This is the big one. Not just the finale of The Secret Service but the end of an amazing decade for the crew of Century 21 Films in Slough perfecting the techniques of Supermarionation filmmaking. Once this episode was in the can, the puppet stages on Stirling Road closed for good on January 24th 1969 … until Thunderbirds returned to the trading estate in 2015 for the production of three episodes to celebrate its 50th anniversary, but that’s another story.
Monthly Archives: September 2023
The Secret Service – 12. May-Day, May-Day!
There’s a quite a bit to like about May-Day, May-Day!, and yet this is always the episode of The Secret Service I have the hardest time remembering anything about. That could be because it’s sandwiched between what are arguably two of the series’ standout episodes, School For Spies and More Haste, Less Speed. Or, it could be because the story is quite a run-of-the-mill assassination plot. Or, it could be that I’m getting forgetful in my old age.
The Secret Service – 11. School For Spies
On paper, School For Spies is an episode with no downsides. Father Unwin is up against a gang of crooks who also happen to be using the priesthood as their cover for sabotaging military equipment. One man of the cloth fighting many. It’s an intriguing dynamic. A version of BISHOP that works for the forces of evil. What could be juicier than that?! The head honcho is known as the Archdeacon for goodness sake! Talk about drama. So why was I left with a slight feeling of disappointment when the credits rolled on School For Spies? More precisely, why did I finish the episode feeling like I didn’t quite get it?
The Secret Service – 10. The Cure
When I was a youngster at the age of about 10, and I saw The Secret Service for the first time, The Cure was my favourite episode. I couldn’t get enough of it. I thought it was the funniest thing since sliced carrots.
Security Hazard 