Starker/Henderson Relationship Question

Hello,

I just joined this group at the suggestion of Marc Martin regarding a topic I posted at Fanderson. He thought my question might be a good topic of discussion here. This my original post, to which I will add soome additional info:

"I recently pulled out some Dinky toys from storage to display in my "geek room".
Amongst them are the SHADO 2 Mobile and Interceptor. this prompted me to watch
some episodes of UFO, which I haven't done in a few years.

Watching them again reminded me of a nagging question I've had since seeing the
series in it's entirety decades ago. Has anyone heard of an official explanation
of the change in the relationship between the characters of Straker and
Henderson? During their brief scene together in "Identified" they are obviously
superior and subordinate, but they seem to work without friction as a team. In
the flashback scenes of "Confetti Check A-OK" they get on well, and obviously
respect and admire each other. However, in every other episode, their
relationship is barely tolerant at best, and downrght antagonistic and hostile
the rest of the time.

Obviously, the change occurs after the formation of SHADO, when Straker is put
in command and Henderson is at the IAC. As shown in the episodes, many of the
disagreements stem from funding for SHADO. Henderson takes a positive delight
in denying Straker's requests and hindering his objectives. Since SHADO is
partially Henderson's idea, the expense of the operation can't be his only
motivation. There's something more personal lurking beneath. But unless I've
just completely missed or forgotten about it, we're never really given an
on-screen explanation for the change.

Anyone got any information or ideas?

Davidp"

Some ideas were the natural antagonism between those who control the money and those who spend it, and the idead that perhaps Henderson turned bitter of not being given command of SHADO. It was pointed out the original draft of "Conflict" did not include Henderson, and the production team decided to bring him back as a foil for Straker.

While I agree that these are all plausible motives, I still feel that there is/was a missing piece of the story. Since "Conflict" came closely after "Identified" in production order, the hostility seems quite believable. However, when we later get to "Confetti Check A-Ok" it's obvious thate's been a significant rift.

I also suggested that if they had written Henderson as the father of Ed's estranged wife, Mary, and that he had been against the union, his disapproval of Straker would make a lot of sense ( especially given the way things turned out ).

If there had been a second season of UFO, I wonder if they would have addressed this issue ( although since Grant Taylor's health was declining, they would have had to re-cast him with another actor ).

Any thoughts, ladies and gents?

On Thu, Apr 26, 2012, at 09:10 PM, David Penn wrote:
> Has anyone heard of an official explanation
> of the change in the relationship between the characters of Straker and
> Henderson?

I don't think there is any "official" explanation.  There may be a line
about it in one of the scripts, or maybe not...?

CONFETTI CHECK A-OK obviously shows how Straker's relationship
deteriorates with his wife.  But it also indirectly shows that Straker
and Henderson once had a better relationship (but it obviously
also deteriorated in the long run).

On the Fanderson group, someone thought this might have been
a continuity issue, but I disagree.  I think they deliberately
showed Henderson and Straker having a better relationship
at the time of SHADO's formation, to contrast with their
"current" (1980) relationship.

Marc

As far as I know, there is no 'official' explanation of why the relationship
between Straker and Henderson turned so antagonistic aside from it added to
the tension between the characters so writers would have something to work
with. A couple other ideas to toss into the ring - Henderson was expecting
Straker to allow him to be an advisor and have a hand in running SHADO -
something that would not have been good for the organization in the long run
- and as time went on Straker went more and more against Henderson's ideas.
It's also possible that Henderson had his own pet space projects and felt
that SHADO was doing a good enough job keeping the aliens at bay that more
space projects should be funded - but not if Straker had his way. (The
tension in Conflict seemed very territorial - both men had astronauts in
space and in a real sense Straker was telling Henderson that his
(Henderson's) team wasn't cutting it in terms of keeping things safe.)

