on, but one could stretch
and figure the system was going wild first, and reran its last activity.
In any case, Maya and John make good an escape while Malic tries to command
the systems back into working order as the ship dies and finally explodes
around him.
Alan thoughfully gets some coffee for the two undoubtly thirsty Alphans,
while Tony kiddingly asks Maya if she's got any other Psychon secrets.
It's a joking jab in a lighthearted moment where everyone is trying to
relax; but it hides a serious question. As much as Maya wants to fit in,
and as much as she would be reticent to discuss the now destroyed Psychon
that nearly proved the end of the Alphans, has she kept too much hidden?
Helena can't understand Maya's physiology all that well, but it's hard to
say how much Maya could really tell her. That actually brings up another
point: wouldn't Dorcon physiology try to reject a graft of Psychon tissue?
Perhaps Dorcon power includes better medical knowledge and
immunosuppressors or some other way of handling the issue. Or maybe
Psychon tissue doesn't have as many antigens to be potentially rejected.
Maya apparently didn't say much about her father or the possibility of
other Psychons in space until "The Rules of Luton" and "Dorzak." That in
turn brings up another point. Maya now believes she's the last living
Psychon, but it's hard to say how she knows that or if she knows it for
sure, because I don't think "Dorzak" conclusively settled the question.
Nor has Maya talked at all about Psychon's place amongst other worlds, and
how they interacted. One can't blame her for not wanting to even think
about the possibility of the Dorcons finding her, much less telling the
rest of the Alphans about them. She apparently quietly programmed the
sensors to look for their signature device, however -- the meson converter.
The bit about the Dorcons even finding Maya brings up the question of just
how the Dorcons found out Maya's location in the first place. I wonder if
the miffed Taybor, already a sore loser, didn't blab about "the Psychon
beauty that broke my heart on Moonbase Alpha." ("Moonbase Alpha? Where's
that?" asks a suddenly interested Dorcon....)
She's kept a lot of secrets. A lone, shocked and hurt individual among
aliens her own father tried to kill -- one can hardly blame her for not
telling too much about her that might damage her chances at getting and
keeping a life among them.
The whole episode is very tightly plotted, and the writing and acting --
all around -- is among the tops of the series. The three Dorcons, John,
and Maya were perfect. Tony fits perfectly as his anger and tenderness
build in lockstep. Alan played little of a role. Helena did very well,
and the extra supporting characters among the Dorcons had the perfect
touches of coldness, with the Alphans fitting their roles about as well.
All this matches the performances of "New Adam New Eve." The themes were
very interesting, with, as I said, elements of centuries old tragedies on
the Dorcon side. I may have even underplayed this episode's thematic
strengths, but I've been writing this review in pieces, so I don't think
I've really gotten it all together as well as the episode itself did. It's
only weakness was a medium-sized one with the premise, where the brain stem
idea leaves me unsure; and a small one at the end where the beam
conveniently switches on for the escaping Alphans.
These keep the story from being a perfect A+, but an A or maybe A- will
fit. This episode has always been, and still is, among my favorite five of
the season. More on that later.
As to ending the series with this episode? Well, as I said, this is a
strong episode to go out with. Of course, it gives no closure at all,
considering it did end up being the last. The immediate question is, of
course, just *when* the decision made not to carry on to a third season. I
suspect the decision wasn't made until after final editing on "The
Dorcons," considering they may not have passed much beyond the halfway
point of the season at that point. I don't have the broadcast and
production dates handy, so I really don't know that.
"Children of the Gods" sounds like an intriguing story, and would have
given a large degree of closure. I'm sorry it wasn't produced, but if
someone asked me if I'd have wanted "The Dorcons" dropped for its sake, I
would have replied a different near-end episode could have been dropped.
No, I don't really want to try to answer that question.
As interesting as "Children" would have been, it brings back that same
question about timing; but one has to wonder further, whether closure would
have really been a good thing or not. Sure, we all know the TV series was
terminated after two seasons; yet I think it having been cut off and left
open-ended has proven fertile ground for speculation -- and writing --
about Alpha's fate. It's still hard for me to really answer that question,
but it reminds me of Arra's statement way back in Y1: "You shall continue
on. Your odyssey shall know no end. You will prosper and increase in new
worlds, new galaxies. You will populate the deepest reaches of space."
