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Unfortunately, `Close up' isn't in my archive. If I
remember rightly it was like you say a disappointing episode.
However... I did see `Confetti check, A-OK' on the Sci fi
channel. `Confetti...' was a really good episode. It had,
like Court-Martial, a strong storyline. A plot in which we
saw two stories develop: Straker's personal life and SHADO's
origins. It was fascinating to get a glimpse of the early
beginnings at SHADO HQ.
We also see a wonderful glimpse of Straker as a shy and rather
awkward young man. He has to be dragged to stand next to his
wife at a wedding reception by his friend Alec (I actually thought
Alec was trying to fix him up with a date, such was the reluctance
of Straker!).
At this point in time we don't see anything to really indicate
that Straker is at all ruthlessly ambitious. When `H' told
him to decide about taking on the CnC of SHADO that was a point
of no return for `our' Ed. He would never be the same man
again. Reminiscing is one of the few moments the old Straker
surfaces. But only for a time. Like in 'Confetti..', when he
gives a week's leave to a SHADO personel.
It's the responsibility of the job as CnC that puts the strain on
Straker's marriage that causes the gradual change in Straker's
character. Straker is no longer the shy likeable protege of
Henderson. The Commander becomes as tough as nails(the character
of Straker believes in himself much more) and starts to make demands
of his own staff and, one guesses, ultimately of Henderson.
In 'Confetti..' Straker refuses to let the in-house SHADO workforce
clock off until a computing problem is fixed. He risks becoming
unpopular. But the alien threat drives Straker. It motivates him
Straker undergoes a fundamental change in character. This naturally
affects all those around him including Henderson. Such a change in
person results in changing positions of friendship in later years.
This scenario would have been much clearer had it not been for Alec
Freeman's relation with Straker, which seemed to remain for the
most part unchanged. The change in Straker should have caused a
change in relations between Straker and Freeman. The change was
taking place but Freeman played it too subtly. That's why it
seemed such a shock (to me) when Alec handed in his resignation in
'Computer affair'. It was too sudden. Surely if Alec had put up
with Straker's cold hard logic for ten years it shouldn't have
bothered him in 'Computer affair'. But for the most part it seems
that Freeman keeps his feelings to himself.
Great episode!
Karl
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