Customer Reviews

Space 1999 Set 7:V13 & 14

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gerry Anderson's two seasons of Space:1999, and the prequel series UFO, seem to me to be three separate eras in one long story, rather like the eras of three different Dr.Whos, or perhaps different spin offs of Star Trek.
If that's the case, UFO is the equivalent of the Tom Baker era or the original Star Trek, it's the one that gets all the respect. Season 1 of 1999 is like the Davison era or perhaps Next Generation of Trek. Season Two of Space:1999 is like the Colin Baker era of Who, or Deep Space Nine in Trek. Yes, it is the one no one wants to admit they like, but if given closer examination with an open mind, it actually has much to offer and much to enjoy. This little lot contains some superb contributions by great writers. Terrance Feely (UFO, The Prisoner) delivers the goods in the excellent Bringers of Wonder, while Pip and Jane Baker (Dr.Who) write the low key but good A Matter of Balance. And then there's the superb Seed of Destruction, a compelling doppelganger story with an evil Koenig taking his place on Alpha. Space Warp, on the other hand, is written by Fred Freiberger and unlike the fun Beta Cloud, it sucks. Not to worry, though, the rest of the series is so much fun and so well produced that it is still totally entertaining and enjoyable. These characters are not as dark as the ones from the previous seasons, but they are fun and likeable enough to care about and enjoy their adventures. An underrated gem of a series!

What a great show this was and is. Set 7 includes Bringers Of Wonder in which really gross and goopy aliens take over the base by appearing to be the loved ones of the people on the base, but Koenig can see them for the slimy creatures they really are. Landau gives a wonderful performance of reacting to their true disgusting forms. This is not serious science fiction, but Landau is excellent, and the other cast members give it their best too. The goopy monsters are amusing and also pretty darn disgusting and creepy. The glops of slime oozing down the eyes of the aliens is a great touch.

The second season of Space 1999 was very different from season one. Monsters and humor abound in season two. Most of the episodes are ridiculous, but filled with guilty pleasures.
Every episode in set 7 is a real hoot!

"Seed of Destruction" is about an evil mirror image of Koenig who takes over Alpha. Evil Koenig is a mean S.O.B.! The only thing better than an evil Koenig is when Koenig freaks-out in "Bringers of Wonder". Classic!

"The Beta Cloud" involves a nasty cloud that sends a wild bug-eyed monster to steal the entire life support system of Alpha. The creature runs amok on the moon base for the entire episode
while the cloud tries to persuade the Alphans that it's a non-violent cloud and they should just give up the life support system and die, but the Alphan's just wont listen. They are a stubborn lot.

"A Matter of Balance" features the lovely Lynn Frederick! There's also a bald translucent anti-matter spirit, a bug-eyed samurai creature, and Maya turns into a monkey! Tony makes more bad beer in this one too, and he makes Lynn drink it and then makes her cry! Who in their right mind would make the lovely Lynn cry?! Damn that Tony! First he get's Maya and now this!

"Space Warp" is about Maya going bananas and transforming into various dangerous forms that attack the base, but the absolute best is that she turns into the bug-eyed monster from the "Beta Cloud"! It's back and running amok and attacking Alpha again, BUT this time it's wearing a wild wig that looks like dread-locks! Plus, Barabara Bain and Nick Tate chase it around the moon's surface in a moon buggy! Keep plenty of oxygen on hand for this one!

"Bringers of Wonder" is a two part episode with slimy aliens that only Koenig can see. There's nothing like a talented actor freaking-out with slimy aliens. This one includes the classic Koenig line: "I haven't had this much fun since I burned grand ma's wig"! Nobody freaks-out like Koenig!

Set 7 is filled with addictive gems such as these. Ed Wood would be proud of these episodes. This is one of the best DVD purchases I've ever made.

I just watched this set with some friends and had a blast! The monsters are cheesy, but oddly enough there's fine acting in the episodes and some really engaging moments along with all the cheese. The one consistent factor is that this is a very entertaining set of discs.

