KOOL TV REVIEW: "SPACE: 1999" - THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE BLU-RAY

SPACE: 1999 - THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE (BLU-RAY EDITION)


Available as a limited edition Bu-ray and DVD box set release from NETWORK DVD


Reviewed by Scott Weller

One of the only great seventies sci-fi success stories to memorably combine Black Suns, warfare, alien monsters, philosophy and very large flares, the terrific British ITC series SPACE: 1999 recently blasted back onto limited edition Blu-ray and DVD from those determined people at NETWORK, and it’s a lavish and exciting return that will be much appreciated by the series devoted fans worldwide.

A passenger Eagle departs the Moon, and the approaching BLACK SUN, in this super effects shot. All images: GRANADA VENTURES/NETWORK DVD.

For all those that are unfamiliar with it, the series starts on the tragic but memorable day of September 13^th 1999, when the 311 member crew of the Moonbase Alpha scientific research facility, led by Commander John Robert Koenig, are caught in a terrifying scenario when their largest nuclear waste disposal area spectacularly detonates, hurling the Moon at tremendous speed out of Earth orbit and into the farthest reaches of space. The Alphans are now totally isolated and have to fight for survival, all the while looking for a new world of which to call their own…


Great compilation clips to music: YouTube - Space 1999 Instrumental - Cosmos 1999
Classic title sequence and funky music:YouTube - Space 1999 Season 1 Intro

Filming on the expansive Main Mission set at PINEWOOD STUDIOS from 1973-1975.

Now regarded as one of the seminal triumphs of series creators Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s television career, there's shades of the sci-fi importance of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (indeed many of the behind the scenes team worked on that legendary film prior to SPACE) alongside similar visual grandeur in what can now be seen and admired for its ambitious and quite sophisticated storytelling and visual appeal. This first year of SPACE would prove to be way ahead of its time in 1975 and, having now aged as nicely as a fine wine, should certainly be applauded for showing all of its production money on screen, full of big epic space sequences and wondrous alien imagery that would make its premiere year a worthy British rival, and continuance/successor, to the kind of work previously done in the sixties with STAR TREK.

Series producers Gerry and Sylvia Anderson pose with Martin Landau and Barbara Bain during the filming of RING AROUND THE MOON.

Accusations at the time of its original transmission that the ITC backed series all looked too clinical and sterile have since been proved wrong- thirty six years forward the series ultimate design choices look terrific in their HD Blu-ray presentation, with more colour and production design detail emerging in the series than I think was ever seen in the series original 35mm film print transmissions. The series has never looked so colourful and detailed than it does in its new life on Blu-ray; totally superior to what had previously been some prior very good transfer work done on earlier DVD releases. 

This series is one of the few classic examples when the various departments behind the scenes were capable of talking to one another and knowing how far they could go to create one of the best series of this genre type possible, led by two producer/film-makers who really wanted an ambitious quality project that would endure and remain popular with audiences. That the series is so popular now, after so long, is a fine testament to their hard work and dedication. The large sets and incredible production design really stand out and are a perfect example of why the series was then the most costly and ambitious ever put together for British and American TV screens, and especially in the potentially suicide area of sci-fi, which had not always been success on the small screen medium. Moonbase Alpha’s iconic modular sets, durable and created so as to be like interconnecting pieces, are superbly designed by wunderkid Keith Wilson.

Special effects geniuses Brian Johnson and Nick Allder with model moon buggies and the expansive model of Moonbase Alpha behind them.

Backing up the visuals are the excellent special effects, fully utilizing the best British techniques and equipment of the time (a lot of it through clever use of wire work, multiple exposure camera techniques and other slight of hand trickery) by top-notch talent the likes of Brian Johnson and Nick Allder (both of whom would later work on the STAR WARS and ALIEN movies) creating magic with their small but equally dedicated team at Bray Studios. The standout models of the series would be the superb, iconic grasshopper-like Eagle transporter craft: what teenage boy didn’t want one of those DINKY toy craft as a child!

An unsuspecting Eagle is attacked by a magnetic radiation burst in BREAKAWAY.

Lethal Mark Nine Hawk ships bring destructive terror to Moonbase Alpha in WAR GAMES.

