Space: 1999 (TV Series) The Lambda Factor (1976) User Reviews

A bit derivative and a lame ending, but otherwise pretty good.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 19 July 2010]

It's a sad testament to the second season of "Space: 1999" that such a flawed episode turns out to be among the better ones that year! While "The Lambda Factor" has problems, it is more watchable than the typical episode on this final year of the show.

The biggest problem is that the show, like many of season two, was a rip-off of a story idea from the original "Star Trek" series. With the addition of Fred Freiberger to the show (himself a veteran of "Star Trek"), many stories would be rip-offs of shows done the previous decade for Trek. The basic idea of "The Lambda Factor" is clearly taken from "Where No Man Has Gone Before"--the second pilot episode of "Star Trek". In both, an outside entity somehow causes certain pre-disposed members of the crew to have heightened psychic powers--powers that ultimately could destroy everyone after one of the crew develops god-like powers.

Another problem with the show is the seriously wimpy ending. Instead of Captain Kirk using a laser to drop a boulder on the god-like transformed crew member, Commander Koenig uses love and an absence of fear and hate to defeat the hostile forces. And then, miraculously, everything goes back to normal and all live happily ever after....whatever.

Fortunately, in between the retread plot and the silly ending, the story is intriguing and worth seeing. Not a great show by any standard, but at least one that is not an embarrassment...like so many of the other shows of season two.

One of the more interesting stories in the weaker season.

[joegarbled-79482 · 6/10 · 2 October 2023]

"The Lambda Factor" was one of the more interesting episodes of the "Space 1999" season two offerings. Martin Landau does a bit more in this one, than pace back and forth saying "Wait a minute.....wait a minute." or barking out orders like an army sergeant.... but being one of the better second season episodes isn't saying much, and this viewer can't help wondering how much more dignity those episodes would've had with the presence of Barry Morse as Prof Victor Bergman. He surely would've added an air of believability to the fantastic/junk science being offered up.

If you like the idea of dominant females/submissive males or just didn't like Tony Verdeschi/Tony Anholt, you're going to love the scene where Alpha technician Carolyn Powell (Deborah Fallender) orders and makes him crawl to her feet, "like a worm". It was probably Tony Anholt's best bit of acting in the whole series, besides him comparing Commander Koenig to "Captain Bligh" and him doing his impression of Charles Laughton's "Mutiny! Mutiny!" (Well, Koenig was totally capricious at times. Like Capt Kirk in "The Corbomite Maneuver" Koenig's rule was NOT a democracy!!) Powell is even more cruel with Maya, forcing her to "entertain" with a few shape-shifts, then as a caterpillar, Maya is placed under a plastic container and the threat of suffocating to death.

The best performance here was Landau in total guilt mode, and apparently being tormented by the ghosts of people he "left to die", a "choice" between leaving them to die or kill millions. Koenig always came across as a control freak and here, it's HIM who is losing control, not just of Alpha but even of himself. Deborah Fallender wasn't too far behind as the would-be evil Mistress of Alpha. I suppose they HAD to make it a formerly unseen member of Alpha. Once again in Season 2, we're reminded that we don't have a clear second in command when Koenig is obviously incapacitated.... Paul Morrow, Prof Bergman, where were you when Moonbase Alpha needed you most! In season 2, it would have to be leadership by committee.

As if to make up for the lack of "love-mush" (Koenig/Russell, Tony/Maya), Koenig regains control of Moonbase Alpha by NOT showing hatred for Carolyn Powell, even after all the mayhem....it's not up to the standards of Kirk outwitting "Nomad" and Landru's computer with "a dazzling display of logic". Human nature says you'd want to smash Powell's teeth down her throat. Her comeuppance is that her memory is gone and she'll "have to grow up again"....mmm, if they had Dr McCoy and Nurse Chappell, they'd have her back on the job in a week!!

Not the greatest episode, but at least a bit different. Season two suffered in so many ways, and when the stars KNOW the stories are weak, it's hard for them to look as if they truly believe in the series anymore. This was like Landau putting his all into an episode, knowing that the show is doomed (and glad of that fact it ain't getting that third season.)

Carrie on Moonbase Alpha

[Flubber69 · 6/10 · 24 September 2021]

A lot of dramatic tension, if you're into that sort of thing. Random Alpha technician assumes supernatural powers and unleashes violence and mayhem.

This episode is light on special effects: no Eagle action, makeup on plague victims looks fake, and something was amiss with Martin Landau's toupee. It's really dense and flat looking.

Keonig a sensitive

[oopboys · 12 September 2011]

I like the episode, however I think having John Koenig afraid of something more evil ,than having the explanation he thought up the ghost, because he felt guilty about leaving his best friends to die because they caught a deadly virus with no cure was a cop out..John Keonig running away from ghost?? and these ghost did nothing except repeat: You killed us John Keonig you left us to rot..why would John go into to a complete mental breakdown and curl himself into a tight ball on the floor for that ???now it would have been more interesting if John imagine himself having the virus, that killed his BBF's , that he begins to sees himself in the mirror his face rotting away or if the Ghost threw him around a bit throwing him against the wall making it look like he was going mad or maybe just having him being thrown around not seeing the ghost would have been even better to enhance the episode and made it more believable of John's fears BUT better still if John imagine and is haunted and tortured by Balor now that would have been awesome....also the showdown.. I would had both throwing things with their minds at each other and then have John finally win at the end instead of a stare down who will blink first I wanted more action.....and why did John looking very comfortable being comforted by Helena after a exhausted battle with his ugly ghost finale suddenly bolt up like as if to say did I leave the water running????..we all know they both love each other more in season 2... so that reaction was just out of place and ruin the mood ,they should have done more to have John keep his mental ability powers and have him learn to retrain his mind to use his new found gift even in secret to use them at another time...overall It was Entertaining

above average story with a great performance by landau

[marcgreenman · 8/10 · 15 December 2019]

For year two this story is fairly intense, it feels far more creepy and even realistic in its results than you would expect from previous episodes, quite a change of direction. the fear level is roughly like end of eternity rather than dragon's domain or force of life; the investigation of the crimes and the crew's esp potential takes up more time than the scares. we get to see a bit more of the crew on the base and this is nice. there is some character conflict, tony and koenig do a good job of investigation, except koenig is falling apart so he is not doing anything well. it is strange that he has returned to the venus mission after so many years, he has held together really well under stress until now. one assumes that the lambda generating force has exacerbated this memory in a way which might almost suggest an evil intent to destroy the alphans one by one. the consequences of esp seem especially negative. this is an unusual subject to explore as the series had rarely tried anything like it before, seances being an exception (the troubled spirit from year one) so it is a refreshing and bold choice. landau stands head and shoulders above the other actors, giving his role in this episode everything. i really started to believe that he was falling apart, his tears are very convincing and had me firmly taking sympathy with him. he looked like he was recalling real memories, this is what good acting should be like it should make you believe it is for real whether it is or not, this is a sci fi show; acting like this gives space 1999 a little more credibility, as landau does for the whole show. i was very satisfied by the ending and the suspense that came before it. koenig proves to be a very moral, even forgiving character who will let matters go and not retaliate even when murders and damage have taken place. this marks the sign of real heroes, those who stand by the right principles and do what is right no matter what is done to them. it is also interesting to see a good story which does not rely on space scenes or model fx to carry it through; luckily for us, the production was willing to try this in year two (some year one episodes tried this as well, to very good effect).