Set 7 of Space: 1999 is probably the best set of the second season, but that isn't saying much. These episodes have all the cheesiness of a fast food meal at McDonalds, which makes me think that the season two credits should have read "Space: 1999 -- A Fred FRIEDBURGER Production.

Set 7 opens with the episode "Seed Of Destruction" (1 Star) -- Commander Koenig and Alan land on an asteroid with a cave containing a funhouse hall of mirrors. A mirror image of commander Koenig emerges and tries to destroy Moonbase Alpha. The way that those on Alpha can tell the imposter from the real Koenig is that his hair is parted the wrong way.

"The Beta Cloud" (1 Star) -- Maya and Tony are chased by a monster all over Moonbase Alpha, and fire a laser gun at a yellow cloud in space.

"A Matter Of Balance" (1 Star) -- Why is it that there are so many episodes of Space: 1999 where one group of desperate aliens are trying to assimilate the crew of Moonbase Alpha that have nothing? The premise of this episode is really not all that different from the first season episode titled "Alpha Child", which was much better.

"Space Warp" (2 Stars) -- This episode probably has the most expensive and detailed special effects in the entire second season. With Moonbase Alpha being sucked into a space warp, or a wormhole as they call it in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Tony and Commander Koenig are left stranded near an abandoned spaceship. Maya becomes deliriously ill and goes on a rampage as several different monsters, including an incarnation of her dead father. Maya attempts to take off in an Eagle spaceship but crashes it into the other Eagles in the hanger on the moonbase. Tony and Commander Koenig make it back, and the predictable and stupid comic relief ends this episode.

"Bringers Of Wonder Parts 1 and 2" (2 Stars) -- The only two part story of this two season show. I wonder why they named the first episode "Bringers Of Wonder Part 1", when they knew that they wanted this first part to end as a cliffhanger -- ST: TNG never did this with their 2 part episodes. The best way to end a two part cliffhanger episode is to not let the audience know that there is second part by announcing the first episode as part 1. I also wonder how 603 days passed between episodes 1 and 2. Listen to Dr. Russell's opening narration of both episodes, and you'll see what I mean. The people of Moonbase Alpha think that a Superswift spacecraft from Earth has come to rescue them, but it is actually monsters that look like Chicken Chow Mein, who want their nuclear waste. Although this episode seems to be loaded with character development and backstory, it is too little too late. After 6 more episodes, this show was cancelled.

I remember, as a kid, the second series was cool because of all the neat creatures the character of Maya would change into; boy, was I so easy to entertain back then? Now, looking at series two, I wince at the changes Anderson made to the series. Gone was Barry Morse, who added a very human element to the experience of Moonbase Alpha. Gone was the dark, command center. Gone was the tension even trying to survive against uncertain odds in space. What replaced all this? Gaucho skirts, more make-up and more action violence in the series. Adding Catherine Schell and skirting all the females was an obvious attempt to sex up the series. Good stories were now sacrificed for gratuitous fisticuffs. Now Moonbase Alpha has become a love boat of joking and good vibrations, not to mention cheesier set designs, poorer film quality, and awful awful awful costumes! Space Warp is complete garbage, while the Bringers of Wonder was no excuse for a two-part episode, let alone one. A Matter of Balance is an anti-matter episode that was done much better in the first season with A Matter of Life and Death. Beta Cloud is imbicilic, but that would be nothing compared to Brian the Brain, (which you can find on another set)! Is this series worth watching? Yeah, but abandon all expectation ye who go there.