That statement doesn't deny the Alphans finding a new world to settle on,
because it does indeed strongly *suggest* that they will.
Some of us have suggested that the Alphans got lazy about finding a new
world in Y2. Yes, they made several tries, but in several other cases,
they seemed to miss opportunities. Yes, it shows some problems with the
writing, but I'll still use the lapse to wonder about whether the Alphans
started picking up their own sort of laziness, of getting a little full of
themselves, and among all the hard and good lessons, also picking up a few
potentially troubling ones. In Y1, they were almost ready to through
themselves at the worst planets. They seemed to act as if they were in
immediate mortal danger of dying on Alpha, even to the point of considering
settling on a planet already at war ("The Last Enemy"), among others. The
Alphans wisely decided against these worlds, while being cheated out of
others (e.g. Piri, as well as Y2's "The Immunity Syndrome" planet later
on). They've also proven they can live long-term, though still not
permanently (esp. considering the question of too little life support
capacity to even allow new births) on Alpha. So I wonder if they have
gotten a little more choosy, even to the point of feeling some comfort (!)
on Alpha, set in their surviving ways. I don't believe it's anywhere near
the point they would pass up a livable planet, or stop exploring
candidates; but it's something to consider.
I'll probably think of some more general topics to chew on, but I'll move
on for the moment.
My 1.999 cents,
----
David Welle
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 19:11:05 -0600
From: David Welle (dwelle@itol4tag.com)
Subject: Re: Space1999: Return of the Dorcons
>I was under the impression that the first ship was more of an unmaned
>probe, and when it reported back that it had located a Psychon, then the
>Flag ship with the Archon materalized at that point to capture Maya.
(*Click*)
Maybe I misunderstood something said in the episode, but I always assumed
the probe turned itself into the battleship, as if they already thought
Maya was on board but lay in wait to verify it. Maya talks about "It's a
means of transforming matter into energy and reshaping in whatever form
they like," like it was some sort of transforming the ship, not
transporting one ship away and another in its place.
I've replayed that part again, and I realized that I've never paid enough
attention to what Alan said about "shifting it through space."
In fact, it's almost contradictory, in that Maya talks about transforming
and "reshaping," and Alan about transportation.
Yet, put the two together, and it may make more sense that the probe was
being transformed into energy, transported away as energy, replaced with
the warship (still as energy), which solidified.
Hmmm...
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 19:14:52 -0600
From: David Welle (dwelle@itol4tag.com)
Subject: Re: Space1999: re: those dorcons
>I mentioned the questions on the Dorcons finding Maya because I assumed that
>since Varda said something like "We've journeyed across the galaxy to meet
>your people" (something to that effect) that it was a planned journey for the
>Dorcons.
I think that's the other reason I concentrated on "transformation" and
"reshaping," as if the probe were the warship in camouflage, and that they
basically knew about Maya and Alpha long before they arrived.
>Oh well I could be wrong.
So can I.
Now I'm confused! :-)
----
David Welle
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 19:36:43 -0600
From: David Welle (dwelle@itol4tag.com)
Subject: Re: Space1999: The Dorcons
At 12:25 AM 11/27/98 -0500, actingman-jc@Worldnet.att.net wrote:
>I thought this episode was more violent then most...from the destruction of
>the buildings on Alpha, to the brain probes and the intended violence we
>saw prepared for Maya.
It was very intense. The destruction of the base just went on and on.
From a special effects standpoint, it was visually spectacular, and far
from dragging out, it really drove home the point on how much damage the
base was taking, so that by the time Stewart arrived, you could really
believe that people were getting desperate enough that some even wanted to
throw Maya to the wolves.
>It will take a starving actor to point this out, but Maya changing into the
>Alpha technician gave that actress whom we have seen in the background this
>season a nice little bit of business.
I'm happy they at least used a familiar face instead of throwing in yet
another face we've never seen before.
>Once again we see the use of scrim and lighting to create the effect of
>viewscreens on the alien ship, when it is actually the actors standing
>behind the wall doing the communications scenes in real time. That saves
>quite a bit of money and time, especially with the number of times they
>used the effect in this episode.
It's probably already been defined, but could you or someone please tell me
what "scrims" are?
