Virus

[Serena Lewis]

Hi,
This one is being reviewed early by me, and from memory, as I am not going to be on my computer late tonight or early tomorrow (Probably). I just like starting it. Sorry about this.
I liked this episode, but, again, can't pinpoint exactly why.

Pros

1. Captain Magenta. Very cool. I don't have any problems with him. Sure, he flirts, but he seems harmless! No touchy-feely make-you-feel-uncomfortable stuff. Well...on camera anyway...
2. Ochre and Greens reactions to Magenta were great. Ochre sort of brushes it off and raises her eyebrows, Green flirts back in a way that he doesn't realize is sarcastic.
3. Suicide attempts. Very drastic and shocking.
4. Cheetah crash...driven off cliff, I mean...whatever. Well executed, and looked good. You almost forget the car can glide, and think it's really going to crash.
5. Tear and computer images...so sad...

Cons

1. Last minutes. AARRRGGHHH!!! Vile! 'I think you got me right through the heart.' No!!!
2. The Colonels idea was a little crumby. Someone could of died when he knocked everyone out! What if someone had...say...been in the shower? They could fall and whack their head on the hard floor and walls!! Get what I mean?
3. The 'disposing' of the Virus. Yeah. I think this was actually brought up by Kinggodzillak before...it was remarkably simple. Just press buttons and...gone! Wish it were that easy in real life. *Whinge, moan, not fair*

Little Things

1. It is Green who has her hand on her zip. Some people thought it was Destiny, but actually, Destiny grabs the back of Greens tunic, and Green is trying to unzip it so she'll fall to her death.
2. Magentas hand when he's in the Swift with Ochre. Just me, I know, but it looks like he puts his hand on hers. You don't see it but the sort of angle and everything looks like it. Ignore me. She wouldn't tolerate it
3. The Secretary in the Swift has a beauty mark that seems to move round. I wouldn't really call it a blooper though.
4. Ochre's hair is really...claggy, in this episode, and stays that way till about...Touch of the Reaper, from memory. It seems like she hasn't washed it for weeks.

Bloopers

...will be added when my head is back from the Planet Confused and Worried. I'll add to the other stuff as well. Like I said, this is from memory.

Rating: 9/10

xx

[Skybase Girl]

I agree that the last line kind of ruined Scarlet's previous line about requiring "treatment". I thought that was quite cute.

However, the DVD does redeem it slightly. On TV, the last couple of seconds were cut, and his remark is the last thing you see. In fact, on the DVD, you see that Destiny starts to laugh, before leaning in to kiss him back. That, to me, changes it quite a lot, because she obviously realises he's joking, rather than just being yucky.

The tiny things do make all the difference !

Loved this whole episode, by the way, it was done so well on virtually every level. I understand that the "scenes" on the computer when Scarlet is trying to destroy the virus, were images taken from the second world war. They could be meant to indicate his memories of the terrorist wars which killed his parents, which could account for the tears. The fact that it's unclear is what makes it really interesting. Just what was it he was thinking about ?

[shadokp]

The Story - This was one of those episodes that has some really neat elements in them but I had a bit of trouble with the concept. I remember not understanding the whole death and destruction message that Scarlet sees within the computer virus and even now it seems a little confusing. The action involving the suicide attempts is incredible and well executed. Might I make a suggestion to Spectrum - put some kind of security lock on the door leading out of the hanger - too many people are trying to leave that way.

I agree about White not warning people about the sleep agent. Hopefully those guys in Engineering weren't too close to the edge.

Not sure what the beginning was about - was all that just to write an excuse that Destiny had not been using a computer?

The Animation - Overall very well done but nothing really sticks out as being superb or bad. The detail such as the damage on the Cheetah while in flight was nice.

Other - For once, Destiny has a point when she tells Scarlet that perhaps he shouldn't subject himself to the virus, he almost killed them all!

On screen Death Count - Well, 3 - 4 Vampire Pilots (aren't they all dead by now?), the two suicide victims, one mentioned, one walking into the water.

Destiny & her Falcon Interceptor - Destiny loses an Interceptor but the miraclous thing is, her plane is shot down twice. She is hit once, ejects and her eject pod is hit again. "Does Destiny Angel really suck or or are those Mysteronized Vampire pilots that good?" (Quote lifted and changed from the movie "Shoot em Up" coming out this week.)

