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.
139 Reviews
Unique & beautiful, but not for everyone
rob-stafford324 May 2006
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.
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.
Moon No Earth
Tweetienator14 April 2018
Fantastic show. If you like sci-fi - watch. The incredible adventures of Commander John Koenig and his crew on a moon station after the moon is thrown out of its orbit around Earth.
After my disappointment with the "new" Lost in Space I thought about some good old sci-fi shows I liked and sometimes like to rewatch. Space: 1999 is one of the good old oldies (was aired from 1975 to 1977).
Great actors, great stories, great adventures with all the unforgettable characters like Alan Carter, Prof. Victor Bergman and Dr. Helena Russell.
And boy, for those times the special effects were excellent, well nowadays they are of course completely outdated "schrott" but somehow for nostalgic reasons reborn excellent again ;)
After my disappointment with the "new" Lost in Space I thought about some good old sci-fi shows I liked and sometimes like to rewatch. Space: 1999 is one of the good old oldies (was aired from 1975 to 1977).
Great actors, great stories, great adventures with all the unforgettable characters like Alan Carter, Prof. Victor Bergman and Dr. Helena Russell.
And boy, for those times the special effects were excellent, well nowadays they are of course completely outdated "schrott" but somehow for nostalgic reasons reborn excellent again ;)
I love this show like family
poopville18 June 2004
This show calls up happy memories of laying on my grandma's shag carpeted living room, totally enthralled by this show. It was the mid 70s and we didn't even have a space shuttle yet. The ships, clothes and hardware of this show looked like something I could possibly experience in my lifetime. I figured that by 1999, I would be living and working in space as an adult. Well none of that really panned out but all these years later, this show is still great fun to watch. It has a style and mood that is so unique. I hope they never try to do a remake. Part of it's charm is how 70s it is. The bell bottom uniforms, the sketchy science, the sideburns. It's all so perfect. As a child, this show made me excited for the future like nothing else.
A fun series that I enjoy on DVD
lotsafun2 July 2007
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.
An excellent series! One of the Sci - fi greats!
peter-faizey22 June 2006
Space: 1999 to me is a truly excellent series. Produced and created by the great Gerry Anderson, it was the most expensive science fiction series of it's time and looks it!! The first Season provided us with some excellent episodes, and some excellent performances from the series leads - Martin Landau, Barbara Bain and Barry Morse. Some of the best episodes of Season One include the wonderfully dark and menacing 'Dragon's Domain', 'The Alpha Child', 'Voyagers Return', 'The Last Enemy', 'Breakaway', 'The War Games', 'Space Brain' and many others. The series writing was, despite the bad press it has often received since, pretty exceptional, although there are a few let downs. Despite the series brilliance occasionally in the Season you will see episodes that suffer from poor pacing - 'The Troubled Spirit' for example, but these episodes are few in number only about 2 or 3 really, so they are easy to overlook, and all series will usually slip up somewhere!!! It is entirely forgivable. I mention this because I am trying to be a reasonable critic to the series, and not just include all the qualities I love about it!! Unfortunately the first season didn't really take off, but a surprisingly generous I.T.C backing allowed a Second Season to be made. I say this because I.T.C's usual concern about how British programmes appealed to the American audience led certain series to have a very short life. Many Gerry Anderson series have been affected by this, The Secret Service seems to be the best example. Due to the marital breakup of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, Gerry had to hire a new producer. He chose Fred Freiberger, ex- producer of the final series of Star Trek. He changed the series already shaky continuity completely and made the show more Action orientated. This idea appealed to some, but Martin Landau has gone on record for saying that although Freiberger may have helped the show in some aspects, his ideas were (in the opinion of Landau) very boring compared to the way that Season One had been produced. Johnny Byrne the series regular script editor has gone on record in saying (in his words) that Season 2 was 'complete rubbish'!, even basing the story 'The Dorcons' on his dislike to the way that Season 2 was produced. Whatever your views on the Second Season (I personally like it very much, although it takes time to adjust to Season 2 compared to Season 1) some classic stories were produced during it's time. 'The Metamorph' introducing Maya a wonderful character that can change into most forms of living matter, played superbly by Catherine Schell, 'The Rules of Luton', 'The Dorcons', 'The Immunity Syndrome', 'The Lambda Factor', 'The Exiles', 'New Adam New Eve' and many others. The second season was arguably though, the most exciting, with upbeat music and lots of action, the flaw being that some of the scripts were pretty poor. Although 'The Beta Cloud' is a good episode in many aspects, the script is admittedly lousy. As he had done in the First Season, excellent Sci-fi writer Johnny Byrne provides some of the best scripts in Season 2, usually much more serious than other stories, obviously refusing to bow down to Freiberger's 'Scooby Doo action' idea as Freiberger himself described it, lots of action with lots of often silly humour. 'The Bringers of Wonder' despite being very exciting is a ludicrous story in places, and 'The Taybor' despite having some good qualities also suffers from this weakness. However overall I feel Season 2 was a good Season, and it is deeply sad that a third season never got past the drawing board stages. However we must be grateful for what we have got. All the episodes are now provided on shiny DVD's for the enjoyment of all who remember or have come to like the series over it's 30 years existence. Season 1 provided us with lavish and menacing stories, often with hidden morales and examples of the failings of human nature and it's fight to survive in a frequently hostile environment. Season 2 provided us with upbeat and exciting stories, exploring often the most bizarre and intriguing aspects of Science fiction 'The Rules of Luton' for example - highly evolved plants!!! Overall an excellent series, one which belongs with all of the Science fiction greats.
characters shortcomings
midge5621 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The actor usually receives the blame for being unlikable by the audience when the blame lies with the script. On Space 1999, this was a serious problem. The show had nice sets, stylish Uniforms & memorable actors. But terrible scripts with bad character roles & interaction.
By comparison, Roddenberry recognized the key element for a successful series. It is the interrelationships between the characters on the show & good stories. Not the sets or special effects. We would have been happy with cardboard sets & fireworks for effects as long as we were emotionally invested in the ST characters. Nor should these post Xgen neophytes be judging the quality of sets & effects. Those show developers in decades past had to operate on shoestring budgets just to bring us their sci-fi series. With the intransigent networks who only cared for sitcoms & westerns & fraudulent Neilson ratings, we were lucky to see any sci-fi at all. We appreciated their efforts despite the primitive sets & effects. ST gave us quality actors, quality scripts & wonderful stories.
Sci-fi producers were forced to become beggars & produced these shows with less budget than JR was paid for a single episode. This paltry budget had to pay for everything; sets, crews, actors, effects & total production costs on less than $100K each episode. They actually had to dig into trash bins to find materials to use on sets. They used every scrap. Ice Cube trays & Christmas lights but it gave us Kirk, Spock & Bones in return. Space 1999 was missing this type of character camaraderie.
Commander Koenig was intransigent & dismissive toward his crew & toward any info they endeavored to provide. He did not develop a relationship with his officers & allowed them to argue, talk back & ignore instructions. He made bad, rash decisions. Ordered preemptive strikes & belligerent actions where no hostile actions had been made. His character behaved recklessly, dismissive, endangered others, did not engender trust or camaraderie among his crew, met other races with hostility & preemptive attacks, was willing to sacrifice the welfare of the entire community for the welfare of one person & constantly started battles & placed his people in harms way without any rhyme or reason. Shooting an alien guest without warning just to see if their stun gun worked on him. Or demanding the hyper drive of a trader as if he was entitled to it. This type of asinine behavior alienates the audience. Even if the alien proved to be bad in the end, it does not justify preemptive attacks or hostility in the eyes of the audience.
Dr Helena Russell was a total waste as a medical practitioner. She didn't even bother to scan patients & merely shook her head without attempting to provide care. Nearly every episode began with a needless death. She wrote off the living & tried to pull the plug more than once with her arrogance. She incompetently killed one of Christopher Lee's sleepers insisting they were dead when it was obvious they were in sleep chambers. Or the multitude of times they failed to detect lifesigns in victims or on planets insisting they were absolutely correct. Or opening a bomb like device & blatantly freezing the occupant. She never failed to restrain & countermand the commander whenever her high horse ideals did not conform with his.
