Space 1999 Megaset starring Martin
Landau, Barbara Bain, Nick Tate,
Zienia Merton, Catherine Schell
Awsome
When it was first broadcast in 1975, there had never been a more lavishly
produced science fiction TV series than Space: 1999, a British production
whose budget for the first of its two seasons ran an astounding £3.25
million. What keeps us fans enthralled after all these years has only partly
to due with the first-rate production values, the plausibly constructed
spaceship models, and expert special effects. The tone of the show is one
of scientific dispassion, setting it apart from its TV sci-fi predecessors such
as Star Trek, whose mood was more convivial. Our heroes here are in dire
circumstances that require cool heads as a survival trait. Those
circumstances: the 311 crew members of Moonbase Alpha experience a
cataclysm that causes the moon to break away from Earths orbit and travel
endlessly through space, turning our heroes into unintentional explorers.
No TV series has created a more palpable feel of hard science fiction than
this. Of course the show is not without its detractors; it has been soundly
lambasted for its many scientific errors. No less august a figure than Isaac
Asimov criticized the show for its premise in the opening episode,
Breakaway, which had nuclear explosions on the dark side of the moon
somehow propelling it out of Earths orbit and flying through space without

regard to any physical laws. In Earthbound, aliens traveling to Earth state it
will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why
it didnt take the moon that long to encounter the aliens. While these are
serious complaints, fans tend to remember the scientific seriousness of the
series and the sense of awe created by the many strange creatures and
phenomena that the crew members encounter on their journey through the
galaxy. The Space: 1999 Mega Set collects all 48 episodes broadcast
over the shows two seasons, contained on 17 DVDs that include vintage
interviews, production stills, TV promotional spots, and interactive menus.
All episodes have been digitally remastered, and some material that was
not seen in the original U.S. broadcasts has been restored. --Jim Gay
Personal Review: Space 1999 Megaset starring Martin Landau,
Barbara Bain, Nick Tate, Zienia Merton, Catherine Schell
For Gerry Anderson fans, this set is a must-have, along with the UFO
megaset. To me, it's the pinnacle of Anderson's live-action shows, with
Derek Meddings incredible models and special effects, with Rudi
Gernrich's mod costumes, with all the designer furniture we could never
afford, with the spacious and fabulous sets, this series overall is truly great.
I don't think Fred Frieberger did the series any favors, however, and I feel
he screwed up this series like he did the last season of Star Trek. As the
series went on, the costumes changed for the worse, the characters
changed for the worse, the leaps (and chasm-wide gaps) in logic became
worse, and the storytelling became worse. It's similar to what happened
with Miami Vice when the whole look of the show changed.
However, the quality of the transfer is excellent, and upconverted to 480p,
looks really sharp as a tack. Better than seeing it on 70's era TV tubes.
Don't miss this set. Fans of the show will party like it's...well, you know.
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