Space: 1999 (TV Series) End of Eternity (1975) User Reviews

Never trust guys dressed head to toe in black...

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 29 April 2010]

This episode begins with the humans landing on a nearby asteroid. Oddly, there seems to be a pocket within that has a breathable atmosphere and the Commander orders his men to blast a hole into it. Oddly, the space turns out to only be the size of a small room and the explosion seems to char the guy waiting inside. While the guy is nearly dead and even pronounced dead after he's taken back to Moonbase, he suddenly comes to life and his body is rapidly rebuilding itself.

When the guy awakens with no apparent injuries, the security guards attack the guy! He fights back but doesn't kill anyone--and when he meets Koenig he announces that his name is Balor and he only wants to be everyone's BFF. He also says there are no hard feelings for blowing him up and wants to stay on the base to live. According to Balor, he was imprisoned wrongly within and never died because he'd discovered the secret of immortality! As he seems like such a swell guy, the crew mostly seem to want him to stay. But Koenig, always the cautious one, isn't so sure. Maybe he just doesn't trust guys who are all dressed in black.

Eventually, however, Balor turns out to be a total jerk and the station is in serious jeopardy. This isn't too surprising--as this would explain his imprisonment--plus the show would have been pretty dull had he been a swell guy. But HOW he behaves like a jerk and his reaction on the crew (and vice-versa) make this an interesting episode. Plus, I kind of like Balor's style--very reminiscent of General Zod from "Superman II"--a guy in black who was also imprison and cast into space for atrocities. Perhaps if Koenig and the crew had seen this film they might not have disturbed Balor's slumber!

Good 1999, with typical 1999 flaws

[bgaiv · 7/10 · 4 August 2020]

Balor is a great character, very well played by the guest actor. The music only scenes when Balor escapes and fights the Alphans too ominous music is creepy and neat. It helps play up his alien-ness.

Koenig's ultimate victory comes when he strikes Balor, who is promptly outraged. This rings very true.

The pilot attacking Koenig with the model airplane is very effectively terrifying.

The typical 1999 flaws:

Why only about 300 people on Alpha? Less than the original USS Enterprise? The pilot losing his flight privileges isn't very convincing with this number of people. I think he would get to fly again, considering the attrition rates of Eagles/pilots on Alpha. Alpha should have 3,000 or 30,000 people.

This asteroid is conveniently in range just for enough time to have a mission.

They land on this rock for some reason and decided they should set of charges... why??

They blast Balor out the airlock into space... um, what? Shouldn't that be out onto the moon? Were they just being cheap here, or did they think we just forgot where they are?

OK

[Rrrobert · 6/10 · 29 April 2019]

This episode reuses a couple of key elements seen in earlier installments. The Alphans need to destroy a large asteroid that is getting perilously close (like 'Collision Course'). Exploring it, they accidentally injure Eagle pilot Baxter (James Smillie) - and the asteroid's sole inhabitant. They bring this alien (Peter Bowles) back to base for medical treatment where he quickly heals and escapes. Turns out he is a super strong giant with great healing abilities. He is also immortal, a secret discovered by his society though it later caused problems ('Death's Other Dominion'). With his super strong powers he is soon stalking the base wreaking havoc and violently trying to take over ('Force of Life').

The alien's costume which includes huge platform boots and extreme flared sleeves and trousers is great. The climax is suspenseful and effective.

A well done subplot explores Baxter's frustration at being grounded due to his injury.

John and Balor

[oopboys · 12 September 2011]

I really enjoyed the episode..even though Years later old cut pictures show what John really looked like after the the horrific attack by Baxter to John's Face ..the pictures show a bloody gory scene with John face covered with blood and blood splatter everywhere projected from John's wounds every time Baxter hit John in the face with such impactfrom the plane and soon 30 years later there is a uncensured cut scene which was more tame,then the later still pictures would indicate how violent and gory the scene really was if they kept that scene in the episode... the cut version has Balor opening the door he comes in looked at his handy work Baxter latest work Baxter then goes to see what happened to John in the original Balor just walked over and you just see John's bloody hand, The cut scene that you can now see on the web does show John on the floor with Blood pouring out of him onto the floor around his head ..due to such graphic content it was cut from the original scene ..I was wondering why a lot in this episode John Koenig kept saying to Balor he had to kill him to get alpha, but Balor wouldn't... I alway thought was John immortal when Balor regenerated his injuries after the Baxter attack ..a book has been out since the episode.. Balor returns for revenge on Koenig and no John was not immortal ,but was made one by Balor...anyway I always think that Balor had special plans for Koenig and this episode should been a part 2 to explore more deeply Balor obsession of John

One of best episode of the series

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 5 April 2017]

Space 1999 is an enjoyable series, although some unbelievable situation is hard to stand, nevertheless in this episode is quite good about an immortal man who was taking away from his planet inside of an asteroid, this story is weird as well, but the plot is very clever, Balor the immortal alien shows his face when he try takes Alpha's control, very interesting premise!!