Victor was flippant in his attitude which was mirrored by the actors attitude about the show. He considered sci-fi to be juvenile. He inappropriately laughed when delivering serious lines & his character always gave bad advice, never agreed with the commander & never could provide info or advice despite being the science officer and just laughed sarcastically & declined when Koenig asked.
Kano argued about everything. Never could follow orders or requests without arguing. Always an argument & bad attitude. Even when he had no lines the actor was scowling during the scenes. Good riddance. Why did they write him this way? Paul & Allen were constantly arguing with the commands of Koenig in nearly every situation & tried to punch him out on multiple occasions. Never following orders without an argument. Good riddance to Paul as well. Allen was barely salvageable with his constant arguing & fistfights. WHY did the producers allow this type of character aggression & hostility in the episodes? This was the core problem with the show. Without emotional investment they cannot garner fan loyalty.
It is my endeavor to point out why the series failed & how they could avoid this on future shows by creating a better interaction between the characters. It was also a mistake to use older actors like Morris who are not sci-fi fans themselves who regard their roles in a flippant manner & spoil it.
However, it was not the sets or effects which caused the downfall of this series. It was the scripts & poor character interaction which was the downfall of Space 1999.
Also, consider the shallow mentality of these neophytes who Schlub in their parents basements deriving fodder for their self concentric egos by bashing every nuance of a show produced before they were born. Mostly striking back at their parents by trashing what they held dear. It is their attacks on these shows which is the reason so many good sci-fi producers have given up. We are all paying for their attacks. So consider the source when you read these commentaries from those who are not qualified or mature enough to make fair judgments based on the conditions of this timeframe.
Space 1999 could have been a great series with the sets & actors if they had replaced the writers & corrected the character roles & interactions. The question is WHY did they fail to see this problem even when they revamped the second season.
By comparison, Roddenberry recognized the key element for a successful series. It is the interrelationships between the characters on the show & good stories. Not the sets or special effects. We would have been happy with cardboard sets & fireworks for effects as long as we were emotionally invested in the ST characters. Nor should these post Xgen neophytes be judging the quality of sets & effects. Those show developers in decades past had to operate on shoestring budgets just to bring us their sci-fi series. With the intransigent networks who only cared for sitcoms & westerns & fraudulent Neilson ratings, we were lucky to see any sci-fi at all. We appreciated their efforts despite the primitive sets & effects. ST gave us quality actors, quality scripts & wonderful stories.
Sci-fi producers were forced to become beggars & produced these shows with less budget than JR was paid for a single episode. This paltry budget had to pay for everything; sets, crews, actors, effects & total production costs on less than $100K each episode. They actually had to dig into trash bins to find materials to use on sets. They used every scrap. Ice Cube trays & Christmas lights but it gave us Kirk, Spock & Bones in return. Space 1999 was missing this type of character camaraderie.
Commander Koenig was intransigent & dismissive toward his crew & toward any info they endeavored to provide. He did not develop a relationship with his officers & allowed them to argue, talk back & ignore instructions. He made bad, rash decisions. Ordered preemptive strikes & belligerent actions where no hostile actions had been made. His character behaved recklessly, dismissive, endangered others, did not engender trust or camaraderie among his crew, met other races with hostility & preemptive attacks, was willing to sacrifice the welfare of the entire community for the welfare of one person & constantly started battles & placed his people in harms way without any rhyme or reason. Shooting an alien guest without warning just to see if their stun gun worked on him. Or demanding the hyper drive of a trader as if he was entitled to it. This type of asinine behavior alienates the audience. Even if the alien proved to be bad in the end, it does not justify preemptive attacks or hostility in the eyes of the audience.
Dr Helena Russell was a total waste as a medical practitioner. She didn't even bother to scan patients & merely shook her head without attempting to provide care. Nearly every episode began with a needless death. She wrote off the living & tried to pull the plug more than once with her arrogance. She incompetently killed one of Christopher Lee's sleepers insisting they were dead when it was obvious they were in sleep chambers. Or the multitude of times they failed to detect lifesigns in victims or on planets insisting they were absolutely correct. Or opening a bomb like device & blatantly freezing the occupant. She never failed to restrain & countermand the commander whenever her high horse ideals did not conform with his.
Victor was flippant in his attitude which was mirrored by the actors attitude about the show. He considered sci-fi to be juvenile. He inappropriately laughed when delivering serious lines & his character always gave bad advice, never agreed with the commander & never could provide info or advice despite being the science officer and just laughed sarcastically & declined when Koenig asked.
Kano argued about everything. Never could follow orders or requests without arguing. Always an argument & bad attitude. Even when he had no lines the actor was scowling during the scenes. Good riddance. Why did they write him this way? Paul & Allen were constantly arguing with the commands of Koenig in nearly every situation & tried to punch him out on multiple occasions. Never following orders without an argument. Good riddance to Paul as well. Allen was barely salvageable with his constant arguing & fistfights. WHY did the producers allow this type of character aggression & hostility in the episodes? This was the core problem with the show. Without emotional investment they cannot garner fan loyalty.
It is my endeavor to point out why the series failed & how they could avoid this on future shows by creating a better interaction between the characters. It was also a mistake to use older actors like Morris who are not sci-fi fans themselves who regard their roles in a flippant manner & spoil it.
However, it was not the sets or effects which caused the downfall of this series. It was the scripts & poor character interaction which was the downfall of Space 1999.
Also, consider the shallow mentality of these neophytes who Schlub in their parents basements deriving fodder for their self concentric egos by bashing every nuance of a show produced before they were born. Mostly striking back at their parents by trashing what they held dear. It is their attacks on these shows which is the reason so many good sci-fi producers have given up. We are all paying for their attacks. So consider the source when you read these commentaries from those who are not qualified or mature enough to make fair judgments based on the conditions of this timeframe.
Space 1999 could have been a great series with the sets & actors if they had replaced the writers & corrected the character roles & interactions. The question is WHY did they fail to see this problem even when they revamped the second season.
A life-long fan
space-199927 August 2003
Very interesting to read many of the comments regarding the show. The best way to summarize is that either you "get" what Space: 1999 is all about or you don't.
Year One (Series One) was sci-fi fantasy of the highest order and was an incredible blend of mood, music, amazing sets, props and model work along with fantastic, even metaphysical/mystical stories that didn't merely take you there but actually PUT you in the action amongst the wonder and horror that the Alphans were facing. Admittedly, this is much heavier fare than what most tv viewers are looking for... simple, escapist, campy sci-fi this was definitely not. Year Two took that approach and while it had some successful moments (I'd say 1/2 of the 24 shows are fairly good, the other rather sub-par) it is pretty much a different and almost unrelated show and I leave that for others to comment on.
Up until that time, the only tv sci-fi/fantasy shows that had been so daring in their approach to tackle stories and situations that could be so dire for the characters involved were The Twilight Zone and the original Outer Limits. However, those shows involved a rotating set of stories with new actors and actresses. Thus, each episode presented a fresh set of characters and circumstances with a different set of problems and history to learn but without the psychological guilt and weight that resulted from the mistakes of previous episodes.
This of course made 1999 unique outside of perhaps MASH and All in the Family where viewers would continually recall tragedies or failures from previous episodes that would hang like a cloud over all future episodes giving the show itself a darker more pessimistic outlook. However, those shows relied on heavy doses of comedy to lighten the mood, something that 1999 rarely ever had.
Yes, Year One of 1999 is rather heavy viewing but in spite of this in 1975, as a 10 year old, I became an instant and life-long fan of the show while watching premiere of the first episode Breakaway. The 23 episodes that were to follow were a magnificent journey into the unknown that has never been replicated by any other tv show I have seen before or since. The show is certainly not perfect as one becomes quickly familiar with many faux-paus such as certain sets not corresponding with the model work but the show has aged remarkably well and the dvd's, with their generally excellent picture quality, reveal a quality of production nearing that of full-feature movies.
