Space: 1999 (TV Series) All That Glisters (1976) User Reviews

Season 2 continues it's rapid descent into the toilet

[thompsonm-05031 · 6/10 · 12 February 2018]

First of all, despite the fact that the alphans encounter a sentient rock-like creature, any comparison to any Star Trek episode is a huge stretch and an insult to Star Trek.

I thought that the Rules Of Luton was about as stupid as anything I've ever seen, but I stand corrected. This episode is beyond stupid. First we have a "cowboy" from "Texas" as a guest star. We know this because he wears a cowboy-like hat and childish cowboys boots and refers repeatedly to Texas, although he's about as Texan as Catherine Schell. He speaks with a British accent and uses British slang throughout yet is constantly referred to as "cowboy". Yech.

Our heroes spend the majority of the second act dodging colored lights and making gigantic leaps of logic with statement like "it wants water" and "it's changed his molecular structure" without the slightest evidence of how that conclusion was arrived at.

Then we have the over-use of the Metamorph. For some reason, the writes seemed to feel required to use Maya's abilities not matter how ridiculous, going so far this time as to have her change into a stone. Twice. The rock creature takes over humans to tote itself back to the eagle, and while so doing, comes upon Maya as a rock. Apparently, it fails to recognize a part of its own body, despite finding it alone in the middle of a field, and takes it back to the eagle.

Once there, it tries to merge itself with Maya (as a rock) who cannot stop the union but manages AS A ROCK to call out instructions to the others to defeat the mineral menace.

I could go on, but the only comment that bears repeating is a condemnation of Fred Freiberger's criminal lack of any talent whatsoever. May he rot in hell for what he did to this fine show.

Stick to season One. Ignore Season Two.

Quit yer bellyaching y'all varmints

[Flubber69 · 6/10 · 8 September 2021]

Ersatz cowboy who's the dumbest geologist in the galaxy (let's stand next to this glowing rock a while BEFORE checking radiation). Check!

Dr. Helena Russel channeling Dr. Leonard McCoy ("I'm a doctor, not a miracle worker!"). Check!

Who cares! I'll take a bad S1999 episode over 90% of the rest of what's on TV any day.

I Like It But I Don't Like It

[StuOz · 24 May 2021]

The story of intelligent rocks and a stupid Texan.

The negatives include an actor speaking in a very fake Texas accent and the eagle miniature effects looking too toy story. The eagles looked fine when the camera did not get too close to them but looked terrible in close up (which is what we get here).

The positives includes no human-looking aliens speaking in British accents and no monsters. Also, the loud disco music cues bring life to what would have been a routine ending without the music.

As others have noted, this is Star Trek's Devil In The Dark all over again, but it kept my attention - average to okay but not perfect.

pretty dire

[marcgreenman · 1/10 · 28 November 2019]

This story is easily the worst thing space: 1999 has ever come up with, apart from brian johnson's work on the eagle shots which is superlative as always. the whole flow feels very clunky, nothing makes any real sense, it just seems made up from moment to moment, maybe it was actually written as filming was being done. the cast don't seem to understand what they are working with, they appear slightly confused much of the time. some of the lines and some of the logic are terrible, actually no the whole thing is terrible. the glowing alien rock looks different but is not really explained that well, which is a shame it could have been something very original.

Yukon Cornelius meets "Star Trek"!

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 25 May 2010]

This episode begins with a landing party on a strange planet to mine some ore. The party consists of the series regulars plus Patrick Mower who plays a Texan who is a mining expert. However, it seemed like the writers and director told Mower his character should be almost exactly like Yukon Cornelius from "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer"--he's that over-the-top in his characterization and seems about as much a Texan as Allen Carter (Nick Tate)! It makes me wonder if American actors imitating Brits come off that badly when those in the UK view the shows! One reviewer compared this to the original "Star Trek" episode "The Devil in the Darkness", though it also has similarities with another Trek episode "The Savage Curtain", as the crew encounter an intelligent life force that appears to be a rock. This similarity may not be that unintentional, as Fred Freiberger (from the "Star Trek" series) had begun as the show's producer and occasional writer starting in the second season of "Space: 1999". I am sure he had some influence on this rock-monster plot.

The show begins with 'Yukon Cornelius' Mower bouncing about excitedly as he announces that they've found a valuable ore the Moonbase needs. However, on closer inspection, this is NOT the ore and might just be a trap--as the giant glowing rock seems, in some ways, to be alive! A bit later, it attacks Tony and Tony appears dead. However, a bit later, Tony comes to life as a zombie working for the rock! In addition, the rock seems to have some impact on each of the crew--as their personalities seem affected by the rock in some weird way. Attempts to communicate with it are fruitless and eventually they realize that it's holding them prisoner. Why it is doing this and how they escape is up to you to find out for yourself.

The concept, while somewhat reminiscent of the Trek episodes, is pretty unusual and original. You certainly can't compare it to previous "Space: 1999" episodes and it's nice to see them focus on life that doesn't, oddly, look almost exactly like humans--like almost all their other contacts over their two seasons. Unfortunately, however, a glowy rock, while unusual, isn't the most interesting character (in fact, it's a bit dumb) and is no where near as cool as the Horta or the nasty rock creature that orchestrated the battle in the other Trek episode. As a result, the episode does little to breath life into this moribund series.

Death on the rocks!

[ShadeGrenade · 9/10 · 1 March 2010]

The Alphans are in need of an ore named Milgonite. Detecting the presence of said ore on an arid planet, an Eagle containing Koenig, Dr.Russell, Tony, Maya and geologist Dave Reilly ( Patrick Mower ) sets off. In a cave, they discover what appears to be a massive lump of gold. Reilly uses his laser to break off a piece, and a terrible scream rents the air.

Back at the Eagle, Tony is apparently 'killed' while examining the rock specimen. This is no ordinary rock but a sentient life-form, and it has drawn the humans to its world for a reason. But what?

Not far removed from the famous 'Devil In The Dark' episode of 'Star Trek', this is a nice story based on the old 'don't judge by appearances' theme. The indigenous life form is unable to communicate with the Alphans, at least not until Maya takes on the same shape. The planet is dying, and the creatures thrive on water. She points out that the human body is mostly composed of it. Rather than simply kill it, the Alphans find it an alternative water source - they cause a rainstorm.

Stylishly directed by Ray Austin, who also worked on 'The Avengers', it has few sets and not many special effects, and Moonbase Alpha itself is not seen at all, but these things do not matter.

On the down side, Patrick Mower's 'Irish cowboy' grates somewhat. His accent is about as convincing as Dick Van Dyke's attempt at Cockney in 'Mary Poppins' ( though there's a hilarious moment near the end when Tony puts on Reilly's hat and effects an impersonation which borders on cruelty! ). Following his tough guy roles in the television shows 'Special Branch' and 'Target', Mower was hotly tipped to be a big film star, but it never happened. These days he is to be found in 'Emmerdale'.

Written by Keith Miles, who later penned a novelisation of Alan Bleasdale's 'Boys From The Blackstuff'.