Space:1999 on Comet TV

[Noname Given]

You know, I never understood why the UFOs had to pass by the moon to reach the earth. Space is big. Just approach our planet from the other side.

I never understood how the U FOs could never avoid (or shoot down those HUGE slow moving 'Interceptor; missile or why they just couldn't send more than 3 at a time; or how they couldn't just laser the $%$##@! out of the Moonbase in the first place... (And this was me as a 9 year old watching the show also wondering what happened to all the Marionettes too )

 

[The Lensman]

I never understood how the U FOs could never avoid (or shoot down those HUGE slow moving 'Interceptor; missile or why they just couldn't send more than 3 at a time; or how they couldn't just laser the $%$##@! out of the Moonbase in the first place... (And this was me as a 9 year old watching the show also wondering what happened to all the Marionettes too )

For the same reason the Borg never sent two, three, four or five cubes to attack Earth.

 

[diankra]

For the same reason the Borg never sent two, three, four or five cubes to attack Earth.

Yes, it makes no sense, like Sky 1 always being in the area when a UFO gets through (though one episode does at least confirm that there are multiple Skydivers on patrol).

 

[Galileo7]

Yes, it makes no sense, like Sky 1 always being in the area when a UFO gets through (though one episode does at least confirm that there are multiple Skydivers on patrol).

Yes, I believe in one episode SHADO was getting the budget for a "fleet" of Skydivers.

 

[Skipper]

UFO on the whole didn't make a lot of sense. Dope models
anyway.

 

[Skipper]

By the way, about the implausibility of Anderson's series in general and in particular Space 1999 (from Wikipedia)

Gerry and Sylvia Anderson were surprised and disappointed that the public (and critics) never granted them the suspension of disbelief given to other science-fiction programmes.

I don't believe there is a public-critics conspiracy. It's just they tried to make "serious" Scifi but full of scientific inconsistencies. No one seriously criticizes the implausibility of Jason of Star Command or SilverHawks.

 

[diankra]

Yes, I believe in one episode SHADO was getting the budget for a "fleet" of Skydivers.

Well in Psychobombs Skydiver 3 is destroyed, and earlier on Straker is fighting for funding for a fleet. One thing that isn't obvious unless you spot passing references is that UFO takes place across about five years (1980 to 1984 wine), in addition to the early 70s flashbacks.

 

[diankra]

By the way, about the implausibility of Anderson's series in general and in particular Space 1999 (from Wikipedia)

I don't believe there is a public-critics conspiracy. It's just they tried to make "serious" Scifi but full of scientific inconsistencies. No one seriously criticizes the implausibility of Jason of Star Command or SilverHawks.

I think it's fair to say that you can't ask for 'suspension of disbelief' unless you remain internally consistent (and Thunderbirds gets it: none of them are credible, but they all remain within their fictional capabilities). 1999 doesn't do that, even with the retcon of the MUF.

 

[The Lensman]

1999 doesn't do that, even with the retcon of the MUF.

It's not a retcon. This is discussed in the third episode "Black Sun" wherein they encounter a vast intelligence as they pass through the black sun. It was there from the beginning.

 

[Skipper]

Well in Psychobombs Skydiver 3 is destroyed, and earlier on Straker is fighting for funding for a fleet. One thing that isn't obvious unless you spot passing references is that UFO takes place across about five years (1980 to 1984 wine), in addition to the early 70s flashbacks.

Well, I suppose that in UFO universe Skydivers are incredibly expensive because for every plane you have to build a submarine. And you have to build them in secrecy. I don't know if this is the more cost-effective solution...

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

I love Space: 1999 - I feel a deeply spiritual connection to it. (As spiritual as it's possible for an atheist to get anyway.) It has a view of the universe and man's place within it that really speaks to me. Am I aware of its scientific implausibilities? Hell, yes. Does it bother me? No, of course not. It's not meant to be a documentary. One engages with the story as one would with the Greek myths or the Celtic legends, the Norse sagas or the Arthurian tales.

 

[Galileo7]

I love Space: 1999 - I feel a deeply spiritual connection to it. (As spiritual as it's possible for an atheist to get anyway.) It has a view of the universe and man's place within it that really speaks to me. Am I aware of its scientific implausibilities? Hell, yes. Does it bother me? No, of course not. It's not meant to be a documentary. One engages with the story as one would with the Greek myths or the Celtic legends, the Norse sagas or the Arthurian tales.

Agree. Well said.

 

[Steve Roby]

I never understood how the U FOs could never avoid (or shoot down those HUGE slow moving 'Interceptor; missile or why they just couldn't send more than 3 at a time; or how they couldn't just laser the $%$##@! out of the Moonbase in the first place... (And this was me as a 9 year old watching the show also wondering what happened to all the Marionettes too )

ISTR there were a couple of data points suggesting the aliens didn’t have enough in the way of resources to do much more than they were doing. They were harvesting human organs to keep themselves alive, and I dimly recall something about the B142 probe that supported that idea as well. Been a while, though, so I may be misremembering.

 

[mos6507]

I noticed the kind of mysterious, eerie vibe in the episodes I've seen, I like that, it gives it a very unique feel.

I would really classify Space: 1999 as more of a horror show. It's Monster of the Week with some higher concepts thrown in ala The Outer Limits. While there are various episodes I like for one reason or another, the only timeless classic that fires on all cylinders across all acts is Dragon's Domain which is an all out horror story.

Real dramatic tension is often lacking and the plots are often 30 minutes of content stretched to a liesurely hour (yes, even in the first season). It's really more about style and mood and sense of place.

Anderson shows were always very heavy on plot and light on dramatic stakes, even when it tried to be adult. They're all mostly a pretty moving diorama to look at, which is find if you're in the mood for that sort of thing.

 

[JD]

For the same reason the Borg never sent two, three, four or five cubes to attack Earth.

That depends on if you include the books in your version of the Trek universe......

 

[BillJ]

Worse than I remembered. Barry Morse reminds me of someone, though...

I really liked season one, really out there kind of sci-fi. Season two is unwatchable.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I really liked season one, really out there kind of sci-fi. Season two is unwatchable.

Depends how much alcohol you consume...

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Depends how much alcohol you consume...

I was gonna say that it depends upon whether you're strapped into that chair that Alex DeLarge was strapped into....

---

My Space: 1999 season reviews from 6.5 years back:

S1: https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/space-1999-revival.161083/page-7#post-5832682
S2: https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/space-1999-revival.161083/page-9#post-5912353

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Doctor Who, Blakes 7, Space 1999 and Star Trek repeats were pretty much the only Sci-Fi TV available to watch in the UK in the late 70s. Even if I laughed at the bad science, camp costume design and wobbly sets, the shows diverted and entertained me, which was all I required.

 

[Marc]

Doctor Who, Blakes 7, Space 1999 and Star Trek repeats were pretty much the only Sci-Fi TV available to watch in the UK in the late 70s. Even if I laughed at the bad science, camp costume design and wobbly sets, the shows diverted and entertained me, which was all I required.

Don't think Space:1999 had sets that were particularly wobbly but they did have American money involved and Anderson was trying to break into the American market.

Had a thought after reading the comment above - what would it have been like as purely English show? Probably no Landau and Bain for starters (not that either of the Andersons would have minded there), No fred feinberger producing a second season (which might not have even been produced).