Space 1999: Breakaway

release year: 1975
genre: TV sci-fi
viewing setting: home DVD, 4/13/02

synopsis: In this pilot for the series, the crew of a moonbase must figure out why people are dying; the cause ends up triggering an explosion that knocks the moon out of Earth orbit and into deep space.

impressions: This was the other early space/sci-fi show besides Star Trek. It came from England and had pretty good production values. I liked the pilot just fine, though it didn't have aliens or black holes or anything spiffy like that; it was just an establishing episode more than anything else. I doubt that I'll review the entire series, though.

things to watch for: The end of this episode, when the big bang happens and the moon is knocked out of orbit and out of the solar system.

acting: Honestly, from watching just this one episode, the only characters who stuck in my mind at all were the commander (Martin Landau), the doctor (Barbara Bain), and the professor (Barry Morse.)

final word: Interesting, if only for nostalgia. I'll have to watch more episodes to know if I really like this series now that I'm not 7 years old.

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