Episode Guide

Year 2 - Episode 4

• Shooting script dated 9 March 1976. Filmed 18 March-31 March 1976
• Martin Landau hated the script. Handwritten comments on his copy of the script include "All the credibility we're building up is totally foresaken in this script!", "...Story is told poorly!", "Characters go out the window", and "The character of Koenig takes a terrible beating in this script - We're all shmucks!"
• Fred Freiberger was impressed by this script. Director Ray Austin and star Martin Landau disliked the concept; Landau was at the point of leaving the production. Tony Anholt (in SIG 8 p6) recalls: There was one big, big battle going on about the script "All That Glisters." I got zapped pretty early on and spent my time walking around like a zombie carrying a piece of rock. Martin was desperately unhappy about the whole script, he thought it was absolute rubbish, as indeed we all did. Freddie, once he saw the opposition, just became utterly entrenched and would give nothing at all - that was the greatest episode of the series, it was the most sci-fi type of story - that was going to stay and he would prove his point. Short of walking off the set, completely screwing the whole series up, there was nothing we could do about it.

Cast

Sets

Int. Eagle Pilot Section
Int. Eagle Passenger Section (a lengthened version)

Ext. Planet Surface

The only episode not to use the Moonbase sets

• There is one glaring error when the Eagle has a standard transporter pod.
• At least one of the star charts was reused in The Taybor.

• Although a lifeform could exist with a mostly solid body of skeleton/shell, the rocks have no limbs to move themselves. Instead they rely on animals (humans) to carry them about. It is implausible that such an inert animal could evolve powers to control minds, and sufficient intelligence to fly an alien spaceship like the Eagle.
• Presumably the rocks destroy water in their metabolism, creating the red oxide dust that creates the planet deserts. However it is implausible that the hydrological cycle has stalled over the entire planet, the water permanently suspended in clouds. Perhaps the water shortage is local to the Eagle landing site. Cloud seeding needs large unstable masses of moisture laden air. The "nucleoid crystals" must provide hygroscopic nuclei to accelerate the Bergeron precipitation mechanism.
• Tony's heart stops, yet he is still alive. His organs and cells should fail and degenerate rapidly without oxygenated blood.
• The geological minerals (quartz, orthoglase, hornblende, augite, olivide, feldspar) are typical igneous minerals suggesting a diorite or andesite rock.
• The unnamed planet is 2.58 million miles (4.15 million km) from the Moon. The Moon has a mean orbital distance from the Earth of 240 thousand miles (384,000 km), and most planets encountered seem to be in the same range (their apparent diameter viewed from Moonbase Alpha is similar). Perhaps this explains the unusually restrictive 3 hour launch window. In comparison, Terra Nova and Retha were within range for about 3 days, Ultima Thule was accessible for 5 days and the War Games planet landing window was 4 days. The planet was discovered only two days before, so the approach must have been very fast; the return would presumably be slower to save fuel. Thanks to Marcus Lindroos.
• This is a risky mission with most of the key personnel from Alpha. A second Eagle as backup in case of engine failure (or alien abduction) would have been sensible. Perhaps this is the Eagle with the different pod seen in one scene...

Alpha Technology:

• This and Mark Of Archanon were the only episodes of Year Two when the computer voice was heard.
• The Alpha Log Recorder measures Tony's vital signs (so it isn't just an oversized dictating machine).

Maya transformations:

• The Eagle has a booster pod throughout, apart from one scene (as the rock tries to make the Eagle launch) of a standard pod.
• While the SFX model has lateral extensions (mostly), the interior set is actually normal width but about twice as long as normal. The exterior set door is the standard door with steps. The model Eagle has a narrow door and no steps are ever seen.
• If Maya, transformed into a rock, can take over control of Reilly so he picks her up instead of the actual rock, why doesn't she release him from his trance?
• If the rocks can matter transport Tony when Alan and Koenig stun him, why can't they transport themselves?
• More observations

• Koenig is obviously very angry throughout this episode.

The rock colours:

• Yellow- induces cardiac arrest in Tony
• Blue- paralyses Koenig in pain
• Green- numbs Helena, stops Dave using laser, pilots Eagle and drains water
• Red- is death!