>I've always thought it would have been a more interesting and stronger
>ending if instead of Varda's weapon going off and starting the destruction
>of the ship, Maya, in the confussion, was able to get a weapon and she
>instead purposly sets the destruction in progress. Then they could have a
>more philosophical tag where she either is in conflict with herself for
>doing what she had to do by destroying a ship full of people (even though
>they are the dreaded enemy) or that she felt no guilt, and seeing how the
>Alphans react to this in her.
Interesting thoughts indeed, and either of these would have been more
interesting than the tried and true but somewhat hoary old "dying shot
going awry" bit.
----
David Welle
From: actingman-jc@Worldnet.att4tag.net
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 01:06:04 -0500
Subject: Space1999: scrim
A scrim is loosely woven cloth when lit from the front you cannot see
through it, and when lit from behind, you can see through it. When the
alien viewscreen is "off", they have a bright spot hitting the front of the
material, and no light on the actor standing behind the "screen". When the
viewscreen is "activated", the front spot is brought down at the same time
a bright light is brought up on the actor behind the screen, thus the
viewscreen "turning on."
From: TERALISHA@aol4tag.com
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 22:45:57 EST
Subject: Space1999: RE: More Dorcons
Evening all!
I too replayed the tape again today.
I had always assumed that the probe ship was really the larger Dorcon ship, in
disguise so as not to give any prewarning to Maya.
I don't think the Dorcons would have been too happy if she'd have done herself
in before they had the chance to take her captive.
Anyhow, on to other points. Someone (can't remember who) mentioned the
question of Alphans willingly giving up their lives for Maya.
Of course we all know Tony would - no question on that, but I saw this time
that our hero Alan - lovely soul that he is didn't even stand around to anwer
Varda's question. He was out the door and headed to an Eagle to blow the
ba.... up. Now there's a dedicated friend for you. Also shows one of the
many reasons why Alan is so well liked. I know he didn't have much to do in
this episode but those few seconds are great! And of course he continues the
effort after they stun down Tony. One has to wonder what poor Maya would be
feeling after seeing her lover and a very good friend zapped. For all we know
she may have suspected that they were dead at this point.
Just read D Welle's most interesting comments. Fascinating and I say worth
quite a lot IMHO.
Giving us food for thought as pertaining to Maya's background. Does make you
wonder.
I had never considered that Maya would update the Alphan computer to check for
meson conv. or anything else but now it makes perfectly logical sense. She
already feels guilty over what Mentor had done to the Alphans so of course she
would attempt, perhaps quietly, to utilize some things to help keep her new
home & friends safer in a sometimes unkind universe.
After you mentioned I remembered that Buck Rogers episode. Now there's an old
memory!
I think that Malic played Varda as a fool all along. He portrayed himself as
a bratty spoiled SOB when in reality he was probably always looking for the
opportunity to grab the throne. I believe he was probably frightened of
Varda's intelligence & judgement, she obviously had already formed the opinion
that Malic wasn't then or probably ever going to be rulership material and
probably suspected that Malic would cheat his way there, if given the chance.
After all who would have suspected him to be as cunning as he turned out to
be?
As for D's theory on rejection and such, perhaps the Psychons are more
compatible with other humanoid species, despite the physiological difference,
than any of us have previously thought?
You also brought up another question. Maya stated to Tony that she was the
last living Psychon and that they wouldn't leave without her, but & correct me
if I am wrong hadn't they already encountered Dorzak and Sahala earlier? If
that's the case then Maya wasn't exactly being truthful. Of course then
Koenig could have offered to point them in the direction of Dorzak.
As usual we can all probably keep continuing to find points to discuss on
this, & probably every other episode.
I think it would be very interesting for the list members to actually meet
face to face and go round table on all of this.
Oh, by the way what exactly is Earthfall? If someone can clue me in I would
appreciate it.
Goodnight all.
From: "Mark Meskin" (plastic.gravity@new44rock.com)
Subject: Re: Space1999: The Dorcons
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 21:40:25 -0600
> It was very intense. The destruction of the base just went on and on.
>, so that by the time Stewart arrived, you could really
> believe that people were getting desperate enough that some even wanted
> to throw Maya to the wolves.
What really bothers me about this, is the Frieburger ending........the base
is nearly erased, many are dead, yet the crew are happy go lucky, all is
well, yeah we'll have it all fixed by then end-of-the-day commander
sir........shit! Ugghhhhhhhhh! Freddy stikes again! Maybe I'm spoiled
by Year 1 episodes and Babylon 5 where the characters have to live with the
consequences of the episode......
