Here are my thoughts, feelings and random comments about this
episode.
I love the opening of this episode, the first two scenes introduce you nicely to the setting
and date the action is taking place, and the attention to detail is excellent with the moon buggy driving into the Nuclear
Waste Disposal Area 2, surrounded by floodlights.
The only thing that lets this opening sequence down for me is the delivery of his lines by
the actor playing Jim Nordstrom when he tells Bergman that he is about to start the check on radiation levels, and equally
I find Barry Morse's delivery of his first lines rather strange and stilted. I know he is supposed to be a professor
but he comes across as sounding rather bored!
Notice the way Martin Landau pauses briefly before disembarking from the Eagle on arriving
at Moonbase Alpha. I don't know whether this was written into the original script or if it is just an adlib of Landau's
but it adds to the sense of impending doom. Is the Commander perhaps
having a premonition of things to come??
Now, the first meeting between Helena Russell and Commander Koenig...I still find Helena's
use of her commlock when she hears the beep rather wierd. It's as if she has been told by the directors to make sure
she shows the commlock off to the viewers, and she holds it as if she has never used one before.
I don't know if it's my copy of the DVD but I noticed a subtle change to Martin Landau's
voice when he delivers the line "What about the backup crew. Are they medically fit to fly?" It almost sounds
as if this line was dubbed on afterwards as his tone does not follow on from his previous sentences. Have a listen and
see what you think.
There are some minor continuity issues in this episode. When Koenig is speaking to Commander
Simmonds by video link, asking him not to send up any further nuclear waste, the time on the communications pillar reads
2:27. We then we see it move onto 2:28 as the two men finish their conversation. Once Simmonds breaks
communications we see Koenig, seemingly moments later, go to the communications pillar and contact Paul and the time
on the clock reads 3:53.
The continuity problem with Koenigs spacesuit
collar has already been mentioned in numerous other discussion threads, but I think it's worth another mention. When
Koenig takes the Eagle to check on Waste Disposal Area One look carefully at the neck of the orange spacesuit...it
is smooth. Later in the same scene the collar turns to the corrugated one.
I love the expression on Martin Landau's face when he walks away from the examination chair
in the medical room. Helena delivers her line "That is not the kind of damage I'm looking for" ... look at the change
of expression on Martin's face, almost as if he is being told off like a naughty schoolboy! And then of course the classic
line from Koenig "I didn't know you cared."
I love the scene where Koenig tells Simmonds that there are men risking their lives and all
he is concerned about is issuing a communique... tense and well acted by Landau. I like the way he almost walks through
Simmonds when Paul says "It's going up."
The scenes covering the explosion of the nuclear waste dumps are brilliantly done, lots of
excitement, lots of explosions, and the reactions of the actors as they are thrown about are excellent. The music at
this point also adds greatly to the sense of tension. Martin Landau's struggle to move through the tremendous g-forces
is amazingly acted, and I must compliment Prentis Hancock on the way he 'falls' down the step when the g-forces stop...a nice
touch.
Now I come to what are my favourite scenes in the episode...when the computer announces 'Human
decision required,' and when Koenig makes his speech to the entire base. Just look at the forlorn expression on
Martin Landau's face as he realises the enormity of the situation.
The ending of this episode is quite intriging;
suddenly there is hope for the Alphans that maybe their future lies on Meta. The cut from the Meta signal seen inside
Main Mission to the echoing signal when we see the outside view of the Moonbase is very clever, as is the voice over... "maybe
there." Why wasn't this possibility explored in another episode?