And complaints about poor science don't diminish its impact. I've always taken the mind-set approach of imagine if this could happen... the kind of leap of faith that we do with accepting all the abilities of Superman. Thus, if the moon was blasted from earth orbit and transported into another part of our universe where our known laws of science and physics don't always apply then these are the stories of what could happen to these men and women of Alpha and that we don't always learn the answer of what really happened or why.
I find this a better, even more realistic approach than that of so many Trek episodes where they technobabble the viewer to death every episode coming up with unbelievable solutions to every problem under the sun in a matter of hours every episode. Even in today's world we often don't know exactly what happened such as the exact reason why the latest shuttle burned up in re-entry... we have a good idea but will likely never know the complete answer.
Thus, for me Year One is like having 24 mini-movies and when one looks past its flaws you see a show that was unbelievably brave in its presentation. I find the acting to be reserved but quite intense at the same time... definitely not wooden. Also, the show abounds in caring character moments but they are very subtle such as a touch of the arm or holding of a hand, slap on the back or a subtle glance and smile. And significantly, it showed some of the most shocking scenes of any tv show in history such as the trapped Commissioner at the end of Earthbound, the laser-fried Alphan in Force of Life, the unfortunate scientist who lost his immortality in Death's Other Dominion or the life-sucking tentacle monster in Dragon's Domain.
Nearly every episode has an "always remember that" moment and that ultimately is the legacy of Space: 1999. It was incredibly memorable and set new standards for what could be achieved and if many deem that that it failed at least it had the guts to try.
On that note I say to the uninitiated "GIVE THE SHOW A TRY!" If you approach it with an open mind and enjoy it for what it is instead of what it isn't you'll probably be pleasantly surprised. Often there is a great deal more going on under the surface that you don't always pick up on until repeated viewings and the show really starts to hit its stride after the first ten episodes or so.
Some of my favourites are: Dragon's Domain Voyager's Return The Testament of Arkadia Black Sun Earthbound Mission of the Darians Another Time, Another Place Breakaway The Last Sunset End of Eternity War Games The Troubled Spirit The Infernal Machine
Year One (Series One) was sci-fi fantasy of the highest order and was an incredible blend of mood, music, amazing sets, props and model work along with fantastic, even metaphysical/mystical stories that didn't merely take you there but actually PUT you in the action amongst the wonder and horror that the Alphans were facing. Admittedly, this is much heavier fare than what most tv viewers are looking for... simple, escapist, campy sci-fi this was definitely not. Year Two took that approach and while it had some successful moments (I'd say 1/2 of the 24 shows are fairly good, the other rather sub-par) it is pretty much a different and almost unrelated show and I leave that for others to comment on.
Up until that time, the only tv sci-fi/fantasy shows that had been so daring in their approach to tackle stories and situations that could be so dire for the characters involved were The Twilight Zone and the original Outer Limits. However, those shows involved a rotating set of stories with new actors and actresses. Thus, each episode presented a fresh set of characters and circumstances with a different set of problems and history to learn but without the psychological guilt and weight that resulted from the mistakes of previous episodes.
This of course made 1999 unique outside of perhaps MASH and All in the Family where viewers would continually recall tragedies or failures from previous episodes that would hang like a cloud over all future episodes giving the show itself a darker more pessimistic outlook. However, those shows relied on heavy doses of comedy to lighten the mood, something that 1999 rarely ever had.
Yes, Year One of 1999 is rather heavy viewing but in spite of this in 1975, as a 10 year old, I became an instant and life-long fan of the show while watching premiere of the first episode Breakaway. The 23 episodes that were to follow were a magnificent journey into the unknown that has never been replicated by any other tv show I have seen before or since. The show is certainly not perfect as one becomes quickly familiar with many faux-paus such as certain sets not corresponding with the model work but the show has aged remarkably well and the dvd's, with their generally excellent picture quality, reveal a quality of production nearing that of full-feature movies.
And complaints about poor science don't diminish its impact. I've always taken the mind-set approach of imagine if this could happen... the kind of leap of faith that we do with accepting all the abilities of Superman. Thus, if the moon was blasted from earth orbit and transported into another part of our universe where our known laws of science and physics don't always apply then these are the stories of what could happen to these men and women of Alpha and that we don't always learn the answer of what really happened or why.
I find this a better, even more realistic approach than that of so many Trek episodes where they technobabble the viewer to death every episode coming up with unbelievable solutions to every problem under the sun in a matter of hours every episode. Even in today's world we often don't know exactly what happened such as the exact reason why the latest shuttle burned up in re-entry... we have a good idea but will likely never know the complete answer.
Thus, for me Year One is like having 24 mini-movies and when one looks past its flaws you see a show that was unbelievably brave in its presentation. I find the acting to be reserved but quite intense at the same time... definitely not wooden. Also, the show abounds in caring character moments but they are very subtle such as a touch of the arm or holding of a hand, slap on the back or a subtle glance and smile. And significantly, it showed some of the most shocking scenes of any tv show in history such as the trapped Commissioner at the end of Earthbound, the laser-fried Alphan in Force of Life, the unfortunate scientist who lost his immortality in Death's Other Dominion or the life-sucking tentacle monster in Dragon's Domain.
Nearly every episode has an "always remember that" moment and that ultimately is the legacy of Space: 1999. It was incredibly memorable and set new standards for what could be achieved and if many deem that that it failed at least it had the guts to try.
On that note I say to the uninitiated "GIVE THE SHOW A TRY!" If you approach it with an open mind and enjoy it for what it is instead of what it isn't you'll probably be pleasantly surprised. Often there is a great deal more going on under the surface that you don't always pick up on until repeated viewings and the show really starts to hit its stride after the first ten episodes or so.
Some of my favourites are: Dragon's Domain Voyager's Return The Testament of Arkadia Black Sun Earthbound Mission of the Darians Another Time, Another Place Breakaway The Last Sunset End of Eternity War Games The Troubled Spirit The Infernal Machine
The show LOOKS like it should make far more sense than it does
bgaiv22 December 2022
This is a very strange show because by and large, it looks great but generally has stunningly bad science.
The FX weren't always great, but the moon base looks quite believable. The Eagles were incredibly well realized utility ships. And the miniatures look like a million bucks to this day even in HD.
But despite how convincing all that is, the science is so ridiculous that a 10 year old would notice. This was in the mid 70s when the general audience was particularly well educated on matters of space travel because of the heady recent days of the Space Race. The "science" in this show was often worse than that of Lost In Space and felt like it would have come from the 50s.
At the start of the very first episode, the first words onscreen are "Dark Side of the Moon". Ugh, even Pink Floyd knew that made no sense.
And pretending the moon is a starship is so hilariously flawed. I could live with the moon somehow being ripped from orbit. A show's inciting event can be crazy and even impossible, especially if the characters note this as some mystery.
I could even live with the moon going through some space warp that gives it the speed to go through so many planetary systems.
But the problem is the speeds needed to reach these systems means the moon would be in these systems for minutes or seconds. Yet, somehow the moon manages to hang out near a planet for several days each week, as needed by the plot.
I do get some joy watching the show because I saw it in the 70s when I was 6 or 7. There are some decent stories and they were at least trying at times to make a thought provoking show. The first season was trying to bring Kubrick to the small screen and that's at least a bit ballsy.
Unfortunately, Lew Grade had no idea he was producing nonsense.
The FX weren't always great, but the moon base looks quite believable. The Eagles were incredibly well realized utility ships. And the miniatures look like a million bucks to this day even in HD.
But despite how convincing all that is, the science is so ridiculous that a 10 year old would notice. This was in the mid 70s when the general audience was particularly well educated on matters of space travel because of the heady recent days of the Space Race. The "science" in this show was often worse than that of Lost In Space and felt like it would have come from the 50s.
At the start of the very first episode, the first words onscreen are "Dark Side of the Moon". Ugh, even Pink Floyd knew that made no sense.
And pretending the moon is a starship is so hilariously flawed. I could live with the moon somehow being ripped from orbit. A show's inciting event can be crazy and even impossible, especially if the characters note this as some mystery.
I could even live with the moon going through some space warp that gives it the speed to go through so many planetary systems.
But the problem is the speeds needed to reach these systems means the moon would be in these systems for minutes or seconds. Yet, somehow the moon manages to hang out near a planet for several days each week, as needed by the plot.
