Achilles Messenger

[Carrie]

Well, I'm way late with a post this time....life got in the way...but enjoyed reading all the above...
And yes...I shall probably miss Saturday mornings and the rush to see the reviews afterwards...
Still we know there's more to come and yes I shall be watching when it does.

Certainly the questions thrown up by this season one episode with regard to the Mysterons are intriguing and the ending was a suitably adult cliffhanger --- Would have nice to have seen - 'To be Continued - at the end..

At last - the infamous Captain Ochre...yes I liked her too ..actually...and I've come round to the fact that she and the original cannot of course be confused in any future fan-fic...


A few jarring notes that spoiled an otherwise fine episode;

Yes..I know it's been said several times..but I had to add my 'duh' at Black wasting the perfect opportunity to deal Spectrum a crippling blow by refusing to take out White and Scarlet. And yes agree with the disgraceful lack of security....(Damn cutbacks..get everyone in the end...) Are the Mysterons playing some twisted cat-and-mouse game? Or does Black have his own agenda? He certainly has more personality than the average dead man...

The interrogation scene : Scarlet makes a big thing about only giving out his code name and number....and then, he breaks into into the cell where Destiny is being held, and she - (the silly bint) shouts out...'Paul!'...So much for anonimity.....

Scarlet's reply to Winter when she remarked that she still had something of Astrid inside her.." 'Not too much I hope...' well, grace and tact, my man...no wonder you're a hit with the ladies....

[Guest]

Yes..I know it's been said several times..but I had to add my 'duh' at Black wasting the perfect opportunity to deal Spectrum a crippling blow by refusing to take out White and Scarlet.

Yes, that does seem to be unanswerable! Although maybe you could rationalise it away by arguing that Black was there solely to kill the Mysteron traitor and nothing else. There's actually a little bit of irony in that final meeting in that if Spectrum hadn't been so paranoid about letting her on Skybase then Black would have had no way to stop her and Ingrid could have told them all how to defeat the Mysterons. So, ironically, by playing it 'safe' Spectrum effectively signed Ingrid's death warrant.

Are the Mysterons playing some twisted cat-and-mouse game? Or does Black have his own agenda? He certainly has more personality than the average dead man...

Or indeed the original Captain Black puppet.

Scarlet's reply to Winter when she remarked that she still had something of Astrid inside her.." [i]'Not too much I hope...'

Can you blame him?! She was infinitely more attractive as a Mysteron than she was as a human.

Re the castle's supposed lack of defenders; I think it's implied that the Mysteronised helicopters that attack the castle and the guards that swarm out of them are (or were) the original defenders. Scarlet does say 'there are choppers flying here all the time'. So I can't really say I regard the apparent lack of defenders as a plot hole when the clear implication is that they've all been Mysteronised.

[Marion]

Rat Trap says: Spectrum effectively signed Ingrid's death warrant.

Who is this Ingrid you keep speaking about? The Mysteron's name was Astrid Winters...

Rat Trap says: Re the castle's supposed lack of defenders; I think it's implied that the Mysteronised helicopters that attack the castle and the guards that swarm out of them are (or were) the original defenders. Scarlet does say 'there are choppers flying here all the time'. So I can't really say I regard the apparent lack of defenders as a plot hole when the clear implication is that they've all been Mysteronised.

The implication wasn't that clear - you've had to put forward the suggestion. Even if that is the case - they shouldn't IMPLY it - they should EXPLAIN it. If not a plot gap it's sloppy writing.

[Guest]

Rat Trap says: Spectrum effectively signed Ingrid's death warrant.

Who is this Ingrid you keep speaking about? The Mysteron's name was Astrid Winters...

Whatever.

Rat Trap says: Re the castle's supposed lack of defenders; I think it's implied that the Mysteronised helicopters that attack the castle and the guards that swarm out of them are (or were) the original defenders. Scarlet does say 'there are choppers flying here all the time'. So I can't really say I regard the apparent lack of defenders as a plot hole when the clear implication is that they've all been Mysteronised.

The implication wasn't that clear - you've had to put forward the suggestion.

The implication was perfectly clear and the only reason I've had to put forward the suggestion is because you don't get it. If Scarlet says to Astrid 'There are choppers flying here all the time' and then two of them turn up and attack the castle what is the implication of that? Correct, the choppers have been Mysteronised. Not exactly rocket science is it?

Even if that is the case - they shouldn't IMPLY it - they should EXPLAIN it. If not a plot gap it's sloppy writing. [/color]

It already has been explained. Viewers are more intelligent than your comments imply.

[Clya Brown]

May we keep this impersonal please? There's enough ambiguity about the origin of the helicopters to stimulate a debate on the point. Great - that's what this forum is for.

I agree with earlier writers that Black's decision (apparently taken unilaterally, if we are to believe his muttering to himself) not to implement a decapitation policy against Spectrum when he had the perfect opportunity seems a very strange way to carry on - particularly for the villain of the piece. I sincerely hope that Part 2 will justify his actions on this score, and isn't simply swept under the carpet as a momentary mental aberration*.

