I remember seeing this episode for the first time as a kid, and the section where Koenig and Carter check out the crashed Eagle on the duplicate moon was for me, then, a very eerie moment. I still think this is an excellent episode.

That scene is very reminiscent of a Richard Matheson Twilight Zone episode called "Death Ship", in which Jack Klugman leads a crew of space explorers onto a planet only to discover a wrecked duplicate of their own ship containing their own dead bodies.

This is an episode I've noticed that never gets much discussion. It seems slightly underrated. Comments, anyone.
One point, Judy Geeson, usually played 'bimbo' parts here in Britain, and although she still wouldn't get an oscar, I though her portrayal of the tortured Regina was very good, and showed another side to this actress.

Doesn't Helena seem a bit 'irresponsible', seeking out her own double, knowing it will almost certainly kill her. This doesn't seem like the kind of action a doctor would take.

I always wondered about this too...I guess the opportunity to find out about her double's life with John Koenig was too irresistible. And it sort of seems like her double chooses to die, not like poor old Regina.

Sounds like Helena went out to eliminate the 'competition'.

Nah, I think she was just interested in learning about the other person's life and trying to help. I never got the impression that she was out to snuff the old dame. Besides, that Earth Helena was looking pretty old; I figure John would want someone younger and firmer.

Nah, I think she was just interested in learning about the other person's life and trying to help. I never got the impression that she was out to snuff the old dame. Besides, that Earth Helena was looking pretty old; I figure John would want someone younger and firmer.

Hmmm, 2 identical moons, 2 indentical Alphas, 2 indentical messages from BarbF

Oooops....I must have hit the button to post twice...
Kinda like deja vu all over again... ;)

This episode handles the parallel universe question better than a lot of SF episodes from other series, including some of the Star Trek ones. Things are not TOO different, rather it's a case of what might have been if a certain situation were to arise. While I enjoyed some of DS9's mirror universe episodes, some of the changes I felt were too drastic, in 'Another Time, Another Place', the parallel is handled beautifully.

I saw this episode again last night and made
the following observations:
When Alpha first encounters the phenomenon
that duplicates and displaces them the Main
Mission crew lurch about the set in unison in
the time-honored tradition of the Enterprise
crew lurching about the Bridge.("Frankly
captain, I'm exhausted.")
The duplication happens to everyone present
but Dr. Russel is the only one who appears to
notice it happening, she observes what's
going on. Much of the scene focuses on her
point of view. This fits well with her being the
most featured character in the episode.
At Regina's request Dr. Russel summons
Alan Carter to Medical. For some reason she
fails to brief Carter on Regina's condition, her
claim that he's her deceased husband. When
Regina falls into his arms all he can do is look
bewildered. It also appears very untheraputic
for Regina.
When Koenig and Bergman discuss the
current state of the Earth Koenig spins the
large globe in his office in the wrong direction.
Maybe this reinforces the idea that this Earth
is very different from the one they left. (BTW,
that was a very nice piece of set decoration.
Whatever became of it? I don't remember
seeing it in Year 2.)
This episode closes with another one of those
poigniant scenes, as Helena holds the
flowers, they've lost another chance to
settle.(So this is the tale of our castaways,
they're here for a long long time...)

I'd like to add that the alternate Prof. Bergman
(y'know, the one wearing the druid cloak)
convinces the Alphans to go back not with any
scientific arguments but rather some
metaphysical spoutings about time correcting
itself and being in the correct place when it
does. This is the same kind of vague talk
strong on faith and weak in facts that Arra and
other aliens throw at the Alphans when
pressed for answers.

I read in our paper that Judy Geeson has just recently celebrated her 52nd birthday. The only other movie/TV I have seen her was with John Wayne in Branigan, if I remember correctly (American cop goes to London the get some kidnapped American, teams up with Richard Attenborough (sp) and shoots up a charging Jag).

Douglas Nicol wrote:
Doesn't Helena seem a bit 'irresponsible', seeking out her own double, knowing it will almost certainly kill her. This
doesn't seem like the kind of action a doctor would take.

It was mentioned in the episode that she went to study the medical implications of an operation exodus there: "I have no choice but to go."

Peter Stoller wrote:
This episode closes with another one of those
poigniant scenes, as Helena holds the
flowers, they've lost another chance to
settle.