Despite the odd wire or too, or painted backdrop blemish, showing up due to the crispness of the Blu-ray presentation, pretty much all of the great effects shots, including force perspective and matte/glass shots, still hold up marvelously well today, and brought to life on ten time less of the budget for STAR WARS in 1977!

No matter how great the visuals, though, a series and its behind the scenes work is nothing without a memorable theme tune and incidental music to bring it to all life. Crafting his own uniquely Anderson series style/ feel to the show would be his long time composer friend, the late Barry Gray, who, with his track record on THUNDERBIRDS, CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS and UFO, created music material for SPACE that was just as distinctive and memorable as past productions, with a noticeable air of romanticism and epic grandeur, and with the occasional bit of seventies disco and weird electronic noise thrown in, too.

We also shouldn’t forget some of the great use of stock music within the series later episodes (due to tight music budget costs), which also added some eerie and effective atmosphere to the run, including a memorable turn for Gustav Holt’s aggressive and dominant PLANET SUITE for MARS: BRINGER OF WAR in the classic episode SPACE BRAIN, and the evocative ADAGIO FOR ORGAN AND CELLO IN G MINOR by Tomaso Albinoni, in the fan favourite tale of survival and death by one eyed ghost monster: DRAGON’S DOMAIN (a deliberate and bold re-interpretation by writer Christopher Penfold of the George and the Dragon legend, but in sci-fi!)

Stars of SPACE:1999- Martin Landau and Barbara Bain.

Unlike its original transmissions, it’s great to see these first season episodes in the order in which they were made, shot over a very long and strenuous eighteen month production period-one of the few British film series then being made in the UK and a great employer of acting and filming talent- from November 1973 to the beginning of March 1975, at the legendary Pinewood Studios (home of James Bond). As each episode improves in its scripting, characterization and production values, you can clearly see an emerging classic coming to life and notice how everybody in the main and supporting cast is settling in nicely. After a few hic-cups at the start, the writing staff  solidifies by around episode six (including such talents as the late Irish poet Johnny Byrne and the aforementioned scientific writer/postulator Christopher Penfold), the stories become more ambitious, and the characterization improves in a very subtly observed way, nicely latched on to by the actors working with the material; originally deemed bland, the acting and development of the characterization is, to its credit, not over the top and, thirty years on, looks quite sophisticated now, in particular the core friendship of Commander John Koenig, ninth and last (?) commander of Moonbase Alpha and the coolly efficient Doctor Helena Russell, played by the finely featured ex-model turned Lee Strasberg trained actress, Barbara Bain.

Martin Landau as the tough but compassionate Commander John Koenig.

Despite some occasional frustrations with the scripts and his characterization, Landau, in my opinion, would prove a fine actor to portray the complex Koenig, but series fan wouldn't have suffered if the Andersons had been able to go with ITC America’s first choice for the role, Robert Culp: the late actor being a much respected writer and film-maker in his own right who could have added even greater zest to this unique sci-fi series, and a talent already used to the genre with his excellent work in two of the best episodes of the original black and white OUTER LIMITS series of the early sixties.

Unlike our loyal and heroic Horatio Hornblower figure re-imagined as Captain James T. Kirk in Classic STAR TREK, Commander John Robert Koenig is a completely different animal in his position as a leader of men and women, in a far more difficult and complex situation than the crew of the Enterprise, as his Alphans find themselves completely lost and alone as wanderers in a strange and dangerous new universe. Koenig proves far quicker to anger, and is more complex and emotional, but, like Kirk he has an insatiable thirst and wonder of the universe, with Landau bringing his very strong acting training experience to the role and truly making it uniquely his own.

Barbara Bain as Doctor Helena Russell.

As for Bain as Dr. Russell, the most important person in Alpha as its main accomplished Doctor, her performance would garner mixed responses from fans and critics but there is a nice building chemistry between her character and Koenig (it helped that she and Landau were still a real life partnership at that time) and I think she settles into the role better, losing her early cold-ness, by the mid-course of the season.

Barry Morse beings some scientific weight as Victor Bergman.

