The Uk Horror Channel is showing the 1967 Quinn Martin SF serial THE INVADERS and with a timing that probably isn't coincidental also broadcast another Quinn Martin production with a very similar premise that was intended as a pilot for a series that never went in to production . Watching it you'll be struck that it was no surprise we never got a full run of THE ALIENS ARE COMING but surprised it got beyond script stage
THE INVADERS might have been produced by Martin but the whole ethos of the show belonged to Larry Cohen hence we got a rather serious ,downbeat feel to the show as you'd expect from a show directly inspired by INVASION OF THE BODYSNATCHERS and INVADERS FROM MARS . It also owed a nod to film noir as an outsider from society tried to warn humanity that the human race is getting infiltrated by an alien species . The premise isn't original and is very self limiting but the dark tone and sense of gravitas made up for it . Here we have a science fiction thriller that has a tone more in keeping with American network inoffensive family shows like THE LOVE BOAT
An alien spaceship lands in a remote American desert and eye up the Boulder Dam and right away the script starts tripping itself up .. The aliens have no idea what it is but decide it will make a good power source for them . They have no idea about hydro electric power but realise a hydro electric dam would make a good power source ? The aliens themselves when revealed just look very silly , a sort of robotic , organic hybrid resembling a Dalek and a man dressed up It just doesn't make sense because there's no chance evolution throwing up this type of creature . The human characters are broadly drawn such as geeky UFO freak , ballsy female investigative journalist etc with a hint of a blossoming romance between the two lead characters . Sick bags ahoy and let's be thankful this didn't go to a full series even though there's a cynical open ended last act that screams " We know it's rubbish but give us a full series " , Stick to THE INVADERS instead . In fact stick to THE LOVE BOAT as well
