While It's fair to say the series will never replace the original in my heart, I have to say, I enjoyed it. Although I know it's aimed at a fairly young audience, credibility is stretched somewhat, but there's some excellent imagery and it does have a feel good factor.
Now, who wants to have a CGI version of Stingray next?
So is that it for Thunderbirds now ? I have to say, I didnt have the patience to sit through the inane childrens presenters and adverts to watch it live. Ill go through the re-runs where I can fast forward. Really glad they have tied it up nicely with Zero X and Jeff back in the fold. If this is the final episode, ill buy in th complete series on blu-ray, as I do enjoy it overall. A Stingray series would be awesome, but with a little less schmaltz and cheesy characterisation!
ReplyDeleteYep, as far as I'm aware that's the series' wrap up.
DeleteI've watched pretty much all of them and like everything some episodes are better than others.
It was nice that the Zero X did make an appearance. The new Zero XL, a nod to Fireball perhaps, is simply an amalgam of all the Thunderbird craft joined together, Transformer style, including Thunderbird 4. As with TB3, all are now capable of working in space.
Sadly they can't really remake Stingray in this day and age. A military organsation with too much death and destruction. In TB Are Go it's all about saving people so they could remake it as no-one ever dies. I enjoyed the final episode, apart from the usual comedy villains - the Chaos Crew and Lady Penelope's daft dog that chased one of the villains around -, it was pretty mature and emotional. ITV seem to be advertising their Robozuna series as their newish big thing now.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right about death and destruction being frowned on in kid's shows these days, Yorkie. If a new Stingray series was considered maybe they could make it more about a research vessel rather than military.
DeleteYeah I could see them making WASP an environmental organisation saving the oceans. I seem to recall Seaquest DSV started like that. Blimey it was dull. :) Ratings fell so they changed to more undersea battles as Seaquest 2032. Too late though. I'll stick with the original cold war based Stingray. I don't think Stingray is actually known well enough around the world for a remake to make any money for ITV and the BBC has a similar underwater environmental show for kids called Octonauts. Time for something new instead.
DeleteYes, I reckon you're right, Yorkie. Although they had a Stingray model in the fish tank on Tracy Island I think that's about all we're going to get of the WASP supersub.
DeleteNo, No, No. I did not care for the new Thunderbirds, zero violence, silly cliff-hangers, and tampering with the original and true Thunderbirds. A remake of Stingray would take out everything that made the original so special. This was where I discovered Gerry Anderson, and his amazing worlds. Leave the classics alone. Yes, I am being grumpy.
ReplyDeleteObviously, you're not alone your dislike of the reboot, however there's a fair size fan base of older folk who enjoyed the series. The original series isn't diminished by the new one and it does keep the brand going. It certainly hasn't damaged my love for the original series.
DeleteThe updated measures like zero violence etc. is simply down to modern guidelines for children's programmes, which, of course the new TAG is aimed at.
I think I only watched the first episode of the new Thunderbirds, but I was disappointed that they changed Brain's ethnicity in some sort of PC makeover. Don't get me wrong, I'd have had no objections to a new Indian character in the show, but Brains was an iconic character and should never have been changed. Surely, to effectively say that "there were too many white characters in the show so we're changing one to another ethnicity" is racist against whites?
ReplyDeleteAlthough the redesigned craft weren't too bad, the slight differences from the original were surely only made for the purpose of maximizing merchandise sales? After all, there's probably loads of original-design TB toys from the last 10 or 15 years sitting around in cupboards up and down the country, so kids might not have bought new toys if they were the same as the old ones, hence the redesigns. They were just different though, weren't they, not better?
Stingray is a different kettle of fish altogether. Although they'd perhaps have to update the cabin control panels if a new series were made, the exterior design of the craft is so absolutely perfect, that any changes would probably compromise the look in a negative way. Something that should be remembered if the Stingray show is ever remade.
Yes, changing Brains' ethnicity was a bone of contention with many fans, but in these PC times full of virtue signalling the makers had to make a decision. A similar thing has happened with the Big Finish Space:1999 audio adventure of 'Breakaway'
DeleteI didn't mind the redesigns of the Thunderbird craft, I preferred them to the live action film. Like you say though, the originals were best.
If a new updated Stingray was made, bearing in mind that this is simply speculation on my part, I'd be happy to see it happen, but I think it's fair to say they'd have to update the look simply for the sake of it, and sell a few toys, of course. Although, based on the dismal sales of the TAG toys maybe they should think again.
In the case of the Thunderbird toys, I can see why it was felt they needed to be redesigned for merchandise purposes - the last batch of original TB toys weren't that far back. However, in the case of Stingray, the last toys were over 25 years ago (though there were a couple of collectors' pieces in between then and now), so I think they'd get away with sticking to the original design.
DeleteI must confess that I liked the movie version of TB2, but not the others, especially TB4. As for ethnicity changes, I don't know why they can't just introduce new characters to tick the inclusivity/diversity boxes. Changing iconic characters is just not on.
Yes, I can see how leaving the original Stingray design alone might make sense, although I don't think any new production company could resist tweaking it to make it their own.
DeleteAs for changing iconic characters I agree 100%. You only have to look at the controversial decision of making Doctor Who female. It hasn't brought anything new to the character in my opinion, and it certainly hasn't helped the tumbling viewing figures.
Well, I stopped watching Dr. Who after the Christmas Special with Capaldi and Bradley, so that's what the gender agenda achieved - one less viewer in my case.
DeleteYou and several million others, Kid!
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