Bringing better life to what was a fairly sketchy character on paper, THE FUGITIVE’s Barry Morse would revive his British accent to portray the comfortable presence of likable scientist Victor Bergman- the Uncle Bulgaria of Moonbase Alpha- who lends his expert, practical advice, scientific information and all-round friendship to the duo of Koenig and Russell as they traverse the often equally beautiful and hostile wilderness that is outer space. It’s a very memorable performance by the late actor (and one that he never gave himself enough credit for), and he and Bergman as a character would be much missed in the shows second year.

Australian actor Nick Tate as the brave Eagle pilot Captain Alan Carter.

From the remaining supporting cast, another stand out character of the show would soon emerge in the form of Australian actor Nick Tate (recently seen in LOST and modern STAR TREK series, as well as having carved out a fine career as a movie trailer voice over man in Hollywood) as astronaut/ Chief Eagle pilot and all-round hero Alan Carter-originally destined to die at the end of the pilot episode but quickly saved from death in its script and re-shoots process-whose fan mail at one point during the series was at 5,000 letters a week (and despite the fact that he was apparently the lowest paid of all the artists working on the series!). At first, Carter is quite a tough and argumentative sort- in early episodes he and Koenig have a antagonistic relationship, though it soon becomes a firm friendship by the end of the series (at one point in the episode COLLISION COURSE, the Commander is clearly seen shedding tears when he thinks Alan has been killed in a nuclear blast).

Prentis Hancock as dependable Main Mission Controller Paul Morrow.

A behind the scenes shot of Nick Tate with Clifton Jones as Kano and Zienia Merton as Sandra in the episode THE FULL CIRCLE.

A great shot of the full and support cast for the opening two episodes of  SPACE: 1999.

Adding to the rest of the well cast supporting team of players would be Prentis Hancock as very seventies moustached Main Mission Operative Paul Morrow, Zienia Merton as the sometimes screamy but resourceful technician Sandra Benes, Anton Phillips as Dr. Russell’s second, Bob Mathias, the lovely Suzanne Roquette as Russian operative Tanya Alexander (sadly not used as much in the second half of the series as she would its first), and Clifton Jones, appearing from Episode Two onwards, as Alpha’s resident computer whizz/liaison, David Kano.

Joan Collins adds glamour to the series in MISSION OF THE DARIANS

Stellar guest casts during the first series run, which would give great respectability and overseas selling power to the series even now, would include such greats as Christopher Lee (playing, in a nice change of pace, one of the series few nice guy aliens!), Peter Cushing, Judy Geeson, a very leggy Joan Collins, Catherine Schell (playing an android here, but soon to make a mark in SPACE’s second series as the shape-changing Maya), Brian Blessed (or should that be BRIAN BLESSED!!), John Shrapnel, Julian Glover, Roy Dotrice (who makes two very memorable appearances), Ian McShane, Anthony Valentine, Peter Bowles (doing what he did best in the sixties and early seventies: playing cruel vengeful psychopaths!), Isla Blair and Lisa Harrow, all making the most of their parts in memorable episodes.

As well as the distinguished British guest star contingent, Italian co-production funds from their RAI channel mid season would soon stipulate and require the incorporation into the series of the best English speaking Italian guest stars that were available (ultimately a good move for the series, in that the crew of Alpha were to comprise members from all over the world anyway!), with some performing better than others and those not quite hitting the grade in their English-speaking dialogue being re-dubbed in post production (mostly by actor Robert Rietty).

As the first season began airing worldwide, critics early complaints that episodes were too straight laced, had barmy science and was too po-faced serious would intensify and remain quite vociferous through the years, but I’d rather have such a new and grand series of the sci-fi genre start that way, and be bold and different, rather than trying to imitate the earlier success of STAR TREK, which had been one of the few sci-fi series of the time that, as well as telling classic stories, was able to get away with using humor within the boundaries of its characters and framework. SPACE doesn’t try to compete with TREK, and its all the better for it. Continuity in the series would also prove excellent, and the overall shows concept/idea was so good and dramatically bold that it was strong enough to be later adapted and ripped off by the modern day STAR TREK producers with VOYAGER, which, I feel, was nowhere near as successful as SPACE in showing a race of humans alone and having to improvise in the unknown regions of the universe.

