Men versus Machine
Moderator: Spectrum Strike Force
The original characters were fairly basically drawn - the noble hero, the loyal best friend, the evil opponant, the wise commander, the pretty girlies and everyone else. I had hoped (and I don't think I was the only one) that the new series might develop the characters in the series, but does anyone else think that by the time all the new hardware is launched, there won't be time in 25 minute episodes?
Does anyone think it will matter, or will the absence of defined characters make it more enjoyable (and open to the FanFic writers' own interpretations).
Marion W
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Marion W
It seemed to me that the first few shows of Star Trek TNG were terribly dated, with the early scripts attempting to mirror the sort of issues that were the mainstay of the 1960s series – crewmember is offered God-like powers; what’s it like to have an affair with an android; which of two species can convince an alien who doesn’t understand good and evil that good is better, that sort of thing. All very worthy, no doubt, but it had already been done.
It was only after the characters in TNG and the various interrelationships between them had been established in the minds of both the audience and the scriptwriters that the plots really took off, with an emphasis on issues of interest to a rather more streetwise 1990s audience: the diplomatic headaches of dealing with an utterly ruthless opponent who is now officially an ally, the ethics of the reunification of two cultures, how to handle a high-ranking military adversary who apparently betrays his own people to prevent a war he knows neither side can win, the intricacies of playing off two enemies against one another – it’s a long way from the “we are good therefore we will prevail” simplicity of the 1960s.
So what sort of issues are we going to see developing, then? Is Spectrum going to find itself having to pull a few seriously dirty tricks of its own to counter the Mysterons? Are we going to see an apparent turncoat with Scarlet-like powers whose loyalty can’t be verified placed under the microscope? A genuine traitor perhaps? A peace movement, maybe? Perhaps even a dialogue with the Mysterons themselves – after all, you can’t end a war when nobody’s talking to anyone on the other side. And are the officers onboard Skybase (ugh!) going to have rather more gritty interpersonal problems than we saw in the past? I do hope so.
DocBrown
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DocBrown
The writers would have to be very ingenious - even sneaky - to actually be able to come up with a complex social-driven plot, and keep it interesting, comprehensive and exciting (read: not dull) in a 25 minutes time episode (counting credits), with more than 15 characters (the cast from the original series, if they are all there), and filled with a collection of vehicles, craft and whatever other futuristic technology the mind of the designers could dream up.
Don't get me wrong. I'd like to see complex issues angles appear in the plot, but I think it's unlikely it will be done.
On to the other concern: when we see all the efforts given to develop new craft and vehicles, and to the general technological background of the series, will there be enough time, in a half-hour show, to develop characterisation of the cast? Although I agree that the characters were 'basic' in the original series, there were still enough humane persona in there. We know how would react Captain Scarlet and Captain Blue is a given situation, we know about the Colonel's temper, what is his favorite line, we know about the eagerness of both Captain Magenta and Lieutenant Green... Although surrounded by vehicles, it was also, and foremost, the characters or the original series who were the focus of the show.
Yes, of course, the new vehicles were created with merchandising in mind. No doubt about that, and no problem, as far as I'm concerned. But let's hope that the powers behind the new series won't forget how important the characters were in the past series - and SHOULD also be for this new series.
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chrisbishop
- Colonel
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And yet… I’m sure I read somewhere that just once before, a certain maker of an up-and-coming puppet adventure series called “Thunderbirds” had already completed several 25-minute stories when his boss saw them and said “My God, they’re marvellous! Double the length of all the episodes!"
You never know your luck…
DocBrown
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DocBrown
I can see the commercial reasoning behind the new machines and the promotion of them to the target audience - but I also recall the same up and coming producer remarking that he prided himself on having storylines that had a wink in the direction of the adults watching with the children!
Let's hope that Gerry Anderson hasn't forgotten us - even if the accountants have .
I must also admit a sneaking liking for the basically drawn characters. It does fire the imagination - well, mine anyway - when it comes to just what the characters are all like. I'm not sure that the original conceivers of the Spectrum Offciers would recognise their creations in some of my interpretations of them... ...
Marion W
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Marion W
If that's right, then ironically the better the CGI portrayal of them, the harder it's likely to be to square that representation of them with the models that the older fans have built in their heads. But then we'll see, won't we...
DocBrown
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DocBrown
I definitely hope that they aren't going to go for the cardboard cut-out method of characterisation. You know the one I mean, right? The one with "Let's group together a whole load of cliches and turn them into a character!" That seriously drives me up the wall.
Still, they should be able to handle giving them real (read - believable) characters. Here's hoping!
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FlicCity
- Cadet
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Still..I have to agree with Marion and Doc that too much canon characterisation would leave little room for us to continue our exploration of our heroes and heroines...so maybe it' is indeed a double edged sword for fan-fic writers.
It is of course possible to have an action sci-fi series which does employ enjoyable techno-ware and lots of fighting, explosions etc and yet still develop the characters . But I suspect 25 minutes is not enough time to allow that to happen..unless the episodes develop in a more layered fashion..ie one episode has a bearing or knock -on effect to the next.
That starts to build a multi-dimensional effect in the created world..and where it's possible to see personality development occur...
How nice it would be to see Scarlet's angst at what he has become..and to develop some of the personality conflicts that might ensue between him and the other Spectrum personnel...(mind you the script-writers had better read some of Mary and Chris's stories first to get it right!)
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Carrie
- Cloudbase Captain
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Clya Brown
- Cloudbase Captain
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Of course, you often get the manly comradeship between 'hero' and 'side-kick' and, occasionally, a token member of the opposite sex. (I am desperately trying to think of female 'heroes' as examples here, but almost all I can remember are male). These are usually there to be rescued - or - in the last minutes to say to the hero, 'but I don't understand....' so they can explain the plot.
Well, I live and learn... and sadly, the chances of the CGI being anything other than a fast-paced, exciting, explosion-fest, look more remote now than they did before. I expect it will be good (fingers crossed) but it won't be 'my' Captain Scarlet and his pals. Even if I have to start saying 'Classic CS and the Mysterons' I will stick with my old friends. They have kept me entertained and interested for 37 years and I am a creature of habit.
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Marion
- Cloudbase Captain
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