I do get some joy watching the show because I saw it in the 70s when I was 6 or 7. There are some decent stories and they were at least trying at times to make a thought provoking show. The first season was trying to bring Kubrick to the small screen and that's at least a bit ballsy.
Unfortunately, Lew Grade had no idea he was producing nonsense.
My childhood SF hero
renato.filjar27 April 2006
A long time has passed since I last time saw my favourite SciFi programme. Still, with no disrespect, it is the best SciFi I have ever seen. Special effects is not the only thing that makes a SciFi (as well as any other sort of movies) attractive, good and memorable. It is a good script, fine cast and the atmosphere of the time when it has been broadcast. In case of the Space 1999, there is also a strong context of reality. Compared with the other similar programmes and movies, the Space 1999 deals with familiar objects (like Moon), provides usually the imaginable situations. All these make people watching the show more capable to identify themselves with characters and situations. Certainly, the Space 1999 had caught me in front of my TV every Saturday night. Very happy to find the programme on DVD!
Season One Review
ian100028 July 2017
I cannot recall a show that had such huge differences between its few seasons.
Season one is the "serious" one. The "main mission" set is huge, and Moonbase Alpha really does seem realistic. The special effects are superb, some of the best pre-CGI work ever seen. The guest cast list is fantastic, with many notables who would go on to greater fame.
The show's main premise is of course utterly ridiculous; the moon is propelled out of orbit and amazingly arrives in a new solar system virtually every week.
However, within the "travelling moon" framework, the scriptwriters of season one came up with some superb episodes. I would say about 70- 80% of the first season are excellent.
The 8 or so main characters are likable and well-used; the 3 main stars don't totally dominate. Barbara Bain's performance has been criticised by some, but I feel that she gave the correct feel to the character, at least in season one.
The aliens encountered along the journey are of course English speaking white people, such as Peter Cushing, Julian Glover, Christopher Lee, Anthony Valentine etc, and this series predates the 1980s prosthetic aliens - so multicoloured robes and crazy wigs do the job instead.
The main thing I recall from season one (and the only good thing about season two) is the technology, and I refer to the many superb models, as well as the great 70s interior tech, such as the comlocks, the communication towers. The laser weapon, which can of course also stun, is a necessary device, not for Alphan life, but for TV scriptwriters.
Many have commentated about the sad fate of the show when season two was commissioned; it's very difficult to watch.
So, I salute season one.
Season one is the "serious" one. The "main mission" set is huge, and Moonbase Alpha really does seem realistic. The special effects are superb, some of the best pre-CGI work ever seen. The guest cast list is fantastic, with many notables who would go on to greater fame.
The show's main premise is of course utterly ridiculous; the moon is propelled out of orbit and amazingly arrives in a new solar system virtually every week.
However, within the "travelling moon" framework, the scriptwriters of season one came up with some superb episodes. I would say about 70- 80% of the first season are excellent.
The 8 or so main characters are likable and well-used; the 3 main stars don't totally dominate. Barbara Bain's performance has been criticised by some, but I feel that she gave the correct feel to the character, at least in season one.
The aliens encountered along the journey are of course English speaking white people, such as Peter Cushing, Julian Glover, Christopher Lee, Anthony Valentine etc, and this series predates the 1980s prosthetic aliens - so multicoloured robes and crazy wigs do the job instead.
The main thing I recall from season one (and the only good thing about season two) is the technology, and I refer to the many superb models, as well as the great 70s interior tech, such as the comlocks, the communication towers. The laser weapon, which can of course also stun, is a necessary device, not for Alphan life, but for TV scriptwriters.
Many have commentated about the sad fate of the show when season two was commissioned; it's very difficult to watch.
So, I salute season one.
Best Sci-Fi series ever (1st season)
Kieren V.9 December 1999
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!
The conventional wisdom? Wrong!
robrosenberger8 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The conventional wisdom on this mid-70s sci fi offering from the prolific imagination of Gerry Anderson (THUNDERBIRDS, UFO) is, in a word...wrong. "Cerebral sci fi that 'jumped the shark' in season 2, rendering itself mindless and action-oriented". Well, no. Not precisely, no. Yes, season 2 did go after a larger audience and lower common denominator. But the truth of 1999 is completely opposite conventional wisdom. The only time they ever brushed greatness was in the maligned season 2...as children's sci fi. As adult sci fi, both seasons were failures, but the visuals, acting, and simplistic ideas of season 2 are ideal for a child in the 5-10 range, ready to take her or his (or ers) first steps into the mind-blowing universe of science fiction. To modern eyes, season 1 can't be called anything but plodding. It feels like it belongs in a museum, even though it was made almost a decade after the still-gripping STAR TREK. Is it cerebral? No. Being cerebral requires more than the appearance of cerebrality, dear Brits. There has to be genuine intellect at work. There are a handful of semi-gems. Real-life spouses of thirty-six years, Martin Landau and Barbara Bain star as leaders of Moonbase Alpha. In a nuclear waste accident, the moon is sent spinning off into space, where adventures await. The look of the show is pretty wonderful. The horseshoe-style lasers are absolutely classic. The eagles, their spaceships, are brilliant. Somehow both smooth and clunky, and boyohboy did the creators have a blast wrecking these things regularly. I don't know whether anyone's ever tabulated how many they lost, but it HAD to be more than they had in stock at the beginning. You could occasionally see the wires, but it's all so charmingly rendered that you buy into the reality fully. I had a toy eagle as a child, almost three feet long. The cockpit and engine sections disengaged to form a scout ship, something that never happened on the show. It would stand tall on a list of the five most brilliant toys of my youth. And don't let the strings fool you...time and again, you will be struck by how well-budgeted this show was. Rounding out the leads was Barry Morse as Professor Bergman, a gentle, thoughtful presence. The second season brought a great overhaul in the cast, music, and look. It's brighter and brisker, sexier and more playful, which feels great for about one episode. But the music is a travesty...the season 1 theme is a towering tribute to classic symphonic sci fi synth/guitar music that could ONLY have come out of the 70s, but the new theme song rolls off some cheesy assembly line. Sadly, the gentle wisdom of Barry Morse is also gone. The show falls prey to the insidious force of "youngicutifying" (a fate which also befell UFO), with dewy replacement characters Maya and Tony. For the first chunk of the season, it feels awful. But then, there comes a moment when you (and they?) finally stop taking the show seriously, and that moment is epiphanous. The possibility that this shift wasn't intentional is unsettling (the season 2 producer was Fred Freiberger, who also oversaw the much-derided last season of STAR TREK)...but through luck or a well-laid plan, it all slides into perfect children's sci fi, which can also make an adult in the right frame of mind chortle in delight. There are surprisingly few moments of regressive sexism or other such which a parent will have to pause and clarify for an eager child.
Loved it as a kid
amhbmh2 September 2019
I'm giving it 5 stars for nostalgia. I watched it during it's original run in the 70's. It was a big deal for my brothers and I. It doesn't hold up very well. The memory cheats sometimes. You remember things better than they were. With Space:1999 it committed grand larceny. The science is horrible. The moon is somehow traveling faster than light. In the episode Dragon's Domain, Dr. Russell informs us that they are currently BETWEEN GALAXIES. Did the writer confuse solar systems with galaxies? That would be very bad. I don't think the writer did. That is also very bad. Season two is better. In the second season our heroes discovered colors other than white and beige. They also have a big screen which they call the big screen. I'm currently watching it (and enjoying it) for what it is. Fun. It's not Star Trek. It's not even Star Trek the Animated Series. It's Space: $19.99
You don't feel at home in deep space.
MarcelloDL20 January 2004
The first science fiction work I ever saw was Space:1999, and i was six. Italian Tv had co-produced the stuff so it was aired around 6pm, not a very appropriate slot to broadcast scenes of people burned alive by their commander's lasergun... I probably had nightmares about it, but missing a single episode was out of the question. I got to see some first season episodes some twenty years later and I appreciated the show even more. I don't recall much of the second season apart Maya and Tony, so let me concentrate on the first one.
