Production Guide
Observations: Bringers Of Wonder part 1

As the unknown ship approaches, Tony calls Helena to ask when he can talk to Koenig. In Command Center, he is looking down at Sandra's screen. On Helena's screen, he is looking directly at the screen as if on the same level. Thanks to Thomas

Sandra says the range of the alien ship is 90,210,000 miles (=145,180,000km). Maya states "Even at the speed of light it would take that spaceship almost an hour to reach Alpha". In fact, it would take about 8 minutes. Thanks to Chris Moore.

Ben Vincent takes a quick look at Koenig on the medical monitor and takes off. He rushes into the care unit and assaults Sandstrom. He doesn't even ask a question like: What is going on? What are you doing? Helena does try to ask Sandstrom, but Vincent grabs him violently. For all Vincent could have known, Sandstrom was trying to correct an instrument malfunction. Vincent uses that same cross-armed choking technique that Carter uses in part 2. Thanks to Charles McEvoy.

As Sandstrom is thrown by Vincent, Koenig's head turns sideways towards the action. He doesn't seem to open his eyes, but it is a more dramatic movement than the disturbed squirming we see in close up. Thanks to James. C

When Koenig sits up after waking, Helena is in front of him, and Vincent behind him on the other side of the bed. After he states the cause of his crash was "rocket malfunction", there is a cut to a reaction shot of Helena and Vincent, suddenly standing together. Helena and Vincent appear together in further shots until Helena mentions Diana Morris, and the next shot shows Vincent again behind Koenig, as he was before. Thanks to Thomas.

The video screen that Kander uses is slightly different in close-ups. The first close-up, and longer shots, show the viewer has the number "5" in the red section. The close-up shots (showing pictures) show the number "4" in the same position. The orange boxes to the right have also moved slightly closer to the screen. When pictures are shown, there is a plain wall or panel immediately behind the viewer. In long shots the silver filing cabinets are behind the viewer.

The photo that horrifies Kander is the exactly the same view that horrifies Koenig- it's a still frame from the earlier scene. Kander wasn't present in that scene.

The influence of the aliens seems to be related to distance and screen images are (sometimes) more difficult. Hence when Alan takes Louisa just a short distance away from Ben Vincent, he is able to react to the Medical Relay picture. And even at close range, two aliens concentrating cannot stop Kander seeing a true screen image.

But the powers are inconsistent. The Alphans first see the Superswift and Guido on the Big Screen, at distance. The reception committee is just twelve Alphans. What about all the other 280 Alphans? Aren't they watching on close-circuit TV? In part 2, Helena and Maya watch a video of the "probe ship" but the illusion is intact for them.

The aliens are also unable to stop the girl calling Maya for help. Doesn't she (or the rescuers that arrive later) think it odd that the two visitors are stood there, not appearing to help?

When Kander comes out of the Records Lab, the set has no ceiling (because of the fire risk). So the studio wall and hanging ropes can be seen through timber cross beams.

A fireman can be seen waiting behind the wall panel extreme left. It is odd that ordinary Alphans are crowding around the lab, watching through the windows while the firemen stand back.

The Pilot Ship emerges from the Superswift. In part 2 we learn that the Pilot Ship is in reality an Eagle. How does the Pilot Ship leave the same launch pad as the Superswift/ alien ship? (As this is part of an illusion, they may in fact have left from a different launch pad).

During the kendo fight, Tony's body disappears. Sandstrom is finally knocked unconscious very close to where Tony should be lying.