DVD: Granada Ventures 37115 20183. 286 minutes 13 episodes with loads of extras. Price: £20.65 (UK) but shop around for the best deal.

check out website: www.captainscarlet.com which contrary to box cover does not exist so try www.fanderson.org.uk/epguides/ncseg1.html instead.

If you're anything like me, then you'd have been frustrated a little keeping up with the British TV schedule watching the New Captain Scarlet CGI series. If it wasn't mixed into a Saturday morning sandwich show then it was shown in parts on its own mid-week and you end up missing the final few episodes by switched schedules. At least this way, you've got them all under one DVD volume and can finally see what 22 million pounds and 2 years of hard work can generate. Plus there are features included that show how the motion capture was used to generate the characters and audio commentaries. The only thing I was disappointed not to see was showing the actors who provided the voices. Whether it would destroy the illusion of associated voice to part is debatable but it would give some sort of appreciation to this vital part of the cast.



Apart from vehicle name changes and an update of technology, there are as many similarities to the original series as there are differences. Both shows have their limitations but both also moved along sufficiently not to worry about them too much. Although I can appreciate the reasons to change certain elements, I do find it a tad worrying that the Mysterons do not play their war of nerves and warn of the attack they are about to make. If anything, they act pretty much the same way as terrestrial terrorists which is also compounded by Spectrum keeping quiet about the whole affair. Granted they might not want the people to panic but not indicating Conrad Lefkon aka Captain Black as just a terrorist is just as bad. They might not want to reveal that the Mysterons can recreate people and transport that they destroy but keeping quiet about the entire problem doesn't appear right either. Having watched all the episodes and a Mysteron in the end episode revealing that not all mysteronised humans have been gifted with total retro-metabolism has left me wondering if anyone paid attention to my article on the subject regarding the original series. [[] I mean, Black is clearly shown mysteronised this time. Whether the Mysterons were rattled by Scarlet regaining his own personality - I can't believe it was just strength of will but that is Spectrum's perspective at this time or passing through that electrical field is hard to say. Certainly, the re-use of the original body matter when recreating the dead has been exploited.

Two Spectrum agents, Captains Scarlet and Black, are sent to investigate when a new power source reveals itself on Mars, a planet which has shown no sign of life for over 20 years exploration. In front of their eyes they see this Martian city appear and it sends an object at them. Captain Black, thinks it a missile, does a pre-emptive strike and destroys the city first. This doesn't take into account their technology to restore themselves and then to kill the Spectrum agents. Scarlet wakes up in his over-turned vehicle to discover Black is dead and returns to Earth. After Black's funeral, Scarlet attempts to destroy Skybase and Blue shoots him. Scarlet falls through an electrical conduit and dies, waking up with his own personality restored although Spectrum itself is not sure what to make of this locks him up. Realising that Black might also return, Scarlet escapes and sees his fears justified.

From this two-parter start, we then have eleven more episodes of assorted missions using Scarlet, Blue, Colonel White, Lieutenant Green, Doctor Gold and Destiny Angel. Of the other Angels, we only ever really see Harmony outside of their new Falcon jets. Unlike the original series, all five are mostly used in missions. Occasional visual clues are given to other Spectrum captains but they have far less to do than originally as well. Granted this is a restriction of budget as much as anything and should a second series be commissioned, no doubt exploration of the organisation might be carried out. The sets are nicely made and believable.

As commented above, it would be very difficult not to compare the two series, especially as there's occasional comparisons made within the short itself. The way the Captains will stand with their arms behind their backs. Scarlet presenting his ID card and being told he's being rather obvious. Despite nearly being 30 years apart. Skybase and the aircraft are very impressive. As much as I like the idea of the new land vehicles, I'm not sure if the names are as emotive as the original. The one failing is that they only drive at one speed which is extremely fast and they don't have the gravity of weight as when you compare to the human and er...Mysteron agent characters.

Phil Ford scripts the majority of the stories together with Brian Finch and John Brown. Within the restrictions of how much they can show and use, not to mention having to write long before everything is finalised, it's still quite an accomplishment and they do achieve enough emotion that you care about the characters. Saying that, I wish more attention had been paid towards Captain Black and his Mysteron assignments. There were several occasions where it would have made more sense to kill Destiny and other Spectrum personal to do certain tasks than to have them replaced with body doubles who are still humans. Black frequently reminds Destiny that he has no feelings for her, so why ignore this easy option? Granted, Spectrum is on the lookout for mysteronised humans when clearing people to enter Skybase but there was only two occasions this happened. If there is anything that needs tweaking in future than this is it. Crispen Merrell's soundtrack adds a lot of dynamite to each episode.

In many respects, the interaction of the characters feels a lot like the two novels by John Theydon that were written when the original series came out. Having the foreknowledge of knowing what worked and what needed some tweaking from the original has given this series some distinction.

This is a series that should please youngsters and adults alike and should be on your watch list if you've got the Anderson thing.

GF Willmetts