Posted by Brian Serridge on
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/Fw-SHADO-Re-new-story-PSYCHOBOMBS-FLAWS-tp1514325.html

"The Psychobombs." I agree that 45 minutes is a very short time to get a complex plot across. It is rather unsettling that Straker allowed Paul Fosterto bring Linda Simmonds to SHADO when he knew full well how dangerous she was. Fighting Linda on "his own turf" just doesn't wash with me, and I fearthis is something of a cop out explanation. It's best to put it down to a flaw in the writing and the pressure of production deadlines.

All The Best,

BRIAM



----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Bruce Sherman <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thu, 20 May, 2010 23:50:10
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: new story

 
Just watched the ending of the episode. Yes, Paul brought her to Shado without orders, but Straker knew about it before she arrived, and could have stopped Paul, if he wanted to, but decided against it, felt it was better to battle her and her alien controllers on his turf, and even told Paul later,it was his decision, not Pauls to bring her there.

Bruce
----- Original Message -----
From: griffwason
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 10:48 AM
Subject: [SHADO] Re: new story

Hi Denise,

Do you mean that you 'hate' "The Psychobombs" because the script/story/concept was bad, or because you can't believe Foster could be so stupid as to bring such a potentially dangerous individual to SHADO HQ, and in the process break every rule in the book?

Surely, the message and central concept behind the whole episode is that the aliens are relying on humans' weaknesses to mitigate their plans:

- Straker could have just driven straight past Daniel Clark, but human nature made him stop to see what the problem was, and possibly help out.

- The SHADO security men, Commander Straker (reluctantly) and the SkyDiver crew 'assumed' no human could get past the security trap, and hence access to SkyDiver, and the resultant destruction. The SkyDiver crew made a 'human' assumption about the capabilities of a 'normal' human captive, and lost their lives as a consequence. Straker was getting wise to the alien plan by then, and knew he was next on the list.

- Paul Foster was clearly brainwashed (not in control of his actions) into bringing Linda Simmonds (who used her sexuality to sway Foster) directly toSHADO HQ (and it is clear that Commander Straker suspects this). After all, it is only by gaining access 'in person' to the electrical sub-system in SHADO Control that Linda Simmonds can use her 'Phychobomb' powers and thus able to destroy SHADO Control.

Commander Straker clearly states that it was 'his' decision to let Linda Simmonds into SHADO HQ in the end...

Sure, from the outside (and to Col. Lake) it is a totally daft and irrational thing for Paul Foster to do. But, in the context of being brainwashed (another sign of potential human weakness) at the time and to Paul Foster it seemed a logical thing to do.

Many times Col. Freeman implies Commander Straker 'thinks' more like a computer than a human being, and after all it is Commander Straker's logical and deductive reasoning that foils the aliens' plan in this episode. It is Commander Straker that in this episode (and many others) is the deciding factor in defeating the aliens.

Sure, in the space of 45 minutes, it is a very short time to get a complex plot successfully across, and sure there are weaknesses in the episode, butthat IS what I love about UFO. It was what was left out that so spurs the imagination... to much clarity is boring and doesn't fire the imagination.

Thanks again :)

Griff

--- In [hidden email], "Neesierie" <neesierie@...> wrote:

Griff,
Thanks so much for the feedback! It had dawned on me that I rarely ever setup a story where it stays on Straker's POV throughout. So this time I did,and I was rather surprised with the results myself! The pressures of his job are phenomenal, and it was fun to be able to show that to some degree. And to give him a break! *grin*

And it had the added bonus of making me no longer hate that episode. Which was a really cool episode until Foster does the complete duh! thing by bringing her to HQ. What were the writers thinking?

So glad you enjoyed the story!
Yours,
Denise

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