The Achilles Messenger

[Serena Lewis]

I really like this episode...which is gonna make it hard for me to evaluate...

Pros

1. OCHRE!!! Yes, first appearance of the beloved Captain, who sparked talk of gender changes, bomb disposal experts and bikers. Yeah, go Ochre...
2. Interrogation was well done. Well lit and all...
3. The idea of a Mysteron who doesn't want the war. It was a very good idea, and I praise the team who created the episode for that.
4. Dialogue in this one was much better.

Cons

1. Why didn't Black shoot White? Well, I know he couldn't really coz White is going to appear in another season, but...you get what I mean...
2. That guard who goes into Destinys cell. Oo er...
And that’s it! I just...couldn't find any proper cons. There are a few little things though.

Little Things

1. The whisky (?) bottle things on Astrid’s desk...one of them had the stopper off...
2. The music Astrid plays in the car is the same as the music Destiny played in Swarm.
3. The wink and smile between Ochre and Blue. I don't think anything was, or is, happening between them. I think it was simply Blue showing off a little. You know, a sort of 'Look how clever I am. I up righted the Hummingbird'. Ochres smile was a sort of...'Men.' one. I think...
4. Destiny looks upset that Scarlet and Astrid are getting along swimmingly...good!
5. Scarlet is injured, Destiny is just dirty (Oo er…).

Bloopers

1. Astrids legs pass through her skirt at several points.
2. Scarlet is shot in the right arm. He holds it all the way to the Rhino...where it shows a healing injury on his left arm!

Rating: 8/10

xx

[foster]

This was another great episode I enjoyed very much.

The jealosy in Destiny's face when Scarlet and Winters were getting on pretty well made me laugh. She looked like she wanted to hit her across the gob or something...

[Father Unwin]

Before writing my 2nd year reviews, I read through what everyone said the first time around. I am conscious that just about everyone thinks this episode is great and I am therefore minded to temper my comments!

I would agree that it is a very interesting, adult storyline but somehow it doesn’t feel like the same Captain Scarlet. Not necessarily worse – just different. The best way that I can describe it is that Achilles Messenger feels like it was made by a different production company.

I have to say that the midnight motorbike ride was terrific. I just love the way the clouds are lit by the full moon and the wooded countryside is bathed in a blue light, almost as bright as day.

Here are some of the reasons why this episode feels different to me:

1. Scarlet and Destiny were being interrogated in dark, dingy cells with the plaster falling off the walls. I keep thinking they are in Castle Balneath for these scenes but they are in the other building which is more like a country residence.

2. The aforementioned country house looks too perfect to be true. Regardless of how it is lit it looks to me that it is just a façade, like on a film set. The windows don’t look real and it reminds me of a dolls house.

3. The use of Mysteron drones, although not unwelcome, never occurs in any other episode. Maybe if they had appeared elsewhere then Achilles Messenger wouldn’t seem so odd.

4. Again, the fact that one drone puts a gun to Scarlet’s head and says “Drop it!” just didn’t seem right for a Mysteron – it just felt awkward. I guess they are more 'sporting' than Destiny though!

5. The escape from Castle Balneath back to the “doll’s house” appeared to take place at the first light of dawn. However, when the Rhinos had their confrontation the picture looked strangely muted and unnatural.

6. I like strong characters like Astrid Winters but her face is often less than convincingly rendered.

Let me finish with some positives. I thought Blue and Ochre’s Hummingbird flight through New York City was wonderfully done. To see the people on the sidewalks and the hustle and bustle at street level added a satisfying level of realism.

The intensity of the dialogue between Scarlet and Winters after the latter is shot is compelling. “Tell us!” are just 2 words but beautifully delivered by Wayne Forester and you feel genuinely fearful for Astrid played by Jules de Jongh after her earlier premonition that “You have no idea what they will do to me..”

[shadokp]

The Story - This one really raises the bar for the entire series. The opening of a new concept that there are less malicious Mysterons is a great idea. The entire story is well paced with plenty of action and some good humor. Some issues with the Training Center - would they really beat on Spectrum agents like that and enter Destiny's cell to hit on her? Seems a little too much. Of course the point was to sell to the audience that it was not a training center. Also, Scarlet and Destiny sleep in their uniforms, couldn't the center at least provided them PJs? At least take off the armor parts of the uniform. Guess Scarlet was too tired.

The Animation - Some incredible stuff. The helicopters coming into land looks as real as anything. Love the atmosphere and lighting all around.

Other - Great action scenes with the Hummingbird, Rhino battle and cycle chase. The agent trying to copy Scarlet's ride on the roof was hilarious. Why did he try it? Just to see if he could do it perhaps? Again, training agents shooting at locals, a bit carried away with their part I think. Ochre's debut is excellent.

The Ongoing Tally - Astrid goes off the road and is Mysteronized.

