Author Archives: Jack Knoll

The Most Special Office

Today’s post has to do with my recent house move and my opportunity to realise a dream I have had for a long time. Say hello to my new office.

Investigating The Investigator

One of the key purposes of a pilot episode is to answer questions that viewers (and financiers) may have about the format of the series. It can set up a few mysteries to engage the viewers for the rest of the series, but for the most part, a pilot  should intelligently impart exposition through an exciting and intriguing plot. The Investigator, Gerry Anderson’s 1973 return to mixing Supermarionation with live action, has baffled fans for years. It’s a bizarre concept filmed in an equally bizarre way. We previously reviewed the film in full and essentially concluded that it raises more questions than it answers.

A Terrahawks Christmas Carol

The Security Hazard team have been hard at work to bring you something special this Christmas. Have you ever thought that there might be a likeness between the classic literary figure of Ebenezer Scrooge, and evil alien android Zelda from Terrahawks? Well wonder no more as we bring you a specially written and performed Terrahawks Christmas special which puts a Terrahawks spin on the famous Dickens tale of A Christmas Carol.

Captain Scarlet – 50th Anniversary Sets From Big Finish!

Big Finish have been very busy making sure Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons gets the 50th anniversary celebration it deserves. There’s a lot of fantastic audio drama on offer, and we’ve been lucky enough to review the Captain Scarlet 50th Anniversary Box Set, and Spectrum File One.

Captain Scarlet – Attack On Cloudbase

Directed by Ken Turner Teleplay by Tony Barwick First Broadcast – 5th May 1968 There is one thing that Supermarionation series are notoriously bad at by today’s standards – ending. There isn’t a single final episode of a Supermarionation series that draws anything to a conclusion, or does anything to particularly stand out. In theContinue reading “Captain Scarlet – Attack On Cloudbase”

Captain Scarlet – Lunarville 7

Directed by Robert Lynn Teleplay by Tony Barwick First Broadcast – 15th December 1967 We’ve previously established that most Captain Scarlet episodes fall into one of two categories – either someone is going to be assassinated, or something is going to be destroyed. Well it’s time for me to eat those words because Lunarville 7 doesn’t conform toContinue reading “Captain Scarlet – Lunarville 7”

Captain Scarlet – White As Snow

Directed by Robert Lynn Teleplay by Peter Curran & David Williams First Broadcast – 3rd November 1967 In the transition between Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet there were some key personnel changes going on at Century 21. With cornerstone directors Alan Pattillo and David Elliott no longer at the studio, Desmond Saunders promoted to supervising director, and DavidContinue reading “Captain Scarlet – White As Snow”

Captain Scarlet – Big Ben Strikes Again

Directed by Brian Burgess Teleplay by Tony Barwick First Broadcast – 13th October 1967 There is one very limiting aspect of the Captain Scarlet format which must have had the writers banging their heads on the typewriter morning, noon, and night. The nature of the Mysteron threats basically gives you two types of plot – theContinue reading “Captain Scarlet – Big Ben Strikes Again”