Space: 1999 (1975) – Alpha Child, and Dragon’s Domain

Moonbase Alpha continues it’s not exactly lonely journey through space – there is a lot of life out there apparently, and all so conveniently close for storytelling purposes. First up this week, Koenig (Martin Landau), Dr. Russell (Barbara Bain) and Professor Bergman (Barry Morse) meet the Alpha Child. Written by Christopher Penfold and Edward di…

Space: 1999 (1975) – Collision Course, and War Games

Moonbase Alpha continues it’s journey across the stars in this week’s pair of episodes! Up first is Collision Course, written by Anthony Terpiloff, this episode first debuted on 18 September, 1975. Alan (Nick Tate) is leading a flight of Eagles in front of Alpha to blow up an asteroid that is on a collision course…

Alien Vault: The Definitive Story Behind the Film (2011) – Ian Nathan

I remember the summer that Alien opened, 1979, two years after Star Wars rocked the world. The Force stayed with me all through my childhood, and through to this very day. But Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, and a little magazine called Starlog, got me very interested in genre film and television. I wasn’t…

Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) – Time Heist, and The Caretaker

Steven Moffat and Steve Thompson pen this caper episode that first aired on 20 September, 2014. The Doctor (Capaldi) and Clara (Jenna Coleman) receive a strange phone call and then find  themselves in a highly secure bank with their memories wiped. They are recruited to rob a bank that is supposed to be impregnable. Will…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992) – Schisms, and True Q

Captain’s log: stardate 46154.2 Airing on 19 October, 1992, this one has always been a favourite, and is a bit creepy. Written by Brannon Braga from a story by Jean Louise Matthias and Ronald Wilkerson. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) is suffering from insomnia, but he soon learns he is not the only one, and the crew…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992) – Power Play, and Ethics

Captain’s log: stardate 45571.2 Brannon Braga, Herbert Wright and Rene Balcer penned the teleplay from this episode that first aired on 24 February, 1992, from a story by Maurice Hurley and Paul Ruben. When the Enterprise investigates a storm-riddled planet for a missing ship, the away team, lead by Riker (Jonathan Frakes) returns to the…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – Redemption Part II, and Darmok

Captain’s log: stardate 45020.4 Season five got under way on 23 September, 1991 in this episode written by Ronald D, Moore. Worf (Michael Dorn) has gone to fight alongside his brother Kurn (Tony Todd) in the Klingon Civil War. Meanwhile, Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the Enterprise are trying to stop the…