ORBzine - UFO TV Review
1st Series 1970
Ed Bishop, also known as Klaus Hergeshimer in Diamonds are Forever , returns as Commander Straker, head of an MJ-12 type organisation set up to defeat a secret alien invasion.
The retro-futuristic look comes from the fact that this was made circa 1970 but is set in 1980.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 1]
Identified
Shown 16 Sep 70
Shown 30th May 2006 [Tuesday]
Flying saucers attack England, machine-gunning bystanders in a forest and bombing a Government limo. One survivor is Commander Ed Straker, in green dress-uniform.
In 1980, Straker controls SHADO - a secret Alien Defence Organisation. It has lots of hi-tech gear [moonbase, flying subs, a cargo-carrying Concorde] and beautiful women in miniskirts or skin-tight cat-suits.
Straker's sidekick, Colonel Alec Freeman, is in charge of security for some hi-tech gear. However, the UFOs try to intercept it.
This is quite an action-packed ep. However, the ending sets the disturbing undertone to the entire series.
U.F.O. [Season 1, Episode 2]
Exposed
Shown 23 Sep 70
Shown 12th November 2005 - Saturday
Near-future Earth ... well, an early 1970s version of the Near Future. A British test-pilot is witness to a UFO incident. He wakes up from his coma, discovering himself blamed for the crash [and subsequent death of the co-pilot].
With the help of Jean Marsh he uncovers a shadowy cover-up of the alien invaders. The leader of the MIBs seems to be Mr Straker [Ed Bishop - Diamonds Are Forever .
UFO [Season 1, Episode 3]
The Cat With Ten Lives
Shown 30 Sep 70
Shown 13th June 2006 [Tuesday]
A married couple visit their friends' house, and have a seance. But on the way home they save a strange cat -and are abducted by aliens!
The SHADO doc discovers that the aliens are actually abducted humans, medically altered to breathe fluid so they can withstand interstellar travel. But he doesn't realise that the aliens could also modify other mammals ... like cats!
U.F.O. [Season 1, Episode 4]
Conflict
Shown 7 Oct 70
Shown 26th November 2005 - Saturday
Space junk, the debris floating in near-Earth orbit, is causing problems for SHADO. Commander Straker is afraid the Aliens are using it.
The problem is, a bureaucrat refuses to help, claiming the budget is too restrictive. Moonbase staff must compile a report on the dangers.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 5]
A Question of Priorities
Shown 14 Oct 70
Shown 3rd Dec 2005 [Saturday]
Straker's son is injured in car crash. Only an emergency flight of drugs from the USA can save him.
The aliens attack, and one of them lands off the west coast of Ireland. The only flight handy is the one with the drugs aboard ...
U.F.O. [Season 1, Episode 6]
ESP
Shown 21 Oct 70
Shown 10th December 2005 - Saturday
The Aliens send another saucer to Earth. This one is on manual control, and actually lands.
Paul Foster commands the ground team that intervenes. He winds up in hospital, and suspects that someone is following him. Is he merely paranoid, or is he developing a psychic sense?
A middle-aged Englishman has developed mind-reading powers, and is stalking the leaders of SHADO with the intent of assassinating them. The most unbelievable bit? He's got hold of a handgun, and knows how to use it!
U.F.O. [Season 1, Episode 7]
Kill Straker!
Shown 4 Nov 70
Shown 17th December 2005 - Saturday
An Alien encounter puts one of the moonbase ships in peril. Straker has to make a difficult decision.
Luckily the 2 pilots survive. However, they become antagonistic towards Straker. This escalates to a homicidal level!
This show isn't about the aliens, despite the title. It's really a character-driven drama about Straker himself. He is humanity's only line of defence. And that burden weighs heavy upon him.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 8]
Sub-Smash
Shown 11 Nov 70
Shown 10th July 1999 [Saturday]
Shown 31st December 2005 [Saturday]
The Aliens have invented a flying sub, and are using it to abduct sailors and destroy oil tankers. Straker and Freeman join the crew of the SHADO sub, to help hunt it down.
Unfortunately, the sub gets crippled and sinks to the sea-bottom. With Straker and the others inside. Straker, a known claustrophobic, has to control both himself and his crew. The tension is ratcheted up, notch by notch. Straker and Freeman, being main characters, will probably survive. But the crew of redshirts are a different matter ...
This week Straker is aboard his organisation's submarine when it is crippled by an alien vessel and left on the sea bed with the air slowly running out ...
