Gerry Anderson's second live action TV series was like his first, UFO (1969-73), of the Sci-Fi variety and one which I recall catching episodes of during afternoon reruns on Italian TV in my childhood days; ironically enough, while I have since acquired similarly-set cult TV series of the era on DVD – like STAR TREK (1966-69), BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (1978-79) and BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY (1979-81) – I have yet to add SPACE: 1999 (1975-77) to the collection and my viewing of the episode under review, which features the late Christopher Lee, came via the ubiquitous "You Tube" channel. Although this particular episode was the handiwork of Ealing Studios veteran Crichton, the overall feel is a grim one that belies Anderson's earlier fantastical puppet productions.
The plot here revolves around the group of humans fleeing from a war- torn Earth under the leadership of Martin Landau and Barbara Bain – both already veterans of a previous TV phenomenon, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1966- 69) – coming across some alien pacifists headed by an albino-in-KISS- make-up (Lee); the necessary drama to keep one watching – apart from the moderately inventive production design – is created by one of Landau's team, scheming politician Roy Dotrice, who wants to join Lee's party and return home and, in his attempt to force himself on the latter, runs amok with a space gun and shoots several humans as a result. Previously, Bain had already put herself at risk while testing whether an earthling can withstand the alien's glass pods for the 75-year journey homeward but Lee's intervention saves the day. Similarly, it was him who ultimately gives Dotrice his chilling come-uppance at the end
a very cruel fate that is itself topped by the ironic reveal of the identity of the member of Landau's crew that the computer had decided should be earthbound.