Excellent episode, great guest acting by Peter Bowles

[briansgate · 9/10 · 6 October 2014]

Spoiler alert! Some plot points revealed, but not any major one's and not the resolution. Excellent episode. A play on the story of the Archangel Lucifer, branded Satan (literally "the Adversary") being cast into a pit for rebellion. John Koenig and his team release this version of the Devil from his pit, and predictably, all hell breaks loose on Moonbase Alpha. Atmospheric and moody, this episode places John Koenig and the Alphans in the dilemma of either accepting the path chosen by this immortal being, or fighting him without any known way of killing him. The episode builds slowly, but is infused with a wonderful fight scene without sound (except for excellent music) which adds to the unusual feel. The fight scene seems to be more from the alien Balor's POV as we see strangers accosting him, making him seem almost sympathetic when he pleads for a stop to the attack on him. Slowly but surely they realize that he is dangerously insane and bent on ruling through terror and that he enjoys the giving of pain, which is what he believes brings meaning to life. Koenig finally comes up with a plan to defeat him, but it's a dangerous plan that may get him killed.

Lew Grade unstrikes again

[whatch-17931 · 6/10 · 2 December 2020]

It's really quite tragic. ITC strikes again. This show is so infuriating. Ok, we can (with effort) buy that somehow the moon travels interstellar distances, yet manages to hang out in the vicinity of the asteroid or whatever for the adventure of the week. Ok, difficult, but ok.

But this show insists on slapping you in the face.

This eternal creature is certainly very fascinating, and very well played. And Baxter's attack on Koenig is a marvelous scene.

But in the slap into the face of 98% of the audience is when they defeat Balor by opening the airlock and blasting him into space. That's fine and all, except, THIS ISN'T A SPACESHIP, THEY ARE ON THE MOON, ugh. Clearly this production believes their audience is intelligent, understanding, and DUMB AS THE DOORSTEP IN THEIR OFFICE.

To kill the unkillable

[ShadeGrenade · 10/10 · 25 October 2010]

One of the marvellous things about 'Space;1999' in its first season was the horror element; even now, years later, certain scenes give me a frisson as I think about them - the grotesque mutants tormenting Koenig in 'Missing Link', the death of 'Dr.Rowland' ( Brian Blessed ) in 'Death's Other Dominion', and, most nightmarish of all, the monster that wiped out the Ultra Probe crew in 'Dragon's Domain'. It annoyed me when incoming producer Fred Freiberger threw out the horror in favour of pulp sci-fi in Year 2.

'End Of Eternity' is a fondly remembered Johnny Byrne story from Year 1. The Alphans discover an asteroid drifting through space. It is hollow and contains horrific paintings depicting torture and pain. Their artist - Belor ( Peter Bowles ) - is also there. He claims to have been exiled from his home planet of Progon because of of his political views. Koenig becomes suspicious. Belor's race developed immortality, and then stagnated as they no longer had anything left to live for. Belor suggested torture and terror as an alternative. So the Alphans must deal with a being possessed of incredible strength ( he battles a squad of security guards in one memorable scene by throwing them around like rag dolls ) and who cannot be killed...

Peter Bowles is known primarily for comedy roles, yet there is nothing 'bounder'-like about 'Belor'. He is evil incarnate. Clad in a black outfit with huge sleeves ( thankfully lacking that moustache ), he looks awesome. He delivers his lines in a silky smooth manner that would have done credit to the late George Sanders. Not surprisingly, when Powys Media came to publish its first 'Space:1999' original novel - 'Resurrection' by William Latham - they brought the character back. The author later expanded the story into 'Eternity Unbound', containing new material explaining Belor's past.

The scene everyone remembers is when Belor affects the mind of an Eagle pilot called Baxter ( James Smillie ) so that he tries to kill Koenig by repeatedly smashing him in the face with a model plane. Even though no blood is on screen, it remains a disturbing image.

Had this been a Year 2 story, the problem of 'what to do with Belor' could have been solved by the intervention of the lovely Maya ( Catherine Schell ). Here the Alphans must look for an alternative solution. The one they come up with is both exciting and credible.

creepy but a bit too much of blah blah

[trashgang · 6/10 · 26 August 2014]

An asteroid drifting in space concerns the Alphans. Alan goes out to destroy the asteroid but first they want to see what is on the asteroid, by doing so things go wrong and an explosion happens. What they discover is that a body is hidden in the asteroid. They do take the severely body to the moonbase but what they don't know is that the body is immortal and once he resurrects there are troubles for Koenig and his crew.

The creepy part on this episode lays in the way it was edited towards sound. When Balor (the immortal one) is fighting the sound is turned of and instead you hear a creepy sound. That gives it a special feeling because you see people getting in trouble and screaming but you can't hear it.

Also watch closely when on person is being picked up by Balor above his head, look close for the wire.

Even as it all has a creepy atmosphere still this wasn't my favorite episode because it do has a lot of blah blah.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 2/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5