The electronic soundtrack and the opening credits (a kind of "Pulp Fiction" style guitar alternated with an orchestral version of the same theme) were very original, as it was the look of the Eagles: they are solid transport spacecrafts but at the same time one can see their pilots from the outside, so that Eagles seem vulnerable... well, they are, most of the time. Base Alpha is a large, well lit and comfortable place (some stylish seventies furniture, too) which is home and prison at the same time.
Anyway the most peculiar aspect is the atmosphere in Moonbase Alpha: The crew is shocked for what happened to them, unprepared to deal with the future, they don't agree with each other, they make mistakes, they often prefer not to show much emotion. No "Space as the last frontier" rhetoric, here. Space is cold and mistakes are lethal. That increases the realism even if 1999 is well past. Action progresses like a slowly unfolding bad dream.
Don't believe people complaining about bad acting. They just expect things that Space:1999 wasn't going to offer. The actors performed well. For example, Commander Koenig (the symbolism in the name is evident) is waiting for the "black sun" to swallow the base, he's talking with Prof. Bergman. He's about to break into tears but manages to restrain himself so that his eyes show only a little trace of what he's feeling underneath: A very good performance from Martin Landau, nearly impossible to find in better rated SF series/movies.
The electronic soundtrack and the opening credits (a kind of "Pulp Fiction" style guitar alternated with an orchestral version of the same theme) were very original, as it was the look of the Eagles: they are solid transport spacecrafts but at the same time one can see their pilots from the outside, so that Eagles seem vulnerable... well, they are, most of the time. Base Alpha is a large, well lit and comfortable place (some stylish seventies furniture, too) which is home and prison at the same time.
Anyway the most peculiar aspect is the atmosphere in Moonbase Alpha: The crew is shocked for what happened to them, unprepared to deal with the future, they don't agree with each other, they make mistakes, they often prefer not to show much emotion. No "Space as the last frontier" rhetoric, here. Space is cold and mistakes are lethal. That increases the realism even if 1999 is well past. Action progresses like a slowly unfolding bad dream.
Don't believe people complaining about bad acting. They just expect things that Space:1999 wasn't going to offer. The actors performed well. For example, Commander Koenig (the symbolism in the name is evident) is waiting for the "black sun" to swallow the base, he's talking with Prof. Bergman. He's about to break into tears but manages to restrain himself so that his eyes show only a little trace of what he's feeling underneath: A very good performance from Martin Landau, nearly impossible to find in better rated SF series/movies.
2001 A Space Odyssey: The TV Series!
rooprect23 August 2012
What a prophetic show. Although it sorta missed the mark on 1999 being the year the moon blows out, it did predict that teeny bikinis & bellbottoms would come back in style.
This is probably the most conservative scifi show that ever made it to prime time. By "conservative" I mean "realistic". There aren't a lot of 3-headed aliens, space wars & planet-deafening laser guns like we may see in other scifi shows of the time. Instead, we get a much more realistic (yet every bit as dramatic) portrayal of the near future.
In the 40s, 50s and 60s, scifi was synonymous with campy cheese. Then in 1969, Stanley Kubrick hit us with the masterpiece "2001" whose minimalistic, sterile & psychological approach made us suddenly take the future seriously.
Here we have a TV series that followed Kubrick's lead admirably. Visuals are very 2001-ish: bright white, somewhat cold and clinical. Themes are equally provocative, touching on mindbending concepts of physics (like the Unified Field Theory, summarized as "Everything is everything else") and momentary glimpses into theology & the question of whether there is a greater intelligence guiding us. Like "2001", therein lies the power of this show. It touches on the most unanswerable questions of existence, presenting certain possibilities without being too sure about itself.
By not-knowing, it makes everything seem plausible. The characters aren't a bunch of hotshots who always save the day with the right answers. Rather, they often make catastrophic mistakes as they stumble through uncharted territory with no control over their situation. It's a very humble approach to scifi.
The star, Martin Landau said it best in a recent interview: "I like the idea of (the moon) going off into space and not being able to control the trajectory. Star Trek is years in the future; they can run around and do what they want. But the moon has 300 people onboard, and we can't procreate, we can just support ... and we can't steer this thing. We're not emotionally and/or technologically able to do that if we wanted to ... It's an accident and we're not ready for it."
Again, going back to 2001 (which, if you haven't guessed, is one of my fave movies), it establishes the same Kubrickian philosophy that we are stumbling through space, awkwardly trying to find our footing, making mistakes but trying to learn and evolve while surviving. Isn't that that the whole point of life?
Enough pseudo-philosophy. This show is just plain freaking cool. Created by miniature-model-experts Gerry & Syliva Anderson, the spaceships, moonbase and moon scenery are extremely impressive. Sure, there may be a cheesy 70s effect here or there, but for the most part everything is convincing enough to maintain your suspension of disbelief. Music is really cool, too, and I'm not just talking about the awesome 1st season themesong. For example, the episode "Dragon's Domain" is notable for its use of the haunting classical piece Albinoni's Adagio in G minor (used also in the 1976 scifi masterpiece "Rollerball").
Be forewarned, when Space:1999 switched from season 1 to season 2, there were some major changes. Overall it became much less cerebral, much more action-oriented (that's a nice way of saying "cheesy"). While most die-hard fans cling to season 1 as the definitive Space:1999, I think season 2 had some really cool episodes too. But I think it's best to start with season 1. If your time is limited, check out the episodes "Breakaway", "Black Sun", "Earthbound", "The Infernal Machine". And if you want a really trippy Dali-esque surreal experience, try "The Missing Link".
Love it or hate it, you'll have to agree it's like no other scifi TV series you've ever seen!
This is probably the most conservative scifi show that ever made it to prime time. By "conservative" I mean "realistic". There aren't a lot of 3-headed aliens, space wars & planet-deafening laser guns like we may see in other scifi shows of the time. Instead, we get a much more realistic (yet every bit as dramatic) portrayal of the near future.
In the 40s, 50s and 60s, scifi was synonymous with campy cheese. Then in 1969, Stanley Kubrick hit us with the masterpiece "2001" whose minimalistic, sterile & psychological approach made us suddenly take the future seriously.
Here we have a TV series that followed Kubrick's lead admirably. Visuals are very 2001-ish: bright white, somewhat cold and clinical. Themes are equally provocative, touching on mindbending concepts of physics (like the Unified Field Theory, summarized as "Everything is everything else") and momentary glimpses into theology & the question of whether there is a greater intelligence guiding us. Like "2001", therein lies the power of this show. It touches on the most unanswerable questions of existence, presenting certain possibilities without being too sure about itself.
By not-knowing, it makes everything seem plausible. The characters aren't a bunch of hotshots who always save the day with the right answers. Rather, they often make catastrophic mistakes as they stumble through uncharted territory with no control over their situation. It's a very humble approach to scifi.
The star, Martin Landau said it best in a recent interview: "I like the idea of (the moon) going off into space and not being able to control the trajectory. Star Trek is years in the future; they can run around and do what they want. But the moon has 300 people onboard, and we can't procreate, we can just support ... and we can't steer this thing. We're not emotionally and/or technologically able to do that if we wanted to ... It's an accident and we're not ready for it."
Again, going back to 2001 (which, if you haven't guessed, is one of my fave movies), it establishes the same Kubrickian philosophy that we are stumbling through space, awkwardly trying to find our footing, making mistakes but trying to learn and evolve while surviving. Isn't that that the whole point of life?
Enough pseudo-philosophy. This show is just plain freaking cool. Created by miniature-model-experts Gerry & Syliva Anderson, the spaceships, moonbase and moon scenery are extremely impressive. Sure, there may be a cheesy 70s effect here or there, but for the most part everything is convincing enough to maintain your suspension of disbelief. Music is really cool, too, and I'm not just talking about the awesome 1st season themesong. For example, the episode "Dragon's Domain" is notable for its use of the haunting classical piece Albinoni's Adagio in G minor (used also in the 1976 scifi masterpiece "Rollerball").
