The Tomorrow People Volume 2: The Medusa Strain
01/05/2002 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 

Video: Revelation/Fremantle: PAR 50127. 100 minutes. Price: varies from £10.99 to £ 9.99. Stars: Sammie Winmill, Nicholas Young, Peter Vaughn-Clarke, Stephen Salmon, Michael Standing and Philip Gilbert.

This particular renegade human lives in a spaceship in hyperspace to evade capture and has imprisoned Peter, a Guardian of the Time Lanes, forcing him to shift them through time.

This suits Jedikah who in a younger human-looking form than his previous appearance - the original actor wasn’t available - who wants revenge on the 20th century Tomorrow People. He helps Rabowski steal the Crown Jewels and kidnaps Carol when she and Stephen try to intercept them. The rest of the story centres on the rest of the Tomorrow People and Ginger, their Sap pal, trying to rescue them.

The ‘Medusa’ of the title is a telepathic creature that prevents Tomorrow People from effectively using their abilities but has difficulty with more than one at a time. Jedikah re-creates the head bands he used previously that blocks their abilities while continues with his own plans.

There were several thoughts that went through my head as I watched this story. Outside of the Anderson shows, this has to be the only other series that springs to mind from this period where we have, in Roger Price, a writer-director in charge of proceedings for the whole of its run.

Such control allows stronger continuity and upholds the series bible. There was an odd reference to Hitler being an alien which is actually covered in more detail much later in the series. At this time, no doubt it was just a throwaway line but it was remembered later and used.

As to the Tomorrow People themselves. A revelation that they are only telepathic amongst themselves and can’t read the human Saps minds also indicates Price having to build up their limitations. Having Carol and Peter essentially powerless for most of the story and blasting John and Stephen so they were out of commission stops them having an easy time.

When you have a group who can essentially teleport/jaunt where they want to go plus limited telepathic and telekinetic abilities, more work is required to stop them ending the story quickly.

Looking at the series through adult eyes these days, I find I’m looking at these aspects differently to how I did when I was in my teens. Occasionally, I’m also wondering what influence it must have had when I came up with my own ‘Psi-Kicks’ stories although the only thing in common is somewhat similar abilities that all psionic based humans have. If anything, it taught me to take a different path rather than follow suit.

A taste of childhood - even if my erstwhile publisher claims he never had one - then seeing ‘The Tomorrow People’ again is no doubt on your list.

GF Willmetts