 

Just some thoughts - VBG

 

  _____  

From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
David Penn
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 2:11 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [SHADO] Starker/Henderson Relationship Question

 

 

Hello,

I just joined this group at the suggestion of Marc Martin regarding a topic
I posted at Fanderson. He thought my question might be a good topic of
discussion here. This my original post, to which I will add soome additional
info:

"I recently pulled out some Dinky toys from storage to display in my "geek
room".
Amongst them are the SHADO 2 Mobile and Interceptor. this prompted me to
watch
some episodes of UFO, which I haven't done in a few years.

Watching them again reminded me of a nagging question I've had since seeing
the
series in it's entirety decades ago. Has anyone heard of an official
explanation
of the change in the relationship between the characters of Straker and
Henderson? During their brief scene together in "Identified" they are
obviously
superior and subordinate, but they seem to work without friction as a team.
In
the flashback scenes of "Confetti Check A-OK" they get on well, and
obviously
respect and admire each other. However, in every other episode, their
relationship is barely tolerant at best, and downrght antagonistic and
hostile
the rest of the time.

Obviously, the change occurs after the formation of SHADO, when Straker is
put
in command and Henderson is at the IAC. As shown in the episodes, many of
the
disagreements stem from funding for SHADO. Henderson takes a positive
delight
in denying Straker's requests and hindering his objectives. Since SHADO is
partially Henderson's idea, the expense of the operation can't be his only
motivation. There's something more personal lurking beneath. But unless I've
just completely missed or forgotten about it, we're never really given an
on-screen explanation for the change.

Anyone got any information or ideas?

Davidp"

Some ideas were the natural antagonism between those who control the money
and those who spend it, and the idead that perhaps Henderson turned bitter
of not being given command of SHADO. It was pointed out the original draft
of "Conflict" did not include Henderson, and the production team decided to
bring him back as a foil for Straker.

While I agree that these are all plausible motives, I still feel that there
is/was a missing piece of the story. Since "Conflict" came closely after
"Identified" in production order, the hostility seems quite believable.
However, when we later get to "Confetti Check A-Ok" it's obvious thate's
been a significant rift.

I also suggested that if they had written Henderson as the father of Ed's
estranged wife, Mary, and that he had been against the union, his
disapproval of Straker would make a lot of sense ( especially given the way
things turned out ).

If there had been a second season of UFO, I wonder if they would have
addressed this issue ( although since Grant Taylor's health was declining,
they would have had to re-cast him with another actor ).

Any thoughts, ladies and gents?





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I agree with you Marc and like what Deborah had to say too. The tension between the two was a great
continual aspect of the show and had to be one of the rules the writer's wrote
the scripts by.
To toss a few more ideas into the ring of "CONFETTI CHECK A-OK". I've always wonder of the depth and reason behind their tension other than the obvious also.
To me it looks like the tension may have been more on Straker’s part than
Henderson’s. In regards that Straker may have blamed Henderson for the breakup
of his marriage. With Henderson's constant demand of service and completion of
SHADO Straker hardly had a chance to have the home life he desired. Then there was his wife Mary who was such a needy
person, which played on Straker gravely. He wanted to rescue her but he did not
have the time when she needed him the most. This hurt Straker and he never forgot it. There is so much you can read into the
episode.
Another
reason may lie in "A Question Of
Priorities"in which Mary had a new husband. Was
he a plant by Henderson to keep Mary and son John safe and/or under control? They were a huge security risk if catch by the Alien's. This could be another reason for the animosity between Straker and Henderson. Straker always seemed to be out to prove Henderson wrong, to get back at him.
Which brings up another question of mine (I love this show) - did Straker’s son actually died or did Straker place
him in hiding? It look like at the end of the episode Straker wanted to tell
Mary something but could not.
There
is no doubt the creation and commanding SHADO harden Straker, which is what Henderson
probably wanted. A tough leader who would get the job done no matter what the cost. The were so many factors’ that hurt their friendship.
Martin   
 

________________________________
 From: Marc Martin <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Starker/Henderson Relationship Question
 

   
 
On Thu, Apr 26, 2012, at 09:10 PM, David Penn wrote:
> Has anyone heard of an official explanation
> of the change in the relationship between the characters of Straker and
> Henderson?

