ITV 4 episode ‘Reflections in the Water’

Hi all,


Last week's episode was `Reflections in the Water'. I found three
edits –


The entire scene of the film producer discussing the insurance claim
with the agent

All of the view through Skydiver's periscope as it emerges from the
water

A short section of Foster and Straker underwater approaching the dome


This is the only one to have a montage of `teaser' clips from the
forthcoming episode during the initial credits; does anybody know if
there's a reason why this is so?

When you consider the plot, this episode would appear to have much
going for it. The aliens are preparing for a mass invasion of Earth;
moreover, they have a novel and devious `trick' up their sleeve to
take out SHADO's defences entirely, but despite all this, the
episode lacks any real sense of `drama', considering what SHADO is
faced with!  

It's almost like they're not in the least bit alarmed by either
threat. Straker is uncharacteristically laid back, even exchanging
sarcastic comments with Foster over the computer's suggestions for
the purpose of the underwater dome, much to Col. Lake's chagrin.  
Maybe they believe their defences are invincible to conventional
attack; they have four Skydivers, so perhaps Straker got his
appropriation for four additional Moonbases after all?

I can't believe both Straker and Foster go to investigate the dome;
surely far too dangerous to risk both their lives like that? I also
find it hard to accept Straker would go anywhere near Skydiver -
never mind scuba diving! They wouldn't be able to talk while using
mouthpieces to breathe underwater and, if a mere human can exert
enough pressure on the outer shell to force entry, surely the sheer
weight of sea water above would crush it into non-existence? :-/

Still, it's quite fun watching Ed Bishop and Mike Billington running
around in wetsuits, although it was apparently shockingly hard work
for them, shedding pounds of bodyweight in lost fluids during
filming. I'm guessing Mike had `help' to lift Ed right above his
head like that, although he did do weightlifting ;-)

The aliens reveal they are capable of reproducing *exact* likenesses
of SHADO operatives. They *can* understand SHADO communications,
although appear unable to speak themselves, implying they are
telepathic, yet the only comments made about these important
revelations are "but why all the elaborate miming?" "You forget,
they'd be seen on the TV screens" – oh dear!?!  

It's a pity there wasn't more made of the mass attack, resorting to
another Hitchcock style `happy ending'. Then, just when it surely
couldn't get any worse, there's the suggestion that the aliens found
out what SHADO control and its operatives looked like through a form
of x-ray photography, but isn't the complex lead-lined? Wouldn't it
be more likely that SHADO has one or more real traitors? >;-)

This could have been a very good episode. Admittedly, it is fast
paced and has plenty of `action', but the end result feels
superficial - feeble, even, imho. It strikes me there wasn't much
thought put into the script; watching it certainly doesn't demand
any, which makes it infrequent viewing for this particular `dyed-in-
the-wool' fan :-)

Best moments? Straker in the film theatre absolutely bored to
tears, never fails to make me smile! Also the interrogation scene,
only because this feels a bit more `UFO–like', although the dialogue
(again) leaves much to be desired and - surely Jackson should be
carrying out the interrogation?. Worst moment? That cringingly
awful overacting by David Warbeck and Anoushka Hempel, when only
Foster is seen returning to Skydiver ;-)


Thanks for reading,


Sarah


P.S. Hi to all the newbies! :-D

--- In [hidden email], "moonbasegirl" <shaded2cinders@...> wrote:
>> This is the only one to have a montage of `teaser' clips from the
> forthcoming episode during the initial credits; does anybody know if
> there's a reason why this is so?

I think there was an attempt to 'do something different' for the second production block of
episodes. In fact 'The Cat With Ten Lives' has a similar montage of clips, and while not so
obviously done as RITW, it is not the usual 'captions over opening sequences' style as
other episodes.

Shaqui

The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History
http://www.technodelic.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Home.htm
.

moonbasegirl wrote:

"another Hitchcock style `happy ending'. "

Psycho? Vertigo? The Birds? Hitchcock had a predilection for downbeat
endings before they became fashionable. He wanted the ending in Suspicion
(which I won't give away for those who haven't seen it) to be much darker
but it wasn't allowed.

Don't forget that it was an era where the US Production code wouldn't allow
crime to go unpunished - making an entirely unhappy ending for the hero or
heroine difficult.
I certainly don't think that Hitchcock had more than his fair share of happy
endings in the period in which he worked and they were usually deserved by
the characters. The happy endings didn't come from nowhere as a "deus ex
machina". The characters had often gone through hell, losing friends and
relations, status, liberty and many of their comfortable illusions in order
to earn their bitter-sweet ending. Often his hero or heroine will survive
but you have to doubt that they will escape being forever haunted by their
experiences.

Regards
John

--- In [hidden email], "JKS" <jks@...> wrote:
 
> Psycho? Vertigo? The Birds?

None of these. I actually meant 'North by Northwest'.

I'm sorry, I am guilty of over-generalising! The reference to 'North
by Northwest' came up back in January, when the ending of 'Subsmash'
was being discussed; I thought 'RITW' ends in a similar manner.

Please accept my apologies, John :-)

ITV 4 is screening 'The Responsibility Seat' as I write; explains
the cheshire cat sized grin on my face ;-D

Later

Sarah

moonbasegirl wrote:
"I'm sorry, I am guilty of over-generalising! "

Sorry, I was guilty of going over the top,

Best Wishes
John

I remember being disappointed that the episode is building up to a spectacular battle in space and on the Earth - possibly the basis of it being included in the Invasion: UFO compliation movie - and when it did happen, the battle was made up of clips from previous episodes!

moonbasegirl <[hidden email]> wrote: This could have been a verygood episode. Admittedly, it is fast
paced and has plenty of `action', but the end result feels
superficial - feeble, even, imho. It strikes me there wasn't much
thought put into the script; watching it certainly doesn't demand
any, which makes it infrequent viewing for this particular `dyed-in-
the-wool' fan :-)
               
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