On screen Death Count - Well, this one has a pretty high potential death count. I guess all the mysteronzed agents in the helicopter are dead. The pilots in the helicopter in the city and any unfortunate soul who was on the streets below when the copter crashed. Of course any people in the building that was hit by the missile from the copter. Adds to the realism and tension of the episode.

KP

[shadokp]

Oh, I forgot to mention that this episode was the first thing I watched on my new 46" HDTV and with an upconvert DVD player, the quality was excellent. Obviously it was not HD but the quality was still superb and much bigger!! I really think they did an excellent job on the quality of the episodes for NCS - makes up for the lack of extras.

KP

[James. C]

I just watched this for the first NCS episode in ages...and it was wonderful.

The Rhinos shooting at each other, the helicopter with the bomb drop, and the entire final scene gave me goosebumps...fantastic!

[gojohnniegogo]

Big fan of this ep and the premise that there was a mysteron agent who didnt want to be involved in the war of nerves - a premise not touched on in OCS. (my apologies for constantly comparing OCS & NCS) by the way.

This leaves us an interesting question -

Was Winters's original consciousness the reason her replicant was so unkeen on the war, or just a new consciousness that had it's own mind?

Nice to see a twist of disapproval from Destiny towards Scarlet when she sees him getting on with Winters, makes the relationship more complete.

Some excellent visuals in this episode, very pleasing on the eye!

[Skybase Girl]

There are lots of puzzles about this episode that could be debated for quite a while.

Shadokp's comment about Castle Balneath not being just a training base had me thinking. What was it, then ? I know the "training" methods seemed rather barbaric and extreme, particularly used on agents one might assume were already tough enough.

I touched on the Mysteronised Astrid Winters in "Souls Apart", but I must admit I hadn't given a lot of thought as to how a "friendly" Mysteron got there. Did the Mysterons plan to attack Castle Balneath in the first place, and the fact that a friendly conscience took over Astrid's body was an accident ? Or did the sympathetic faction Mysteronise her deliberately to help Spectrum, and the stormtroopers arrived because they realised what was going on ? I had assumed it was her they were after, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe they were there to attack the base in the first place, on the assumption that she was leading the way, until they realised otherwise.

As far as the debate between NCS and OCS is concerned, both have their appeals, but I must admit I love the little twists that NCS presents. In this case, definitely more questions than answers !

[shaqui]

Bloopers
1. Astrids legs pass through her skirt at several points.

Is that actually the case? I watched this again recently and got the impression her skirt had one, possibly two slits, at the front?

[Serena Lewis]

I think it's one small slit at the back. I could be wrong though.

xx

[Intensity Angel]

This was the first ever episode I saw of NCS and I liked it a lot, just a shame I can't see to find NCS on TV anymore. I know I'm just a silly little newbie to this site but I very much enjoy the show.

The Achilles Messenger is a great favourite of mine, not only being the first episode I saw but also because it made me laugh a lot. There was some good dialogue in it and classic lines like,

Captain Scarlet: Hang on,
Destiny Angel: What else am I going to do?

And in that scene I really like how Destiny's ponytail moves because of the movement of the bike. Great animation there. I have some other favourite scenes from this episode like,

1. When one of the guys chasing Destiny and Scarlet crashes into a wall. Makes you go cringe and say "ouch, that's gotta hurt!". Well Wolverhampton people like me would say that anyway, don't know about others so forgive me there.

2. The chatter between Scarlet and Astrid between in the Rhino.
Astrid: I may be Mysteron, but I'm not indestructable, like you Scarlet.
Captain Scarlet: NOW you tell me!

3. The lines Blue comes out with when the evil helicopter is chasing the Hummingbird and trying to get the bomb away from the buildings, like line about getting a takeaway. Three words, he's killed it!!

4. Destiny smashing through a window. That's something you don't see everyday.

And why Destiny in the first place?! Why not Captain Ochre who went along with Captain Scarlet to get put under pressure. Why Destiny? Angels just fly interceptors do they not? Hang on no, I'm not going on yet another rant, I've done this microsoft word already. forgive me folks.

Character Of The Show: Personally for me, it's Captain Ochre because she showed what females stand for.

Sorry if I've offended anyone.
Intensity Angel

[James. C]

Another fantastic moment in this episode is when the "gerry" farmer emerges from his house and yells "How's this for a starting pistol" and gets owned. Probably the funniest moment of the series...

[Intensity Angel]

Another fantastic moment in this episode is when the "gerry" farmer emerges from his house and yells "How's this for a starting pistol" and gets owned. Probably the funniest moment of the series...

Now thats an idea in itself.

I also think the scene when Scarlet gets pinned down by Astrid is quite funny to!! A full gown man with mililtary training being held down by a woman half his size, sorry, mysteron agent.

[James. C]

Yes, the farmer reportedly is based on Gerry himself, his first appearance being in Instrument of Destruction Part 1. My brother and I always laughed at that bit in the first episode, so we were laughing three times harder at his return

[Intensity Angel]

Oh is that when the Cheetha goes flying over the tractor?