List of Space: 1999 episodes
, a British science-fiction television series, ran for 48 episodes broadcast between 1975-1977. The first series of 24 episodes began transmission in 1975, though production of the first episode began in 1973. In addition, a number of compilation films have been produced using material from multiple episodes, some containing additional footage. A brief, semi-official series denouement was filmed for exhibition at the Breakaway 1999 fan convention, held in Los Angeles, California in September 1999.
Overview
Individual episodes are intended to be broadcast in a progressive order so that, for Year One, "Breakaway |Breakaway" should be broadcast first, with "Black Sun" and "Earthbound |Earthbound" being broadcast at an early stage to present the Moon entering a new and different part of space and the Alphans encountering their first aliens. However, many stations in the United States aired "Dragon's Domain" as the second installment after "Breakaway" in September 1975. In the United Kingdom, "Force of Life" was the follow-up to "Breakaway". The other guidelines are that the episodes should progress to show John Koenig |John Koenig's and Helena Russell's relationship develop and blossom. "The Metamorph" should be the first episode of Year Two, followed by the remaining episodes in the order that the days on Russell's status report dictates. Regional and national stations aired the series in a wide range of orders. In some cases, this included mixing Year One and Year Two episodes at random. Most episodes run 60 minutes in length although several episodes have a runtime of 50 minutes.Original episode air dates below reflect the order of Space: 1999 as broadcast first, in Australia and the UK. The transmission dates given below are those for the UK.
Year One (1975–1976)
Episodes
| Title | Directed by: | Written by: | Original air date |
Year Two (1976–1977)
Episodes
Compilation films
Four films were assembled from various episodes of Space: 1999 in the 1970s and 1980s. One aim was to provide content for new American and European cable and satellite TV stations. A fifth film, Spazio 1999, was created specifically for theatrical release in Italy. With the exception of Spazio 1999, the films were released on home video years before individual episodes.- Spazio 1999 is a 1976 Italian release consisting of heavily edited segments from the episodes "Breakaway |Breakaway", "Ring Around The Moon |Ring Around The Moon" and "Another Time, Another Place |Another Time, Another Place". It features a score by film composer Ennio Morricone, replacing the original score by Barry Gray.
- Destination: Moonbase Alpha, released in 1978 by ITC London, was the first widely available re-edit of Space: 1999, based upon the two-part Year Two episode "The Bringers of Wonder". The narrator informs viewers that it is 2100 and that Moonbase Alpha |Moonbase Alpha drew its power from nuclear waste. In many countries, this episode could be seen only in a re-edited form since it did not appear in syndication.
- Alien Attack, released in 1979 by ITC London, retroactively introduces foreign audiences to the premise of the series with a compilation of "Breakaway" and "War Games |War Games". It moves events from 1999 far into the 21st century. This film also includes footage specially shot for this release, specifically scenes set in the offices of the International Lunar Commission on Earth.
- Journey Through the Black Sun, released in 1982 by ITC New York, combines the Year One episodes "Collision Course |Collision Course" and "Black Sun". Scenes from both episodes, such as the character of Alan Carter |Alan Carter confronting Commander John Koenig |John Koenig in "Black Sun", were cut.
- Cosmic Princess, also released in 1982 by ITC New York, focuses on the Year Two character Maya |Maya and combines the episodes "The Metamorph" and "Space Warp". The alien's dialogue from "Space Warp" is altered, and the alien's difficulties, as well as Maya's condition, are presented as being directly related to "The Metamorph" as if the events of that episode occurred only days before. A small number of scenes, such as Maya's father, Mentor, chiding her for what he views as misuse of her shapechanging abilities, were cut. This film appeared in an early episode of the TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000.
''Message from Moonbase Alpha''
At the Breakaway 1999 convention, held in Los Angeles, California in 1999, a short featurette entitled Message from Moonbase Alpha premiered on 13 September. Produced by fans and written by Space: 1999 script editor Johnny Byrne, the short film features a tearful monologue performed by actress Zienia Merton in character as Sandra Benes.The premise of the film, set decades after the events of the TV series, is that Moonbase Alpha's life-support systems have finally started to fail. Fortunately, a space warp has propelled the Moon to within range of an Earth-like planet, dubbed Terra Alpha. Following a vote, Commander John Koenig has made the decision for all inhabitants to evacuate Alpha and settle on the planet before the Moon travels out of range. Sandra states that Operation Exodus is a gamble, as the planet is an unknown factor: the Moon is determined to be entering an orbit of sorts, but it will not return to Terra Alpha for another 25 years.
Meanwhile, Maya has devised a way for Alpha to send a message back to Earth using another space warp. Sandra, the last Alphan to leave the Moon, is given the task of sending it, but it is not known when or if the message will arrive. The film ends with the Meta signal, indicating that the first signal the Alphans receive from space is, in fact, one that they have sent to themselves from the future. The featurette was shot on a small set using design elements from both Years One and Two and includes character and special effects footage from various episodes, some of which underwent minor alterations.
With the exception of Sandra, the only series characters mentioned in the present tense are Maya |Maya and John Koenig |John Koenig, but Helena Russell also appears in the title sequences. Sandra also eulogises several notable Alphans who are now deceased, including Victor Bergman and Paul Morrow, and also mentions her fiancé Michael and Luc and Anna.
Byrne devised Message from Moonbase Alpha to permit the possibility of a sequel series. According to Byrne's revival concept, this series would be set about 25 years later and feature the children of the Alphans who leave Terra Alpha when the Moon and its Moonbase eventually return. Although there was some press and fan speculation regarding the proposal at the end of 1999, the series remains undeveloped. Byrne himself died in 2008.
The original arrangement between all the parties involved in the production of Message from Moonbase Alpha and copyright holders of Space: 1999, Carlton Media International, was that the film would be screened only once, at the September 1999 convention. However, it was subsequently shown at other events and made available as a special feature on various DVD releases in the United States, Canada, France and Italy, in both its original and adapted forms.