Be forewarned, when Space:1999 switched from season 1 to season 2, there were some major changes. Overall it became much less cerebral, much more action-oriented (that's a nice way of saying "cheesy"). While most die-hard fans cling to season 1 as the definitive Space:1999, I think season 2 had some really cool episodes too. But I think it's best to start with season 1. If your time is limited, check out the episodes "Breakaway", "Black Sun", "Earthbound", "The Infernal Machine". And if you want a really trippy Dali-esque surreal experience, try "The Missing Link".
Love it or hate it, you'll have to agree it's like no other scifi TV series you've ever seen!
Groundbreaking science fiction series that was in a league within itself. Commemorating Space:1999 on its 40th anniversary
raysond18 April 2016
On commemorating the 40th anniversary of this show this was at its time science fiction television of the highest order and it was an incredible blend of spectacular special effects,amazing sets along with some of the most fantastic,even metaphysical/mystical stories that put you in with the action amongst the wonders and horrors the Alphas were facing in the far reaches of outer space. The short-lived award winning science fiction series "SPACE:1999" was created and produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson who also served as executive producers of the series. The series was the last production by the partnership of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and when it premiered in 1975 was the most expensive science fiction series produced for British television at the time it was made at a cost of $300,000 per episode. The first season was co-produced by the British television company ITC Productions and the Italian production company RAI Productions. The second season was produced only by ITC Productions. Before this series was made the partnership of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson were known for their children's action-adventure programs including "Fireball XL-5", "Stingray", "Thunderbirds!",and "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons",and for there live-action produced shows that included the science-fiction drama "UFO",and their only live- action espionage/crime-drama series "The Protectors". "SPACE:1999" was originally pitched in the United States to all three major television networks(ABC,NBC,& CBS) with NBC expressing interest in the series as a mid-season replacement. As a result,all three major television networks rejected the offer. The series ended up in the United States shown in first-run national syndication for two seasons producing 48 episodes in color from September 4,1975 until November 12,1977. Out of the 48 episodes that this series produced, a total of 24 episodes were made from September 4,1975 until February 12,1976. Season 2 also produced 24 episodes in it's final season airing from September 4,1976 until November 12,1977. Gerry and Sylvia Anderson were executive producers throughout it's entire run. Former "Star Trek" producer Fred Freiburger was the producer for all of Season 2 and for all 24 episodes in it's final season.
The British produced series starred Martin Landau and Barbara Bain(of "Mission:Impossible" fame),and Canadian actor Barry Morse(of Quinn Martin's "The Fugitive") along with co-stars Nick Tate and Zienia Merton. Throughout the series entire run only actors Martin Landau and Barbara Bain along with Nick Tate and Zienia Merton remained with the exception of Barry Morse who appeared in all 24 episodes of Season 1. In the series second and final season actor Barry Morse was replaced by Catherine Schell. Also added to the cast for Season 2 were actors Tony Anholt, John Hug, and Jeffrey Kissoon. "SPACE:1999" drew a great deal of visual inspiration and technical expertise from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 theatrical film "2001: A Space Odyssey" along with the show's special effects director Brian Johnson who had previously worked on the "Thunderbirds!" television series and on Kubrick's theatrical film.
To basically get the idea of what "SPACE:1999" was about requires heavy viewing in spite of this was out of the ordinary when it came out in 1975. Season 1 of the series is highly recommended and I would highly recommend seeing the pilot episode "Breakaway" which sets the tone for what was to come. The original 24 episodes from Season 1 that were to follow were into a magnificent journey into the unknown reaches of space that gave viewers a retrospective that no other television series of this period has seen before or since. It was Britian's answer to "Star Trek" and "Lost In Space". An grand astounding achievement when it came out during the mid-1970's. The other episodes that stood out from Season 1 of the series were "A Matter of Life and Death", "Dragon's Domain", "End of Eternity", "Earthbound", "The Testament of Arkadia", "The Last Sunset", "Mission of the Darians", "Space Brain", and "The Alpha Child" just to name a few. The second and final season of the series also had some good episodes ranging from the two-part "The Bringers of Wonder", to other Season 2 episodes that followed included "Dorzak", "The Journey to Where", "The Immunity Syndrome", "The Metamorph", "The Seed of Destruction", "The Dorcons",and "The AB Chrysalis" and even "The Rules of Luton" were just a few of the good episodes in its second and final season. The rest of the episodes from Season 2 did not hold their own as the series basically stoop to the level of a Saturday Morning cartoon show. The guest stars ranged from some of the best British actors in the business ranging from Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Joan Collins, Sarah Douglas, Jeremy Kemp and Peter Bowles. When it was canceled in the fall of 1977 the series continued in syndicated repeats for some United States network affilate stations(where it was shown on late nights and weekends) until March of 1978.
The British produced series starred Martin Landau and Barbara Bain(of "Mission:Impossible" fame),and Canadian actor Barry Morse(of Quinn Martin's "The Fugitive") along with co-stars Nick Tate and Zienia Merton. Throughout the series entire run only actors Martin Landau and Barbara Bain along with Nick Tate and Zienia Merton remained with the exception of Barry Morse who appeared in all 24 episodes of Season 1. In the series second and final season actor Barry Morse was replaced by Catherine Schell. Also added to the cast for Season 2 were actors Tony Anholt, John Hug, and Jeffrey Kissoon. "SPACE:1999" drew a great deal of visual inspiration and technical expertise from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 theatrical film "2001: A Space Odyssey" along with the show's special effects director Brian Johnson who had previously worked on the "Thunderbirds!" television series and on Kubrick's theatrical film.
To basically get the idea of what "SPACE:1999" was about requires heavy viewing in spite of this was out of the ordinary when it came out in 1975. Season 1 of the series is highly recommended and I would highly recommend seeing the pilot episode "Breakaway" which sets the tone for what was to come. The original 24 episodes from Season 1 that were to follow were into a magnificent journey into the unknown reaches of space that gave viewers a retrospective that no other television series of this period has seen before or since. It was Britian's answer to "Star Trek" and "Lost In Space". An grand astounding achievement when it came out during the mid-1970's. The other episodes that stood out from Season 1 of the series were "A Matter of Life and Death", "Dragon's Domain", "End of Eternity", "Earthbound", "The Testament of Arkadia", "The Last Sunset", "Mission of the Darians", "Space Brain", and "The Alpha Child" just to name a few. The second and final season of the series also had some good episodes ranging from the two-part "The Bringers of Wonder", to other Season 2 episodes that followed included "Dorzak", "The Journey to Where", "The Immunity Syndrome", "The Metamorph", "The Seed of Destruction", "The Dorcons",and "The AB Chrysalis" and even "The Rules of Luton" were just a few of the good episodes in its second and final season. The rest of the episodes from Season 2 did not hold their own as the series basically stoop to the level of a Saturday Morning cartoon show. The guest stars ranged from some of the best British actors in the business ranging from Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Joan Collins, Sarah Douglas, Jeremy Kemp and Peter Bowles. When it was canceled in the fall of 1977 the series continued in syndicated repeats for some United States network affilate stations(where it was shown on late nights and weekends) until March of 1978.
Quasi Science at Its Best
Vincent_B26 April 2014
On September 13th, 1999, the Earth has stored nuclear waste on the Moon. Moonbase Alpha with a colony of over 300 is placed in grave danger. Magnetic radiation builds up on the base causing the Moon to blast out of the Earth's orbit, flying out into deep space. The moon colony is forced to face the unknown adventures in space on their moon, coming across strange new life forms and strange civilizations.
Silly science inaccuracies aside, the acting is better than average for any series in that era. The effects are also quite better than most offered on television in that whole decade. Even "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century", that came out a years after this one, didn't have much better effects or plots.
If you are not all discriminating about pseudo science, watch some Space:1999. I consider some of the episodes such as "Earthbound" to be a lot better than most of the original "Star Trek" series. The other space operas I equate this show with would be "Battlestar Galactica", "Lost in Space", "UFO" (same creator), and "Farscape". All held their fair share of viewers back in the day.
Silly science inaccuracies aside, the acting is better than average for any series in that era. The effects are also quite better than most offered on television in that whole decade. Even "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century", that came out a years after this one, didn't have much better effects or plots.
