Space: 1999 (TV Series) New Adam New Eve (1976) User Reviews

Further evidence that the show had "jumped the shark"

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 4 July 2010]

The expression "jumped the shark" refers to when a TV series, out of desperation, does something so atypical and so wrong to try (in vain) to rejuvenate the series. To fans, it marks the beginning of the end. The exact reference is when on "Happy Days", Fonzie jumped a tank full of sharks with his motorcycle--a very dumb and desperate gimmick to say the least.

As far as "Space: 1999" goes, it was obvious during season one that the series had problems. Despite a large budget and international syndication, the show had trouble attracting an audience. Some of this was due to the show's strange plots but much of it was the sterile and static nature of the show. In a completely misguided attempt to rejuvenate the show, the series decided that instead of making a few minor tweaks, it changed a lot--too much. It essentially jumped the shark by losing some of its stars (the big loss was Barry Morse), changing its music, adding a new character that could shape-shift into animals(!!!), bringing in "Star Trek" producer Fred Freiberger and 'jazzing up' the scripts. What this jazzing up entailed was actually much cheaper special effects (season one had been very good--two was just god-awful) and lots of silly monsters in latex suits! In addition, the show (with Freiberger) had one more ace up their sleeves--ripping off scripts from the original "Star Trek" series!! Sadly, they didn't even bother ripping off the good shows--mostly just the terrible ones.

In this episode, the script clearly is a rip-off of one of the very, very worst "Trek" shows, "Who Mourns for Adonis?". While there were of course a few small differences, it is practically impossible to see the two shows and not see the similarities--especially at the way it ends. Because the show is one giant rip-off, I can't give it a score any higher than 3.

The show's 'big four' (Commander Koenig, Dr. Russell, Mya and Tony) are brought to a new world by a guy claiming he's God. By the way, beware--this sort of plot totally sucks ("Star Trek V" is a great case in point) and you KNOW that ultimately the guy can't be God! In this case, a very, very technically advanced and god-like guy brings them to the planet to have them create a whole new population--sort of like having two Adams and two Eves! Despite his powers, Koenig and the rest are not about to worship this guy nor stay on the planet if they can help it. Been there, done that.

the seduction

[oopboys · 12 September 2011]

I like the concept of the Adam and Eve's..the God like magician it turn out to be..was okay..I was waiting for his fake mustache to fall any minute looked like the glue was coming off one side of it..and like Rules of Luton and The Seance Spector.. there were signs them seeing what if John and Maya got together..in Rules of Luton at one point you thought any minute they would kiss and if they did would they bring that guilt back to face their true loves I wanted to see if Helena and tony was jealous and hiding it from them always suspicious did something else happen.....in this episode John and Maya kiss was very hot and damn it was interrupted ....there was nothing between Helena and Tony not even a ember uneventful..but John and Maya..I could see them together..But John had chemistry with any woman he was with

The Menace Of Magus!

[ShadeGrenade · 2/10 · 16 March 2009]

Strange psychedelic patterns swirl across the Big Screen at Command Center. A tall, gentle-looking man with long hair and in robes materialises in front of Commander Koenig, and proclaims: "I am your creator!". Surely it can't be? To back up his claim, he does a few conjuring tricks ( not quite up to the standard of David Nixon but more impressive than those of Paul Daniels ).

Magus - for it is he - has prepared a new world - New Earth - for the Alphans to inhabit. Or four of them at least. Koenig is paired off with Maya ( lucky him ) while Tony gets Helena ( an appropriate match seeing how she is every bit as wooden ). Other strange creatures are around, the result of earlier failed experiments by Magus. To defeat him, Koenig must first find out the secret of his power...

If any episode summed up what was wrong with Year 2, it is this one. The plot is derivative of an old 'Star Trek' episode called 'Who Mourns For Adonais?' ( with a chunk of 'Requiem For Methuselah' - produced by Fred Freiburger incidentally - thrown in for good measure ).

As Leonard Nimoy pointed out in his book 'I am Spock', the trouble with a storyline like this is you immediately know the 'god' is going to turn out to be an impostor ( pity Bill Shatner did not know this before embarking on 'Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier' ). Magus is 'the last in a race of cosmic magicians' who just happens to share The Good Lord's taste in clothes. The role is played by the late Guy Rolfe, who was 'Mr.Sardonicus' for William Castle. Rolfe probably had a similar grin on his chops when he read Terence Feely's script. Feely also worked on 'The Avengers', 'The Prisoner' and 'U.F.O.' and it is sad to see him churning out drivel like this.

Magus' Achilles Heel - he hates the dark! What? A being who can transport himself through space without the aid of a ship, conjure up objects from nowhere, and project a giant version of himself ( with laser beams flashing from his eyes ) in the sky and yet cannot free himself from a hole in the ground? No wonder his race died out!

Most interesting aspect is Koenig getting off with Maya while Tony makes fish-eyes at Helena. This was a development they should have expanded in future episodes.

lack of originality and lack of tension

[marcgreenman · 3/10 · 23 July 2020]

I did not find any real scares or thrills within this story which was a shame; Terence Feely I think went on to write the excellent Bringers of Wonder, so clearly could manage to do much better. The omnipresent being idea has been done much better in Star Trek, Magus doesn't really do quite enough to earn his villain status and could have been a lot more threatening and unstoppable. A number of other episodes would feature better writing better villains and better guest actors.