Huh. Less fun than I remembered. The Servalan/Tarrant seems terribly OOC (at least for Servalan.) But "the Sand made them do it", I suppose. It does seem to make people unusually emotional overall (including poor Vila), perhaps acting on a hormonal level. (Doesn't explain the computers, of course.)
I've got a soft spot for the sets, though.
I like that Avon doesn't try to force Vila to come along against his will, actually suggesting that he stay on Xenon. And I suppose it says something that Vila still, in spite of everything, would rather face certain danger with the rest of them, than uncertain danger on his own.
Why is Avon not wearing his jacket? (Laundry day? Someone turned up the heaters?) The thing he wears under it looks weirdly clownish. I suppose those round silver things around the edge of the circular decoration are studs, but I keep thinking that they're little bells... *g*
I will never not laugh at their reactions to Orac's declaration of love. The panic in that OFF! (got something to hide, Avon?) And Vila's just
( ... )
the extemely unexciting "magical chemical" of the week is... Preservative... Ha, yes, that would really have given them the edge, wouldn't it...
Soolin's sudden curse theory is a bit left field! It seemed a rather shamelessly self-referential thing to put in by the writer. "Hey, remember this other episode that I also wrote? What if it was somehow responsible for all the bad luck they've been having since then? (It's all my plot, MINE! Mwahaha!!!")
No one comments that the glass Vila is nursing is water I assumed that it was some kind of wine rather than pure alcohol (it looked the same as the 'wine' Dorian offered them in 'Rescue') and that it reacted with the sand on the basis of being *mostly* water.
I noticed that all of them except Avon were shown with glasses of it back at the base though - including Tarrant. No "don't drink and fly" policy it seems...
This is one of the few episodes I remember perfectly from when I watched as a teenager (along with 'Powerplay', 'City at the Edge of the World', and 'Blake') - I remember especially the eerie claustrophobic atmosphere and the sand, which makes a surprisingly good monster because it can be done cheaply. I still like it - Servalan and Tarrant are a bizarre combination, especially as she is always paired with Avon, but for me it works, and I like the way that I can see their relationship as the effect of the sand, a survival strategy, or something which has elements of genuine affection, depending on my mood. (The same is true of Servalan's relationship with Keller - she is obviously exaggerating the 'one true love' thing to get Tarrant's sympathy - but just how much?) I also like that where the others are merely disgusted with Tarrant at the end (especially poor Dayna) Avon seems jealous. It is fun to speculate on how Servalan would have gone about seducing Avon if it had been him she had been trapped with
( ... )
this episode was a bit meh for me. I like that we have Ken Masters from Howards Way now, to match Jack Rolfe at the beginning of S1. I found the tragic Servalan monologue a bit hammy and am displeased with Tarrant's hormones.
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I've got a soft spot for the sets, though.
I like that Avon doesn't try to force Vila to come along against his will, actually suggesting that he stay on Xenon. And I suppose it says something that Vila still, in spite of everything, would rather face certain danger with the rest of them, than uncertain danger on his own.
Why is Avon not wearing his jacket? (Laundry day? Someone turned up the heaters?) The thing he wears under it looks weirdly clownish. I suppose those round silver things around the edge of the circular decoration are studs, but I keep thinking that they're little bells... *g*
I will never not laugh at their reactions to Orac's declaration of love. The panic in that OFF! (got something to hide, Avon?) And Vila's just ( ... )
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Ha, yes, that would really have given them the edge, wouldn't it...
Soolin's sudden curse theory is a bit left field!
It seemed a rather shamelessly self-referential thing to put in by the writer. "Hey, remember this other episode that I also wrote? What if it was somehow responsible for all the bad luck they've been having since then? (It's all my plot, MINE! Mwahaha!!!")
No one comments that the glass Vila is nursing is water
I assumed that it was some kind of wine rather than pure alcohol (it looked the same as the 'wine' Dorian offered them in 'Rescue') and that it reacted with the sand on the basis of being *mostly* water.
I noticed that all of them except Avon were shown with glasses of it back at the base though - including Tarrant. No "don't drink and fly" policy it seems...
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Excellent point on Vila and the water.
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