I'm convinced there's an editing cockup in this one. In one scene, Straker is talking about the info Roper passed to the aliens being wrong in some way (I forget how). But a later scene shows SID and Moonbase only just reaching this conclusion.
Most fans agree with you. Definitely someone falling down on the editing job. In spite of that, however, it still ends up a tense episode. But have you ever noticed that Paul Roper may have been the precursor for Paul Foster? Their names are similar, and even their SHADO ID numbers! Foster's is 804, and I think Roper's was 807. (I'll have to watch the ep again to confirm, but they were very close like that.)
Controling a SHADO Doctor with an implant didn't exactly seem like the most efficient method for the aliens to sabotage the moonbase. Watching this, one definately has to say it is different. No happy endings like on Star Trek. Not only is Roper's wife killed, but so is Roper. One nit though; since Roper was on foot (on the lunar surface), he couldn't have been that far from the moonbase. The moonmobile should have been able to make it to him before his air supply ran out.
I did like the tension that developed between Freeman and Straker. Alec was rightly critical of Straker's too black and white view of the world. Freeman sure does help himself to the whiskey in Straker's office!
The effects were also great, from the UFO attack on Roper's car (leading to an explosion at the petrol station; this is definately a Gerry Anderson show!) to the climatic destruction of the UFO on the lunar surface!
...does Straker always let people borrow his car?
When Carlin slides down the tube to Sky 1 watch his reflection. He seems to stop after the actor has dropped below camera level.
Why would the aliens need the information from SID? Don't they have their own computers?
They know an attack is coming. They know when & where it's coming from. So why have 1 man with a missile launcher instead of launching Interceptors?
Paco - '...does Straker always let people borrow
his car?'
Not only that, but he seems to rent his property, too! The driveway that Roper drives Straker's car onto, is the same as the one used outside Straker's home when he brings that woman back to his place in 'The Responsibility Seat'!
That poor woman was just too frightened of everything! She just stood and watched, in absolute horror, as someone slowly opens up her front door, and again as the injured assassin reaches for his own gun to kill her. She just had to run into her bedroom or kick the gun away.
Does it make sense for Roper to be the only attacker on the moon vs. the UFO? After all he just survived an attack on himself in his car, where he was apparently thrown clear of, but sustained multiple injuries! Surely someone in perfect health deserved to be on the surface instead of him so ensure the UFO was destroyed.
Paco on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 7:20 am: Controling a SHADO Doctor with an implant didn't exactly seem like the most efficient method for the aliens to sabotage the moonbase.
Using the doctor would allow them to incapacitate the members of SHADO over a long period of time, thus avoiding the risk of attracting suspicion.
Since Roper was on foot (on the lunar surface), he couldn't have been that far from the moonbase. The moonmobile should have been able to make it to him before his air supply ran out.
It may have been damaged or out of service for maintenance.
Keith Alan Morgan on Tuesday, June 07, 2005 - 1:32 am: Why would the aliens need the information from SID? Don't they have their own computers?
Their computers don't have a link to the ones used by SHADO, which they need as part of the plan.
They know an attack is coming. They know when & where it's coming from. So why have 1 man with a missile launcher instead of launching Interceptors?
They may want to keep the Interceptors in reserve, to allow Roper a chance to redeem himself.
steve McKinnon (Steve) on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - 8:04 am: Does it make sense for Roper to be the only attacker on the moon vs. the UFO? After all he just survived an attack on himself in his car, where he was apparently thrown clear of, but sustained multiple injuries! Surely someone in perfect health deserved to be on the surface instead of him so ensure the UFO was destroyed.
He probably insisted on going alone, as part of his plan to redeem himself, knowing that he would likely be killed in the process.
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