Who (or what) is Prof. Bergman looking at the end of the episode? In the scene he is clearly shown standing to the left of Helena, then the shot shows him looking to his left...

I just received the first 6 episodes today on VHS and watched this one along with "Breakaway." Not having seen this one in at least ten years I was surprised that when the alternaVictor :-) meets Koenig he tells him that this may very well not be the Earth the Alphans came from. Very interesting.

The bit about Regina having two brains was added to the script over writer Johnny Bryne's objections.

AFAIK Regina's pyjama top/robe has much wider sleeves than those on similar garments worn by women elsewhere in the series eg. the top Maya is wearing in the Medical Centre scenes in "Space Warp." In other cases they seem to be of the same cut as the male versions of that outfit. I wonder if this version caused some sort of production problems and was replaced, or if there was some deliberate reason connected with the plot of the episode for the design.

Judy Geeson also appeared in the late 1970's/early 1980's World War 2 film "The Eagle Has Landed," a story about a German commando team infiltrating England as a team of Polish soldiers for the purpose of assassinating Winston Churchill. Other big-name actors herein include Donald Sutherland, Michael Caine, Jenny Agutter, and several others I can't recall right now.
I also think Geeson played the neighbor across the hall sometimes seen on the sitcom "Mad About You," with Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt in the 1990's.

D'oh, how could I forget that. And I have Eagles Have Landed on tape. Judy's character gets shot, but gets word back to the American Rangers that there are Germans in town and they are to get Churchill. Other actors in the movie: Robert Duvall, Treat Williams, and Larry Hagman (who also gets shot). Movie came out in 1977.

Thanks for the update, Duane. I was going to mention Hagman & Duvall, but figured I was getting a little off topic...but now that we're there, here's more: Do you remember who played the female double agent that shoots Hagman's character? I can picture her, but can't recall her name. I believe she's the one that shot Geeson's character, as well. And she was never in Space:1999. (Now THERE's a feeble attempt to get back on-topic!)

...but you handled it with finesse, Craig!

Craig, the actress was Jean Marsh. She played in several movies and on TV in the '70's and '80's. Strange that she was not in Space:1999 as you all know it was done in Britain and Jean Marsh is British.

Indeed! (And thanks again.)

Your welcome, Craig.

I just recalled another thing that reinforces the alternate Alpha's reality is just slightly different from "our" reality: the alternate (and dead) Koenig and Carter had their names stenciled UNDER their helmet visors, as opposed to above them. I realize this was most likely a production decision to allow for a sense of surprise, but it works anyway.

Duane (or anyone else for that matter): I thought I was done with our little side discussion, but I have one more (final?) hazy memory that ties in with it...did Jean Marsh guest star in a Doctor Who episode? I seem to recall her playing a present day incarnation of Morgana, or something. Maybe I'm way off base. I'm off topic again, at any rate. Sorry, everyone...I'll try to start looking this stuff up on my own from now on! (At least with Doctor Who, I'm back in the sci-fi realm again.):-)

Although it probably didn't take too much work to set up, the atmosphere (or lack of, no punintended ) in the abandoned moonbase was perfectly handled. There was an air of sadness there, plus the base looked as if it had been quickly evacuated.

A quick evac makes sense. Despite computer notification of "Earth orbit confirmed," if I were an Alphan, I would never truly believe the moon couldn't start moving again at any time! That it happened at all in the first place would have forced a change in what I thought possible, and I wouldn't pass up the opprtunity to return home, even though that home was radically changed.
By the way, as I mentioned on the "Ring Around the Moon" board, Simmonds should have waited to return to Earth...he'd have gotten there without the Kalorian's ship! Further irony.

But the base LOOKED right, as if it had been evacuated quickly. Too many times in TV do they try to show something, and it turns out wrong. Alpha had a ghost like feel too it, as if you could almost see the crewmembers, feel where everybody had been. It was a poignant and well done moment. The way thinks like the comm posts had been stripped, other items, seemingly useless had been left behind.

I agree. I especially thought Koenig's vacant chair, left in position in the empty command office, was especially poignant.

The base DOESN'T look like it was quickly abandoned, it looks more like they took the time to remove everything that wasn't nailed down and a few things that were. The complete implementation of every possile stage of operation Exodus. They moved out!

