Production GuideObservations: The A B Chrysalis
Production GuideThanks to Thomas for some of these.
Command Center anxiously awaits the detonation. The red flashing light burned over the Big Screen is strikingly odd. It looks more like a red light hanging from the ceiling in the foreground. It's probably intended to represent the Big Screen without having to use front projection, but it looks fake.
Before the detonation, we see among a group of technicians bracing themselves in the corridor. Among them is Quentin Pierre (who plays the security guard). In Alan's Eagle, among the group of astronaut passengers is ... Quentin Pierre.
The end of a long pan over the Moonbase buildings before the shockwave hits. To the right of the "Main Mission Tower", the lunar mountains end and we see just black space. This is the end of the set, and it probably wasn't intended to use the full extent of the pan. The uneven terrain (sloping towards us) and random buildings are noticeably different to the wide view of Moonbase Alpha we are used to.
One of the group of astronauts is L. Picard, played by Jenny Cresswell, carrying a medical bag (she is seen later as a nurse). Her suit number is "1"; this is the only time we see an Alphan other than Koenig with that number. Thanks to John Day.
One of Alan's crew (who checks the air- his dialogue is "Pressure's down a little. It's safe.") is shortly later seen being treated in Medical. He wasn't on Alpha when the shockwave occurred. He may have been hurt while clearing debris.
Wires are visible in the smoke as the Eagle descends (the shot is seen twice, once in the titles, then later as Eagles blow dust from the buildings).
The Eagle lands in the middle of the ring of towers. But the view from the camera helmet shows him approaching one tower with another beyond- so he must be outside the ring.
Koenig's suit says it is Eagle 4; but they are in Eagle 1 (Alan's suit is correct).
Alan's stun gun is almost falling out.
The POV shot of Koenig's camera helmet shows him approaching the Eagle's portside. Koeing and Alan enter the starboard.
A POV shot in the Eagle passenger module shows the command module screen.
Implausibly, Alan lands exactly on the elevator.
Wires are seen pulling the stun guns from the holsters (although this is only really clear in slow motion).
A rare example of a dissolve between Maya and her transformation. Her position is good, but not identical.
The Eagle is shown with steps on the portside. They leave and look out the starboard.
After Koenig is struck down, he rises, leaving his commlock on the ground. He is then struck again. When he rises the second time, his commlock is back on his belt.
Alan's identity photo varies from scene to scene, either with a light background or a dark background.
Maya's identity photo varies from scene to scene, either with a light background or a dark background.
The aliens are close together in long shots, but in close up they are further apart.
As the Eagle leaves the elevator shaft, the wires are visible.
Koenig makes his announcement to everyone on Alpha near the end of the episode. In one scene we see Alphans watching the communications post in the corridor. On the right is L. Picard, played by Jenny Cresswell, wearing a yellow sleeved uniform. In the next scene, we see more Alphans watching the communications post, this time in Medical. On the right, but closer to camera, is Jenny Cresswell, wearing a nurse's uniform. She also appeared as a medic in a spacesuit earlier in the episode (arguably the same nurse). Thanks to Dana Lubich.
While Koenig and Alan secure their seatbelts, Maya sits in a swivel seat with no seat belt, even though there are four seats with seatbelts behind her.
Copyright Martin Willey