Again not a bad episode, except for the tacky costumes.

Not a bad Season 2 ep, except for the annoying kid and his funky plastic boots. Oh, and the ending where Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, despite 20 years of marriage, can't get their heads turned correctly to kiss.

Definately one of the best episodes of the second
season. And the most heartwarming. I also liked
the mythological overtones. It goes to show you
that there is something in the universe better
than man. Even though the Archanons had problems
of their own, they showed the audience that there
is something better than man. Something nobler
and decent. I liked the friendship between Alan
and Etrec. Alan's character was truly fleshed out
in the episode. I was saddened by Pasc's death.
Even though he was plagued by the killing sickness
he was still a cool character. He also showed that
any parent is willing to give their life for their
children. Good writing and good acting as always
from the cast.

The makeup around the eyes of Pasc and Etrec, and Pascs beard were pretty bad, but this is one of the best episodes of year 2 in my opinion. Notably, Maya or Koenig arent here to save the day and the staff have to learn how to function without their two biggest assets, their commander and their handy shapechanger. Despite Pasc's attitude he is a sympathetic and tragic character. Alan gets one of his few opportunities to truly shine and Helena is fairly decent as well.

What was the point of Fraser's appearance in this?
Two lines.

I believe his role in this episode is "Warm Body", King. That's one step up from "extra." Which is a shame, I kinda liked Fraser, even though he apparently divorced his wife and pushed her out an airlock.

I like Fraser too, particularly when he got more to do, such as in A Matter of Balance and Beta Cloud.

The actress who played Frazers wife, Anoushka Hemple, is now a big-time hotelier in Europe. She has some of the priciest hotel rooms around (like, $500+ a night - not exactly Motel 6!) She was recently featured in an article in Travel magazine, they showed pics of her hotel. A little bare for 400 smackers, in my estimation. Then I'm not into that whole feng shui thing...

She's also appeared in a issue or two in recent years of Architectural Digest.

And popped up in UFO.

Shouldn't Koenig be just a little bit worried about leaving Moonbase and leaving Verdeschi in charge of security? The two aliens wake up in Medical centre and miraculously find their way to Command Centre - and Verdeschi only finds out that they're there when they announce their presence! Chief O'Hara from Gotham City could do a better job sometimes!

Actually, John and Maya should have been able to see them before Tony......'they're behind you!'

I just saw this one last night for the first time. Very good episode, certainly among the best of the second season. Heck, I'll even go so far as to put it among the best of both seasons in terms of being well-written.

I thought so too Todd, certainly an interesting premise in this episode.

I watched this again, courtesy of the DVD, and all I can say is that if the majority of Season 2 had had stories of this quality (despite poor make up) then I don't think ths season would be cast in as bad a light by some fans. It's a genuinely good episode.

I don't get why Helena is beating herself up about Pasc though. What really was her choice? Take his blood and Etrec can live, or Pasc eventually dies, and Etrec goes wild probably resulting in his death as well.

I agree that this is a well written episode (despite the scientific errors; lunar caves, a meteor "storm",etc) but its shoddy production values considerably diminish its appeal....First,the scenes in the cave. A laser cuts open the rocks surrounding the stasis chamber. The laser's cutting ability is somewhat less than impressive since the rocks are pulled apart by a visible white cord....Once the stasis chamber is fully exposed, the two figures in suspended animation are seen to be moving quite a bit. Etrec particularly has a hard time standing still. When Tony tries to convince Helena that he saw one of the figures move,it's a bit ridiculous (since both Pasc and Etrec are clearly moving in the chamber in front of them)....Once the two aliens are revived,we are treated to some truly awful make-up work. The grayish tone to their foreheads is particulary unpleasant. Poor Etrec even has a dent in his fake head!....A bit later,the series worst special effects appear; the meteor "storm" sequence. The tin foil asteriods are surpassed in cheesiness by the shots of an Eagle with a bent leg (with glitter,dust,and rocks being dropped on it-for a successful use of this technique see the pilot episode of Lost in Space). Even if one were to excuse the lousy execution of the effects, there is a total lack of continuity in the meteor sequence. Every shot of the meteors looks as if it was of a different cluster of meteors....Mention must be made of Etrec's voice; probably the most annoying voice for a child character I've ever seen. His voice has all the sincerity of the dubbed voices for children in Godzilla films (perhaps his voice was dubbed to sound more American?).....This episode also contains the dorkiest scene of the entire series (when the oversize kid Etrec hitches a ride on Alan's back)....I just mention these things to show what a sad decline in production quality (compared to year one) this episode represents. I still enjoy it for its story and acting,but its cheapness is annoying.

...the bandages made out of "bubble" packing material sure do look futuristic!

I watched the schlock 70's flick "The Boys from Brazil" on the History channel this weekend. The teen clones of Hitler looked familiar. Turns out it was Michael Gallagher, the same actor who played Etrec. He is awful in this movie. It's hard to determine which was worse, his German accent or his American accent. I wonder if ITC was convinced to hire him for the role in "The Boys from Brazil" based on his work in ITC's Space:1999. The somewhat sadistic American kid he played (let loose some dogs to kill a man) sure was a contrast to the sensitive Etrec.

Why didn't Koenig and Maya fly around the meteor storm?

How could Carter and Johnson explore in the lunar caves without space suits?

Good episode except for the Eagle flying through the meteor storm. The model looked like it was on a stick and someone was moving it back and forth, and the meteors looked like wadded up tinfoil. Not the quality special effects that we are used to.

Johnson isn't a great actor either.

Except for these things, not a bad episode.

Not a bad episode. Decent character build, a noble sacrifice and some ideas about justice.

The thing I hated most was their costumes. They look like old Sumeria/Persia style. I hate when aliens are nothing more than "humans in old civilization robes". Trek used and abused this feature, but we were safe from that in S1999 (until this episode, that is). I guess another contribution from FF to the global misery the series has became...

the model WAS on a stick. An Eagle-Sicle, as it were.

...yet another stick in the eye, courtesy of Fry-Burger

The camera inside the Eagle shouldn't have been flopping all over the place as Tony talks to Koenig. It should be ridigly placed inside a bulkhead.

Alan must have been a bit of a geek in his younger life-- he's singing a song that's not contemporary with 1999. he seems to like music from his parent's time.

Etrec's father, Pasc, has just died, and Alan tries to lighten the mood by giving him his prized football. Huh? Why not let the kid grieve, Alan?

Pasc mentions how violent Earth was when he visited it, and the Alpha people seem embarrassed. Pasc saw 11th century humans-- why not say how far humanity has come in the 20th century?

Yea-- take away the silly eye makeup, put a few more clothes on Etrec, and the episode would be better.

Why attack that pilot? Pasc and Etrec never got abaoard an Eagle before being found.

I wish the director had told Barbara Bain to pretend to drink her coffee at the end. That swallow-gurgling-second gurgling-exhale is gross once, but twice?! Ugh.
ACT like you're drinking coffee, Barbara, and do NOT swallow any liquid, because the microphone WILL pick up the gross sounds!

Etrec's father, Pasc, has just died, and Alan tries to lighten the mood by giving him his prized football

I think Alan just wanted to give Etrec something to remember him by. Etric was leaving, after all.

Yes, but he literally just stepped away from his father, who died one minute ago. The tone in his voice was light-hearted, as if he was saying, 'Don't worry, kid! You'll find a new dad!'. Alan could have said it with grief and sadness in his voice, and lamely offered the ball. As it was it sounded like a win-some-lose-some tone.

Well, I always liked it. Alan really liked the kid and just wanted to give him something to take home with him.