Sorry Peter, I'm trying to find the way to explain it properly. The Base LOOKED like it had been abandoned, as it should have. I shouldn't have said quickly, but it did look like an evacuation had taken plce. The general atmosphere is what I was trying to hint at. Some shows have a base 'abandoned', but everything looks spick and span, tidy, organised, as if the place was brand new.

I agree that it looked right for the scene. Exploring the abandoned half-lit Alpha and the crashed Eagle are my favorite scenes of the episode. The lone chair makes Main Mission seem even ghostly. The Eagle has a "broken neck" as if it, too, is dead.

I wonder if the command chair was left there as a mark of respect for Koenig. It seems fitting somehow, especially as the wrecked eagle is visible from the Command Centre.

I'd always assumed the chair was left as a sign of respect, a memorial to Koenig. No one else could fill that chair like he did.
Nit: It's Main Mission, not Command Centre (or "Center" for American audiences).

It always thought they didn't take it 'cause its bolted to the floor.

Nah, it tipped over in an episode or two...Breakaway, I think, or maybe even this one when the time warp started. (I'll have to check later.)

I've got to admit that I'm puzzled as to the two brains part being added to the script. Alternatively they could have had some sort of neurological 'brainstorm' in Regina's brain rather than the silly 'two brains' idea.

When the Eagle is lifted to the launch pad, there is a moonbuggy near the front port landing leg. When the Eagle takes off, the moonbuggy is nowhere to be seen.

(I assume that nit is in other episodes too.)

It was touching how Alan refused help, and carried dead Regina from Main Mission himself.

I think this episode is a powerful argument for Space:1999 being science fantasy, not science fiction (and none the worse for that).

Good production values almost overcome the poor babe-o-meter reading. Too old, too haggard, too pessimistic. Wouldn't want to take any of these ladies on a beach holiday.

There's a signal emanating from the second moon that Koenig identifies as Alpha's beacon. Really? It sounds exactly like the life support system keeping the injured astronauts alive back in 'Breakaway'.
The sound effect of the two moons closing in on each other was repeated in other episodes too.

A prop blooper occurs when Koenig spins his globe of the Earth, and it clearly lacks the Great lakes. They're a major geological presence, because there's five of them and they're so big-- that's why they're called the GREAT Lakes. And since they're missing, so is the St.Lawrence seaway which acts as a water border between Canada and the U.S.
A favourite special effect of mine is in this episode. The Eagle is shown from outside on 'Earth', and the camera pans, showing Koenig, Helena, and Alan disembarking, giving viewers their best idea of the size of the ship.

I never noticed the missing water on the North American continent, Will... good catch! (I'll have to look for that next time I have time to watch an episode.) I pointed out a couple of other globe nits on the Sink 1999 2 board; check them out!

I'm kinda wondering why Bergman's group is wandering around in robes. Have they taken up religion or monkhood? Surely Victor, Helena, Paul and all the others had civilian clothing with them when they arrived at the other Monnbase Alpha. Shouldn't they be wearing shirts and jeans and coats? If not, then who made the robes? And why robes?

I would imagine that their clothing probably wore out, as we know they've been on Earth long enough to have school age children. Presumably they made the robes themselves. Where the material for them came from is another question. Unless they got lucky and found some cotton plants there must have been cotton seed stored on Alpha.

my fave episode. hellena wanted to go to the earth to see her alternative self because she wanted to see what she had become in a life without koenig. poetic!

It's also my favorite episode....Some of my favorite lines in the ep are spoken by the two "different" Bergmans....When the Eagle departs for the future Earth, Sandra says "They're going home" to which Victor responds "and heading back into future time . It's an interesting thought." - It's an interesting thought indeed!....Down on the future Earth,the future Victor explains to Koenig "It's an Earth where perhaps we never existed...or perhaps we have yet to be born.".....A fine,thoughtful story ...and unlike other series "alternate world" stories,this one didn't have to resort to fistfights and laser shoot-outs!

There was some violence. A guy fell off the balcony in Main Mission.

Yeah, but you never saw him hit the floor!

On a similar note, in the A-Team, when they blew stuff up, we always saw baddies flying, but did they ever hit the floor?

Well, there was this one ep (the first one, IIRC), where this hand grenade went off right underneath a bad guy, and he got knocked down (on the ground, even), and then he shook his head and got up and kept running! Wow! What a quality show!

And then they would have a helicopter crash and go up in flames, and then you would hear a voice over of two guys: "Hey, Frank, you OK?" "Yeah, I think so."