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“Dragon’s Domain” |
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Memories of a past ordeal resurface for an Alphan pilot who was the sole survivor of a failed 1996 space mission — and whose incredible story nobody believes. Writer: Christopher Penfold Director: Charles Crichton Guest Cast Gianni Garko as Tony Cellini |
Once again, as in episodes like “Matter of Life and Death” and “Death’s Other Dominion,” we learn of a past mission into space which ended in tragic failure. The only survivor, Tony Cellini, is having a little trouble getting people to believe his account of what’s happened. Doctor Russell thinks he’s crazy and the Space Commission believes he’s covering up some terrible blunder he made. Only one person believes him: his lifelong friend John Koenig. Much of the episode is told in a pre-Breakaway flashback recounting the mission of the Ultra Probe, with graceful space flight sequences choreographed against Thomas Albinoni’s Adagio for Organ and Strings. There’s a very 2001 feeling to these scenes, underscored by Helena’s narration as she writes a report no one at the Space Commission will ever see — on of all things, a portable typewriter! About the only real shortcoming to this episode is that the character of Cellini should have been more developed than he was. It is established that he and Koenig are old friends, but it would have been nice to see more of that friendship at play. There was also subtle hinting at a romantic relationship with one of the crew members that would have added nicely to this story had it been more developed. We would feel a lot more for Cellini if we knew that the thing from space was eating his girlfriend. And finally, rather than casting the part of Commissioner Dixon, it would have been nice to bring Simmonds back for this episode. In the original script for this episode, Alan Carter was to play the Cellini part, and in the end it would be him that slays the dragon. It would have been a very different story with Carter in that situation, but it would also have been a great way to develop an existing character. But, all in all, I’m still glad they went with Cellini. The gods truly know who is the better astronaut. |
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RELATED PAGES: [Ken Scott] [Martin Willey] |
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Alpha Chronicle Online ©2001 by Matt Butts. Space: 1999 ©1975 Carlton
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