Space 1999: Take A Light-Year Left Turn At Luton

First of all, apologies for deleting my original review, now, back to business. This 1976 episode owes obvious lots to a certain Star Trek Classic (also looking at you, Blake's 7: Duel!). Also of note, a certain Robert Banks Stewart, Doctor Who Classic from the same year.

On a food supply finding mission, Commander Keonig & Maya unwittingly commit "murder" by eating a few berries. As a result, they're put on trial by the vegetation of the planet Luton, & forced to face three alien combatants that too claimed ignorance.

What results is an arena to the death. Maya, the cliché," Spock", Psychon - alien of Season 2, gets to show off her shape-shifting ability's. As a Lion, a Dog, a Bird, you name it. As a result, she does all the dirty work, & despatches two of the aliens. I really love the fact that Maya & Keonig go out of their way NOT to kill fight/kill them, & try to reason with them. Equally fab, the leader expresses regret at having to kill them!

This apparently, is the first to feature location filming. I assume some rural-quarry, near Pinewood Studios(?) There was a genocide in which the poor animal life were wiped out in one, final showdown, battle.

The vegetation can cloak their planet, almost causing a collision for one of the Eagles (which band member? Okay, to quote Dr Solon on Dr Who-Brain of Morbius, "The pun was irresistible.", I'll get my space hemet.....).

As usual, the special-effects, both the spaceship, outer space in general, & the beautiful. soft, Prog-Rock like, incidental music (think Focus, Camel, etc.~), really add to the atmosphere of this show! I won't ruin it for those of you haven't seen this, but, this a definite watch on a beautiful, Saturday afternoon.

Mission possible.

Borgduck,