Fireball XL5 (1962–1963) User Reviews

I'm a kid again

[neil-476 · 8/10 · 4 April 2012]

I haven't bought the DVD set (I should add "yet", I suppose. But let me see what I remember:

Robert the Robot intoning "On our way home" at the end of the episode

Those fabulous hover scooters

Zoonie the Lazoon's distinctive vocalisations (and sucker fingers)

Venus (ah, Venus! the first artificial female I improbably fancied)(odd that Lady Penelope sounded exactly like her...)

That take-off ramp, the second of Gerry Anderson's increasingly elaborate launch sequences

My plastic Fireball XL5 model kit

Every word of the theme song. All together now, "I wish I was a spaceman..."

My die-cast Fireball XL5 model

Fireball XL5 in TV21 comic

Come on, I was 10! It was great! Now, where can I get those DVDs?

Approachingearthzatmozphere...

[screenman · 8/10 · 15 August 2010]

After the pretty limited but successful 'Supercar', Gerry Anderson pushed the boat out a lot further with 'Fireball XL5'. His effects set a whole new standard in puppet animation. Fireball was a comparatively large spaceship that blasted off from earth by means of an elevated trackway. It's an idea that might have been borrowed from the 1950's sci-fi spectacular 'When Worlds Collide'.

The ship itself had a detachable nose-cone with huge panoramic windows like those of the later Millennium Falcon, and typified most spaceships of the vintage. How they withstood atmospheric re-entry wasn't made clear, but they were still in use on the drop-ship in 'Aliens'. The body of the vessel was mostly engine, which was at least partway right.

Mike Mercury was the universal hero, assisted by a doting air-head who was his wife, I think. There was a boy, of course, a pet creature called a lazoon, and a transparent monotone robot that seemed to say nothing but 'approachingearthzatmozphere' in a single word. They all got into a variety of space adventures that often turned even the known science of the day on its head. But what the hell? so did 'Star Wars' 15 years later.

At the time it became very popular, aided by an excellent merchandising campaign. It's own success paved the way for 'Stingray' and the incomparable 'Thunderbirds'.

I haven't seen it for ages and expect that it now appears laughable. But at the time, lots of kids both big and small were glued to the telly for half an hour.

Critics of the apparent sexism should bear in mind that the Andersons were a husband and wife team, and Ms Anderson had a considerable input during each program. So don't go blaming the blokes.

Nostalgic sci-fi, just the way it used to be!

[BigSkyMax · 7/10 · 1 April 2007]

I have read the previous comments and am delighted at how intelligent, sexy and wise all we XL-5 fans grew up to become! I too suffered from years of dirty looks from Old Boomers whenever I mentioned this show. They swore it never existed, I boldly proclaimed it did, it did! I saw it as a six-year-old so of course it imprints upon Primal Joy circuits: The now-extinct Saturday Morning Cartoon block, when you watched anything animated. But only a handful of shows like XL-5 exhibited imagination, most were machine-made Hanna-Barbara slop like Huckleberry Hound and Top Cat. Yes, back in them days, we had to wait for our TV set to 'warm up'-- thanks to a little something we used to call 'vacuum tubes' (they looked a lot like Robert the Robot!) And TVs had a smell to them too (ozone and the paper bits (!!) inside heating up)-- and we liked it!!! Reviving this show is why God created the DVD and the Internet! My only complaint is the DVDs do not have enough extras on them; they could benefit from more comments. Like from Sylvia and Gerry Anderson maybe? Anyway, if you have never seen the show-- well, decide for yourself. Okay, they're 45 year old children shows, but hey-- it's PUPPETS!! Oops, I mean, it's SUPERMARIONETTES!! If you can't like that, your strings need readjusting, baby.

Sci Fi with Strings Attached!

[rsetchell · 19 June 2003]

From the very outset, I was hooked by this show as a child. In a lot of ways, it was very advanced with a WOMAN doctor...even though Venus spent most of her time making coffee, cleaning up, or needing to be rescued. Robert was the best robot around, and Professor Mattic was just eccentric enough to be interesting, too. Coulda lived without the Lazoon, though. This show even had a first rate music score, too. But, it was that ship that had me! It was unlike most of the cramped ships in sci fi at the time. This one had a lounge, sleeping quarters, too. Its nose cone was detachable, and could land on the planets they visited. Most of the plots were pretty simple, but some stood out. One episode had XL5 in an unexplored area of space. The ship had been hit by meteors, and was losing its oxygen. They knew they had just a short time left, and even as a child, I was fascinated with how they were facing death. Of course, they just HAPPENED to wander into a part of the universe with its own air pocket, but hey..!

I used to think I was the only person who even cared about this show, but thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I found out there were a LOT of fans out there world wide!