I don't think there is any "official" explanation.  There may be a line
about it in one of the scripts, or maybe not...?

CONFETTI CHECK A-OK obviously shows how Straker's relationship
deteriorates with his wife.  But it also indirectly shows that Straker
and Henderson once had a better relationship (but it obviously
also deteriorated in the long run).

On the Fanderson group, someone thought this might have been
a continuity issue, but I disagree.  I think they deliberately
showed Henderson and Straker having a better relationship
at the time of SHADO's formation, to contrast with their
"current" (1980) relationship.

Marc
   
     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This is how I saw Henderson and Straker. I posted this on Deb's SHADO forum about a year ago.

The constant conflict over SHADO finances by the irresistible force (Straker) against the immovable object (Henderson) is a staple in the UFO universe. Their battles over the monetary situation, is the stuff that legends are made of.

In fact, I see these two men as being much more alike than either of them care to admit. I do believe that under the surface they have mutual respect and even admiration for one another, but that relationship is constantly strained by the very real needs of SHADO against a very real limit in financial resources. I see their battles as more of a stress relief than real adversity. The one exception would of course the episode Conflict where they both seemed to be on the opposite side of the coin. In the end, they realize how much they have in common. Straker offering to walk him to his car was very telling, at least to me.

In Timelash, Henderson called Straker SHADO's most vital piece of manpower, with told me that his opinion of the Commander was still in the stratosphere despite the differences that the two men endured. He reaffirms that opinion in Mindbender when he mentions Straker's dedication as being a monkey on his back. The statement was, in fact, a backhanded compliment.

Henderson is really in a much more difficult position than Straker, as he has to justify the enormous expenditures, both operational and capital, to the international community that is supporting the IAC. It's a given fact that very few people outside the IAC would have knowledge of SHADO's existence and Henderson is in a never ending battle of securing resources through countless black projects and creative accounting. (Why do you think the government pays ten thousand dollars for a toilet seat?)


Mike, I have to admit being quite intrigued by your idea of Henderson being responsible for Mary's marrage to Rutland, however, the concept that John did not really die, but was hidden would make a hell of a story plot bunny. *grin*

Matt

Matt the idea of Straker's son John never died
intrigues me also. I wrote a short miniseries outline script for it in the
1990's. It's around here somewhere. It seems like I remember sending
Albert Hasting a copy of in Australia years ago in the 90s. Great guy.
Let's see it went like: John Straker has now
taken over the command of SHADO. The Shado base has now moved on to the Moon
and/or Mars. The Alien's are not really from another world, but from our
future. This would explain how they could use our bodies as Dr. Jaskson ever
changing and evolving theory suggest. This would solve the problem of bacterial
and other bio problems between species. Com. Gay Ellis was still around and she
help Straker raise John. She became his mother so to say. Paul Foster was
killed. Alec Freeman now has Gen. Henderson's position. Also push around the
idea that Gay was Straker’s love child from his High School/college days. This
is why he had a fatherly interest in her.
I think I had the
story opening with Com. John Straker waiting in a field where his father Com.
Straker going with the Alien's in one of their time craft (UFOS) when he was
younger. Com. Straker had been contacted to meet with a group of Alien's earlier
who were in revolt with the Alien's who were coming back in time to use us for
body parts. The rebel Alien’s wanted Com. Ed Straker to go to the future to
hopefully stop their assault.  John is
waiting for his father's return at the exact time his father gave him 20 years
in the past when he left to go with these Alien's. The Craft returns and Com.
Ed. Straker jumps out of the craft looking no older than when he left 20 years earlier.
Yelling for his son, now Commander John Straker to run!
Sounds like a Fringe episode
now. Anyway even though I had changed some concepts from the original show it
explained aspects never seemed to fit for me. It was a fun experiment.
Martin Michael
 

________________________________
 From: Matt <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 8:32 PM
Subject: [SHADO] Re: Starker/Henderson Relationship Question
 

   
 
This is how I saw Henderson and Straker. I posted this on Deb's SHADO forum about a year ago.

