Space: 1999 | S1. Ep.3 "Collision Course" | REACTION

[@timmooney7528]

Brian Johnson was in charge of the visual effects on this series. He later on to do the effects for the movie Alien, Aliens, and The Empire Strikes Back. His work with miniatures dates back to the Thunderbirds and the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

[@dasnapper4831]

This was one of my favourites, growing up. The creators of Space:1999 were also the creators of Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, and the music is very similar. Cool Fact: the suppliers of the theme had a very young person taking the lead - he couldn't write the music score, and did the job entirely by ear. A very cool show, IMHO.

[@neilmcdonald9164]

The old lady on the planet was a veteran actress called Margaret Leighton,this was her very last performance 🎩

[@chrisjackson5210]

One of my favourite episodes from this show - thoughtful and compassionate. The vast unknowability/unpredictability of space isn't a common theme in tv sci-fi which usually has a more soap-y feel. Victor Bergman has a lovely twinkly charm too. Good stuff!

[@lurkerrekrul]

There were three sizes of the Eagles used on the show depending on whether it was a closeup shot, a medium length shot, or a distant shot. They were 44", 22', and 11''. 1.1m, 55.8cm, and 27.9cm in metric. The 44" models were quite detailed. I keep hoping that someone will make a computer recreation of Alpha that you can (virtually) walk through and visit every single room, all the locations from the show, use the travel tubes, and even fly an Eagle.

[@alexfletcher5192]

I think one of the key elements in this show's success is the performance of Martin Landau (Koenig), who had been knocking around in everything from the classic Hitchcock thriller 'North by Northwest' to 'Mission Impossible' and who really puts it on the line emotionally in this role. We all know things are going to be okay in the end, but the tension in this just builds and builds. Everything has to be taken on faith. How would any of us react?

[@chessmoon]

oscar winner Martin Landau

[@Eltonlaleham]

Space 1999 is an awesome series, in billions of ways and the sets in this episode are awesome too in billions of ways and also I hope you have fun with the rest of Space 1999.

[@elainemusselwhite2325]

Like you , we are watching this properly for the first time too, it seemed an ideal opportunity to watch the series and watch your reactions. The time spent with the models etc would have take a while to shoot let alone build and of course as mentioned before it had a big budget which will have helped alot. Merry Christmas to you and yours and have a good break, enjoy your birthday as well.

[@andrewkearley]

Just astounding. Probably one of my favourite episodes of any show ever. To answer your question, the moon can't stop unless other forces act on it. So unless they encounter a planet and it captures them into its orbit, they'll just keep moving on. But do we believe Arra's prophecy? When she says they will continue on forever and eventually populate the furthest reaches of space. Does this mean the people of Alpha are the start of a new human race that's going to spread across the universe. And if she's been aware that the moon has been coming, and she's known about it for millions of years, that starts to make me question that it wasn't just a random accident that blew the moon out of Earth's orbit. This is a very mystical programme.

[@kevinputry5655]

Yes they did put a lot of time, money and effort into the show. It was the most expensive show made at that time until Battlestar Galactica came out a few years later. Now there's a show I'd love to see you react to as well. Anyway, the production on the show began in late 1973 and it premiered in 1975. They definitely spared no details to make it look as realistic as possible. The whole look and feel of the show is quite unique too.

[@stephenkay4008]

I’ve only just started watching your reaction channel and it was because I saw that you had covered Breakaway that made me tune in. I was 9 years old when this series first aired in the UK and like any kid, the first thing you love is the action and the ships/hardware, but it was also probably my first exposure to concepts of existentialism and other Philosophical subjects - to say nothing of the sense of dread and horror the series was very good at creating. It was conceived by The Andersons as a very adult series, like UFO, but the then Regional commercial channels (what would eventually amalgamate into the ITV Network) could only think about shows like Thunderbirds and most put it into the Saturday teatime slot to try and steal Doctor WHO viewers from the BBC, so a lot of the episodes were genuinely never intended to be seen by a young audience. You’ve already seen fairly strong examples of horror in Breakaway and Force of Life, but trust me, there will be far stronger to come! Doctor Who could have its moments, but was still considered kid-friendly, whereas SPACE:1999 will have scarred a whole generation of pre-teens, like myself - AND WE LOVED IT!! Really enjoying your reactions - you can immediately tell that there’s been no prep or advance research about the series, so we are genuinely getting what we see with you. I’m also really appreciating your positive observations about the show’s aesthetic look and feel and also the performances, since back in the day, and on many subsequent occasions, the acting was derided for supposedly being “wooden”, with Barbra Bain as Dr. Russell coming in for a lot of unfair criticism in that respect. She had chosen to make the character cool and level-headed and I suppose you could say ‘unemotional’, initially at least, so that the audience could see an emotional growth in the character, as dictated by some of the later plot developments. I don’t think she always pitched it correctly, but to call her wooden is grossly unfair - especially when the producers had worked very hard to create a sense of gravitas for the series and all the main cast responded to that admirably. So happy to hear that you are enjoying the series so far - it will be really interesting to see how you deal with some of the more thematically and visually shocking episodes? - can’t wait!

