Missing link
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- This article is about the science-fiction episode. See Missing Link Records for the Melbourne based record store.
"Missing Link" was the seventh episode of the first season of .
Background
Shooting script April 5 1974. Filmed April 22–May 7 1974.Story
The episode is structured as a paraphrase of The Tempest, mixed with elements from the Frankenstein mythology. Casting Peter Cushing in the role of the Prospero-like character Raan seems to be an explicit reference to the Hammer Frankenstein series. Much of the content of the episode is also lifted from di Lorenzo's movie production Lady Frankenstein."Missing Link" functions as a sister episode to "Ring Around The Moon", and makes a complete reverse of the focus on positivist rationality into a deep study of hermeneutic emotionalism.
The difference between the two episodes corresponds to the differences between analytic philosophy and continental philosophy. In his comments on his Space: 1999 colleague, Johnny Byrne elaborated on di Lorenzo's fascination on this philosophical duality in pointing out his writing on novel on the philosophy of science.
Di Lorenzo's third and final Space: 1999 entry, "Alpha Child", seems to elaborate insights from the two previous episodes into a discussion on philosophical pragmatism.
Music
In order to emphasize on the sensualism of the story, di Lorenzo wanted extracts of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde to give emotional context to the visuals.Music coordinator Allan Wills, however, decided to use Barry Gray's Space: 1999 music, adding fragments from Gray's contributions to earlier Gerry Anderson production to make the episode feel more consistent.
Visuals
The episode is highly visual, with nightmare sequences that look as though they were designed by James Ensor. A number of the scenes in the aliens' house were in actuality filmed in the redressed Main Mission set.Synthesis
Austin's style is very similar to what he did on "Ring Around the Moon", although keeping a slower pace, perhaps edited to the rhythm of the Wagner score rather than Gray.Response
Like "Ring Around the Moon", the opinions on the episode vary. Some fans who have an understanding and fascinating with the references and themes consider "Missing Link" to be one of the best episodes of Space: 1999, while others fans disagree.
External links
- [Catacomb episode guide]
- [Ken Scott's episode guide]
- [Discussion Group]
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