Breakaway

Back in the early 90s, a local TV station picked up a bunch of science fiction programmes from Britain, including Doctor Who, Blake's 7, and Space: 1999. I was already a Who fan and delighted to finally be able to watch stories from the 1960s for the first time, but as I always lived in a house with only one television, couldn't find the time to dedicate to more than one other show, as much as I was hungry for new science fiction to devour. So, I chose Blake's 7, which became a perennial favourite that I still re-watch every few years or so. I caught the tail end of Space: 1999 episodes every now and then but was never really convinced to give it a try, until now. I can't say what brought this on exactly: maybe the promise of some pretty cool guest stars; maybe my ongoing fascination with weird 70s stuff. Whatever the case, I'm glad to be finally doing this.

The show's premise is interesting, if improbable. NO point in sitting here poking holes in the science; I'm sure that's already been done to death and, with all its clear attempts to be sober and serious, it doesn't seem like hard science was a series consideration for the production. All that's fine for me; I'm willing to go with a hell of a lot for the sake of a nice style, and so far, I'd have to say that Space: 1999 has that in abundance. I also think that the acting is really solid across the board. Martin landau has a cool, commanding presence here, Barbara Banes is calm and assertive, and I noticed a lot of fine British character actors even at this early stage that I recognise from other things.

The story in this debut episode is a bit thin, but I was surprised by how fast fifty minutes went by. It reminded me of a few things in my experience, most notably, and I suppose surprisingly, Star Trek: Voyager, though I think I'm going to enjoy this weird show a lot more. Sure, there are crazy coincidences at play, and as with many other slightly clunky sci-fi things, "radiation" is basically a synonym for "weird maleficent force that does inexplicable and unpredictable bad things". I have to say though, the notion of using the moon as a nuclear waste dump is funny in a cynical way that I rather like, and it's not that much of a stretch to see that happening for real. I also read a science fiction novel not that long ago by Neal Stephenson (bit of a slog to be honest) that described what might happen if the moon suddenly broke away from Earth's orbit, which, while nothing like this show at all, at least validates the funky premise to a degree. I would think the future for Earth might be bleaker than that of the Alphans, and I wonder if the question of whether they would have anything to return to even if they could get home ever comes up in the future of the show.

Roy Detrice's Commissioner Simmon is an obnoxious, obstinate character that reminded me of one of those stuffy officials from early 70s Doctor Who. I liked the double-think of his favourite statement, "in my experience, the impossible just takes a little longer". it sounds good, but really amounts to nothing more than a politician throwing his weight around, thinking that all it takes is saying the right thing, greasing the right palms, in order to get what he wants, regardless of how impossible the science is. Boy, is he ever shut up in a hurry when everything goes tits-up on the moon.

No aliens in this episode, but a mysterious signal from a rogue planet, possibly beckoning the Alpha crew onwards. Intriguing stuff. I'm not expecting much continuity from this show; it feels more like a mood or state of being than an ongoing story, almost, so rather antithetical to modern TV-writing practices, but you know, I rather like it. The series never actually coming to a proper end probably frustrated people in the 1970s, but now it almost feels like a verification of the point I just made; it's not a story you follow, it's something you feel, and it's probably possible to just imagine it carrying on forever, or until the Alphans meet the right alien super-being that elevates them to a proper state of higher consciousness for them to live in eterntiy, or some damn thing. yes, I've read a bit about the show to prepare me for what I'm about to experience. I'm ready. Bring it on, Mr. Anderson.

I'm getting old i suppose. When I heard that this was finally out on a restored Blu Ray I picked it up. It was the first series i followed as a child growing up. So this was surely going to be a trip down memory lane.

That Space 1999 has become a cult series can be seen in the pilot, Breakaway. You can see that the cast was sublime and that the acting was above mediocre. But the effects used and the way it was shot never gave you nowadays a feeling that this was made mid seventies. They had a lot of money to invest in this series and it was going to be the next big thing but it failed and it spawned only 2 seasons.

The first episode is what it's all about, on 13 September 1999 there's something going terrible wrong with the moon. A big explosion made it possible that the moon went out of orbit from earth and the people left on Moonbase Alpha are left in deep space on their own. The contact with earth is over and they have to survive in space.

The effects as I said earlier were really well done for the time being. Just for a series they used miniature sets, it shows, but it do works. And they weren't afraid to add a bit of gore to the infected people, their eyes do have a weird look and two have some kind of burned skin. Nowadays you wont turn your face away for this but back then it was something to talk about.

Not a moment that made you think, this is slow or boring. Just have a look for yourself. High tec gadgets used, see the mini televisions, no effects used it's the real stuff, amazing.

And if you want to pick it up be sure to catch the restored Blu Ray, it looks amazing and has 5.1 sound! Filled with a lot of never seen before extra's.

Gore 1/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 4/5 Story 4/5 Comedy 0/5

Exciting start to a favourite series of the 70's.

2001: A Space Odyssey shows its enduring influence on the look and sound of this particular episode, filmed 5 years after that classic film. The stark atmosphere of Moonbase Alpha (externally, a dead ringer for the moon base featured in 2001), the beautiful symphonic soundtrack and the way the Eagles touch down with a cloud of dust on the landing pads, all echo that classic film. The drumroll effect in Barry Gray's sweeping score effectively builds tension in the unfolding disaster. One of the best in the series!

Gerry Anderson wanted to make his own version of Star Trek. In the opening episode you might even think he almost succeeded.

Although made in Britain and funded by ITV. This first episode had an American writer and director. Two main stars of the show were American as well. Then husband and wife team of Martin Landau and Barbara Bain.

It is September 1999. Commander John Koenig has been sent to Moonbase Alpha as a troubleshooter. The moon is a dumping ground for nuclear waste.

Koeing needs to urgently find out why some form of madness has been affecting some of the astronauts as they prepare to launch a probe to the Planet Meta.

The crew finds out that magnetic radiation from the nuclear waste has caused the illness. The nuclear waste causes an explosion on the dark side of the moon that rips it away from Earth's orbit.

Moonbase Alpha is now drifting in space looking to find somewhere safe to go to.

This first episode clearly had a lot of money spend on it. The special effects are very good, there is use of miniaturised television screens. There are a lot of antiseptic white sets which is rather handy, as there are a lot of white men standing or failing about in the multinational crew.

Professor Victor Bergman (Barry Morse) provides calm and science. The science is definitely a bit hokey. Bain looks like she has been given an overdose of Valium. Philip Madoc's Russian commander character sounds like he grew up in the Rhonda Valley.

As a kid Space 1999 was essential viewing - I watched every episode, I had the toys, the books and when I grew up I wanted to be an astronaut. Move on four decades and the Horror Channel (UK) are repeating them, beginning with this episode. For 1975 this still looks pretty good, it is only the 4:3 ratio and flared trousers that really age it. Quite a grim and depressing story for mankind to kick off with.