First and only appearance of the original Aquaphibian.
The same one as in Stingray?
No not exactly the same, the face is very different, but it was called an Aquaphibian in the episode unlike the ones in Stingray who weren't named until their fifth appearance (Man From The Navy.)
The Aquaphibian's head in this episode looks more like a frog.
I don't mind ticking clocks and people being saved at the very last moment, but not when the situation is contrived to be so. The contrivance is usually someone being utterly thickheaded.
There are two houses. We watch one being destroyed. It's quite reasonable to suppose that the second house is only moments away from doom. The two surviving aliens must know (and must have known for quite some time) that they would have to flee. So why did they wait until the last minute to bring that sloooooooooooooow elevator up to their level? Why not have it ready and waiting? They could have used the poison gas ploy to slow them down and make it look as though they might not make it in time.
Another point. I don't know how extensive their population was, but why did they wait until they were down to two survivors before calling for help? Two male survivors, at that. (At least they both look male.) That blows any remote chance of saving their species, unless they try cloning.
I'm surprised that Lt. 90 hasn't quit the Space Service. Poor guy can't open his mouth without Zero chewing him out.
The Aquaphibian blows a hole in Fireball Jr, and aims his poison gas at them in a straight stream. Fireball Jr, is already passing by it and yet the gas continues pouring in the hole. Steve tries to get away from it and can't. Apparently it never occurred to him to a) move forward quickly, b) make a sharp right or left turn, or c) go straight up, any of which would have taken them out of range.
That poison gas, BTW, seems to work exceedingly slowly, and has no residual effects. It would have been better if they had shown Venus treating them for the poison after they got back to the main ship.
As for getting back to the main ship...maybe by the end of the series I'll stop cringing at such little things as a ship flying into open space with a big hole in its side.
I thought it was nice that it took the Professor several tries before he got his shielding formula right. Made it more realistic. And perhaps he'll have the sense to suggest that ALL spaceships have their windows coated with the stuff.
I loved the look on the Aquaphibian's face after Steve fired at him and just before he ducked.
How did the Professor know that the thing was called an Aquaphibian? Did he just coin the word? They only had a glimpse of it before it gassed them; how did he know that it was a marine creature? Is Professor Matic an aficionado of ancient movies? ("Gee, that creature with the gun down there looks kinda like that Creature from the Black Lagoon! Must come from the water.")
Knowing that this thing fights with poison gas, it didn't occur to Steve and Venus to pack gas masks in their hoverjets.
The Aquaphibian (and presumably its companions) have won. The other beings are dead or driven from the planet; they've got it all to themselves now.