Posted by Christian J. on
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/IDENTIFIED-tp1490915.html

So Marc,

here is my episode-of-the-week commentary (I hope it is
interesting and not tooooo long :-)

"Identified" is a typical Introduction-Episode (IMHO); they
show as much hardware and people the story can bear and let us know
why the Aliens come to Earth. And that's well done, I think. Here
is what I have noticed:

* Have a look at the escort man when he phones: he can speak into the
phone but can obviously not hear a word because of the surrounding
noise - and his helmet over his ears :-)

* In some scenes the UFOs don't sound like the UFOs in further
episodes - maybe they use different types (the new UFO Mark II e.g. :)

* I find the shot of the UFO flying above the trees great!

* BTW, what the Hell are the UFOs firing with? It looks like a Laser
or some kind of a ray(gun) but can a ray of this kind produce such an
explosion on solid ground?

* The photo of the UFO (taken by Peter Carlin) looks like a painting
to me.

* Hey, Asheya's got knock-knees ;-)

* Ever wondered what's written on the file Asheya is carrying with
her? Well, simply HARLINGTON-STRAKER PRODUCTIONS.

* Those were the days when environment-consciousness was a foreign
word... When Straker gets out of his car he throws his cigar on the
ground! Bad Ed! Fie! Today you would be called a polluter ;-)

* In this ep it looks like that Freeman should be the humorous
playboy type in the series (but, as we all know, Foster took over
that part - although he was less humorous :-)
(Oops! I can see a glare in Yuchy's eyes... I'd better run...)

* Impractical: Straker's whole office moves down like a lift -
isn't that a little bit costly? Despite the fact that everyone
outside can see the room lifting down and can therefore start to
wonder why... 8-

* Hehe, Straker must begin learning politeness some time - now he is
blowing the ashes from his desk on Freeman's trouser! :-)

* Lt. Ford did his (first) mistake - and is lying too! He explains he
is "just over two years" with SHADO but he was in "Confetti Check A-
OK", and that was at least eight years ago! But otherwise, if Ford
hasn't made the mistake, whom should Straker explain (and that's
necessary for the viewer) how SHADO works? Himself? :-)

* Shane Rimmer stars as Bill, the Seagull X-Ray pilot; he was
obviously enticed away from the CIA - you can see him as CIA Agent
in "Confetti Check A-OK"!

* As far as I can remember SID was spoken by a british TV announcer.

* The "Daily Express" Virginia Lake is reading shows the headlines
"Moongold?" and "China an Russia in new border flare-up".

* Are they really able to know where the UFO will land (the North
Atlantic in this case) when the UFO is deep in space yet, heading
for Earth? Besides, couldn't the UFO change it's course at any
time?

* Speaking of hardware: I personally like Straker's car, the
Skydiver, the Moonbase and the Interceptors, especially when they
are lifting off like dragonflies! (A girl friend of mine take this
comparison - I think it fits.) And of course I like the mobiles
(Moon or Earth, doesn't matter) too! Oh, and SID 8-)

* The three explosions of the Interceptor rockets are obviously
faded in and out.

* Seen? They use "Scotch" tapes at SHADO ;-)

* Sky 1 shots two missiles toward the UFO but only one explodes.

* Guys, this Alien will come back! I know it, because the
hospitalized Alien is performed by Gito Santana who will take the
role again in "Survival" - and then we will shoot him
properly! ;-)

* "The rapid ageing of the Alien is certainly connected with the
reaction of Earth' atmosphere on the body" tells Dr. Shroeder
- but in later eps the only one which is harmed by Earth`
atmosphere are the UFOs... or did anyone remember a wrinkled Alien
in other eps?

* The funeral scene is missing in the German TV version but not in
the German Super-8 version! But otherwise the Super-8 version left
out the scene where Gay Ellis changes her clothes... :-(

So that's it! I hope I did my homework well and not too long :-)

CU Christian