If you are not all discriminating about pseudo science, watch some Space:1999. I consider some of the episodes such as "Earthbound" to be a lot better than most of the original "Star Trek" series. The other space operas I equate this show with would be "Battlestar Galactica", "Lost in Space", "UFO" (same creator), and "Farscape". All held their fair share of viewers back in the day.
The greatest thing on tv.... when you were eight years old....
darkdayforanime31 July 2004
I have intensely fond memories of this show. I always seemed to associate it with some of the best memories of my childhood, although sometimes I wonder if those memories were so good because I had a show I was so fond of to relate to in my memory.
As such, my expectations of this show were abnormally high. Years later, when I finally got my hands on the box sets of both series, I was destined to be.... disappointed? Not really. After all those years I'd come to understand that nothing my child's mind had interpreted as "great" was ever going to meet the standards of my adult point of view.
As with everyone who has commented on this show, it is almost impossible to watch S99 as a combined 48 episode tv show. The differences between the seasons are far too great. Season 1 is marvellously primal and epic in its intentions, earnest in its realisation and grim and depressing in its reflection. It was also class ham, far more 1960's than were most shows made in 1974. The characters were all a pretty grim lot, but after 24 episodes you start to warm to them, feeling for their predicament. The individual episodes really stood out, especially Dragon's Domain, The Infernal Machine, Black Sun, Force of Life, The Last Sunset, Earthbound, Mission of the Darians, The Last Enemy, Space Brain and End of Eternity. Season 2 was a necessitated shift away from this grimness, because without it there wouldn't have been a season 2, for better or worse. It doesn't have the same epic feel or the sense that things are quite as desperate for the crew of Moonbase Alpha, and carries with it a greater sense of character, without the sense of depth. It was too far in the other direction, in my opinion, which was why we didn't see a season 3. The producers just never managed to settle the show down into something that would both be dramatic and acceptable to the casual viewer.
But this was the first show I ever followed, in my memory, week after week without fail, and so I love it to bits, even with all of its faults. If made today, I wouldn't be anywhere near as forgiving for those faults. Times have changed, for everyone, I suppose.
As such, my expectations of this show were abnormally high. Years later, when I finally got my hands on the box sets of both series, I was destined to be.... disappointed? Not really. After all those years I'd come to understand that nothing my child's mind had interpreted as "great" was ever going to meet the standards of my adult point of view.
As with everyone who has commented on this show, it is almost impossible to watch S99 as a combined 48 episode tv show. The differences between the seasons are far too great. Season 1 is marvellously primal and epic in its intentions, earnest in its realisation and grim and depressing in its reflection. It was also class ham, far more 1960's than were most shows made in 1974. The characters were all a pretty grim lot, but after 24 episodes you start to warm to them, feeling for their predicament. The individual episodes really stood out, especially Dragon's Domain, The Infernal Machine, Black Sun, Force of Life, The Last Sunset, Earthbound, Mission of the Darians, The Last Enemy, Space Brain and End of Eternity. Season 2 was a necessitated shift away from this grimness, because without it there wouldn't have been a season 2, for better or worse. It doesn't have the same epic feel or the sense that things are quite as desperate for the crew of Moonbase Alpha, and carries with it a greater sense of character, without the sense of depth. It was too far in the other direction, in my opinion, which was why we didn't see a season 3. The producers just never managed to settle the show down into something that would both be dramatic and acceptable to the casual viewer.
But this was the first show I ever followed, in my memory, week after week without fail, and so I love it to bits, even with all of its faults. If made today, I wouldn't be anywhere near as forgiving for those faults. Times have changed, for everyone, I suppose.
Pretty good, but in season 2 it "jumped the shark"
planktonrules16 July 2008
This was an incredibly ambitious sci-fi series produced in the UK for international distribution. It was extremely expensive for its day and unfortunately, the series never took off due to a Luke-warm reception. Some of this can be blamed on the series itself--the show had a very sterile look and action was something it was usually lacking. While Martin Landau and Barbara Bain were fine actors, the parts and script were amazingly low-key for the genre. Additionally, had it appeared a few years later, after the sci-fi craze began following STAR WARS, it probably would have fared better.
Another problem is that although I enjoyed the show, there were huge changes (mostly unwelcome) in the second season. Because the show was struggling in the ratings, huge cast changes were made. The most notable ones were the loss of the wonderful doctor (played by Barry Morse) and the introduction of a shape-shifting alien (Maya) who seemed rather inappropriate to the style of the show. The intention was to pump some life into it, but devotees of the series like myself were not particularly pleased.
Overall, there were some amazing episodes (such as the one about the Queller Drive) and some bombs. It's a shame, really, as the show deserved to do better than it did.
By the way, the people from A&E Video are idiots. With this series AND "UFO" (both by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson), the A&E folks have completely mixed up the order of the DVDs! While season one and two are not on the same disks, to watch the shows in order you have to keep changing disks. For example, all the episodes on disk 2 are from late in the series and later disks have earlier episodes in completely mixed up order!!
Another problem is that although I enjoyed the show, there were huge changes (mostly unwelcome) in the second season. Because the show was struggling in the ratings, huge cast changes were made. The most notable ones were the loss of the wonderful doctor (played by Barry Morse) and the introduction of a shape-shifting alien (Maya) who seemed rather inappropriate to the style of the show. The intention was to pump some life into it, but devotees of the series like myself were not particularly pleased.
Overall, there were some amazing episodes (such as the one about the Queller Drive) and some bombs. It's a shame, really, as the show deserved to do better than it did.
By the way, the people from A&E Video are idiots. With this series AND "UFO" (both by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson), the A&E folks have completely mixed up the order of the DVDs! While season one and two are not on the same disks, to watch the shows in order you have to keep changing disks. For example, all the episodes on disk 2 are from late in the series and later disks have earlier episodes in completely mixed up order!!
A Classic Sci- Fi Series
consortpinguin6 May 2001
The bottom line for me is that I enjoyed "Space:1999" It's interesting reading the reviews here ranging from condemnation to adulation. Any movie or TV series will inspire as many opinions as there are viewers.
I thought that the series was well thought-out and the premise was sound. The crew of Moonbase Alpha had to face many perils and surprises after the moon has been knocked out of its orbit by mis-calculated nuclear explosions and wanders through the reaches of space. I thought the special effects, the acting, and the scripts added up to a great sci-fi series. Unlike some other reviewers I do not believe it was a knock-off of "Star Trek." No, "Space:1999" was oriiginal and many episodes had plots with subtleties and deeper meanings.
Of the characters, I especially liked the brave Alan Carter (Nick Tate) and Dr. Victor Bergman (Barry Morse), the scientist and philosopher. Some other reviewers have criticized Martin Landau, but he did a faithful job of playing Commander Koenig, a very reserved and serious man who carried the responsibility for the entire colony. I think Mr. Landau is an excellent actor, but he has been typecast to playing characters with a very serious personality, and sometimes the villians. You couldn't possibly like James Mason's henchman in "North by Northwest" for example.
Several shows stand out in my memory. In one episode, a superior civilization sends thousands of small cylindrical devices to the Moon which suddenly gush out air. The Moon has an atmosphere and gravity just like Earth, and the Alphans rejoice in the opportunity to enjoy a land like their long-lost home. Like all good things, however, it is a double-edged sword. With atmosphere comes weather including storms. Their Eagles encounter trouble flying and they soon are reminded of the effects of weather on radio signals. After the Moon has passed out of the range in which the Eagle spacecraft could reach the donor planet, the cylinders suddenly inhale their air back in and blast off from the again-sterile Moon. A message from the "generous" planet reveals that they feared the violence of Earthlings and created a diversion until the Moon had passed.
What about the second season? In 1976 I happened to be attending the "August Party" at the University of Maryland, an annual Star Trek convention organized solely by the fans. By coincidence they managed to get Nick Tate to appear. Mr. Tate was very well received, and the fans enjoyed seeing the advance copy of the second season opener. Maya (Maria Schell) added another dimension to "Space:1999." Her ability to change into any other animal life form came in handy, and it pre-dated the short-lived "Manimal" series. And Ms. Schell is an excellent actress.
Reading all these comments in IMDB has renewed my interest in this show. Overall, "Space 1999" is a GREAT show!!!!