The other thing that intrigues me is Astrid's assertion that there are elements of the Mysteron consciousness that regard the war as unnecessary, as the humans constitute absolutely no threat whatsoever. Assuming that Astrid is actually what she says she is (and I admit I'm making a possibly unwarranted assumption there) I'm in two minds about this assertion. The ease with which Captain Black wiped out the entire Mysteron civilisation in episode one suggests that she's wrong, whereas the ease with which the Mysterons reconstituted it immediately afterwards implies that she's right. The real question is surely whether the humans have it within their power (even if they don't know it yet) to eliminate the Mysterons permanently - and I'm wondering if maybe even the Mysterons themselves don't know the answer to that question; hence the apparently schizophrenic reaction.

[* This type of "I ought to kill you right now, but that would be too easy!" scripting disaster was employed in several "Blake's 7" episodes years ago, when Blake or Avon had Travis and/or Servalan right between the crosshairs of his rifle, and yet failed to take advantage of the fact in the obvious manner. It's not heroic to fail to eliminate an obvious and very real threat - it's stupid, and it therefore diminishes the hero in the audience's eyes, as the only possible explanation is that the actors' contracts haven't expired yet, and they're therefore still in next week's cast list!]

[shaqui]

I'd like to think this episode forms part of an arc, and we'll find out who or what exactly Astrid is in a later episode. Having Black simply eliminate her, and not Scarlet or White implies there's a bigger game being played here.

I hope I'm not spoiling it for others when I say a couple of later ones definitely look interesting from their brief outlines. especially 'Enigma', and 'Dominion' (the series finale?)

[Guest]

I'd like to think this episode forms part of an arc, and we'll find out who or what exactly Astrid is in a later episode. Having Black simply eliminate her, and not Scarlet or White implies there's a bigger game being played here.

I really hope you're right because the way the episode closes does feel somewhat unsatisfying. It would be nice if the tantalising hints of a Mysteron achilles heel or even Astrid herself returned in a later episode. Btw, anybody clock the affectionate little smile Ochre gave Blue aftr they'd disposed of the bomb? Looks like Blue's got a new girlfriend!

I hope I'm not spoiling it for others when I say a couple of later ones definitely look interesting from their brief outlines. especially 'Enigma', and 'Dominion' (the series finale?)

Yeah, there's some great sounding stories in that second batch. I'm particularly looking forward to the Angels on holiday vs pirates episode, 'Fallen Angels'. Now, what are the chances of seeing the girls in bikinis? Mmmmm ....

[Matt Crowther]

excellent conclusion, gritty in parts and definitely looking to series 2. They do seem short these episodes though, well keep it SIG

[RoryWoodford]

Yeah, there's some great sounding stories in that second batch. I'm particularly looking forward to the Angels on holiday vs pirates episode, 'Fallen Angels'. Now, what are the chances of seeing the girls in bikinis? Mmmmm ....

No chance unfortunatley due to time contraints and the amount of new characters in that ep.
RoryWoodford

[chrisbishop]

LOL - That's what I call killing people's expectation, Rory!

In the meantime, for our members, there are (classic) Angels in bikinis (as well as - still classic - male officers for our female members!) featured in the Spectrum is Gorgeous calendar that was produced this year.

Check the members-only board:

http://spectrum-headquarters.com/v-web/ ... m.php?f=22

[C21]

..and I thought I was waiting to watch Revenge of the Sith, War of the Worlds or Batman Begins this summer!

Nope. If the powers that be can get the first season of CS:CGI out on DVD during my trip to the UK in June, this ex-pat will definitely find space for it in his suitcase (next to the Jaffa Cakes)!

Thanks for all your reviews. I just can't wait to watch Season One and Two!


SIG


C21

[RoryWoodford]

I like this episode a lot, probably because I lit a lot of it.

My favourite sequence that I lit is the part of the bike chase that takes place in the farm court yard. I love doing moonlit sequences.

Also did anyone notice in the NYC chase scene, another lighter in the team who did that sequence sneaked his picture in on an observatory billboard.

lol Paul Herbert you have immortilised yourself.
RoryWoodford

[Guest]

Rory,

I've been struck by the lighting in a number of episodes. In Achilles Messenger there's a shot in the farmyard scene, sort of a ground level long shot of Scarlet racing up the ramp, and the moonlit sky around the farmhouse there looks absolutely gorgeous. And I say that looking at it on a crummy VHS tape so goodness knows how impressive it's going to be on DVD.

Couple of other things I noticed also from AM: the moonlight casting patterns of light and shade on Astrid in the scene where she gets up and moves to Scarlet by the window. Very nice indeed. Also the 'magic hour' light in the NYC sequence. Loved that, really added to the atmosphere. So much better than 'boring' old daylight!

[Bozza]

Im just glad you enjoyed the shows. I really cant explain what the next season will be like, not just from a CG point of view but from a storyline side of things as well.
Bozza

[Elentari]

A faction of the Mysterons? Interesting idea. Astrid wasn’t too bad as guest characters go. It might have been better if she’d survived somehow, but all along that seemed highly unlikely. It remains to be seen if any more episodes feature this alternate Mysteron group. Maybe these Mysterons won't - or can't - create an indestructible replicant.
This episode had some great ideas but I thought that extra magic quality or ambience (or whatever it is) that signifies an exceptional episode wasn’t quite there.
Silly of Black too...for not taking advantage of such a golden opportunity.