UFO inconsistencies and poor planning

Lightcudder said:

>Ordeal.. one of the few episodes where I am grateful >that I can fast forward great chunks! Looking back at >some of the episodes, they were really padding them out >with some dire stuff. Ordeal and the party scene, Long >Sleep and the whole sepia/drug scene. or am I looking >at these in a cynical way?
>I wonder if the Andersons really planned out the UFO >series. There are so many inconsistencies. (thats a hard >word to type!) I think, if we are to be honest, UFO >could have been great, really really great, but somehow >it just missed it. And even so it has a huge band of loyal >followers. Probably due to some great actors and some >great models ( mobiles etc) . I'll still love it though! I just >think that it could have gone on and on if more thought >and planning had gone into the whole thing. I wonder >what others think? What would YOU have changed? >done differently?

Actually I liked Ordeal and especially the party scene,although I think there was no need to incorporate a dream into the story.I always request Get Back when at a Dance or Party myself.For me the culture of the Late 60's and early 70's is UFO and everything connected with it.

I also like the slow pace of UFO generally.I think films made this way are better at building tension and atmosphere.They are also better at creating a sense of place.

UFO works despite its obvious inconsistencies and faults.
Its full of unique and original ideas.

For example,a Secret organisation operating below a film studio,a brilliant idea that for some would mean completely undermining the series,but they forget that James Bond has been consistently successful for having equally silly notions.

Another supreme concept is that of the Aliens as outlined in CWTL.Essentially a faceless enemy,truly alien.Both sinister and unpredictable.
One of the very best themes in UFO is the motif of an organisation that is highly secret yet openly advertises itself.Guards walk around the surrounding countryside wearing bright blue uniforms and white boots,their vest's emblazoned with the SHADO logo.Its a contradiction but psychologically works because the whole purpose of a secret is to tell someone about it.And why not dress for the occasion as well.

This also happens in real life.I live near Hereford in the UK.It is the home of the SAS.As a child playing I used to play all over their camp.There were no locked gates,no guards.Army vehicles ,helichopters and soldiers with the winged daggers on their berets clearly on view.
No one batted an eyelid.That was around the time when UFO was first broadcast.
Have things chnaged? Not much.

These days you can't walk through the camp,but the armed guards at the entrance still wear the khaki beret openly displaying the winged dagger.And next to the wire fence is a big sign stating "The 22nd Special Air Service Regiment"

The SAS is essentially an open secret ,but critically their activities are secret.We know they are however involved in the ongoing security of our nation.
Similarly with SHADO there is a general appreciation of them being connected with the Nation's security,but their activities are highly secret.
If someone seriously starts asking questions then the security machine goes into operation.Like Bond they are licenced to kill.

Mark UK

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On Sun, 28 Mar 2010 10:09:41 +0100
"Mark Davies" <[hidden email]> wrote:


> Actually I liked Ordeal and especially the party scene,although I think
> there was no need to incorporate a dream into the story.

Yes. It smacks of the "how can I get out of this" school of writing.

> I always request Get Back when at a Dance or Party myself.

I'm sure it was played at every disco or party that I attended in the
'70s, from '76 on anyway.