Here, we get to see some of the setting of SHADO, and some of the people who were responsible for it. It mainly seems to be Straker, Freeman, Ford, Maxwell, Masters and Nina. I love the way Straker rewards these people for all their hard work, aside from Freeman. He sticks Nina on the Moon. He sticks Maxwell way under the sea. He arranges it so that Masters can alternate between being on the Moon or under the sea. He lets Ford work in SHADO control, albeit well within shouting distance.
And, in the scene where Straker congratulates all these people, there's a dark haired woman sitting next to Freeman. Who is it? I think its Harrington, but I'm not sure...
It's not explicitly stated, but I suspect that the animosity between Straker and Henderson comes from the breakup of Straker's marriage.
In the flashback, there's a good working relationship between them, almost a "father-son" thing.
Also, nice touch with Straker ordering Lt. Gray home for a week.
Is Ed Bishop wearing a hairpiece in the flashbacks? It looks like it in some scenes.
I absolutely love this show! UFO never gotthe acclaim it was due. Like all shows, it had its faults, but it was usually, brutally, relentlessly realistic in its treatment of human beings and the "human condition." Fortunately, there was no idiot behind the scenes who forced a comical or camp episode because some network idiot demanded they find humor in their very serious situation. Ed Straker was truly a tragic figure, one of television's most effective and most unrewarded. I'd hate to have worked for him, but would be very glad he was running the organization defending earth. Though I liked Space:1999, I wish they'd opted for a second season of UFO instead. God, I miss this wonderful series!
Probably the only episode with zero special effects. Not a Moonbase, Interceptor, Skydiver, or Mobile in sight.
Even the airliner was a present-day (1970) Pan-Am jet.
Straker visits Henderson in his cool bronze car, and later is driving a different present-day (1970) car. Might have been a film clip for another episode, because he didn't have that car yet.
Mary's father looked so much like creator Gerry Anderson, I had to check the end credits to be sure Anderson didn't make a cameo! It's not him-- it's an actor named Michael Nightingale.
Straker is about to explain his secret life to Mary, but she doesn't want to hear the sordid details of an affair-- too bad it would have been an explanation of his top secret organization, and not another woman.
Gorgeous 1964 Galaxie 500.