Revisiting UFO....

[Sindatur]

I always found it strange at the time that only one UFO would occasionally straggle in to the Solar System-- or, occasionally, three. I think one time there was a more extensive incursion. Also, those guys could probably only fit one or two kidnap victims stowed away in the trunk of those little saucers. Hardly enough to keep a dying civilization supplied with organs.

The scenario I came up with-- such fun conversations I had when I was eleven-- was that the alien planet is not evil at all. Kidnapping and cutting up Earthlings is really illegal. The aliens that we see are really mercenaries hired by some rich guy or corporation to keep himself and his family or the board of directors or whatever alive. Why do the mercenaries have transplants? That's how they get paid.

Yea, the ships always looked like they could barely hold only their own Pilot. Much smaller than even a Sontaran ship. They should've included a few shots of a different perspective, where it showed the craft was bigger (unless there will be in later episodes)

In the episode 'E.S.P' you see a UFO fly into a house and in 'Flight Path' the UFO flies low over a car and garage and you can see they are actual quite large vehicles. Various sources give a diameter of between 50ft-60ft.
Definately larger than a Sontaran scout vessel.

Thanks, I'll be looking for that. What perspective I've seen so far, it looks no bigger than a place to sit down, and then a roof on top of that, no way to even squeeze a second person in (Though I know in Ep 9 Ordeal, a second, and I believe person are in one)

 

[lurok]

Perspective may not help here but...

Maybe they also had different sizes of same model?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Inconsistency of scale is yet another Gerry Anderson hallmark. However, it's by no means unique to his productions.

 

[Sindatur]

Perspective may not help here but...

Maybe they also had different sizes of same model?

Actually, that does help some. Doesn't look 50-60ft across, but, clearly bigger then the car, and up until episode 9, they haven't looked any bigger than the window area of the car. Thanks

 

[Warped9]

"The Dalotek Affair" ***

The aliens plant a device on the Moon's service to disrupt SHADO operations.

This episode establishes that there is a corporate/commercial presence in space, which while certainly not possible in the actual 1980 does seem far more likely today in the foreseeable future. It also establishes that they've developed a drug based method of erasing recent memory.

This wasn't bad but somewhat predictable. The military think commercial activity is disrupting their communications only to find out at near the last moment that it's actually an alien device responsible.

I do like that Straker almost simultaneously reasoned out the likely cause about the same time as the device was discovered. I also like the clever way the aliens planted the device. But overall I just don't feel this episode conveyed sufficient tension to be effectively dramatic.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

"The Computer Affair" ***

"Isolated" ****

Hey, just a question about your episode titles. According to http://ufoseries.com/guide/episode.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_(TV_series)#Episodes, there is no episode called "Isolated". Rather it appears to be the episode they both call Exposed. Also, as a more minor difference, Computer Affair is listed without "The". Any idea why that's so?

 

[Warped9]

"The Computer Affair" ***

"Isolated" ****

Hey, just a question about your episode titles. According to http://ufoseries.com/guide/episode.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_(TV_series)#Episodes, there is no episode called "Isolated". Rather it appears to be the episode they both call Exposed. Also, as a more minor difference, Computer Affair is listed without "The". Any idea why that's so?

I'm just taking the titles as they appear at the beginning of the episodes when I watch them.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

"The Computer Affair" ***

"Isolated" ****

Hey, just a question about your episode titles. According to http://ufoseries.com/guide/episode.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_(TV_series)#Episodes, there is no episode called "Isolated". Rather it appears to be the episode they both call Exposed. Also, as a more minor difference, Computer Affair is listed without "The". Any idea why that's so?

I'm just taking the titles as they appear at the beginning of the episodes when I watch them.

Um, OK. If that's so, then there are different versions in circulation, because my copy clearly says "Exposed" about 7:10 in.

 

[Warped9]

I'll double check after work. It's possible I might have remembered it wrong.

 

[Zaku]

But does exist a "standard" Shado uniform...? I see that every branch has a completely different style...

 

[Sindatur]

Also, looking at the order on IMDB, it's different than the order I am watching it in, from TV recordings, but, seems to be a similar order to Warped9 viewing order.

Anyone else notice Col Foster looks an awful like Darryl from the Walking Dead at times? Col Foster, is "prettier" looking, but, from some angles, very similar

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

Also, as a more minor difference, Computer Affair is listed without "The". Any idea why that's so?

