Spectrum Headquarters Forum

Captain Violet wrote:that was my favourite episode of the series
me and my siblings enjoyed it very much
especially the scottish granny as our granny is scottish

But not a Mysteron, one hopes.

Matt Crowther wrote:Classic ending, similiar to "Fire at Rig 15" minus Scarlet in a SPV and the oil refinery.

I thought it had more in common with Special Assignment, what with a Mysteron plot to steal an SPV & crash it in Nuclear City. I'm mildly surprised no one else has mentioned this. On the subject of the old series you know how everyone loves those end title paintings? Personally, I would love to see some of those situations bought to life in the new series. Ever since I was a kid I've liked that pic of Scarlet sinking into the ocean, rocks aound his body surrounded by hungry looking sharks. Just imagine seeing that rendered in CG! Unbelievably cool. I've often thought those gorgeous paintings were crying out to be incorporated into a script but the obvious technical limitations of the original prevented it. I guess there are probably contractual reasons why it would never happen even now but, god, that would be something to see ...

Hmm now you mention yeah tis a bt like Special Assignment.

Oh totally agree, that would be so cool

It would have been even better (in my humble opinion, at least) to have seen the entire classic series rendered in CGI.....

Alas for lost opportunities....

Doc Denim

PS - you should check out some of the fan-fic based on the end-credit pics....

Hi People,

Being Scottish I really enjoyed this episode. For me it had the charm of an old Doctor Who episode.

I think the performances of the characters in the last two episodes have improved dramatically, however, I still think that Chiller was an overall more cohesive and interesting story, although Mrs McKensie wins best "guest" character of the series hands down. I loved it when she catapulted Harmony across her bedroom.

Churchill wrote:Mrs McKensie wins best "guest" character of the series hands down. I loved it when she catapulted Harmony across her bedroom.

Iloved that, too!!!

BTW, I'm part Scottish, but I don't sound it. Was born in Bristol, so I my accent is closer to American (New England) than Sottish.

This for me was The Trap and Special Assignment rolled into into one - and they are two of my favourite CS epiodes. Loved the vicious Granny - inspired by the ass-kicking Yoda in the last Star Wars film? - she was great fun. Some of the Mysteron Cadet's expressions were spot on too.

The tension as the Rhino sped towards the reactor was great and they have written some decent chase music (not nearly as good as the 'Stratojet chase' music in Winged Assassin & other CS episodes though - I really wish they had used some of the old music). Nice to see more Harmony - she is way cooler than the stroppy & omnipresent Destiny! They lose lots of points for making one of the major characters really annoying and unlikeable.

Once again the nuclear power planted looked totally deserted - which defeats the object of using CGI. Couldn't they have rendered a few characters walking about in the distance?!

A very entertaining episode, but for the ending, which made me want to vomit. I know they want to make the characters more human but pur-lease - I had just had my breakfast!

I guess after Chiller I was expecting something just as good…but no. Johnson had that same macho tone of voice as Blue (even if it wasn’t the same actor). It really grated after a while. I liked the Mysteron granny (what did Scarlet mean - it seemed like he knew about her supposed ‘alcohol problem’ - was that info on a file somewhere ). Rhino/SPV whatever…nothing’s changed - the Mysterons seem really keen on them for some reason. Watching it a second time I did get a bit bored with this episode. The ending was truly awful, no doubt about that. No more attempts at writing romance pleeese...

A bit of a problem I have with the whole series is the question of just how serious about winning these Mysterons really are in the conflict we are seeing - and that point came to a head for me when watching this episode, in which a Spectrum operative was killed and reincarnated apparently entirely remotely, as it were. It seems to me that if the Mysterons have that capability, then there's really nothing they can't do if they put their minds to it. For example, kill and Mysteronise all the personnel in a nuclear submarine, then get them to launch its entire arsenal against a few dozen major cities. Alternatively apply a similar scenario inside a biological research station. Or use the same technologies displayed in "Rain of Terror" and/or "Swarm" against a major population centre. A little imagination is all that is required to inflict mass destruction upon millions if you have the capability to recruit any human or group of humans to your own side at any time.

Now I know we've had this discussion before, but that was in the context of the original show*, in which the Mysterons were essentially playing a rather nasty little game along the lines of "Tee hee, let's see if you can stop this one, Earthmen!". This time around however, we're apparently supposed to believe that the Mysterons are perfectly serious. If so, then it seems to me that suing for peace would be a very sensible course of action to consider. I mean, I know it's a gung-ho action series and all that, but in reality nobody in their right mind passes up the opportunity to end a conflict by negotiation if it's in their interest to do so - and in this situation it's apparent that the enemy has all the aces. In the original series there were no grounds for a dialogue, since there was nothing the Mysterons actually wanted other than to make the people of Earth suffer for Captain Black's little blunder. But this time around, what is there to lose? At the very least, there would certainly be no excuse for not getting on the radio and saying "Look, you guys - we're really very sorry about the vandalism. Now - what do we need to do to get you to stop beating us up please?". After all, if the Mysterons don't actually want anything from us, what would be the harm in asking? The answer could be as simple as "Okay, Earthmen - just get off our planet, take all your junk with you and don't come back!"]

[* I'm thinking of the incident at the K-9 observatory in "The Shadow of Fear" in the original series, in which Doctor Breck is assimilated apparently without the need for Captain Black to be anywhere in the vicinity. The implication was that anyone who was looking at Mars through a telescope could be Mysteronised with equal ease, including presumably many thousands of people in potentially dangerous jobs keeping an eye on the Mysterons round the clock. So why weren't they given a dose of the same medicine? The reason was that the Mysterons in that series chose to limit their sphere of operations to a specific objective, whereas this time around they aren't limited by such a self-imposed restriction. Anything they can do once they can do elsewhere - and if that includes the ability to create allies to their cause whenever they feel like it, that makes them effectively invincible.]

Hi Doc, I had a few qualms about the member of Spectrum being mysteronised for no apparent reason. I don't know if there is an official explanation, but I decided the Mysterons must only be able to randomly assimilate the old, infirm or weak-minded (or dead of course)!!

I liked this episode but was a bit concerned about the length of time Scarlet spent not doing very much underneath Mad Old Mrs Mackenzie!!

And surely I can't be the only one who went 'ahhhhh' at the end...can I??!!

Yes, and from just scanning the earlier comments it does seem the "Yuuukks!" considerably outweigh the 'Aaahs'! I just thought it was nice touching moment after all the usual death and destruction!!

Only just read this:

I had a few qualms about the member of Spectrum being mysteronised for no apparent reason. I don't know if there is an official explanation, but I decided the Mysterons must only be able to randomly assimilate the old, infirm or weak-minded (or dead of course)!!

My vote is for Mysteronised coffee - it not only tastes bad, it's bad for your health too...

Hmmm, Mysteronised coffee eh? Brings a whole new meaning to the war of 'nerves'!!

I have just noticed on Craig's personal website that he did the backgrounds showing the old lady's cottage and bedroom. I think these sets were absolutely wonderful.

I love the combination of futuristic vehicles and action being set against olde worlde backgrounds and buildings, such as the cottage.

In fact, my favourite room in the whole of NCS is the living room in the same episode and I especially like that spotless blue carpet!