-treated like static lumps of brick, both metaphorically and very literally (Captain Travellator as I call this show). Still stings that they once again decide to quietly write the Angels out of an episode where it would be fun to see their reactions while drunk off their tits. Blue is perfect tho.
I didn't actually see Flight to Atlantica during my initial exposure to Scarlet with the BBC repeat runs of 2001 and 2004. Maybe I would have a greater fondness for the show overall if I had. As it is, this episode remains a far off glimpse of what the show could have been if only the cast weren't-
The hour of deliverance is at hand! Deep joy 🔔 youtu.be/G_7wM-jTh2s?...
now Gerry might have had some greater insight and desire to hold onto childhood than most other people, but he was still just as susceptible to sweet talking and propaganda as the rest of us. Gerry just couldn't quite come to realise that during his peak, and sadly it resulted in his late 70s slump.
And being generally salt of the earth type people, Gerry and Sylvia went along with it. I'm not saying they weren't immensely well trained and experienced minds, but being creative is not really the same as being diverse in thought. We are essentially a product of our environments afterall.
but once Thunderbirds started raking big bucks, I think there was suddenly a desire from these same people to reel them in. Lew Grade became a lot more scrutinizing of their ideas, rejecting Gerry's pitch for the cop show. ITC New York started sticking their noses in as well where they hadn't before
Thing is I'm not entirely sure it was an Ego problem. As I alluded to above, all the typical Andersonisms I expect from Gerry and Sylvia are markedly toned down here compared to their TV output. For the longest time they were seen as plucky up-and-comers by the bigwigs, I.E cute and non threatening.
I wonder how it might have gone differently if Alan Pattillo directed and not David Lane. He was apparently the Andersons' first choice.
All I know is he would have given more importance to Alan's arc beyond "Have a dream sequence at the B&W 60s nightclub, now piss off back to earth baby" (4/4)
Thirdly the creative vision. It feels the most hampered out of any of Gerry and Sylvia's stories to this point. Like there was pressure from outside to conform to the wider industry. And I think on some level they weren't prepared to invest so much character action into their puppets. (3/4)
Secondly the plot. The story wastes the opportunity to develop its characters outside the series' 50 minute runtime. What's the point of giving Alan the starring role if most of his scenes are in a dream. I would try including some link between the failure of Zero X and Alan's own self esteem (2/4)
Thunderbirds Are Go I would consider to be one big missed opportunity. Firstly the new look of the sets. Included extract from FAB magazine 91 on series 2 for historical context. John Lageu's designs, while bringing a refreshing darker+edgier vibe for the big screen are very much "of the time" (1/4)
God too many to list, but I'll try to condense. Michael Caine, Mark Hamil, Jeremy Hitchen, George Sewell, Frank Welker, Diana Rigg, Neil Morrissey, Susan Blu, Patrick Macnee, John Alderton, Casey Kasem, Jeremy Brett, Mia Farrow, Rik Mayall, Robbie Coletrane, Craig Charles, Tony Curtis, Geoffrey Keen
They may as well have done in Ninestein's case. Feels like everything in the end of the original show was wiped off the face of the Earth. We didn't need AHHnold Schwarzenegger orb to make Ninestein learn that Zeroids were worth having personalities. Plus Kate and Hawkeye were really underserved.
ngl I've wanted to write MY own take on Terrahawks series 4 for several years now, but I've been distracted by soooo much other shit going, including getting all of the films that I bought at auction scanned in 4K. Big Finish's offerings fell short of the mark for me, too fanficcy for my tastes.
Google Search is vandalising the internet.
👀 Our new investigation reveals how some of our fact checks are being shown in misleading ways:
Today we're remembering the much-missed Denise Bryer, on what would have been her 98th birthday. Best known to Anderson fans for voicing Zelda in Terrahawks. Here she is in 2014 during the recording of Big Finish's Terrahawks audio revival - smiling, as she always seemed to be!
You know the one everyone is gonna pick, so I'll nominate one that's right under the radar. Ilene O'Farrell from the Supercar episode Hostage. She has just the right amount of vulnerability and sass that role requires. Marina specifically in the vinyl record "Marina Speaks" also tops the list for me
The gothic vibes of the river station feel like a much needed breath of air for the set design, which had become stale over the course of the series. Overall, an exceptional episode, and one that always manages to grip me on a rewatch. Just don't let us make a habit of reusing this plotline XD (5/5)
-fantastical aspects of it. Thunderbirds was always a vehicle for great drama, excitement and imagination! But I wouldn't want big monster attacks to become a regular occurance either. Culp is delightfully scummy and the other guest characters are top form for TBirds (Mrs Files anyone?)-(4/5)
-finally getting to see the episode as a mid teen on Youtube was quite spellbinding. It was my closest equivalent of seeing a new missing episode of Doctor Who for the first time. And the episode certainly hasn't lost its lustre for me after all these years. I'm not really bothered by the-(3/5)
-the anticipation from hearing about this episode, but never quite seeing it, must have driven me up the wall. I knew a friend who had this story on audiobook cassette so I somewhat knew how the audio of the episode went before I saw the visuals paired with it. Regardless- (2/5)
Attack of the Alliagtors, against all odds, was one of those episodes of Thunderbirds I never got to fully see when I was a kid. I collected just about every other episode on VHS, both commercial and recorded off the BBC, but somehow this episode always managed to elude me. With that said- (1/5)
New upload! The opening animation for the US version of the 1960s 8th Man anime, scanned from a 16mm print in 4K by us, courtesy of @reQThoney! This was uniquely made for the US version by Hal Seeger Productions when it was syndicated on American TV! youtu.be/xs0kk3VOjVw
If horror movies have taught me anything it’s never have a beautifully designed and mood lit backyard because it will always be the place you die.
A fox character standing with a shunter's pole on a section of railway track. A locomotive and mine shaft are off in the distance.
A quick scribble of Reg, the Foxfield Railway's new mascot. Been meaning to do a scribble since I first saw the video on YT, such a charming character. 👌
--2015 feels like a more militant/combat core and while its a cool vision for the OG design, I don't think that I like it in context for what International Rescue's ethos is. As a wise man once said, you marry the one you couldn't do without. In short;
-Snog the 2015
-Marry the 2086
-Avoid the 2004
I see the various TB2s more practically. 2086 may not look like the OS TB2 but I see enough shared design while fitting the show's new format that I don't mind. '04 may technically be more functional but it looks just like a Star Fleet Galaxy class with an eating disorder. Complete wrong direction--
Scott Tracy from 1960s puppet TV show Thunderbirds being slandered for being absolute muppet. "Meet Deskduty Tracy" "they call him 007: 0 solo rescue missions, 0 bodily constitution, 7 attempted murders" Series 1: “U nothing without me”, Series 2: “Adios Mocosos” "Always first on the scene Never first to help"
I was inspired #thunderbirds
-As second opinion, here's my friend @superarti.bsky's thoughts.
"Ah never figured it was hostile sexism.
I saw it as poking fun at it. If it was really true sexism Venus wouldn't be a doctor at all or serving any role beyond “kitchen”.
She’s a biologist, surgeon, explorer, pilot, and leader." (7/)
-They were so concerned to make her the shining example of all women in the show that she was never allowed to be wrong, even when the simplistic dialogue left her grating to adult ears. Much like UFO's attempts at drawing attention to racism, its clear why the Andersons never revisited this.- (6/?)