Space: 1999 (TV Series) The Dorcons (1977) User Reviews

Bittersweet

[Flubber69 · 8/10 · 8 October 2021]

Very good episode. Other reviews explain why.

It's bittersweet for me knowing that this was the very last episode of the series. I love this show, even when it was it is at its worst. It's easy to bash S1999, especially through the lens of what we've gotten since it went off the air. There's been a lot of great space based science fiction including "Star Wars", "Battlestar Gallactica" TOS and reimagined, many iterations of "Star Trek", and . . . Well, you get the idea.

But S1999 rose from the primordial ooze which was 1970s programming. It's amazing it even aired at all let alone for 2 seasons. Maybe it will come back one day. Perhaps some eager beaver will reimagine a scenario where the moon, along with its inhabited base, is blasted from its earth orbit. Perhaps there will be a "Space 2099". I'll hold out hope. I'll also hope if it does get made that the Alphans will be the ones kicking butt.

Good final episode

[ewaf58 · 8/10 · 17 August 2021]

I'd of like to have seen more of these Dorcons - looking at their guards costumes - and their militaristic way their society operated - they reminded me of a much later race - the Necromongers - featured in the film The Chronicles of Riddick.

A lot of sets and outside buildings were destroyed during the Dorcons' attack - making me think that some redesigning was going to take place for the sadly cancelled season three.

I was sad to see Space 1999 end as it was a colourful - often very imaginative series.

True there were some clunkers in season 3 - but also some very enjoyable ones.

Let's hope one day it gets remade.

fair attempt to bring a climax to the series

[marcgreenman · 8/10 · 22 July 2020]

The dorcons is more action orientated than we are used to from year two, with a bit of the space war vibe that marked out some of year one's more dramatic episodes like war games or the last enemy. there is a fair bit of excitement throughout and it is well maintained, this ends the show in a fair manner but it some ways it would have been better to see something else with a bit more ambition ending the show; the immunity syndrome, which came just before this episode, would have been a better choice. patrick troughton is a strong presence in this episode and the other actors are just as good, catherine schell in particular manages to convince you of the danger which she is in at all times, some of the best acting of the entire season. the dorcons is as intense as space: 1999 can get without bringing in any horror elements as some other (and quite good) stories did.

The Second Best Episode of Year Two

[StuOz · 11 June 2021]

Deadly aliens (the Dorcons) want Maya.

After The Beta Cloud, this is the second best episode of season two.

With the exception of the very ending, there are none of those forced attempts at comedy we often got in year two. Also, this is perhaps the most dramatic hour of the second year.

The acting from the whole cast, even Maya, is outstanding. The Dorcan race is interesting and "Malic" (Gerry Sundquist) seems like an early version of Malcolm McDowell in Caligula (1979).

As stated in my previous reviews, this season has a few lesser hours, so if you only wish to invest two hours into watching season two - I would go with The Beta Cloud and The Dorcons.

"Those who are about to live salute you"

[hwg1957-102-265704 · 6/10 · 8 October 2020]

The titular Dorcons encounter Moonbase Alpha and after scanning it discovers the psychon Maya who they want to retrieve as a transplant from her brain stem will bring immortality to Archon, the Dorcon leader. It almost happens but for the intervention of the young Dorcon called Malic.

As is common with 'Space 1999' the story isn't that interesting but the look is great. The attack on Moonbase is well staged and the model work is excellent as usual. The Dorcon spaceship looks most striking. Apart from the usual cast there is good acting from Ann Firbank as Consul Varda and particularly Gerry Sundquist as the envious and ambitious Malic.

It was the last 'Space 1999' episode made.

A magnificent series ends with a pfft

[MCal27 · 6/10 · 4 August 2022]

Maybe my negative opinion of this episode is because it's the final official episode Message from moonbase alpha is a much better ending to the series) but when compared with the care and quality shown in season 1, this apparently rushed effort shows that the series was filling the gaps with certain episodes of season 2. The story itself is ok. Certainly leagues above the low point of Space Warp (two sub par episodes glued together) but the sets look cheap and hurried and most of the time is spent watching Koenig roam around the Dorcon corridors. Landau looking somewhat awkward as well. It's a watered down, hurried re-tread of Mission of the Darians and feels so too.

"Space: 1999" goes in search of a brain...

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 25 July 2010]

The show begins with a weird green probe scanning the crew. All the humans are paralyzed and don't realize what is happening, but Maya is aware and the process is painful--particularly because it focuses most of its energy on her. Then, the probe disappears--only to be replaced by a green space craft. It is the Dorcons--come to steal Maya's brain!! I am not kidding. And, because the Dorcons are so powerful it looks as if the Alphans have no choice but to let them take Maya. Even though they do put up a bit of a fight, it's pretty pathetic and Maya is kidnapped. Koenig is able to infiltrate the Dorky ship and hopes to somehow, against all odds, rescue her.

This isn't a great episode (it's indifferently written), but considering season two of the series wasn't particularly good, it works well enough and is interesting--though hardly a must-see unless you are a nut determined to see every show from this series (like me).