I loved this show when I was young. I got as many episodes as were available on VHS when I could, and now, I see the entire series is on DVD! It probably won't win too many new fans in this day and age, but if you loved this show as a child, its a little reminder of a more innocent time. Enjoy the ride!

Ultimate Cult Sci-Fi Series !

[RealLiveClaude · 9/10 · 17 December 2007]

Before Star Trek, Space 1999, Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, there was Fireball XL5. Even if the show involved puppets (and well directed !), it remains a gem of space adventure...

Steve Zodiac is indeed the hero to this series, a brave astronaut always ready to help or to go where there is trouble.

Colonel Steve Zodiac has a crew which consists of Professor Matt Matic, Doctor Venus (one of the first women on TV which has a real profession at the time, instead of doing household chores), and Robert the Robot which I would more describe as a first generation droid. There is Commander Zero, a strict but very understanding ruler of the World Space Patrol, based in Space City, and Lieutenant Ninety, who always gets the sometimes rude comments of his commander, and of course the clumsy but lovable Zoonie the Lazoon, who is Venus alien pet...

The majority of episodes sees Steve and the crew discover strange worlds as well as threats by alien world to take over earth, or just some foes trying to get rid of Steve Zodiac for revenge, especially the Space Spys Boris and Griselda...

Got to admit some perilous situations or scenes can frighten children (especially the use of fire, or very ugly aliens or robots), but for the rest, it is an agreeable joyride, whether you re a toothy (a recurrent name heard often in the series...) or not...

By the way, despite minor flaws, special effects for this series were innovative at the time. Just wondering if this was turned digital, if it would be better, but it would destroy the magic of what Supermarionation used to be for Gerry Anderson and his then wife Sylvia (who voiced Venus).

A must see for all Space Adventure fans !

Now Showing on Talking Pictures TV in the UK.

[plan99 · 10/10 · 3 June 2023]

I loved this when it was on the first time round and I've just watched the first ever episode on TPTV and I'll be watching all of the rest of the episodes. Give me models with the wires showing any day over soulless CGI. It took me back to the 1960s and I had forgotten that the lovely Venus was French. The robot was probably the favourite character of most young viewers back then especially as his body was transparent. Anyone with young children should be encouraged to bring this fabulous series to their attention and the theme tune is one of the all time great TV theme tunes. An all time classic that will never die.

I have been puzzled for a long time as to how water and electricity was supplied to the spinning skyscraper building. How did they avoid the water pipes and wires getting in a tangle?

brings back memories...

[rthorsen · 10/10 · 16 September 2006]

Every Saturday morning I would tune in to see this show, it was my earliest favorite that I can remember. I think I was 5 or 6 years old. It was pretty well done for that time, although in B&W, it featured good characters, cool rockets and special effects, and best of all, it stirred the imagination. I always remember the jetmobiles, and for my birthday, I got an Fireball XL-5 playset, which costs my mother a whopping $5. It was the best. When I got a little older, I figured out that I could do something close with an 8mm camera, using GI Joes as my cast, and plastic models (blown up with fire crackers and set on fire, of course) for special effects. And then along came the "Thunderbirds"...

It's a shame that so many never saw and will never see it.

[ElKabong-3 · 27 October 2004]

First of all, I didn't think that anyone else remembered this show. You guys are getting OLD. Don't believe I ever saw a rerun of the series, I watched em when they ran originally in '62. Yeah, I'm getting old, too. This was the first opportunity for Baby-Boomers to watch any real sci-fi on TV. At least where we lived, these were not shown in the afternoon, but rather on Saturday morning, early, about 7:30 or maybe 8:00, so you couldn't sleep in. I can still see my little brother and me lying on the living room floor in our pajamas, eating cereal as the Saturday morning wonderland unfolded. And didn't everybody who saw the show want a Robby the robot of their own? OK, so the name wasn't original, he was still the best robot ever. This show may seem hokey and stupid with primitive special effects to a Star Wars generation, but it was the only game in town for those of my age. The next opportunity to see a sci-fi series on TV was, I guess, Lost In Space, which DOES look hokey and stupid to me now. maybe you just can't lose the love you had for a program as a small child.

Whatever the reason, I'm delighted to hear that the series is available on DVD, I suspect I'll have to update my Xmas wish list to include it. What an opportunity, indulge my own nostalgia AND drive my family nuts simultaneously!

Update!: I did receive the DVD set with the complete series for Xmas, 2004, and it was all I remembered. Incidentally, It DID drive my family nuts as I spent about a week straight watching the whole series and singing the stupid theme song with the show.

Vintage Sci-Fi fun

[theprisoner · 31 August 2003]

This was the show that sparked my interest in Sci-Fi way back in 1962, being only five the opening shot of Steve and Venus flying past the fin of the huge spaceship Fireball XL5 filled me with wonder!