[@jimplaysric]

Collision Course has THE BEST cold open of the series. Many people have pointed out that Alan could have separated the central module from the Eagle, and left the charge. But I've believed for a long time that the charges weren't actually armed until the Eagles released them, which would explain how Alan could jolt it loose, seemingly without the risk of blowing himself up. Plus, Victor made a point of mentioning the need of 12 explosions for the chain reaction, and John telling Alan "we've got to have it there". Lots there to unpack, and fun to speculate. You're doing a good job with your watchalongs, thanks for covering the series, good luck with your channel.

[@AubreySciFi]

Another great episode. As I've said before, Gerry Andersons' model department did excellent work. Of course, talents honed from years of doing miniatures and figures for his Supermarionation puppet shows before this series. And future Oscar winner Martin Landau does a wonderful job, as you say, playing Commander John Koenig.

[@justinplayfair4638]

Really enjoying these reactions! Unfortunately, Meta is completely forgotten by the show as the producers did not want serialized elements. I will say I found your wondering if the Force of Life ball of light was a probe from Meta to be quite provocative! Martin Bower, the effects modeler who was given the task of creating the "Guest" spacecraft for the show, often had little time and would have to improvise. The impressive nuclear mines seen in this episode used a store bought set of plastic picnic bowls as their base!

[@Jamienomore]

I also loved Space 1999. You never knew what the next Episode would be about. Very Good Reactions.

[@leslieride5813]

You asked the question as to why the ones they have left behind families friends etc havent been mentioned? Its because you are watching the series entirely out of order ie all the later episodes have been placed at the top of the running order and all the early ones close to or at the bottom. However im loving your reactions to all aspects of the show its wonderful to hear your views and opinions and that you are enjoying it so much.

[@scimitaredgebooks]

Great review. I rewatched this series for the first time a year or so ago and am much enjoying how similar your views are to mine!

[@Eltonlaleham]

I like your TARDIS model, and the picture of the Doctors your collection is awesome Marie-Clare and I hope you have an awesome christmas and an awesome new year.

[@kieronball8962]

Loved your reactions, thoughts and comments regarding this superb episode of Space 1999. Martin Landau is a fantastic actor, but then so are the rest of the cast. Might I recommend you watch the original Mission Impossible tv show, as Martin Landau and Barbara Bain are amazing in that, too.

[@ShamrockParticle]

Modelwork always has a certain edge and lighting that is above CGI, though CGI still works for me and they continue to get more photorealistic. Season 1 has s ton of greats and season 2 is not without some greats as well. Definitely underrated. Not to namedrop, but if you like "Space 1999", "Blake's 7", action and philosophy, I would definitely consider "Babylon 5" next. It's got the best of both worlds, and *more*... i forgot how well the situstions are set up, and then came Bester... Oh, nobody should be calling your or your questions stupid. They're very fair and I love your take and perceptions of these S1999 episodes!

[@simonparry5958]

Great series most expensive series ever made at the time 1 million pounds an episode

[@markcraig9889]

Erm…. Don’t know where you got that figure from. £1m per episode in tv dramas didn’t happen until the 1990s. There are some crazy and varying figures flying around on the internet about the series’ budget (even Wikipedia has it wrong!) but the truth is that Year 1’s 24 episodes cost a total of £3.4 million to produce. For Year 2 the budget was upped to £4.2million, but it was eaten up by 27% inflation in the UK during production and costs had to be reduced- hence the smaller sets.

[@JoanneRachel-m6j]

❤❤❤ great video

[@bcsr4ever]

Yes. I have always felt the series was in a weird order and what seem to be early episodes were screened later.

[@leslieride5813]

Sadly another bad example of this horrendous original ATV running order from the 70s technically this is Episode 13 in production order. However i am so very happy that you are enjoying Space 1999.

[@mark-s]

I found this one a little slower than others this season not a fan but glad you get another episode in before Christmas this series is great

[@yesh3]

Has anyone recommended "Red Dwarf"?