Memorable stories in this fine first year are listed in a separate section below. On the flip side there’s also the odd clunker or two, like FULL CIRCLE-the one with the Alphans reverting back to Cavemen on a jungle planet (i.e. the Pinewood Studios backlot and nearby park)- which lacks any proper explanations whatsoever, whilst several other stories have some loose ends here and there that require audiences to make a firm leap of faith alongside the Alphans with regards to what’s happened by their conclusion (a consistent idea, which some SPACE-haters believed was being used as a story cop-out, intriguingly ran through the first series, hinting that some kind of cosmic intelligence was working in deep space in guiding the Alphans towards their eventual destiny amongst the stars-an idea that sadly never really developed further in Season Two), but such poor oddities are made up for by many inspired concepts and ideas, like one superb episode, ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE, which sees the Alphans and their moon ripped into two unique time frames and doppelgangers, with both parties eventually meeting themselves and discovering their ultimate fates. Sci-fi like that had rarely been so well presented in such an adult way on television in the 1970’s.

A core group of specially picked and highly talented UK directors would bring the epic series episodes to life beyond feature US film director Lee H. Katzin’s original work on the pilot episode, including the much loved and experienced film director Charles Crichton, AVENGERS stuntman turned high-caliber director Ray Austin, the brilliant David Tomblin (later to be recognised as one of the finest second unit directors on the STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES films), whose eye for the strange and intriguing gave the series some of its most memorable and defining moments, and later in the series arriving Bob Kellett, who clearly enjoyed fast paced, action-orientated work on the show the most.

The Alphans encounter a nasty ghost in THE TROUBLED SPIRIT. 

As well as the incredible alien vistas and technological wonders the Alphans regularly encounter, there's also some quite terrifying visual sequences and creepy aliens in the episodes that, looking back to the original time when they were first shown, and considering what harsh censorship there is on a lot of mid-evening television nowadays, I'm surprised that they ever got past their morning and early evening timeslots! Overall, the aliens that appear constantly throughout the first season of SPACE are a most unfriendly bunch, considering the Alphan humans as either a race of ignorant savages or like an unpleasant virus spreading through the cosmos. Whenever the moon enters a new solar system, you can imagine the expectant xenophobes holding giant placards in front of the rogue satellite booing and shouting, ”Stay Away!” or “Alphans go home!”

Landa and Bain pose in their space suits for a publicity shot during the filming of RING AROUND THE MOON.

Quickly veering off and becoming its own entity away from its early origins as a revamped second season of UFO, SPACE 1999, which first debuted on UK TV screens in September 1975, would soon, despite much of the aforementioned critical savagery over the years, become one of the most popular live action series brought to life from the iconic team of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, and remains a series much remembered for it's aforementioned incredible film-like production values and memorable stories. By the end of that first successful year, SPACE had also created its own unique identity away from its rivals. But, as usual, the Hollywood big league incoming producers/backers had to stick their oar in and ruin it all by Season Two!

Further stupidity came from the ITV networks of the time, and their incredulous inability to make the most of this lavish series, notably failing to properly market it or show the series in one fixed day and timeslot across the UK, where it made only a small dent on the viewing figures and popularity of its rival BBC 1 sci-fi series DOCTOR WHO, then in the most popular phase of its TV series life, with Tom Baker demanding the screen, and getting it, as the Fourth incarnation of the Time Lord. Despite such disappointments, though, well made productions never die, they marvelously endure, and SPACE, like WHO, has a worldwide fan base that remains as strong and consistent as ever, growing further with each year and subsequent re-release on TV or DVD.

