tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post8384817256105422082..comments2024-03-28T14:49:36.133-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: From the Archives: Space: 1999 - "Voyager's Return" (1975)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-83749914549085826902013-11-09T04:33:11.969-05:002013-11-09T04:33:11.969-05:00A few thoughts about this episode during a second ...A few thoughts about this episode during a second go through the first series on DVD (with someone who has not seen it before !!!) ...<br /><br />Although there are certainly flaws in this episode, I have always enjoyed it, I think for the way that Queller tries to redeem himself. One man cannot be blamed for such a thing as the Queller drive. It took a team of people to put Voyager 1 and 2 together, and to blame one man like this is always rather "scapegoat-ish" in my eyes. It is more of a failing of humanity itself rather than just the failing of one man. I think it is reasonable enough to allow someone like Queller to redeem himself, even if it's for his own selfish reasons.<br /><br />However, Queller's acts in the episode are not just for his own selfish reasons. He tries to save Alpha from the histrionic justice of the Aarchons. To slaughter another race to revenge the destruction of two entire worlds is not the actions of an enlightened, evolved race. So in a way, Queller saves Alpha from injustice which they did not deserve.<br /><br />By the way, two things:<br /><br />(1) Queller - a cross between Teller, and Quatermass (?). Quatermass worked for the British rocket programme, Queller worked on the Queller propulsion system.<br /><br />(2) Does this episode have the highest death count in science fiction history?? Say 2 billion people per planet ... that makes at least 4 billion people dead in one episode??? (Actually there is the last adventure for Tom Baker's Doctor where maybe quite a few more people were killed off scene??)<br /><br />(3) Gerry Anderson productions always have a high death count. Look at his supermarionation series like Thunderbirds, or even worse, Captain Scarlet. Hundreds seem to die in each episode, if my memory serves me well. Blimey ...<br /><br />(4) Something I noticed in an earlier episode which is probably extremely obvious for those who notice these things straight away. Koenig has his meetings around a round table. Together with his closest colleagues. Has a reminiscent feel of King Arthur and his round table. Koenig being Arthur of course, Dr Russell, Guinevere, Professor Bergman, Merlin, Alan Carter, Lancelot etc etc etc ... Maybe I'll finally get this film/tv criticism thing by the time I'm ninety! ...<br /><br />Hope all is well at your end,<br /><br />Best wishes<br /><br />Harvey Price, Christchurch, New ZealandHPrice(hprice3@hotmail.com)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-60300890936481471402012-09-13T14:33:25.544-04:002012-09-13T14:33:25.544-04:00Every couple of years I consider giving SPACE: 199...Every couple of years I consider giving SPACE: 1999 another go, but my opinion of the show hasn't improved. I suppose I'm "less-imaginative," but this episode rang false in many ways.<br /><br />The analysis of Queller and his device was interesting but flawed (even allowing that the device itself never malfunctioned - its lethal side-effect was always inherent). Queller's device only had an impact (in this story) when used as a weapon instead of for propulsion. Even Queller the creator turned to the device's supposedly unwanted destructive capacity instead of its primary purpose to save the day. It never mattered if it could do what it was designed to do, especially considering the aliens were rushing to them.<br /><br />The history of the VOYAGER was hard to follow. VOY-1 apparently launched successfully. VOY-2 somehow malfunctioned and was a disaster. We then see that VOY-1 had been built to have a crew. I don't see how VOY-1 could have had a crew with the Queller drive activated, which wasn't considered a danger until VOY-2. Koenig says that the Queller drive made space travel possible - but there couldn't possibly be a living crew aboard. Or is the drive safe as long as you're behind it? THRUST>safe<DEATH<br /><br />The episode would have resonated much more if he had used it as he had envisioned in order to redeem himself, as well as having Paul Morrow have to work with Quellar instead of the random assistant. As it is Quellar simply justified everyone's mistrust of it/him. To compare the 'malfunctioning' Queller drive to a V-1 rocket or an H-Bomb underscores this flaw, but the show is written to demonstrate it as a weapon first. <br /><br />A couple other points: <br /><br />At one point you say that the "denizens of Moonbase Alpha...don't possess an endless supply of resources." One of the greatest jokes about the series is just that - they never run out of anything.<br /><br />There is a lot of comparison between the Alphans as "20th Century people" as opposed to "perfect future men." I don't believe the Alphans represented 'us' as well as STAR TREK did. I see more humanity in a simple country doctor than in Helena Russell. Somehow the idea is that the TREK characters, by being trained for their positions are not as interesting as the Alphans, who weren't. I think humanity strives to be the best it can, as well as surviving in difficult situations. The problem with 1999 isn't the attitudes of the characters, but the situation we're supposed to accept them in.<br /><br />I have enjoyed your work on other shows (and comments on the Outer Limits a Day Blog), but I guess I'm not the audience for this show after all.<br /><br />-FrankAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-88067744316991248292011-09-13T20:41:14.039-04:002011-09-13T20:41:14.039-04:00Hi Meredith,
"Voyager's Return" is ...Hi Meredith,<br /><br />"Voyager's Return" is a good, solid episode, and very watchable indeed. I agree with you completely about Jeremy Kemp's performance. I've always liked him in the role, and he gives the ending a real "lift" because he plays such a human character.<br /><br />Thank you for the comment!<br /><br />best,<br />JohnJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-86238616218356708022011-09-13T15:49:18.258-04:002011-09-13T15:49:18.258-04:00Very insightful review . I agree, not one of my f...Very insightful review . I agree, not one of my favorite episodes, but always a very watchable one. Jeremy Kemp does a wonderful, understated job as Queller, which for me makes it all the more 'real' when he makes the ultimate sacrifice. <br /><br />~~MeredithAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com