The constant conflict over SHADO finances by the irresistible force (Straker) against the immovable object (Henderson) is a staple in the UFO universe. Their battles over the monetary situation, is the stuff that legends are made of.

In fact, I see these two men as being much more alike than either of them care to admit. I do believe that under the surface they have mutual respect and even admiration for one another, but that relationship is constantly strained by the very real needs of SHADO against a very real limit in financial resources. I see their battles as more of a stress relief than real adversity. The one exception would of course the episode Conflict where they both seemed to be on the opposite side of the coin. In the end, they realize how much they have in common. Straker offering to walk him to his car was very telling, at least to me.

In Timelash, Henderson called Straker SHADO's most vital piece of manpower, with told me that his opinion of the Commander was still in the stratosphere despite the differences that the two men endured. He reaffirms that opinion in Mindbender when he mentions Straker's dedication as being a monkey on his back. The statement was, in fact, a backhanded compliment.

Henderson is really in a much more difficult position than Straker, as he has to justify the enormous expenditures, both operational and capital, to the international community that is supporting the IAC. It's a given fact that very few people outside the IAC would have knowledge of SHADO's existence and Henderson is in a never ending battle of securing resources through countless black projects and creative accounting. (Why do you think the government pays ten thousand dollars for a toilet seat?)

Mike, I have to admit being quite intrigued by your idea of Henderson being responsible for Mary's marrage to Rutland, however, the concept that John did not really die, but was hidden would make a hell of a story plot bunny. *grin*

Matt

   
     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Good thoughts Deborah. BTW; let me apologize now for the typos in that first message I posted. My computer is on it's last legs, and has taken to skipping letters and entire words when I'm not looking.

I was also mortified to notice that I misspelled "STRAKER" in the subject line.

Davidp

--- In [hidden email], "Deborah Rorabaugh" <momkat@...> wrote:

Mary was British through and through and entirely unaware of Henderson's presence, it is rather unlikely that Henderson was her father or a close relation. We did get to see her actual father in CCAOK btw.Mary wasn't "needy" btw, any
woman going through what she had to go through would have been in a
similar state or left Straker years earlier.

It is extremely doubtful that Mary would have "agreed to love and marry" some character foisted on her by anyone, certainly not by the CO of her cheating, wife-beating ex. Much more likely is that Rutland is a former suitor who was spurned in favour of Straker earlier and now saw his good chance coming. Maybe with a little nudging by her parents. He was a loving, caring and "at-home" husband for her, which is what she wanted and didn't get with Straker.


The relationship between Straker and Henderson was of bureaucratic sparring partners most of the time, connotated in deep respect, as shown in Conflict and Mindbender for example. There were instances where they were more acrimonious, but this came from Henderson, not from Straker. Henderson was an old man getting on rather fast, unable to get the command of the most important venture he had built in his later life and career. It is only a natural, one natural, consequence that he gets bitter. A lot of old people do and then display the erratic behaviour he did.Given his looks over time it might also be argued he was suffering from some disease which aided his bitter moods.





________________________________
 From: M Michael <[hidden email]>
To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, 27 April 2012, 2:04
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Starker/Henderson Relationship Question
 

 
I agree with you Marc and like what Deborah had to say too. The tension between the two was a great
continual aspect of the show and had to be one of the rules the writer's wrote
the scripts by.
To toss a few more ideas into the ring of "CONFETTI CHECK A-OK". I've always wonder of the depth and reason behind their tension other than the obvious also.
To me it looks like the tension may have been more on Straker’s part than
Henderson’s. In regards that Straker may have blamed Henderson for the breakup
of his marriage. With Henderson's constant demand of service and completion of
SHADO Straker hardly had a chance to have the home life he desired. Then there was his wife Mary who was such a needy
person, which played on Straker gravely. He wanted to rescue her but he did not
have the time when she needed him the most. This hurt Straker and he never forgot it. There is so much you can read into the
episode.
Another
reason may lie in "A Question Of
Priorities"in which Mary had a new husband. Was
he a plant by Henderson to keep Mary and son John safe and/or under control? They were a huge security risk if catch by the Alien's. This could be another reason for the animosity between Straker and Henderson. Straker always seemed to be out to prove Henderson wrong, to get back at him.
Which brings up another question of mine (I love this show) - did Straker’s son actually died or did Straker place
him in hiding? It look like at the end of the episode Straker wanted to tell
Mary something but could not.
There
is no doubt the creation and commanding SHADO harden Straker, which is what Henderson
probably wanted. A tough leader who would get the job done no matter what the cost. The were so many factors’ that hurt their friendship.
Martin   