Although this was a series for it's time it was one of the first to depict a space fleet of patrol ships monitoring our quadrant of space, notably used in Star Trek a few years later. The characters from the very first episode were amazingly fleshed out by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, only to be further developed by the talents of the other scriptwriters resulting in a fine continuity right up the last episode, unheard of in those days. Stories involved time travel, space pirates and of course earth domination, which had the puppets smoking, shaving, being tied up and the odd reference to child psychology! -Very adult for a child's T.V. series.

My favourite episodes - A day in the life of a space general, Space Magnet & 1875 In all, superb sixties Sci Fi fun.

Still in the memory after 40+ years

[JBAdamson · 8 March 2004]

I can't believe anyone outside of my brother or me remembers this show. There were times throughout my life when I had to question if the show ever really existed. We were so mesmerized by all of the episodes and we played XL5 for hours up on hours. I believe that for us the spaceship itself was the real focus of our enjoyment. There just wasn't anything like it at the time. Rail launching a space ship was definitely ahead of it's time.

I must admit that that I don't really remember much of the show. Robby's electro-voice saying `Fire Retro Rockets' has definitely remained with me over the years. I still get a thrill when I reminisce about the rare episodes when XL1 was employed to help save the day. I remember a friend in school had the XL5 lunch box and I used sit and study it, on the rare occasion when he would let me. It was in color! I am a father now and my children grew up on Transformers and Power Rangers. However, the looks on their faces when these characters would save the day would sometimes take me back to the days of my childhood and XL5 and for that brief moment we shared an emotion of childhood that I will always treasure. I can only hope that they will some day be lucky enough to experience the same with their children. I plan on purchasing the DVD set of XL5. I am not sure if I will try to talk the kids into watching them with me but the opportunity will be there if they choose.

My first Science Fiction Love

[doctardis · 6 January 2003]

It has been so long I hardly remember the show, but I do remember the begging and pleading I did to get my parents to let me watch the show. It was, at the time, my favorite television show. It was my introduction to science fiction. It is genre that I almost always prefer. I just saw a show recently, and it is still great fun. It is particularly interesting to compare this to the latter shows of the Andersons like Stingray, Thunderbirds, Capt. Scarlet, UFO, Space:1999, and journey to the farside of the sun. They always are fun to watch. I grew up being a fan of their work without always knowing it was the same producers.

Star Trek Precursor

[radiotesla2001 · 30 May 2004]

Loved this show as a kid. It definitely shaped my interest in Sci Fi. Also, the theme songs still strike a chord with me, no matter how dated they are! They are simply great in their tone and straight-forward sincerity.

Also, as a Star Trek fan, I can not help but wonder if Roddenberry had not been influenced by the XL5 design. After all, the saucer section of the original Enterprise was detachable, just as XL5's nose, even though they never showed it in the original series. Mention was made of it once, when Kirk told Scotty to 'Break out of there with the main section, if you have to', or something along those lines, when the machine Val was pulling the Enterprise down from orbit.

XL5 FOREVER!

A Reason for Rushing Home from School

[jaiken007 · 8 March 2001]

My school bus got me home exactly at 4:00 and rather than dawdle and get involved in the snowball or dirt clod fight, I would head straight for the T.V. Back in those days it took about 4 minutes for the set to warm up so the only way I could catch the opening was to stay home sick from school, which I tried as often as I could. I loved this show, as did my best friends and we would re-create the episodes the next day on the school bus. My brother and sister would make it to the basement in time for the closing theme and we would all sing along. Then it was time for my other favorite, "Jonny Quest". This was my favorite hour of the day. On a recent trip to London, a friend surprised me with a video tape of two episodes. As clunky and silly as the show was it brought back so many "warm fuzzies" that I still smile to think about Captain Steve and the rest of the crew.

One of the best

[jack-smales · 4 October 2003]

Fireball XL5 is one of my favourite Gerry Anderson shows.The theme tune is a great one as well.It took along time,but I managed to find a copy on ebay.They tend to be rather expensive as they are rare.I was very glad when we won it.It was well worth the wait.

In the library,the only copy they had had gone missing.I can`t remember when but I was dissapointed. It speaks the same for other little known Gerry Anderson shows.They had all gone missing in the library for years and there were not any copies anywhere.Thankfully,a lot of Gerry Anderson shows are now being released on DVD.That goes for Fireball XL5 to. It is being released on DVD the 20th October.

Yippee!

I have always loved science fiction, and I remember loving this show.

[manbird3 · 19 December 1999]

I was very young when I saw this show, but I still remember the special effects, especially the opening sequence of the rocket speeding down that track and the changes in the engine sounds just before it took off from the track into the air. The marionettes, especially the robot and his electronic voice. And I remember being very moved by a story involving a mermaid. The ending was sad. I would love to get this series on video. is it available?