Accompanying the excellent presentations of the series first 24 episodes, there’s also a lot of comprehensive Blu-ray extras across two discs, including an interview with the now rarely seen series co-creator, Sylvia Anderson, a talented producer in her own right, who seems a bit embittered about her live action work up to and including SPACE: 1999 (of which she certainly doesn't hold back in her criticisms of what she considered were very wooden performances from her two American leads stars-Bain and Landau-whom she reveals she was stuck with using under direct request/orders from the management of ITC America, who wielded the power to get the co-financing money needed for the series to get made!). Better behind the scenes memories, however, are recalled by selected UK cast and crew in additional and lengthy episode/ behind the scenes analysis (incorporating footage from the excellent 1996 VHS documentary produced by FANDERSON/KINDRED PRODUCTIONS, THE SPACE 1999 DOCUMENTARY, which is well incorporated onto the disc set in several mouthwatering chunks), where you can clearly see how the behind the scenes team worked well together and enjoyed each others company in coming up with ambitious ideas for the series.

The main and supporting casts have a laugh in between filming episodes 19 and 20 at PINEWOOD STUDIOS.

Raw SPFX and title sequence footage accompanies rare colour and black and white images (some scanned from original contact sheets where the prints no longer exist or were destroyed), including cut scenes not in broadcast episodes, alongside pictorials on merchandise, and great Gerry Anderson commentaries on selected episodes also add much to this superb package, backed up with a nice behind the scenes, heavily detailed colour booklet, too!

So, it's a winning package, plus- and here’s the really impressive part from NETWORK-as a mouth watering taster for the eventual release of Season Two on Blu-ray, they’ve also included the very enjoyable first episode of that year, THE METAMORPH, too! And showing a picture quality presentation just as impressive as anything from Season One!

The end results of this impressive box set effectively show us how a great and important, classic series as SPACE should be commercially released, the likes of which are rarely done either in the UK or US. Well done NETWORK for an outstanding job on restoring such a memorable series, one which I much enjoyed in my youth (and still do now), to the best visual glory possible.

Overall rating: 5 out of 5

Here’s KOOL TV ‘s favourite episodes from SPACE: 1999 Season One:

Checking for radiation leaks, an Alphan technician goes beserk in the classic opening moments of BREAKAWAY.

BREAKAWAY (Pilot/Episode One)

The stunning opener that launched the series and which is generally regarded as one of the best TV pilots ever made, as Commander Koenig and Dr. Helena Russell’s investigation into the unusual deaths of several key astronauts about to head off on a Meta probe mission soon leads to a cataclysmic event that sends the Moon hurtling into deep space. From troubled beginnings- the script was filmed as a ninety minute pilot before having to undergo major re-writes and re-editing surgery, plus the inclusion of newly directed scenes by Gerry Anderson- the end filmed result proves a remarkable filmic achievement.

Russell and Koenig's trip to the new world of Terra Nova has shocking repercussions in MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (Episode Two)

In an intriguing tale heavily revised from US writer Art Wallace’s original storyline, things are looking great for the planet Terra Nova to be a new home for the Alphans. Then the survey eagle is attacked by an unknown force and aboard the rescued ship is the almost Zombie-esque Lee Russell (Richard Johnson), Helena’s long lost husband, possessed with a dire warning for her and the Alphans not to approach the new world…

Koenig begins to feel the affects of THE BLACK SUN

THE BLACK SUN (Episode Three)

In a solid character-based episode, which apparently had re-shoots/changes made due to US backers being unhappy with the original script, the Moon is heading into the most dangerous force in the universe-a Black Sun, where not even light can escape its enormous gravitational pull. As the majority of Alphans, under a possibly protective shield engineered by Victor Bergman, prepare for the end of their journey, a small rescue ship holds the key to survival for six crewmembers…

Koenig ponders the mystery of the Kaldonians in EARTHBOUND.

Commissioner Simmonds (Roy Dotrice) holds Captain Zantor (Christopher Lee) hostage in a cut scene from EARTHBOUND.

EARTHBOUND (Episode Five)

Having been stuck with the Alphans during the catastrophic breakaway event, the conniving politician Commissioner Simmonds (an excellent Roy Dotrice) is determined to find any way possible to get back to Earth, and the peaceful alien Kaldorians (led by Christopher Lee as Captain Zantor) may be the key, even if it means holding them and Alpha to ransom by stealing the bases vital power core…

A possible future for the Alphans is shown in ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE.

ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE (Episode Six)

An excellent script of time misplacement, in which the Alphans, having entered a strange phenomenon, encounter themselves on a future Earth, written by Johnny Byrne-his first full time work on the series-is backed up with great, often eerie direction from David Tomblin, and fine work from the cast (including guest star Judy Geeson as the tragic Regina Kesslan, literally caught between two worlds!)

Trapped on the planet Piri, Koenig tries to restore his friends from deadly apathy in GUARDIAN OF PIRI.

GUARDIAN OF PIRI (Episode Eight)

The Alphan community is taken over by the powerful organic super computer of Piri, soon abandoning their outpost to live a life of apathy and inertia. Can Koenig, the only one to resist Piri and its beautiful Guardian (Catherine Schell), win his people back? This episode has incredible production design by Keith Wilson.

Don't let him touch you! Anton Zoref (Ian McShane) under alien manipulation in FORCE OF LIFE.

FORCE OF LIFE (Episode Nine)

Technician Anton Zoref (a very young Ian McShane) is possessed by an alien force that requires light and energy to survive, even if it means absorbing the entire human life energies of the Moonbase Alpha crew! Once again, another scary script from Johnny Byrne, full of tense moments (one scene, showing the power ravaged body of Zoref, would be banned overseas and edited out overseas) alongside strong direction from David Tomblin.

Paul Morrow (Prentis Hancock) gives an injured Sandra (Zienia Merton) a tour of their new home on Alpha in THE LAST SUNSET.

THE LAST SUNSET (Episode Eleven)

Approaching an unknown world perfect for colonization, the Moon’s surface is soon besieged by mysterious alien objects which give out a breathable atmosphere. As the Alphans prepare to live outside the base, problems soon emerge, the shocker being an exploratory eagle crash with Helena, Paul, Sandra and Alan trapped in the desolate mountain wastes…

A terrific story idea from Christopher Penfold which gives Bain and the supporting cast, especially Prentis Hancock as a memorably unhinged Morrow, more to do in the series.

Morrow assists in the rescue of the injured Alan Carter (Nick Tate) in COLLISION COURSE.

When two worlds touch! A shocked Main Mission team watch as fiery events unfold in COLLISION COURSE.

COLLISION COURSE (Episode Thirteen)

On a rescue mission to find Alan Carter, presumed dead after a nuclear explosion in space, Koenig discovers that the Moon is on collision course with the planet Etherea. Meeting the planets ghost-like alien leader, Arra (played by Margaret Leighton-her last film role), Koenig has to convince the Alphans that the two worlds must simply touch in order for Etherea to begin its new evolutionary life cycle, but they all believe he’s gone insane, suffering from a severe form of radiation poisoning!

Psychopath of the future. The evil Balor (Peter Bowles) attacks an Alphan security guard in END OF ETERNITY.

In a sequence cut for being too gruesome, Koenig suffers a vicious assault from a crazed Alphan in END OF ETERNITY.

END OF ETERNITY (Episode Sixteen)

How do you kill a man who can’t be killed? The Alphans soon find out the answer to that question the hard way when they unwittingly liberate an insane killer, Balor (Peter Bowles), from his asteroid prison, who then goes on to wreak death and havoc on the Moonbase. A dark and sometimes disturbing episode, sadly wrapped up all too quickly, which had a scene involving Koenig being horribly injured in an attack from a fellow Alphan (having been driven insane by Balor) that would be cut from the episode prior to its original family time-slot broadcast.

Stalwart TV actor Anthony Valentine plays a very unfriendly alien in the classic WAR GAMES.

WAR GAMES (Episode Seventeen)

Brutally attacked by merciless Mark Nine Hawk ships dispatched from an unknown planet, Alpha is almost totally obliterated, resulting in Koenig and Helena travelling to the new world to seek an audience with their unseen enemy (played by Anthony Valentine and Isla Blair), unaware that an even worse chain of events from their arrival is soon looming. Often regarded as one of the series all-time classic episodes, despite the fact that ITC AMERICA almost aborted the episode because they didn’t understand it!, WAR GAMES is an excellent, special effects/action-packed extravaganza, which not only has some nice character moments but also has a surprising sting in the tail that is now often copied by other sci-fi series…

Something wicked this way comes in THE TROUBLED SPIRIT.