KP

[Father Unwin]

This is not really one of my favourites. I think it may be because both the threat (a suicide inducing virus) and the solution (the deletion of a computer file) are relatively intangible.

The routing of all infected computers through one main computer and the subsequent isolation and deletion of the virus may be clever but it is not exactly breathtaking. Having said that, I applaud the use of war-time archive newsreel footage which was a brave and imaginative thing to do.

I enjoyed the scene where Blue crashes the RRV through the barrier on the mountain road. The extending of the wings, failure of the jet engines and jetisoning of the roof, followed by Scarlet using his back to save Blue's life as they crashed through the branches to the forest floor, was inspired. What other show could have a scene like that?

This episode also has a very unusual twist in that Scarlet is 'murdered' by his own girlfriend (in order to save him from being disintegrated). However, even this surprising event is somewhat muted by the use of a gun (set to kill rather than stun).

I have been trying to think of a more gruesome or interesting way to kill him (to protect him from himself, of course!). Perhaps there could have been a tank of sharks on Skybase (near the reactor) and Destiny could have thrown a banana skin in front of Scarlet so that he fell in and was eaten before he could do himself any real harm.

[gojohnniegogo]

I am pretty keen on this one, some great little things about it. With how advanced computers are becoming now, it's quite scary to think of the things Military computers could do now that we don't even know about... let alone what they'll be capable of in another 50 years! (wonder if Macs would have been susceptible as well?)

The suicide effects are quite dramatic, and is something not touched upon in any of Anderson's other family shows. Well executed, and genuinely leaving you going 'woah!'.

Unfortunately, Magenta makes what is only a rare appearance, and provides the humour in an episode with such a scary tone to it. He would quite likely have been further developed and more frequent if a new season was to come out, but that's for another discussion.

Ive gotta say the scene with Scarlet at the computer was quite touching, and I only noticed the war images this time round. How I'd missed them before I have no idea!

And yes, the dialogue at the end is cringeworthily cheesy, and you always had the feeling it was coming!

One little thing - wonder where everyone else was by this time, had they all recovered? And who would be looking after Doc Gold if he was out, he always seems a very lonely figure in sickbay!

[Intensity Angel]

I believe I've talked about this on another thread but still. I've seen this episode the most as its on the internet. I count it as one of my favourites as it is just incredible, as Destiny said it,

"A computer virus that actually kills?!"

Theres a few things I noticed in this episode.

The Good

1. The scene when Blue sends the Cheetha out of control and gives Scarlet a good slapping to stop him stopping him. If that makes sense

2. The scene between Lt Green and Captain Magenta. That just made me smile.

3. Seeing the hardly seen Rhapsody Angel. Yay!!

4. The dogfight. Destiny had that coming and you just knew it. Funnier still, watch closely and yo'll notice it was one of Harmony Angel's missiles that clip her escape pod. Yes I know I'm being evil but Destiny drives me scatty sometimes.

5.Magenta flirting with the UN lady AND Captain Ochre and Ochre's reaction. You can't top it.

6. The ending with Scarlet toying with Destiny. I couldnt stop laughing. Unfortunately I can't help but laugh at romantic scenes. Don't worry i don't understand it either.

The Bad

1. Captain Scarlet shooting Dr Gold. I know he's probably fed up of the old man but come on! That's just OTT!!

2. Did Rhapsody Angel get any credit for helping save Lt Green? After all it was Rhapsody who stunned Lt Green and stopped her struggling so Destiny could haul her in. Poor Rhaps!!

3. How thick could he get? Colonel White knows there is a computer virus that can cause people to commit suicide so why does he work on a computer?! Is he nuts?

4. No Harmony Angel

5. Why didn't the tea set smash into lots of little pieces? It just bounced off the floor.

The Downright Findings

This is just things that I happened to spot if you are confused or half asleep like I am now.

1. Did you notice that Captain Blue and Lt Green are lying side by side in sickbay, (on separate beds of course). Reminds me of Romeo and Juiliet.

2. Captain Scarlet gives Destiny a good shoving.

3. Symphony loses her drink when she falls prey to the sleeping gas.

4. When he is working at the computer, Captain Scarlet's fingers don't seem to be touching the keyboard at times.

5. Is it me or does Rhapsody look mutinous in one small scene?

6. When Dr Gold is working at the computer, he is looking at DNA. Maybe it is Captain Scarlet's.