Spoilers U.F.O. TV Series (1970) Discussion Thread.

[valkyrie013]

So, I have a love for old Sci Fi movies and Tv series. A long time back I started UFO, but didn't get past the first episode for some reason, I've recently went back to it (Its on Tubi for free, commercials, but its not bad)

Now, for a early 70's series, contemporary to TOS, its effects are pretty good for the Era, using Gerry Anderson's work from Thunderbirds, and later Space 1999 in miniature effects. As a model builder, i enjoy these retro effects.

I'm not quite done with the series, episode 17 of 26 ( only lasted 1 season) I find it quite good, sure some clunkers, and it is an early 70's series, so its a bit dated, but it is very progressive in its writing.
"Spoilers for a 70's show incoming"
For dark writing, they had the main characters son get into an accident, and had to special deliver a medicine, but was diverted for a UFO, and the medicine got there to late, and well, surprisingly, the kid died!
Another, and alien helps one of the mains, and just gets un ceremoniously shot at the end...

Alot of episodes don't have that "Great Reset" some end kind of crapily, and some stuff does pop up in latter episodes. So slightly serialized, but very episodic.

So, has anybody else watched this series?
Thoughts??

To me instead of Rebooting stuff that succeeded, they should reboot stuff that was okay, but maybe didn't do well, say like THIS show, or like Battlestar Galactica, or Space Above and Beyond, stuff that lasted a season, but didn't continue.
I think this show would work out great as a series, Do a slightly StarGate SG1, have a secret UFO Defense force with UFO Derived tech to help them fend off an invasion. Use alot of the ideas and story's from the previous season, but updated to take in advances in technology and physics knowledge.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Yeah, I love it. At its height, it's the best Gerry Anderson ever did, beating out Thunderbirds and Space: 1999, both of which I'm also a fan of.

Some episodes are great. Some range from good to excellent. Some objectively aren't so great, but are still fun.

I'm presently engaged in a slow-burn retrospective rewatch of the series, and I've not yet revisited everything.

Examples of the best the series has to offer that I've seen within the past year would be "Computer Affair" and "The Psychobombs".

"Computer Affair" might end up as the best of the series. It pretty much has it all, right in one episode.

Also good are "Conflict", "Destruction", "The Man Who Came Back", "Flight Path", and "The Responsibility Seat". I recall that "Survival" was good when I saw it decades ago.

As with Space: 1999, not everything makes sense, so don't expect it to. In many ways the VFX "porn" here is superior to that in Space: 1999. The whole production feels rawer, fresher. The horror elements that permeate Space: 1999 and give it some of its distinctive flavor are also present in UFO, though in their own also distinctive way.

As far as a reboot is concerned, IMO, making SHADO too advanced would compromise the premise. SHADO is not FTL capable, but the UFOs are. The interception strategy in outer space depends upon plotting and flying the correct trajectory in time and detonating a (presumably nuclear) missile at the correct time and place. One thing that is arguably missing is that there need to be some space stations covering the sky where the moon is not. The limited resource theme is ever-present, so Straker fighting to get these online would make sense. In terms of the similarity between UFO and Men in Black, UFO preceded MiB by decades, but the secret agency is also intrinsic to the premise of UFO. Both UFO and Stargate have in common the idea that the military has secret programs to deal with aliens, but one of the intrinsic elements of Stargate is that they rely on super-advanced alien technology to travel outside the solar system. I really think this is incompatible with the core premise of UFO. The agency in MiB is also too advanced to be compatible with UFO. In UFO they are resource strapped, but they are going toe-to-toe with the aliens. With a stiff upper lip. It's really quite British when you get down to it. In many ways, it's like the Battle of Britain, but In Space.

 

[Jedi Marso]

Loved this show, still love it. I go back and revisit an episode every now and then.

I think more than anything else, I just love the whole retro-60's groovyness of the whole thing. It's like every idea they had for Austin Powers got lifted out of this show, although we know that's more influenced by Bond.

These days, it boggles my mind that the show was supposed to be in the future: 1980! Which is now over 40 years in our past.

Love the moonbase girls, love Wanda Ventham... hell, love ALL of 'em. They just don't make women like that, anymore.

Love the music. Hell, I just love the whole show.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Love the moonbase girls, love Wanda Ventham

There's even an episode when Colonel Lake (Wanda Ventham) dons a purple wig ("The Man Who Came Back").

https://gerryanderson.fandom.com/wiki/Colonel_Virginia_Lake#The_Man_Who_Came_Back

 

[John Clark]

It's been a couple of years since I last saw it (though I had seen it as a kid way back when).

Enjoyed it a lot

 

[Saul]

Haven't watched it yet as far as I can remember but I will and when I do it will be from beginning to end.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Saw random episodes as a kid.

Watched the whole thing as an adult three months ago, with zero nostalgia, and it was awful.

I could see what they were trying to do, but they fell short.

 

[Jedi Marso]

How 60's was it watching Gabrielle Drake get out of her 'working outfit' into her 'relaxation outfit' (which just happened to be a miniskirt) up there on the moon?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

As far as a reboot is concerned

Neal McDomough as Straker.

I totally called it.

 

[Wingcommanderdarkwolf01]

I remember reruns of this when i was a kid.

 

[diankra]

It varies. The early episodes (so far as can be made out with the way episodes are fairly randomly run) aren't great, but once you understand the person beneath Straker's cold surface...

 

[Galileo7]

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[Guy Gardener]

Once they declared that the aliens were a disembodied intellect, that used flesh for tempory transportation, more so than a home, I thought... "Oh! They're the fricking Mysterons!"

 

[JD]

I've never seen this, but I'm aware of, and I plan on checking it out eventually. Seeing so many people on here praising it, is definitely getting a little more curious.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Started watching it for the first time a while back after hearing about it for decades. Surprisingly good.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Started watching it for the first time a while back after hearing about it for decades. Surprisingly good.

Any theories about the Moongirl wigs?

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Any theories about the Moongirl wigs?

They're purple.

 

[Nerys Myk]

They're purple.

I agree

 

[Galileo7]

UFO "Timelash" great episode beginning...

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[Jedi Marso]

Any theories about the Moongirl wigs?

Sylvia Anderson said in interviews that they were simply part of the uniform, a fashion statement, more or less. They didn't carry any special significance beyond that. Like so many other things in the show, the wigs were just a very 60's / 70's thing.