Straker is an incredibly complex character, an obsessive workaholic haunted by the death of his son, and Bishop handles the part perfectly.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 9]
Destruction
Shown 2 Dec 70
Shown 7th January 2006 [Saturday]
A RN warship shoots down a UFO in the Atlantic. Unfortunately, the MOD photos somehow reach the Press.
It turns out the MOD was dumping barrels of nerve gas into an Atlantic-floor trench. And the Aliens have discovered this, because Stephanie Beecham was their brainwashed spy in the Admiralty.
The final battle between a UFO and the RN destroyer illustrates the importance of using specialist firepower to fight the alien menace. Nice use of stock footage, too.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 10]
The Square Triangle
Shown 9 Dec 70
Shown 14th January 2006 [Saturday]
A UFO lands in England. Straker sends a ground-patrol out to intercept the pilot.
Adrienne Cori is plotting to murder her husband.
The climax gives Straker an uncomfortable choice. But he doesn't balk at doing what is necessary.
The end scene, wordlessly passing as the credits roll, is quite chilling.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 11]
Close Up
Shown 16 Dec 70
Shown 21st January 2006 [Saturday]
SHADO tests an unmanned spaceship which has a spy-cam that can do close-ups from 500 miles. The aim? To follow a UFO to its homeworld, and see what the Alien world looks like!
Unfortunately, the threat of sabotage exists.
The ending is quite ironic. A bit of a downer, perhaps, but this is a drama rather than action-adventure.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 12]
The Psychobombs
Shown 30 Dec 70
Shown 28th January 2006 [Saturday]
Two men and a woman get supernatural powers. Like The Champions , but eeevil. They are controlled by the Aliens, who have full knowledge of SHADO's security.
A UFO sends psychic signals to the trio, and they drop what they are doing [like in Telefon] to attack pre-determined Installations. Straker and SHADO have been told what the targets are, as in Captain Scarlett . Or even Theatre of Blood, Dr Phibes , etc.
One of the anti-Champs is Mike Pratt [star of Randall and Hopkirk , Deceased , who also played a villainous type on a submarine in the actual Champions show]. Another is a beautiful woman, who the Colonel falls in love with in about 5 minutes!
UFO [Season 1, Episode 13]
Survival
Shown 6 Jan 71
Shown 4th February 2006 [Saturday]
The Aliens land a sniper on the Moon. He takes a shot at Moonbase, causing explosive decompression and the death of one of the pilots.
Straker goes to Moonbase to oversee the proceedings. Foster leads a mission to capture the UFO on the moon's surface. It puts up a fight - yes, with sound effects in vacuum - and Foster is left missing-believed-dead.
Mark, the token black guy, is made Foster's replacement. However, he is paranoid about racial prejudice. Hey, this was made in 1970, after all!
Foster himself is kept alive by the alien. You know, like in Enemy Mine .
UFO [Season 1, Episode 14]
Mindbender
Shown 13 Jan 71
Shown 11th February 2006 [Saturday]
A UFO flies close to Moonbase, but mysteriously explodes before it can be shot down. Straker sends out a unit to investigate.
SHADO personnel start to hallucinate. One fellow thinks he's surrounded by Mexican banditos, and tries to shoot his way out!
Straker discovers that he is just an actor on the set of a TV show. An actor pretending to be a man pretending to be a TV Producer! Stuart Damon [ The Champions ] pops up as an actor who complains that the scripts he gets are hackneyed and predictable. Not something that can be said of this episode!
UFO [Season 1, Episode 15]
Flight Path
Shown 20 Jan 71
Shown 18th February 2006 [Saturday]
The aliens have used mind-control to subvert humans and use them as spies. This time they pressurise George Cole [Minder] by harrassing his wife.
The aliens' plan is to attack Moonbase. Luckily, SHADO has shoulder-fired rocket-launchers capable of taking down a UFO!
UFO [Season 1, Episode 16]
The Man Who Came Back
Shown 3 Feb 71
Shown 25th February 2006 [Saturday]
A SHADO astronaut goes MIA after a UFO encounter, and is written off after 48 hours MIA. However, he emerges alive from the jungle.
Straker assigns an officer to keep an eye on the MIA man. Firstly, the Aliens' attacks usually involve mind-f*cking with SHADO personnel. Secondly, the happy smiling MIA fellow once played Number 2 in The Prisoner . Can he be trusted?