I thought that the series was well thought-out and the premise was sound. The crew of Moonbase Alpha had to face many perils and surprises after the moon has been knocked out of its orbit by mis-calculated nuclear explosions and wanders through the reaches of space. I thought the special effects, the acting, and the scripts added up to a great sci-fi series. Unlike some other reviewers I do not believe it was a knock-off of "Star Trek." No, "Space:1999" was oriiginal and many episodes had plots with subtleties and deeper meanings.
Of the characters, I especially liked the brave Alan Carter (Nick Tate) and Dr. Victor Bergman (Barry Morse), the scientist and philosopher. Some other reviewers have criticized Martin Landau, but he did a faithful job of playing Commander Koenig, a very reserved and serious man who carried the responsibility for the entire colony. I think Mr. Landau is an excellent actor, but he has been typecast to playing characters with a very serious personality, and sometimes the villians. You couldn't possibly like James Mason's henchman in "North by Northwest" for example.
Several shows stand out in my memory. In one episode, a superior civilization sends thousands of small cylindrical devices to the Moon which suddenly gush out air. The Moon has an atmosphere and gravity just like Earth, and the Alphans rejoice in the opportunity to enjoy a land like their long-lost home. Like all good things, however, it is a double-edged sword. With atmosphere comes weather including storms. Their Eagles encounter trouble flying and they soon are reminded of the effects of weather on radio signals. After the Moon has passed out of the range in which the Eagle spacecraft could reach the donor planet, the cylinders suddenly inhale their air back in and blast off from the again-sterile Moon. A message from the "generous" planet reveals that they feared the violence of Earthlings and created a diversion until the Moon had passed.
What about the second season? In 1976 I happened to be attending the "August Party" at the University of Maryland, an annual Star Trek convention organized solely by the fans. By coincidence they managed to get Nick Tate to appear. Mr. Tate was very well received, and the fans enjoyed seeing the advance copy of the second season opener. Maya (Maria Schell) added another dimension to "Space:1999." Her ability to change into any other animal life form came in handy, and it pre-dated the short-lived "Manimal" series. And Ms. Schell is an excellent actress.
Reading all these comments in IMDB has renewed my interest in this show. Overall, "Space 1999" is a GREAT show!!!!
"Space: 1999" a Good Sci-Fi Thriller Series
Saturday8pm16 January 2007
This was a good show in between the "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" years that was supposed to be a reboot for the successful English "UFO" series of The Late '60s / Early '70s. The States got it in syndication about a year post-production and was heavily marketed initially for the 1975-76 season.
The show got a lot of stick for its questionable science and uneven writing, but it was a nice break from other action shows masquerading as sci-fi. Remember, it is science FICTION. Unresolved endings and dark story lines were the trademark of the first season while the second series succumbed to safer familiar territory. One can point to the unexplained changes in Season Two as show killers, but I think people who latched on to this simply wanted another "Star Trek" and were disappointed.
I wasn't disappointed ... I found the stories fresh, realistic, and full of literary references that fleshed out the scripts rather than purloined as borrowed lines uttered by the actors.
The main idea built around the premise of the moon forcibly ejected from the earth's orbit was a risky move, and I suppose many viewers thought this too ridiculous, therefore I wonder if an episode, a continuation of the pilot episode, that picks up the events befalling earth below simultaneously was in order. Perhaps that idea was kicked around but rejected because of similarities to Irwin Allen's disaster flicks of the time, budget constraints, the lack of a script, or the fact that the series was about space, not earth. Whatever, I think that would've been the link that might have clinched this series for a longer run.
Some of my favorites include "Dragon's Domain", "Force of Life", "Black Sun", "Earthbound", and "Death's Other Dominion". Good drama, good fun.
Cheers: Groundbreaking effects, fine acting, some good scripts, serious drama though fun. Stories are thoughtful.
Caveats: Year Two. Haven't we seen this sort of thing before? "Science" Fiction. Scripts at times uneven and lacked conclusions.
The show got a lot of stick for its questionable science and uneven writing, but it was a nice break from other action shows masquerading as sci-fi. Remember, it is science FICTION. Unresolved endings and dark story lines were the trademark of the first season while the second series succumbed to safer familiar territory. One can point to the unexplained changes in Season Two as show killers, but I think people who latched on to this simply wanted another "Star Trek" and were disappointed.
I wasn't disappointed ... I found the stories fresh, realistic, and full of literary references that fleshed out the scripts rather than purloined as borrowed lines uttered by the actors.
The main idea built around the premise of the moon forcibly ejected from the earth's orbit was a risky move, and I suppose many viewers thought this too ridiculous, therefore I wonder if an episode, a continuation of the pilot episode, that picks up the events befalling earth below simultaneously was in order. Perhaps that idea was kicked around but rejected because of similarities to Irwin Allen's disaster flicks of the time, budget constraints, the lack of a script, or the fact that the series was about space, not earth. Whatever, I think that would've been the link that might have clinched this series for a longer run.
Some of my favorites include "Dragon's Domain", "Force of Life", "Black Sun", "Earthbound", and "Death's Other Dominion". Good drama, good fun.
Cheers: Groundbreaking effects, fine acting, some good scripts, serious drama though fun. Stories are thoughtful.
Caveats: Year Two. Haven't we seen this sort of thing before? "Science" Fiction. Scripts at times uneven and lacked conclusions.
A fan's imagination takes form and takes flight...
dukewilliam3 August 2007
Who among us, who has seen the series and accepted it for what it was without reservation, has not dreamed of riding shotgun with Alan Carter in the cockpit of an Eagle, lending a helping hand to Dr. Russell in the Medical Section, sitting in conference with Professor Bergman and Commander Koenig as they contemplate the mysteries and menaces of the unknown, or simply planting yourself at one of Moonbase Alpha's computer terminals and poring over its various databases, just so that you could broaden your own horizons? Space:1999 opened all those doors for me, and far more besides. A rare jewel among shows of the science-fiction genre, which still had the courage to try even when it fell short of the viewers' expectations...
A at times better version of Star Trek
inacan-90-89426115 May 2022
Superior sets, less reliance on special effects versus Star Trek with a more focus on the soap opera aspect. The second season is a letdown compared to season 1 with weaker story arcs and the seemingly irreplaceable Tony.
Not as socially relevant but fun to see lots of hammer horror inspired castings, makeup and ideas.
The pure 70s aspect is the most appealing part.
Highly recommend.
Not as socially relevant but fun to see lots of hammer horror inspired castings, makeup and ideas.
The pure 70s aspect is the most appealing part.
Highly recommend.
Nearly unwatchable
sarastro726 January 2005
The only ones who think Space: 1999 is any good are those who grew up watching it as kids, and therefore has a nostalgic relationship with the series. I am not one of those.
When I view this series today (as TV reruns), trying to be objective about its value as sci-fi, I find hardly anything to enthuse about. Compared to just about any other sci-fi show, even from its own era, Space: 1999 has probably the most terrible and obnoxiously inaccurate scientific content I've ever seen, and that includes the basic story (the moon sent hurtling through space at what must be sub-lightspeed, yet encountering new worlds and aliens in every episode). Martin Landau is a very serious-looking actor who's trying to be professional about it, but he cannot save a horrid, brain-dead show like this.
Apologies to the show's fans, but I - a seasoned sci-fi fan - find the show practically unwatchable. It's even worse than the old Battlestar Galactica series, though not by much!
My rating: 2 out of 10.
When I view this series today (as TV reruns), trying to be objective about its value as sci-fi, I find hardly anything to enthuse about. Compared to just about any other sci-fi show, even from its own era, Space: 1999 has probably the most terrible and obnoxiously inaccurate scientific content I've ever seen, and that includes the basic story (the moon sent hurtling through space at what must be sub-lightspeed, yet encountering new worlds and aliens in every episode). Martin Landau is a very serious-looking actor who's trying to be professional about it, but he cannot save a horrid, brain-dead show like this.
Apologies to the show's fans, but I - a seasoned sci-fi fan - find the show practically unwatchable. It's even worse than the old Battlestar Galactica series, though not by much!
My rating: 2 out of 10.
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