A more appropiate resolution would have had the Commander sitting alone
with the list of the dead crew or the damage report and Maya coming to talk
to him about the "price" paid for her life and freedom......certainly more
sobering and definately more of that "real" emotion that FF kept saying he
wanted to inject into the series.
Just my 2 cents.
Mark
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 22:32:29 -0600
From: David Welle (dwelle@itol4tag.com)
Subject: Re: Space1999: The Dorcons
>What really bothers me about this, is the Frieburger ending........the base
>is nearly erased, many are dead, yet the crew are happy go lucky, all is
>well, yeah we'll have it all fixed by then end-of-the-day commander sir...
Ah, yes, I was so busy expanding on Tony's single comment at the end that I
forgot to make the rest of the scene a nit, because the contrast within the
episode did jar -- far more than in other episodes. I can see levity to
try and desperse the shock to a degree and make the rest easier to deal
with -- as shown in some episodes, and was also just as happy when some
episodes terminated without such a tag (I had mixed feelings about them).
In "The Dorcons," the base and its people took more damage here, and I
agree the existing tag, except maybe some form of Tony's question, was
really inappropriate. Now I know why I was wavering between A and A-, and
that's because I was forgetting the tag. A- then.
>A more appropiate resolution would have had the Commander sitting alone
>with the list of the dead crew or the damage report and Maya coming to talk
>to him about the "price" paid for her life and freedom......certainly more
>sobering and definately more of that "real" emotion that FF kept saying he
>wanted to inject into the series.
I think I've heard of someone having written a post-tag scene to start
another story, with a scene much like what you suggest. I haven't seen
this or even found out a story title, so I don't know for sure.
I've also been working the long term consequences of Mentor, Dorzak, and
the Dorcons into post-Dorcon time-frame stories, simply because I think
there are a lot more implications on Maya and other Alphans than shown in
"The Dorcons."
----David
From: "Petter Ogland" (petter.ogland@dnmi4tag.no)
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 08:05:20 +0000
Subject: Re: Space1999: The Dorcons
> It was very intense. The destruction of the base just went on and on.
> From a special effects standpoint, it was visually spectacular, and far
> from dragging out, it really drove home the point on how much damage the
> base was taking, so that by the time Stewart arrived, you could really
> believe that people were getting desperate enough that some even wanted to
> throw Maya to the wolves.
I think this fits well with the hypothesis that Johnny Byrne was letting
go of his anger and frustration over Freiberger, Maya and the series
with this one. As such I think it is a splendid way to end it all,
with the explosion of the Dorcon spaceship the universe of SPACE:1999
being blasted to pieces. Anti-thetical to TESTAMENT OF ARKIDIA in a way,
the last episode of the previous season that ended with a hope, this
season ends with total devastation.
While David Acheson prefered to read the Archon, Varda and Malic triangle
as a Johnny Byrne comment on the British royal family, perhaps thinking
about the relationship between the Irish and the British, I have tended
to feel that Byrne was perhaps modelling the characters on Sylvia, Gerry
Anderson and Freiberger. Obviously Archon would be a nice symbol of
Gerry Anderson, the man who was weary of it all but still tried to
keep the pieces together. Varda and Malic are more difficult to place.
Reading about Sylvia's interesting in episodes like THE TROUBLED SPIRIT,
Varda could perhaps have been modelled on her, but, as she obviously wanted
to have nothing to do with Y2 the way it was turning, she was probably not
around at the time THE DORCONS was written. Although Malic is the one
the causes destruction he does not seem a very adequate fit of Freiberger
otherwise, and, on a second thought, probably not a likely interpretation
of him.
> Interesting thoughts indeed, and either of these would have been more
> interesting than the tried and true but somewhat hoary old "dying shot
> going awry" bit.
If we read Maya as representing Freiberger in this episode, residing
brain-dead on a table most of the time, heh heh, nice humour by Byrne
here if it was intended to be read this way, it feels better to have
her not destroy the whole thing, not on purpose at least. I don't think
Freiberger deliberately wanted to destroy SPACE:1999, I think it had more
to do with his views on what is entertaining and what is not.
With the anger that Johnny Byrne perhaps must have felt when writing this
particular installment, perhaps he was identifying with Malic a
person whose sole perpose in the episode is to execute the wrath of the
gods.
Petter