Scarlet and the sun

by **Shades** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:33 am

According to canon, at least part of Scarlet's energy reserves come directly from the sun. What do you think this might be and do you think that he might be able to get some of that from normal lighting or those special lights purported to give off the same sorts of radiation and wavelengths as natual sunlight?

by **Marion** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:05 am

It is a very interesting theory, Shades, but I am not sure it is 'canon' - in the strict sense of the word anyway.
At this point, it might be worth considering what is 'canon' as there are several degrees.
Strict canon is the primary source - the TV show.
Closely allied to that are the publications - the TV21 comics, the 2 CS annuals (from 1967 & 1968 ) and the subsequent annuals that included CS with other Anderson shows. The novels by John Theydon come into this category too.
All of these were produced in the years around the broadcast of the show, but unfortunately, they do not always agree with each other and it is common practise by fans to cherry-pick 'facts' that fit together most sensibly.
The biographies of the main characters on the website are attempts to weave a coherant 'backstory' using these sources.
http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/page3.html
Later ideas and speculations - some informed, some more akin to 'fanon' (made up by fans themselves) - also proliferate, but these are 'optional' - if you like. No one has to believe them.

The first place I'm aware of encountering the solar energy idea, is in Chris Drake's and Graeme Bassett's book, 'Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons', where they refer to Scarlet as 'a walking solar battery constantly recharging himself from the sun's rays'.
Now, I'd be the first to admit that I'm not familiar with every source - I don't have the TV21 comics, for example, nor total recall of every scene of the episodes

- so the idea may have originated from somewhere other then the Drake & Bassett book. I'm sure someone will tell me if that's the case. :grin:

As for the idea itself, I think it is a good one. We see Scarlet wandering about at night in several episodes, and eating too, and there is a general perception that retrometabolism uses a great deal of energy, so he has to 'refuel' after every recovery.
Unfortunately, we're not told anything about what 'retrometabolism' is or how it works, so any idea is as valid as any other really. At least we can say that if Scarlet does need sunlight to boost his energy levels, Cloudbase is the best place for him to be

by **hazel** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:43 pm

I remember that comment about Scarlet being a walking solar battery, too, and recall wondering at the time where on earth they'd got that idea from. I do have most of the TV21s in which Scarlet was featured, and have read them all several times - I don't recall any mention of him getting anything from the sun (apart from perhaps a very temporary tan...)

by **DartBrat701** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:36 pm

I think the "Walking Solar Battery" part was just for comparison purposes, meaning that Scarlet's "energy resources" were akin to a solar battery.

Most likely, his body is able to store/reserve enough energy to heal wounds and such.

Another question comes to mind, what other type of power source did the Mysterons use to power their complex?

(Despite the presence of solar panels, they would only provide a percentage of the energy requirements they need....as the sun is not as intense on Mars, as it is on Earth).

by **Marion** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:52 pm

Perhaps the increase in the strength of the sun's rays on earth - as opposed to Mars - accounts for why Scarlet might be able to use them as a source of a significent amount of energy?
As to power sources other than the sun, the speculation is - from the TV show - that the Crystal Pulsator Spectrum retrieved from the Moon has something to do with it.
I don't have a clue how or why the pulsator might power anything, let alone an entire complex, so this is where I fall back on the escape clause - the Mysterons have powers we cannot hope to understand... :wink:

by **Intensity Angel** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:04 am

Shades wrote:According to canon, at least part of Scarlet's energy reserves come directly from the sun. What do you think this might be and do you think that he might be able to get some of that from normal lighting or those special lights purported to give off the same sorts of radiation and wavelengths as natual sunlight?

Maybe some form of photosynthesis. Plants use sunlight to make energy so prehaps Scarlet has a animal variation of this process as a result being mysteronized, maybe his skin cells can store sun energy or radiation and then utilise this as a healing agent or even to initiate healing and as the skin is the first part of the body to be injured, excluding ingestion, then his body could begin healing near enough immediately.

In 'Place Of Angels' Scarlet is shot in the chest, yet he goes on to save the day five minutes later without a grimace on his face, even though we clearly him struggling to breathe as soon as he is shot.

I think this evidence to his healing power at the least.