Space: 1999

I could go on & on about this show, as others have, but I don't need to cover old ground--those of us who saw this show as youngsters when it first came out, well... it was an amazing & hypnotic thing.

If you like ST:TOS, Dr. Who, in general any sci-fi from the 60s or 70s, this will be familiar territory for you, and I think a happy place to visit.

One thing I didn't see mentioned that fascinates me about the show: most of the alien planets & landscapes were *hand painted* by guest abstract artist--and they amaze. When combined with model work far superior to UFO or Thunderbirds, the alien vistas were, for wont of a better word, painterly.

Some of it is campy. The acting is inconsistent. Sometimes the science is bad & there are too many 'psychic' episodes, but I have the entire series and it's one of my favorite possessions.

Slightly related, incredibly obscure reference that won't help anyone: Once a friend of mine met a fellow who was a big Peter Hammill fan, who had never heard the VDGG album 'Still Life' but had just bought it and was carrying it around. When he gleaned this from the gentlemen, he told him, "My god man, why are you just standing there--go home and listen to that CD!" If you are a fan of (as these things go) smart, complicated, visually striking vintage SF TV & you haven't seen Space 1999--go and buy it & watch it--you're in for a treat--and there are enough episodes you can spend pretty much 48 hours straight with it before you run out of content... I'm a little envious of you.

I have been a huge fan of Space:1999 since I was about 5 years old (yes, really) But whereas at that age it was mostly the special effects, and the Eagles that grabbed my attention, as time went by; I started to realize that most of the first season episodes were imbued with a metaphysical element that had totally escaped me before. I think this is by far the most well-conceived science-fiction series ever, and that the cast was not only diverse and representative but also acted very well. In some important ways Space; 1999 (having caught me at a most impressionable age) helped shape many of my thoughts on the future of humanity - and on the relevancy of Science-Fiction to our increasingly globalized culture - an absolute novelty back in 1975. My last words on this wonderful series: Please don't miss it!

Anyone who loves fun and imaginative TV should give Space 1999 a try. The first season is similar in tone to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Season two is more like classic Doctor Who with an array of far-out aliens. It's quite a mixed bag. That's the beauty of it! Fans of rubber monsters will especially enjoy the cheesy fun of season two. I love it! Give Space 1999 a try if you are a fan of fun and imaginative TV. They just don't make 'em like this any more folks! Pop some corn, pour your favorite beverage, settle back in your favorite comfy chair, and enjoy a fun escape beyond the stars with Moon Base Alpha. It's highly watchable, charming, and fun.

I saw the show when I was a teenager and loved it instantly. And I still do, as I observed when I saw it again more than 20 years later. Sure, the environment and the tricks are looking a little cheap today, so what. Every show is aging. There isn't much action as in Star Trek, which at one point only seemed to discover planets with beautiful but strange women. Much of the action is between the characters, how to deal with fear,their situation and the loneliness... Love it or hate it, the show had something special. Till today I saved a huge crush on Martin Landau as an actor, I watch everything, even his weakest movies. And I saved a huge crush on Captain Alan Carter as a character of the show, I'd love to be an Eagle-Pilot! Forget that it's a 70s show and enjoy it.

The hands down best Gerry Anderson TV series ever made. Better than all his puppet shows put together.

Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Barry Morse, great music cues, eagle miniature effects, disaster plot lines, The Beta Cloud, more great music cues...this series is a knockout!

Here are some series highlights...

EPISODE ONE: BREAKAWAY: Shades of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) with a new commander taking over things, shades of a disaster movie, shades of Lost In Space (1965), but best of all - that Barry Gray score!

EPISODE TWO: MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH: This episode has a highly touching scene where the music steals the scene. Barbara Bain glares out of a moonbase window at a distant planet, the commander walks up to her, note the music playing here...a simply outstanding work of art!

BLACK SUN: Very memorable work of art. It resembles 2001 in general presentation. I have made an estimated 100 viewings of this hour. Knockout acting from Barry Morse, Landau and Bain.

COLLISION COURSE: This plays like a disaster movie and for that reason it is well worth a look. Some great moments here.

WAR GAMES: Great battle scenes in space filmed with great music playing over it.

SPACE BRAIN: Someone let the washing machine go for too long and this also happened in Land of the Giants episode Brainwash. Great music and disaster...again!

YEAR TWO OPENER: THE METAMORPH: What a start! What a teaser! I was at the edge of my seat in the 1970s!

THE MARK OF ARCHANON: Attention Australian fans! Alan Carter lets out a few Aussie terms and ideas that make this one a Down Under treat!

SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION: Landau goes nuts, which bring back memories of 1960s Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea when the leads would also go nuts.

THE BETA CLOUD: This episode is reviewed by me in detail on this site...the second best episode of the whole series!

SPACE WARP: Great space warp start, great monster, great eagle action.

THE BRINGERS OF WONDER: Two-parter. Out-of-control Landau in out-of-control eagle.

THE SEANCE SPECTRE: Dust planet eagle effects coated with action music.

DORZAK: "Is being Australian important?" asks an alien. "It is to me" responds Alan Carter.

Another outstanding 1970s science fiction TV series was Filmation's Ark II.