Greenflame
Jottings on science, religion, technology, pop culture, photography and faith from the Aotearoa New Zealand
Category: Pop Culture
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Having cut their teeth on the Supermarionation of Thunderbirds, Joe 90, Captain Scarlet, and Stingray, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson turned their attention to live-action science fiction with the TV series – UFO and Space 1999, as well as the action-adventure show, The Protectors, featuring Robert Vaughan.
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This particular post is dedicated to the shows developed by Gerry Anderson and his team. My earliest recollection of these is watching Captain Scarlet in black and white, followed a few years later by Thunderbirds, Stingray and Joe 90. I have no recollection of ever watching Supercar, The Secret Service, or Fireball XL5, but…
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A few more of the science fiction television influence in my preteen years. This time around we encounter invisible men and secret agents with superpowers. The Invisible Man (1975) This was my first encounter with the actor, David McCallum, having been a little two young to see him reprise his role as Russian agent, Illya…
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More bionic and psychic abilities today. Does anyone remember Max(imillion) the Bionic Dog? The Tomorrow People (1973-1979) One of the highlights of my childhood science fiction watching, The Tomorrow People introduced the scenario of children hitting puberty developing psychic powers. These included teleportation, telekinesis, telepathy, and some other psychic traits, as well as an inability to…
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Inspired by the latest Doctor Who episode, we venture into film and television which have featured our favourite(?) eight-legged arthropods. Of course, arthropods includes crustaceans, so your favourite arthropod might be lobster served with garlic butter or the classic shrimp cocktail, but then you might be interested in a deep-fried tarantula on a stick instead.…
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This instalment is a smorgasbord of television shows that filled in some of the gaps of childhood viewing but with some pertinent life lessons for the younger viewer. Things I learned from these shows: Don’t ever get in a boat; If you end up in a boat, you will most likely be: Eaten by a…
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Scary science fiction is back on the agenda today, as well as Greek mythology crashing into science fiction superheroes. Sapphire and Steel (1979-82) If Children of the Stones scared kids to death, then Sapphire and Steel nailed their coffins well and truly shut. Many nursery rhymes have gruesome or unpleasant origins, but this took it…
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In this post we are sent spiralling into the 25th century to join a 1930s spaceman dragged into the 2400s via 1979. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979-81) In 1979 Buck Rogers blasted across our TV screens as media companies attempted to cash in on the buzz generated by Star Wars. For some…
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Part 2 of childhood science fiction influences. This time the action hero we all wanted to be, the programme is possibly the scariest children’s TV show ever, and then we go swimming. The Six Million Dollar Man (1973-78) Steve Austin – astronaut, secret agent, bionic man. We all wanted to be him in the playground.…
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I’ve been reading, watching and playing with science fiction media ever since I can remember. In part, that’s from growing up as the manned missions to the moon were happening. I have a distinct memory of my mother getting me … Continue reading →