THE TROUBLED SPIRIT (Episode Nineteen)

Terror strikes a haunted Moonbase Alpha when the spirit of Dan Mateo stalks its corridors bringing death in its wake. Only one problem, Mateo himself is alive and well! A very creepy and effective episode, with a memorable citar/guitar score, and classic horror film-style direction from a confident Ray Austin. Some of the gruesome make-up scenes of the disfigured Mateo (Giancarlo Prete) would be trimmed down when the episode was aired in overseas markets, and one downright frightening episodic picture was removed from a sweet cigarette card run in the UK at the time). NB: this episode, as part of a co-production filming deal, also marks the hit and miss incorporation into the series of selected Italian actors.

Astronaut Kelly (Shane Rimmer) attacks Alan (Nick Tate) in a cut scene from SPACE BRAIN.

One of the series memorable scenes as crushing foam envelopes Main Mission in SPACE BRAIN.

SPACE BRAIN (Episode Twenty)

Having lost an exploratory Eagle, the Alphans discover that their moon is on collision course with a giant space intelligence. Can they communicate with it in time before its lethal foam-like anti bodies smother and crush the moon? This episode, confidently directed by Charles Crichton, features a fun guest turn from Gerry Anderson series stalwart Shane Rimmer, and is most remembered by audiences for the scene when huge masses of foam break into Alpha and flood it.

Alan Carter confronts savages and space-men in MISSION OF THE DARIANS.

MISSION OF THE DARIANS (Episode Twenty Two)

Another terrific sci-fi concept from Johnny Byrne, as the Alphans, responding to a distress call from a huge alien ship, the Daria, discover its remaining survivors branched out into two forms of civilization, with both sects having terrifying secrets that are soon revealed. MISSION is one of the stand out episodes of the show. As well as the aforementioned script, there are some great visual scenes (again from Ray Austin), marvelous effects work (notably matte paintings and models) and a real air of tension and atmosphere as the Alphans explore the derelict vessel. Oh, and its got DYNASTY actress-to-be Joan Collins looking great in a white wig and a very short pink skirt, too!

The ghostly and mysterious creature of DRAGON'S DOMAIN-surely one of the finest episodes of the series.

DRAGONS DOMAIN (Episode Twenty Three)

If this were FRIENDS, this episode would probably be remembered as “The One with the Giant One Eyed Monster Spitting Out Mummified Corpses”, as once respected astronaut Tony Cellini (a memorably fiery Gianni Garko) finally gets the chance to redeem himself and fight a terrifying creature from the hell of his recent past. This is an excellent tale, featuring a memorable monster (the only one of its kind in the first season) in a story that’s a sci-fi re-telling of the Saint George and the Dragon legend. We also get to see what Koenig, Bergman and Russell were up to in events prior to the Moon breaking out of orbit, and there are other brief but notable guest performances from Michael Sheard, Barbara Kellerman and Susan Jameson as the sadly doomed members of Cellini’s Ultra Probe crew. DRAGON’S DOMAIN is a cracking episode, and one that’s probably the most fondly remembered by its fans.

A date with destiny. Luke (Orso Maria Guerrini) and Anna (Lisa Harrow) in Season Finale THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA.

THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA (Episode Twenty Four)

Despite its production money being exhausted, the first season ends on a fine note of mystery and almost religious inspired revelation from the great creative duo of Johnny Byrne and David Tomblin, and if the series hadn’t been renewed for a second and final year then this tale would also have been an effective closer, too. As the tale begins, the Alphans find themselves caught in the gravity pull of a dead world and rapidly losing power to it, as if caught in a creeping paralysis. As Koenig leads a major exploratory party to the world, two of his personnel, Anna Farris (Lisa Harrow) and Luke Ferro (Orso Maria Guerrini) discover that many of the people of the now dead civilization of Arkadia left their homeworld before its fiery end to start life anew on other worlds, and that ancient Earth was one of them! Now this barren world is in stasis, waiting for its descendants to re-claim and bring new life to it, but will the cost, almost half of Alpha’s vital seed crop, prove too high for Koenig?


With thanks to SPACE1999.net and the EAGLETRANSPORTER.COM forum for selected images.