Search - Space 1999, Set 8 on DVD

Confessions of a Year 2 Snob

James A. Cole | boston, ma United States | 07/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set shows why we love and prefer space 1999 season 2 to season 1. These are the best episodes equal with Star Trek the Next Generation and The X-files.
The Immunity Syndrome, The Lambda Factor and Dorzak stand heads and dandruff above year 1.
The Lambda Factor features ghosts, esp and "murder most foul". Martin Landau gives a performance that is very unnerving as he is confronted with a dark and terrifying secrete from his past,while a dangerouse psychopath takes over Alpha. The whole episode is creepy and unsettling.
The Seance Spectre features a Psychological exploration into matters of blind faith over reason. Maya turns into a tree in this episode! This alone makes this set worth buying, plus you get to see what she looks like as a little girl.
My personal favorate is Dorzak. Another Psychon arrives on Alpha while being transported to a penal colony.The conflict that arises is breathtaking in its scope and its execution. Dorzak is the most remarkable villian to EVER visit Alpha with the exception of Balor from season 1. Even at the end of this episode there is some doubt concerning Dorzak's actions on the alien world and wether he really is a villian.
The Immunity Syndrome is a visit to themes from season 1, the quest for a home. A planet that seems earthlike turns out to be hostile, very hostile. Great sets, acting and philosophy make this another great episode. The shot of the alien corpse side by side with its holographic image is a remarkable feat of visual film making style.
The Borg-I mean Dorcons, is another episode that puts Maya in the terrible position of being a burden to Alpha. Her presence threatens everyone on Alpha. The powerful Dorcons demand Maya or else!Resistance is futile! This episode is also note worthy because the Dorcon leader is played by Doctor Who!
The interviews are a blast from the past, and the special effects short is cool. The only thing missing is episode 49 Message From Alpha. Write A and E about this.
Long Live Moonbase Alpha!"

Error on box...

BLC | San Diego, CA United States | 08/09/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Upon careful inspection of the back of the box you'll notice that the box has an error - lists the episodes numbers contained as those for set #6. Too bad they ruined an otherwise flawless set with a typo at the tail end :( Maybe A&E will offer replacement covers???"

This set doesn't glisten, but there is still gold.

Robert Cossaboon | The happy land of Walworth, NY | 08/03/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Actually, this is more closer to three stars. With these final episodes, the second season (as well as the series overall) of Space 1999 concluded. It is a shame that the season didn't end on an exciting note, such as a cliffhanger, or a head-scratching, awe inspired episode such as the first season's Testament of Arkadia. No, what we get are dodgy storylines and some lackluster acting from a fine cast. These episodes are still worth watching just because they ARE Space 1999 and there are still some elements of greatness-you just have to sift through a lot of filler and bad TV moments to get there. The Lamda Factor is the heaviest of the episodes on this disc and one of the strongest of the second season. It shows what happens when you couple psychic ability with a bitter, jealous, young lady--the episode climax is about as intense as anything from the first season. The Seance Spectre is a puzzling follow-up. Where psychic powers were accidental in Lambda, here four people just up and decide to have a seance about trying to find a new planet-it's very dull and very anticlimatic. Dorzak is an average episode that is supposed to keep you guessing. It features one of the shows greatest strengths: very hypnotic and eye-catching set designs-at least as far as being inside alien spaceships go (see The Infernal Machine, Mission of the Darians, The Last Enemy). Devil's Planet seems to be straight out of the mind of Star Trek's Gene Roddenberry. A whole planet controled by women who have enslaved men. The women wear these quasi-dominatrix outfits with whacky helmets. File this under so bad, it's almost good. Almost. The Immunity Syndrome tries to be somewhat thoughtful. If you hunt down some of the Space: 1999 sites, you might be lucky enough to find an interview down with the writer, Johnny Byrne. He has lots of insightful comments for the episodes he penned. Apparently, The Immunity Syndrome was supposed to be a parellel to the virus/anti-body struggle. You can just guess who the virus is.... With the flashing light alien, in this episode, the shamelessness of the bad special effects and the dried up budget are both beginning to show. If this, indeed was such a high-budgeted series, where did all the money go?? Watch this episode (and many others) and try to follow the lost money. The final episode, The Dorcons, is the age-old fable about how power corrupts. It is completely unremarkable, but still watchable. Oh yeah, the inside of this ship is darker and more claustrophobic, which interestingly acts as a lens for our antogonist to go mad. These are the final episodes. The DVD set has included some interesting on set interviews and some commercials; the extras are definitely better that the DVD sets 1-4. Watch them and be grateful for the first season, but also grateful that the series lasted another year."

O' The Luck Of The Irish

russell | jamaica plain, ma United States | 06/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Irish poet Johnny Byrne writes the best science fiction. His stories for Space 1999 are the most enigmatic and influential. Who could have come up with the famouse phrase "Resistance is Futile" but Byrne. Star Trek the Next Generation would later base many of their ideas on Space 1999. Many consider The Next Generation to be the best science fiction tv show of all time , but it has to follow Space 1999. In set 8 we have the best of the entire series. The Lambda Factor, ghosts are haunting Alpha and ESP becomes a powerful weapon. Dorzak is about a Psychon visiting Alpha who might be a dangerouse psychotic. The Dorcons is another Maya episode. Dorcons arrive demanding Maya. Commander Koenig surrenders rather than let Alpha be destroyed. This would later happen in The Next Generation, and The Borg are based on the Dorcons. The rare vintage interviews with the cast and crew are classic and there are several tv spots."