You can almost hear Spock saying a line such as that one. There are many lines and ideas and storylines Fred Friedberger continued to rip-off from Star Trek and shove into Space:1999. There are many ridiculous concepts and explanations in this series, but Season 2 adds more reasons why the general public never caught onto the program. There also seems to be a lack of creativity in monsters and alien races. The same ludicrous and dated alien/monster appears in three consecutive stories, only slightly altered so the viewer won't be able to tell the difference. And not to improve on imperfection, the teleplays(script editing) and acting can be really embarassing at times. Though the production values still look good as with the model effects. If there was one thing Friedburger achieved for Season 2, was that the characters are little more likable. Season 1 featured too many wooden performances and not enough character interaction. Now, some of the interaction between characters in Season 2 is just unbearable at times, it can be amusing. And, this is also the best looking of the DVD releases. The extras have a certain crispness to it. But those theatrical trailers are COD-awful!
Seed of Destruction: Ok, a remake of the last Star Trek serial from Season 3. Landau could've played it a little more hammier.
And the ending couldn't have been more rushed.
The Beta Cloud: A guilty pleasure with Anholt and Schell trying to steal the show with their acting. there are so many unanswered questions and ridiculous concepts in this one, you couldn't count them on repeated viewings. The bug-eyed robot/monster will appear re-dressed in the next 2 adventures. A Friedburger classic.
A Matter of Balance: Would've been tolerable without the ludicrous concept of antimatter. Shouldn't it have been "another dimension"?
Space Warp: Is only good for it's model effects. The Eagle Hangar crash scene is not to be missed. Other than that, you were warned about another Friedburger classic.
The Bringers of Wonder Parts 1 & 2: The best of the lot, and one of the best of the season, but that's not saying much. There are discontinuity problems and of course ridiculous explanations. But Part 1 is great, with Landau completely overacting at the sight of the creatures. he also has some stupid lines at the beginnig: "I haven't had this much fun since I burned Grandma's wig!" and "Big daddy's coming in!! Yaaaaaa!!!!" Part 2 does let down, but there's a great Season 1 line at the end. But of course, all Season 2 serials end with a frozen laugh scene.

This show may be absolutely stupid, but I still enjoy it and get a guilty pleasure from a program I grew up with...

SPACE 1999: Set Number 7 is the second to last in a series of the episodes for the second season. I must admit these episodes are interesting but the overall acting needs a little to be desired. Catherine Schell and Tony Anholt really are trying, but with all the fake monster outfits and bad one-liners - its almost funny.

Technically again the show looks good. The costumes got colorful and they try and shoot lasers almost every episode. Its is interesting how the try to FORCE the humor in the show and it doesn't come naturally with the characters.

The comlocks, eagles and Stun Guns are still cool. See my reviews of the other 6 sets and the one to follow. I really did love the first season - and fell out of love in the second. You decide.

Would the first season Koenig have flipped out in
the way he does in Bringers of Wonder? Heck yes.
He has temper tantrums in several first season
shows. In BoW tho, he wakes up from a sleep to
find his base invaded by hideous aliens and everyone
around him is acting like everything's okay and
that they're about to be rescued. When John first
sees the aliens he goes rigid and freezes but is
fairly calm. It's only when his people disbelieve
him that he loses his cool. Wouldn't anyone? His base
has been invaded by huge gross-out aliens and everyone
thinks they're pals and buddies and lovers from
Earth. The notion would drive anyone around the
twist.

Also John tries to speak calmly to his people later
but when it's clear they won't listen to him, he
understabdably loses his cool again. Something
sinister is afoot and he's in restraints, nobody
will take him seriously, and he can't do anything.
Isn't borderline hysteria a natural reaction? However,
John finally stays calm enough to reason with Maya
and get her on side and it's fitting that she's be
the one to first convince since she doesn't come
from Earth and has nobody for the aliens to impersonate.

There's nothing wrong plotwise to BoW save for the date
error in part 2. Some of the moon surface scenes are
error strewn but they always are in this show, first
and second season.

In my opinion, the second season of SPACE:1999 was the very best and in Set 7 it contains more action then ever before. No more just talking about dangers as in Season 1 just plain action and the characters are more comfortable with each other. They are all there to fight a common goal. The second season also contains humor as well reminds me of the orginal Star Trek cast with the Kirk-Spock and Spock-McCoy duo.

I recommend this to everyone that enjoys a good science fiction story with a moral to it.