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From: milne@uci-icse
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Space: 1999
Message-ID: <2423@topaz.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 28-Jun-85 03:38:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: topaz.2423
Posted: Fri Jun 28 03:38:56 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 1-Jul-85 06:38:59 EDT
Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
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From: Alastair Milne 


   Space:1999 was far from being one the best series I've ever seen, but it
   was at least nice to look at.  A great deal of work went into having
   striking and aesthetically pleasing scenery, and equipment.  If a similar
   amount of work had gone into removing Barbara Bain, the series might have
   done better.  What wonderful things contracts are: you have no acting
   talent worthy of the name, no expressiveness, no spark of character, and
   they can't get rid of you because you have a contract.

   The absurdity of the pseudo-science?  About par for the course, I'd say.
   Dreadful compared to what it could have been, but average compared with its
   contemporaries.  I find I get numb to such things after a while, and just
   content myself with enjoying what there is to enjoy from it.  Better than
   waiting for a ship that looks as if it'll never come in.  When medical shows
   with their pick of decent medical advisers declare that "X-rays ruled out
   concussion", I give up any hope.  If they can't get that one small thing
   right, what expectations shall I hold for shows where science is supposedly
   the lifeblood?  Well, I've simply stopped holding any at all.

   There were enjoyable bits.  I thought those hand weapons were a fresh idea.
   I liked the Eagles, even if there are strategic problems with using
   freighters as fighters.  Those little communications devices they used
   (visual communications at one end, electronic key at the other) seemed a
   very practical idea.  The transport system around the base (the "lavender
   subway", I called it, because of the colour of the light in it) was well
   done.  And people like Alan Carter and Paul were enjoyable.  By the way,
   was it Prentis Hancock who played Paul?  I've seen him in a couple of Dr.
   Who's ("Planet of Fear"; "The Ribos Operation"), I'm sure I've seen him
   before, and I'm wondering if it was in Space:1999.

   I thought at the time that the second-season changes were the beginning of
   the end, as similar changes were for Bill Bixby's "The Magician".  The show
   was losing what steam it had had, and not even Catherine Schell made up for
   it.  And they kept Barbara Bain!!!!  Does nothing ever go right?

   Oh well, at least it didn't have as bleak an outlook on life as UFO did.
   But, as a certain Parisian gentleman would say, that's another story.


   Alastair Milne