No Space: 1999 Forum?

[seigezunt]

Just kidding.

But seriously, I just found a bunch of cheap dvds of this show, which I hadn't seen since it was first aired. I'm about a third into the first season, full nostalgia mode.

The moon, traveling through space like a ship? WTF? And it seems to stop and go as they please. Huh?

And what is it with Barbara Bain? Can she not act, or did someone tell her to give such a wooden performance?

Still, the part of me that loves trippy brit skiffy digs it. I remember watching this when I was still a very new ST fan, and being, well, WTF? Still I had a model of an Eagle and all that.

I'm loving it.

Discuss.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

You love those wacky 70s flared costumes....go on admit it.

 

[Mr Awe]

For better or worse, this was the show that got me into SF back when it originally aired in the US in the 70s. So, I have a soft spot for it. I find it very hard to watch now, however!

Mr Awe

 

[diankra]

Regardless of the concept's problems, the first season has maybe eight genuinely great episodes, and as many fun ones (and eight more dreadful ones). Season two has maybe half a dozen fun ones, a lot of dreadful ones, and a handful of insults to the intelligence of 10-year-olds... well, that's what I reckoned as a 10 year old.
But at its best, it has wonder and awe in a way that Trek rarely (and that was probably deliberate - that 'This is a realistic ship, it just happens to be in the future' approach) did. Worth rewatching for that.

 

[SeerSGB]

Space 1999 is what got me back into watching old sci-fi TV, aside from TOS and BSG:TOS. Yeah it's a pretty WTFWTS* concept, but it was a good serious for the most part.







* WTFWTS - What the fuck where they smoking

 

[diankra]

* WTFWTS - What the fuck where they smoking

Big cigars! Lew Grade gave it the go-ahead as a follow-up to UFO, so long as it wasn't set on Earth (as Earth-based UFO episode shad been doing badly in the States). And Lew Grade chain-smoked the biggest cigars around...

 

[Candlelight]

Regardless of the concept's problems, the first season has maybe eight genuinely great episodes, and as many fun ones (and eight more dreadful ones).

Season two has maybe half a dozen fun ones, a lot of dreadful ones, and a handful of insults to the intelligence of 10-year-olds... well, that's what I reckoned as a 10 year old.

I think it's more like:
Season 1 - 75% Great
Season 2 - 20% Great

 

[KeepOnTrekking]

Not exactly my cup of tea. I do remember Maya in "Rules of Luton." Usually she could change from one form directly to another but for some reason in this one she was trapped as an animal in a small cage and couldn't change into something smaller because she had to revert to her humanoid form first. WTF??

 

[diankra]

Not exactly my cup of tea. I do remember Maya in "Rules of Luton." Usually she could change from one form directly to another but for some reason in this one she was trapped as an animal in a small cage and couldn't change into something smaller because she had to revert to her humanoid form first. WTF??

That was one of the episodes written by Charles Woodgrove - a pseudonym for producer Fred Freiberger. He named the planet Luton after seeing it on a road sign and reckoning it sounded 'alien'. He didn't apparently reckon that the people who lived in and around Luton, or had seen the advert that mentioned Luton airport, might not quite get that.

Imagine a Trek episode set on the planet Burbank.

 

[seigezunt]

and not one, but two different kick-ass opening themes.

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

Well, I for one would welcome a Space: 1999 forum.

The moon, traveling through space like a ship? WTF? And it seems to stop and go as they please. Huh?

Yeah, there was a massive nuclear explosion and it pushed the Moon out of Earth's orbit and onto this completely uncontrollable trajectory. That's the point - it's the journey that's important, not the means by which it happens. (And of course, they don't stop and go as they please - they cannot control the course of the Moon. That's why it's always such a rush to survey a new planet, they have 48 hours to make the decision whether or not to evacuate the base before the Moon moves out of range- if they make the wrong choice, the Moon will be gone, there's no going back...) When the story demands that they encounter a new planet, then they pass through a new system; when they need to be whizzing through deep space, then they are. It's a fantastical element, certainly, but I don't think of it as a problem with the show. It's like Odysseus somehow couldn't manage to sail back to Ithaca, but took ten years roaming around the Mediterranean, encountering all sorts of strange perils on the way. The journey is the important thing, and what the characters discover in the process: about themselves, about the human psyche and the soul and God and faith.

And what is it with Barbara Bain? Can she not act, or did someone tell her to give such a wooden performance?

Yes, she can act. That's why they gave her those Emmy awards! I think Bain makes a brave acting choice by choosing to play Helena as a totally professional, dispassionate Doctor - it makes her believable as the chief of the medical section, and the person responsible for the mental and physical well being of the crew, and safeguarding their fragile environment. I believe her more as someone who's calm and collected and objective. It's brave becuase it removes the more feminine, caring aspect that such a character might be given in another series (someone more touchy-feely like Doctor Crusher, say).

