Circles of Doom

by **Serena Lewis** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:40 am

I guess I kind of like this episode, but it's nowhere near one of my faves. It does have some very good moments though.

Pros

1. The Air Show practice. Nice. Very nice. Great plane movement, and really good way to start. Also, which lucky voice artist got to speak for the Vampire pilot who went 'Yeeeehaaaahhh!!!'? Coz it sounded like fun. :-D

2. Black. So sexy, but so sinister. And check out his spooky screen. He even has a nice selection of shapes to choose from to make his crop circles.
3. Lancaster. Vintage! Actually...according to my calculations, that plane would be over 120 years old. In pristine condition? Little odd. But a nice element to the episode none the less.
4. The bit when Harmony ejects from the plane. Well done, she floats down to the ground very gracefully, good bit of animation. And her expression as she realizes what exactly would have happened to her if she was in the plane when it crashed was good too. I still kinda wish she'd got blown up though. I don't like her...
5. Explosion. I usually don't care that much for special effects, I concentrate on the story telling, but I liked this one.
6. 'Pranged' joke. Scarlet didn't seem to get it. I'm amazed Destiny did, but then there's a first time for everything, so...

Cons

1. Destinys walking. Good Lord. She looks like a hula dancer with replacement hips who has all the grace of a pantomime horse! NO woman moves like that. If you do, I worry for you, I really do. I suggest you see a doctor.
2. Destiny is a little cruel to Harmony...

'Harmony, back off!!'

...when she knows perfectly well that Harmonys helpless to do anything!
3. Scarlet feels lousy in this episode, which I like, nice effect. But will it be mentioned in all the others, when he's near Mysterons? Me thinketh not.
4. Scarlet is a bit thick in this episode, isn't he? There's a big green glowing wall between Black and him, and he still runs at it! He deserved to get hurt! Grow some brains, mate!

5. Colonels plan. He knows the Angels can't do anything, so why the heck does he send them in??!! Is he a sadist?

Bloopers

1. I think Destinys helmet switches hands when it's not supposed to, but I'm not sure...
2. Several shots of the Falcons show them empty. Where have their pilots gone?
3. Scarlet looses his belt a few times, most noticeably in the Plane Control Centre.
4. Blue checks his watch in Skybase Central Control...and he hasn't got a watch...

Little Things

1. What about the poor guy who owns the corn field?? Will he get money for the damage caused to it? I doubt it.
2. Destinys backside annoys me. It seems to shrink and expand during this episode a lot, probably depending on whose turn it was to animate her...

Rating: 6/10 (Destiny overload!!)

xx

by **shadokp** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:59 pm

The Story - I liked this one alot initially but the second time around it wasn't quite there - I think because the ending is so telegraphed. Still, the Mysteron technology and the Voice of the Mysterons are highlights for sure.

The Animation - Some great stuff here - all the flying scenes and the underground base. I love the zoom out from Blue, through the Hummingbird canopy. The zoom out through glass was used again right at the end of the episode as well. The reflections on the Hummingbird were cool excpet at one point we only see a reflection of the detector that Blue is carrying and no reflection of Blue!! :shock:

Other - I love the Mysteron technology and its connection with crop circles, this is something they could have gone on with down the line.

The Ongoing Tally -

I guess Destiny is getting pressure about her crashing planes as twice she is facing certain death and yet elects not to eject. Not sure why. The first time she was going to hit the tower so I guess she would try to alter the course of the plane but the second time? Perhaps there was a sheep there or something.

On screen Death Count - none

KP

by **Father Unwin** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:03 pm

In general, flying sequences are not my favourite scenes in NCS so when Circles of Doom started with an airshow I was initially disappointed. However, it quickly became apparent that these particular scenes were really well done and were integral to the plot. The beautifully recreated patchwork quilt fields and gently undulating hills and blue skies made a perfect backdrop to some exciting aerobatics.

In my opinion this was a really well crafted story with an excellent threat – the worldwide failure of digital technology. Having said that I wonder what the Mysterons meant by the people of Earth surrendering? What would happen to them exactly – Mysteronisation?

I also realise that I am being something of a hypocrite by last week being mildly critical about all the different things that the Mysteron bugs could do to fulfil a plotline – read minds, fly, etc and yet being comfortable with Captain Black operating a sort of ‘green magic’ box of tricks deep underground in a cornfield.

The truth is that I love those episodes of NCS which include outrageous flights of imagination and storytelling. The scenes are quintessentially English –like afternoon tea and cucumber sandwiches – and yet suddenly Scarlet and Blue are lowered on a strange platform into a dark cavern inhabited by green Mysteron forces!

It seems pointless trying to spot my so-called ‘plot accelerators’ when the whole episode is so inexplicable. However, I too really like the way that the writer combined the mysterious known (crop circles) with the unknown (the Mysterons). Of course, the scene-stealer throughout this episode is Captain Lefkon – he gets all the best lines and yet is ultimately just a blustering mouthpiece for the Mysteron consciousness!

by **Serena Lewis** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:32 pm

I get the feeling Circles of Doom wasn't a very popular episode. I understand. To much Destiny! :-D

xx

by **Skybase Girl** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:48 pm

No, I liked this more the more times I watched it, so I think it's a grower.

There wasn't too much Destiny, although I agree that the hip-swivelling walk was a bit over the top. I almost expected the arrival of Morecambe and Wise, to join in on that sketch they did to the "Stripper" music.

Lots of Black at his sardonic best. I thought the crop circles magic show was graphically very impressive, although it didn't make a lot of sense. I suppose you have to just suspend disbelief and assume that the Mysteron magic was at work.

by **gojohnniegogo** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:46 pm

Hmm, pretty much everything I can think of on this has already been said. I quite liked this episode though, particularly the opening scenes, the Angels flying Red-Arrow style with their smoke trails, plus the classic Lancaster Bomber! Much prefer this to some of the previous episodes we've looked at, thought it was pretty well executed, if slightly abruptly ended! Quite surprised at the Colonel's apparent difficulty to read English, much less surprised at Scarlet's confusion!

by **thunderbirds_r_go** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:21 pm

This was one of the early episodes I watched when CITV aired them.

I thought this was a good episode, as stated before the air show element added something different to the start of the episode and seeing the Lancaster bomber was a neat idea.

Once the episode progresses, you have an idea that the Lancaster may have a part to play, and I love the old Air Force talk at the end to which Scarlet has no understanding off.

Otherwise a steady episode.

by **foster** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:45 pm

This was the first episode I ever watched, and what really got me hooked on the series.

I have to admit, the Lancaster was the highlight for me: just goes to show old things can be just as good as new.