________________________________
From: Marc Martin <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Starker/Henderson Relationship Question


 

On Thu, Apr 26, 2012, at 09:10 PM, David Penn wrote:
> Has anyone heard of an official explanation
> of the change in the relationship between the characters of Straker and
> Henderson?

I don't think there is any "official" explanation.  There may be a line
about it in one of the scripts, or maybe not...?

CONFETTI CHECK A-OK obviously shows how Straker's relationship
deteriorates with his wife.  But it also indirectly shows that Straker
and Henderson once had a better relationship (but it obviously
also deteriorated in the long run).

On the Fanderson group, someone thought this might have been
a continuity issue, but I disagree.  I think they deliberately
showed Henderson and Straker having a better relationship
at the time of SHADO's formation, to contrast with their
"current" (1980) relationship.

Marc



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey Martin,

Forgive me, I called you Mike in my last post, oops!

It sounds like you have some very interesting ideas. I'm a big time travel buff and I've used that concept in much of my writing. The idea of the aliens being from the future has been bounced around a few times before.

Here's one for you, interdimensional travel. The high IQ boys and gals are postulating those theories as we speak. The truth may very well be stranger than fiction. *grin*

If I ever get my latest time travel story finished, it has a few interesting twists in the Straker/Henderson dynamic.

Matt

Hi Matt,
Multi-dimensional travel and quantum travel is exciting concepts.
The TV shows like "Sliders" and "Fringe" makes it look very
possible and to easy. In reality physically our body and physic would struggle with the strain from the process of
dimensional movement and/or the difference in environments. Just to deal with the change of air, light,
colors, taste, smells, foods, and bacteria just to name the more simple
problems is enough for me to skip the trip.
Then again
maybe this is where Dr. Jackson's theory comes in to
the degree that the UFO Alien's only use our bodies as a place to live and as a
means of travel, a vehicle of transfer. If so and all the variables are possible this would mean our bodies
are more durable than we know. Possibly this is why
the Alien's like us so much. We are a prefer means travel, like a Volvo we can handle in crash
with minimal damage. A incorporeal being would certainly seem to have less of a struggle with the move from one
dimension to the other. These beings would not have to be
concern with bacteria or DNA per se.
When one body starts to go bad you can trade it in for another.
So in
accordance to all this the Alien's maybe from our dimension. The mind boggles!
Here are a
couple of links that are interesting. The first is from Wikipedia and was written by someone a lot smart from me. The other link is a video of a truck crash that occurs in a tunnel, where a
truck appears out of nowhere and crashes into the
other. The video has been around for awhile and is probably fake, but is great to watch.
Martin
 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_hypotheses
 
http://www.inquisitr.com/18902/truck-crash-demonstrates-interdimensional-travel-science-still-needs-work/
 

________________________________
 From: Matt <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2012 9:21 PM
Subject: [SHADO] Re: Straker/Henderson Relationship Question
 

   
 
Hey Martin,

Forgive me, I called you Mike in my last post, oops!

It sounds like you have some very interesting ideas. I'm a big time travel buff and I've used that concept in much of my writing. The idea of the aliens being from the future has been bounced around a few times before.

Here's one for you, interdimensional travel. The high IQ boys and gals are postulating those theories as we speak. The truth may very well be stranger than fiction. *grin*

If I ever get my latest time travel story finished, it has a few interesting twists in the Straker/Henderson dynamic.

Matt

   
     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]