Still, the part of me that loves trippy brit skiffy digs it. I remember watching this when I was still a very new ST fan, and being, well, WTF?

I like both shows, but Space is a very different beast to Star Trek. Trek is essentially a series of allegories for the social and political issues of sixties America. Space uses the metaphor of unknown deep space to explore the unknown depths of the soul and the mind.

I'm loving it.

I'm not surprised. It is the most mind-blowing tv show of all time.

 

[Starkers]

Still one of the best theme tunes ever (they knew how to do theme tunes in the 60s and 70s), the Eagle is still one of the coolest ships ever. It is a shame that Bain and Landau didn't put a bit more warmth into their characters, but they're still very good. Hasn't quite retained the love I had for it in my youth (unlike TOS and B7) but its still good, in hindsight though I think I prefer UFO now.

Oh and kudos for giving us Alan Carter ace Eagle pilot! He was always my favourite character.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

The Hawk interceptors were cooler than the Eagles, though only seen once ot twice on the show.

It's a shame they didn't proceed with UFO with the new sets and models. That "Moon visiting a different planet weekly, but we couldn't evacuate the base with the Eagles" setup was just too weak to hold my attention, even as a kid.

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

That "Moon visiting a different planet weekly, but we couldn't evacuate the base with the Eagles" setup was just too weak to hold my attention, even as a kid.

It's not every week. The Moon encounters a new planet 10 times out of 24 episodes in the first season - and one of those is a rogue travelling planet.

 

[Pingfah]

I enjoy it, it has some good stories and is often quite well written

The costume and set design is quite dated and the acting sometimes leaves something to be desired, but the model and miniature work really is excellent.

 

[Starkers]

The Hawk interceptors were cooler than the Eagles, though only seen once ot twice on the show.

It's a shame they didn't proceed with UFO with the new sets and models. That "Moon visiting a different planet weekly, but we couldn't evacuate the base with the Eagles" setup was just too weak to hold my attention, even as a kid.

They could evacuate using the Eagles, it was just they never quite found the planet they really fancied marooning themselves on for the most part!

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Yes, she can act. That's why they gave her those Emmy awards! I think Bain makes a brave acting choice by choosing to play Helena as a totally professional, dispassionate Doctor - it makes her believable as the chief of the medical section, and the person responsible for the mental and physical well being of the crew, and safeguarding their fragile environment. I believe her more as someone who's calm and collected and objective. It's brave becuase it removes the more feminine, caring aspect that such a character might be given in another series (someone more touchy-feely like Doctor Crusher, say).

Based on her performance as Helena, I think that Barbara Bain would've made a better Number One instead of Majel Barrett.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

The Hawk interceptors were cooler than the Eagles, though only seen once ot twice on the show.

It's a shame they didn't proceed with UFO with the new sets and models. That "Moon visiting a different planet weekly, but we couldn't evacuate the base with the Eagles" setup was just too weak to hold my attention, even as a kid.

They could evacuate using the Eagles, it was just they never quite found the planet they really fancied marooning themselves on for the most part!

Well, there was Earth, right after the explosion. It's not like they were picking up more speed after the big boom.

As for the rate of visiting new planets, I missed by a factor of 2, but still, that moon would have to haul ass to make that schedule!

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

Well, there was Earth, right after the explosion. It's not like they were picking up more speed after the big boom.

They were already too far away, subject to tremendous gravitation forces, and on an unknown trajectory; plus many of the Eagles had been converted to carry the nuclear waste containers, and many of them had been destroyed (or possibly downed) in the breakaway explosion. Koenig had the computer run the contingencies, and it looked like the evacuation would be doomed to failure.

As for the rate of visiting new planets, I missed by a factor of 2, but still, that moon would have to haul ass to make that schedule!

But like I say, the speed the Moon is going (or not) depends entirely on the story. It's like you're trying to apply rigid scientific rules to something that's an existential fantasy.

 

[seigezunt]

Yes, she can act. That's why they gave her those Emmy awards! I think Bain makes a brave acting choice by choosing to play Helena as a totally professional, dispassionate Doctor - it makes her believable as the chief of the medical section, and the person responsible for the mental and physical well being of the crew, and safeguarding their fragile environment. I believe her more as someone who's calm and collected and objective. It's brave becuase it removes the more feminine, caring aspect that such a character might be given in another series (someone more touchy-feely like Doctor Crusher, say).

Based on her performance as Helena, I think that Barbara Bain would've made a better Number One instead of Majel Barrett.

I have to agree. If she's an award-winning actress, I'm not seeing it here.