UFO [Season 1, Episode 17]
The Dalotek Affair
Shown 10 Feb 71
Shown 4th March 2006 [Saturday]
A private corporation, Dalotek, sets up an experiment station near Moonbase. Not only does Straker complain about secrecy and the drain on resources, but there's the risk of electronic interference.
The UFOs fly near moonbase, but secrecy is maintained. A strange meteor lands nearby ...
Colonel Foster flirts with the female geologist. But their relationship is put under strain when Moonbase suffers from electronic interference, and the Dalotek station seems to be responsible.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 18]
Timelash
Shown 17 Feb 71
Shown 11th March 2006 [Saturday]
The ep starts in the bunker room, where Straker goes crazy and smashes up the machines. However, it turns out that Straker could not have gotten into the Bunker ...
Straker tells the story in flashback. His car was zapped by a UFO, and he found himself trapped in a moment of time. Not unlike the Stephen King TV movie made almost 30 years later, The Langoliers .
The story involves a traitor, corrupted by the Aliens. This has been used before, but works well here. Very off-the-wall, somewhat reminiscent of The Prisoner .
The Special effects, however, are what really make this ep work. The UFOs look like what they are - dated 1970s models - but the effects that simulate a frozen moment are what really impress the viewer.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 19]
Ordeal
Shown 14 Apr 71
Shown 18th March 2006 [Saturday]
Colonel Foster goes to a health clinic - like James Bond in Thunderball . Although Bond never had flashbacks to terribly dated music and dancing, like something from Austin Powers!
Aliens attack, and capture Foster. Worse, they experiment on him - a weird reverse of the operation the German doc performed on Alien prisoners. They turn him into one of them!
Straker doesn't hesitate to order the necessary steps. He's a tough man when necessary, and as he points out it would be kinder to kill Foster than let him be tortured to death.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 20]
Court Martial
Shown 1 May 71
Shown 25th March 2006 [Saturday]
Colonel Foster is on trial for espionage. Straker tries to find out what actually happened. The creepy Herr Doktor type is the Prosecutor - yes, he's a lawyer as well as a scientist!
We get to learn a lot more about the workings of SHADO. Also, we get a nice reminder that there's a
UFO [Season 1, Episode 21]
Computer Affair
Shown 15 May 71
Shown 1st April 2006 [Saturday]
A moonbase flight runs foul of the UFOs. An astronaut is killed, and a UFO gets through to Earth. Alec tracks the UFO to Canada, while Straker conducts an internal investigation.
The black pilot, Mark, is having an inter-racial affair with the ground-control officer, Lieutenant Ellis. Heady stuff, considering the time this show was actually made.
The UFO is located in Canada. Mark is sent to attack it. Unfortunately nobody has any woodland camouflage - the Shado men have blue spacesuits, the aliens have Red ones.
When Aliens are surgically converted to breathe Earth atmosphere, they look identical to humans. Unfortunately for Straker, they don't seem to speak English!
UFO [Season 1, Episode 22]
Confetti Check A-O.K.
Shown 10 Jul 71
Shown 8th April 2006 [Saturday]
UFO [Season 1, Episode 23]
The Sound of Silence
Shown 17 Jul 71
Shown 22nd April 2006 [Saturday]
A UFO gets past the space patrol, and lands in rural England.
The horse-riding landowners have trouble with a homeless Gyppo type who camps on their land. No Victorian stereotypes here. Move along!
1-24 24 Jul 71 Reflections in the Water
UFO [Season 1, Episode 25]
The Responsibility Seat
Shown 8 Mar 73
Shown 6th May 2006 [Saturday]
Straker is interviewed by a female journalist. However, she's deceptive ... and thanks to a minor security lapse, she gets a clue to SHADO's existence.
While Straker tracks the woman down, Alec Freeman is given The Responsibility Seat. A strange radar signal is detected ... something is driving along the moon's surface, directly towards the tiny target of moonbase.
Freeman gets a glimpse of the extreme stress that Straker handles every day. And Straker gets a taste of a normal life.
Unfortunately, Straker [a divorcee] is prone to blackmail if he sleeps with a woman.
UFO [Season 1, Episode 26]
The Long Sleep
Shown 15 Mar 73
Shown 27th May 2006 [Saturday]
A couple of hippies are witness to a UFO landing.
As always, Straker must make a difficult decision.
The ending, tinged with bleakness, epitomises the entire series.
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