Strangely addictive

[Rob_Taylor · 31 October 2003]

My partner bought the entire series recently on DVD and I'm now being subjected to it. At least, the first few episodes deserve the word "subjected", because, after several episodes, I'm finding it to be annoyingly compulsive viewing.

Sure, the effects are rubbish, the science is just plain silly (people can breath in space, for example, and have to "Swim" to get anywhere), the main HQ building rotates for no apparent purpose and the show is incredibly dated in terms of attitudes to the only female member of the crew and so on.

Yet, despite these failings, it still manages to fascinate me. I never saw the show when it originally aired (I wasn't even born!), and my only knowledge of it came from a couple of TV Century 21 annuals I had in early life. I suspect that, had I been a kid when it was shown, I would have loved it. Even now, as an adult, it has things to offer, even if they are only seeing how ludicrous some of the puppets are and what new foolishness the crew can come up with.

It's a little annoying to see the patronising attitude towards Venus who is relegated to housework (aboard the ship) and repeating the phrase "Steve, I'm scared" a lot.

Still, for its day it was ground-breaking stuff and, although it may not stand up to modern values (both in production and sexism terms) it still is fun to watch.

Ignore how cheap it all looks and just enjoy it.

Scary!

[c.sherlock · 6 May 2000]

A pox on Gerry and Sylvia Anderson for coming up with this one! Not that it was bad, but I found it terrifying! Surely I was not the only small child that it scared. Those cursed marionettes were so lifelike that I got the impression--childlike though it was--that they were people who had somehow been turned into marionettes. The thought that this could actually happen was frightening to me. To this day, I remain traumatized by my memories of this show. Hearing some of the .wav files from the show remind me of just why I found the whole thing so traumatic.

Catchy theme tune

[richardjohnmalin · 11 April 2002]

I'm not really old enough to remember this show properly, although there are elements in it which kind of strike a chord. Most probably it's the TALKING about it that I remember in the school playground when aged around 5. All the later Anderson shows were repeated in very early 70's, have watched them all. (From Stingray upwards.)

Anyway, it's been a kind of distant, foggy memory until last week. Friend loaned me a tape, watched it 3 times over. Not convinced it's a work of art, but it has that kind of really watchable quality that you just can't take off Mr. Anderson.

Anyway I liked it, and then went off to spend the next few days singing that annoyingly catchy theme song.

XL5 and the Sherlock to puppet episode

[Diamond_222 · 21 August 2006]

The fact that the person calls himself Sherlock and thinking he will turn into a puppet is a joke in it self. If you were too young to watch the show with out being scared you would turn into a puppet then that is your problem. I have read every comment in this post. Some expressed the same worm and fussy memories as my own and some just did not get it, and that is OK they don't have the memories of a great science fiction TV show made just for us kids. What I take exception with is YOU wish a pox on Mr. Anderson and his wife, you are one sick puppy. As for the show XL5 I remember the show very well and wish they would colorize it and put it back on the air or at least on DVD. For now I will just enjoy the B&W version, can't weight till I get the Supper Car set I just ordered. My best wishes to all the people involved with all the Garry Anderson supper animation shows. Thank you for all the great entrainment you given all of us over the years. Supper Car, Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and I am sure I am missing one or two but those are the ones I loved. Thanks again

Great music!

[rick_c · 9 November 2007]

I remember watching this show and I was surprised, when it came out, to see puppets! I would have not watched it except that I loved the theme song so much. I would actually leave it on just to hear this song. It was the first song that really turned me on to music. I don't think I ever felt that way about any music until The Beatles came out a year later. I don't know if I would still like the song as much, but I probably would. The show never really knocked me out, but the song has stayed in my memory to this day.

Because it had puppets portraying humans it seemed very primitive to me. I never could get past the primitive movement of these things. Maybe I was too old for the show and just left it on because of the song. I cannot say, but the song definitely had some real magic to it.

Supper Car!!!!!

[neil-472 · 22 June 2008]

Can you remember what the menu was on Supper Car? Were they just light snacks or did they serve full meals, with starters and desserts? Whatever they did I bet it was SUPER!!

And as for the weight that you couldn't have - exactly how heavy was it? Just a few pounds, or perhaps something much larger and more difficult to carry around. If you ask me it's far better not having it. That kind of burden would be incredibly difficult to carry round with you and if you had to carry it all the time it would be awful.

I can't WAIT to hear your reply.

By the way, I remember and loved all of the Gerry Anderson puppet shows. I agree that the colour shows were better, but that is mainly due to the advancement in the technical ability of the team making them. It was a shame that the movie version of Thunderbirds made a couple of years ago was so bad and so unlike the original puppet shows. A great opportunity was missed to tap in to the market of middle-aged men who loved it as kids.