Space: 1999 (TV Series) Guardian of Piri (1975) User Reviews

Quite good

[Rrrobert · 6/10 · 25 March 2019]

This one trots out many familiar elements of the series. They stumble upon yet another mysterious planet. It will support human life but it doesn't have a civilisation left living on it: they are all dead and only a mystical, deceptive force remains. (Ring Around the Moon and Missing Link, which I saw first by watching in DVD order, have some of these same elements.)

This is however quite entertaining and there is quite a bit of action. It was great seeing the normally strait-laced Alphans loved-up and giggly. The planet has a really interesting design. Catherine Schell is a great guest star and Gareth Hunt has a brief bit as an Eagle pilot.

The drugs and commune episode

[gmaileatsyourlunch · 7/10 · 17 January 2021]

The crew send a team to investigate a planet that the computer failed to scan properly. Soon they're flying wildly but seem oblivious of the danger and then communication is lost. It turns out they've been seduced by "The Guardian". Exactly what the Guardian is isn't really explained, but suffice to say it's a metaphorical representation for the seductive power of free love, cults and drugs. The Guardian keeps its victims frozen in time, symbolizing how peoples' lives go "on hold" when seduced by these vices. Even the alien "trees" on the planet are shaped like giant poppy plants. The Guardian's representative is a gorgeous, sexy woman who upon first meeting the captain, kisses him sensually. The crew who fall under the Guardian's spell are basically turned into drooling vegetables.

Only the captain resists the Guardian's spell and must single-handedly save the rest of the crew. To avoid spoilers, I'll leave it at that.

The moral seems to be that pain. suffering and death, while undesirable, are an inevitable part of what it means to be human, and that people must learn to live, cope and exceed it, not run from it, as drugs and cults promise. The storyline is likely a reaction to the free love, cult and commune movements of the 50s - 70s.

Like two old "Star Trek" shows crammed together!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 29 April 2010]

This is a generally interesting episode that is a lot like two of the original "Star Trek" episodes merged into one--"Return of the Archons" and "This Side of Paradise".

The Moon is nearing yet another planet (which, by the way, is amazing--each week they stumble on a planet amidst the vastness of space). However, this one is pretty weird. Aside from being covered with floaty balls, it possesses an intelligence--an intelligence that wants to give the humans complete bliss. The problem is, it's all artificial. The computer that runs everything (like in "Archons") makes everyone rather brain-dead and zombiefied (like in "Paradise"). And, just like in "Paradise", the boss-man (Koenig) is somehow immune to all this and must fight alone to free his people from its grip.

While very derivative, the show certainly was interesting from start to finish. Also, don't tell my lovely wife this, but given that the lady who represents the computer controlling everything is super-mega-foxy-hot, I could see why the humans listened to her. Perhaps Koenig's immunity might indicate he is gay or at least she's not his type.

Episode Summary and plot.

[rslegion · 27 April 2006]

The crew of moon base alpha come across a planet but when they try and get the computer to give them a full report on the planet the data is conflicted, they land on planet PIRI and discover that it is controlled by a computer system that has taken control of the computer systems on Moonbase Alpha and has the ability to freeze time and give the crew of Alpha total bliss and happiness, but this will mean evacuating the base and lead to the crews eventual death, the only member who is unaffected is Cmdr. John Koenig (Martin Landau) who figures out that it is pain that breaks the hold that the PIRI guardian has on his people and he with the help of Dr. Helena Russell (Barbara Bain) is able to destroy the guardian and return his people to Moonbase Alpha. In this story Catherine Schell plays Servant of the Guardian she will become a series regular called MAYA in series 2 of Space 1999.

Fantastic

[antoniodemaddalena · 10/10 · 17 December 2021]

!MEDIUM SPOILERS AHEAD!

The planet is incredibly magical, strange and beautiful looking and the actors are perfect. The story is also very nice.

The main characters are: Commander John Koenig, Doctor Helen Russel, Alan Carter, The Guardian's Secretary Servant and of course The Guardian.

The story is about Moonbase Alpha finding an almost enchanted environment ruled by a great machine, the Guardian on the Planet Piri.

Well done to all of you for creating such an amazing episode.