'Alpha Child' opens with one of the most shocking scenes ( well, it was back in 1975 ) ever broadcast on television. Cynthia Crawford ( Cyd Hayman ) gives birth, the first child ever born on Moonbase Alpha. The Alphans are naturally thrilled. Then she starts screaming. In mere seconds, the newly-born baby has suddenly matured into a five-year old boy. What is going on here?
Tests prove the boy is physically normal, other than being a deaf mute. He becomes the darling of the base, but Commander Koenig is concerned. Just how normal is little Jackie Crawford?
Alien ships appear from nowhere and put Carter's Eagle out of action. Jackie undergoes a further growth stage, becoming 'Jarak', the leader of a race of beings fleeing from some unknown adversary. Killing Cynthia, Jarak reincarnates her as 'Rena', his wife. He wishes his people to take over the bodies of all on Alpha...
This was by Christopher Penfold who, along with Johnny Byrne, was the best writer on the first series of 'Space:1999'. Like I said earlier, it opens with a startling teaser, gets a bit syrupy thereafter with the likes of Alan Carter giving the mute boy piggyback rides around Main Mission. Things get moving again when Jackie evolves into Jarak, the latter played by the superb Julian Glover, a man who could play villains in his sleep. The sight of Jarak kissing Rena has slight Oediepal connotations, after all, the woman is supposed to be his mother ( or rather, her body was ). Exactly why Jarak and his people are being pursued is not revealed. The lovely Cyd Hayman does not get to do much, her role as 'Madame Cocotte' in 'The Two Ronnies' serial 'Death Can Be Fatal' gave her more lines! When Cynthia becomes Rena, she not only acquires a new personality but also a new hair-do with matching lip-gloss!
Still, I like this. Its better than the rubbish Mr.Freiberger foisted on us in Year 2. Even so, I wish more had been made of the 'evil child' situation. This could have been 'Space:1999''s answer to 'The Omen'!
Tests prove the boy is physically normal, other than being a deaf mute. He becomes the darling of the base, but Commander Koenig is concerned. Just how normal is little Jackie Crawford?
Alien ships appear from nowhere and put Carter's Eagle out of action. Jackie undergoes a further growth stage, becoming 'Jarak', the leader of a race of beings fleeing from some unknown adversary. Killing Cynthia, Jarak reincarnates her as 'Rena', his wife. He wishes his people to take over the bodies of all on Alpha...
This was by Christopher Penfold who, along with Johnny Byrne, was the best writer on the first series of 'Space:1999'. Like I said earlier, it opens with a startling teaser, gets a bit syrupy thereafter with the likes of Alan Carter giving the mute boy piggyback rides around Main Mission. Things get moving again when Jackie evolves into Jarak, the latter played by the superb Julian Glover, a man who could play villains in his sleep. The sight of Jarak kissing Rena has slight Oediepal connotations, after all, the woman is supposed to be his mother ( or rather, her body was ). Exactly why Jarak and his people are being pursued is not revealed. The lovely Cyd Hayman does not get to do much, her role as 'Madame Cocotte' in 'The Two Ronnies' serial 'Death Can Be Fatal' gave her more lines! When Cynthia becomes Rena, she not only acquires a new personality but also a new hair-do with matching lip-gloss!
Still, I like this. Its better than the rubbish Mr.Freiberger foisted on us in Year 2. Even so, I wish more had been made of the 'evil child' situation. This could have been 'Space:1999''s answer to 'The Omen'!