From the very start this episode is very atmospheric, imaginative and captivating. So of course it was directed by Alan Pattillo. Kudos, the last of the Zanadus lives alone on his planet alone in a dome where he makes grand speeches to empty halls cheered on by the audio tapes of long dead Zanadus. He holds a great hatred for Lazoons and plans to use a virus to kill them all.
The instrument of Kudo's plan is Major Jim Ireland, a personal friend of Steve Zodiac's who returns to earth after a 10-year mission alone in space. What Zodiac doesn't know is Kudos is in control of the Major's mind and orders him to kill Zoony using a poisoned bar of Martian Delight.
While on board Fireball for Zoony's medical treatment, Major Ireland tries to seize the ship and send it out of control into space. Steve regains control and he takes the whole crew to Zanadu in search of a cure for Zoony.
Zanadu is a mostly frozen place and is shot wonderfully in typical Pattillo style. It looks great. The addition of frozen ice mummies in the frozen catacombs is a nice touch. When Steve gets ice from the frozen pool of life it not only cures Zoony but also causes Kudos to age rapidly. Rather than let his headquarters fall into someone else's hands he destroys it with his dying breath.
For the first time we get to see the inside of Steve's apartment. We also get to see Venus really "dolled" up (sorry) for the party for Major Ireland. And Steve has a personal communicator he calls a "personal intercall".
Kudos makes a pretty good villain, although he kind of looks like a drag queen with his large made up lips and robe that looks more like a dress. He has the ability to observe action across space as he watches the dinner party for Ireland. Later he appears to Ireland in his bedroom. Whether this was a projection in Ireland's mind or he has some sort of transport ability is never explained.
As much as I sympathize with the idea of ridding the galaxy of lazoons, its clear Kudos is a genocidal madman with incredible powers (though with his ability to observe Ireland across vast distances he really should have seen Zodiac and company coming for him!)
The music is as terrific as the staging and a shout out to Davbid Graham for his voicing of Kudos. The script was by Anthony Marriott and it was all put together with great success by Pattillo, in my opinion the best of the "Fireball" directors.
One of the best of the series.
The instrument of Kudo's plan is Major Jim Ireland, a personal friend of Steve Zodiac's who returns to earth after a 10-year mission alone in space. What Zodiac doesn't know is Kudos is in control of the Major's mind and orders him to kill Zoony using a poisoned bar of Martian Delight.
While on board Fireball for Zoony's medical treatment, Major Ireland tries to seize the ship and send it out of control into space. Steve regains control and he takes the whole crew to Zanadu in search of a cure for Zoony.
Zanadu is a mostly frozen place and is shot wonderfully in typical Pattillo style. It looks great. The addition of frozen ice mummies in the frozen catacombs is a nice touch. When Steve gets ice from the frozen pool of life it not only cures Zoony but also causes Kudos to age rapidly. Rather than let his headquarters fall into someone else's hands he destroys it with his dying breath.
For the first time we get to see the inside of Steve's apartment. We also get to see Venus really "dolled" up (sorry) for the party for Major Ireland. And Steve has a personal communicator he calls a "personal intercall".
Kudos makes a pretty good villain, although he kind of looks like a drag queen with his large made up lips and robe that looks more like a dress. He has the ability to observe action across space as he watches the dinner party for Ireland. Later he appears to Ireland in his bedroom. Whether this was a projection in Ireland's mind or he has some sort of transport ability is never explained.
As much as I sympathize with the idea of ridding the galaxy of lazoons, its clear Kudos is a genocidal madman with incredible powers (though with his ability to observe Ireland across vast distances he really should have seen Zodiac and company coming for him!)
The music is as terrific as the staging and a shout out to Davbid Graham for his voicing of Kudos. The script was by Anthony Marriott and it was all put together with great success by Pattillo, in my opinion the best of the "Fireball" directors.
One of the best of the series.