The onscreen title is "Computer Affair". Personally, I think it makes more sense that way than "The Computer Affair" in terms of what the episode's about.

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

"The Dalotek Affair" ***


I do like that Straker almost simultaneously reasoned out the likely cause about the same time as the device was discovered. I also like the clever way the aliens planted the device. But overall I just don't feel this episode conveyed sufficient tension to be effectively dramatic.

I'd agree with this - part of the lack of tension, I think, is that the time taken for the UFO interception is really stretched out, to allow for all the intercutting between Straker reviewing the archives, and the Moonmobile racing to destroy the jamming device, it makes it seem as if the Interceptors are flying outbound for hours, whereas in most episodes, it's a wham bang two minutes to launch and straight into firing positions.

Other oddities in this episode include the editing in of interview footage of real-life UFO "expert" (and indeed nutcase and incredible mangler of the English language) Dr Stranges. Not to mention a massive contradiction of the series format, which I think is a result of the script being originally written for an earlier version of the format.

 

[Warped9]

I'll double check after work. It's possible I might have remembered it wrong.

I've just checked and, yes, I did get it wrong. For some unfathomable reason I thought the episode was called "Isolated" when it's actually called "Exposed."

Sorry, folks.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

No sweat. Thanks for checking.

 

[scotpens]

Also, as a more minor difference, Computer Affair is listed without "The". Any idea why that's so?

The onscreen title is "Computer Affair". Personally, I think it makes more sense that way than "The Computer Affair" in terms of what the episode's about.

"The Computer Affair" could have been a Man from UNCLE crossover episode.

Hmmm . . . The Man from SHADO? Video mashup, anyone?

 

[Warped9]

"A Question Of Priorities" ***

Commander Straker is torn between his duty to his injured son and his responsibilities defending Earth.

This really was a frustrating episode in the end because no one wins anything. The possible alien defector is killed without revealing a damned thing and Straker's son dies because a needed drug isn't delivered in time. Additionally Straker's ex-wife now really hates his guts.

There were holes in this story. I think helicopters could have searched the UFO crash area more effectively than Sky One. And why couldn't another fast aircraft have picked up the drug as soon as the transport landed in Ireland? To me this seems to show SHADO's limitation of resources.

I kept waiting for the payoff in this episode and in the end there is none. It's a downbeat ending. In some respects it seems ahead of its time story wise, but it's still disappointing.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I remember finding that episode quite heartbreaking as a kid. I'd have to rewatch it to see about the plot holes, but I'm sure it does a good job of accomplishing its goal-- to show what a tragic, isolated character Straker is. Nothing must come before the job; not his kid, not his wife, not his own feelings. There were several episodes that explore this aspect of the show; I always felt bad for that guy.

 

[Warped9]

I remember finding that episode quite heartbreaking as a kid. I'd have to rewatch it to see about the plot holes, but I'm sure it does a good job of accomplishing its goal-- to show what a tragic, isolated character Straker is. Nothing must come before the job; not his kid, not his wife, not his own feelings. There were several episodes that explore this aspect of the show; I always felt bad for that guy.

Until now we never see the softer side of Straker's personality. In some respects this reminds me of Kirk facing the possible choice of sacrificing his nephew and Spock to stop the parasites in "Operation--Annihilate."

 

[Maurice]

"A Question Of Priorities" ***

Commander Straker is torn between his duty to his injured son and his responsibilities defending Earth.

This really was a frustrating episode in the end because no one wins anything. The possible alien defector is killed without revealing a damned thing and Straker's son dies because a needed drug isn't delivered in time. Additionally Straker's ex-wife now really hates his guts.

There were holes in this story. I think helicopters could have searched the UFO crash area more effectively than Sky One. And why couldn't another fast aircraft have picked up the drug as soon as the transport landed in Ireland? To me this seems to show SHADO's limitation of resources.

I kept waiting for the payoff in this episode and in the end there is none. It's a downbeat ending. In some respects it seems ahead of its time story wise, but it's still disappointing.

Despite a few logic flaws the fact that no one wins is one of the things I love about this episode. UFO dared to be dark. It dared to have consequences. The episode is also a great example of basic dramatic principle: there are problems to be solved, and the Protagonist must make active decisions to try to solve them. Staker is active and involved and his failure on all accounts is no fault of his own.