"Terrahawks" (1983) TV series 1983-1986

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Directors:

Tony Bell
Tony Lenny

Writer:

Gerry Anderson (writer, "Expect the Unexpected Part 1, " "Expect the Unexpected Part 2")

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

8 October 1983 (UK)

Genre:

Family | Sci-Fi

Plot:

In the year 2020 Earth is under threat from Martian androids who want revenge on the human race. They consist of Zelda...

Plot Keywords:

Puppet | Alien Invasion | Supermarionation | Puppetry | Gold

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Jeremy Hitchen	...	Chick King / ... (39 episodes, 1983-1986)
Denise Bryer	...	Mary Falconer / ... (39 episodes, 1983-1986)
Anne Ridler	...	Cy-Star / ... (39 episodes, 1983-1986)
Ben Stevens	...	Dix-Huit / ... (39 episodes, 1983-1986)
Windsor Davies	...	Sergeant Major Zero (39 episodes, 1983-1986)

Runtime:

23 min (39 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L

Company:

Anderson Burr Pictures

Trivia:

The series used two different end-title sequences. In the UK, the credits were displayed against a tic-tac-toe game between red "Cubots" (from the Zeldan Android Empire) and blue Zeroids. In the event of a "draw," the Cubots always won by knocking a couple of Zeroids aside to form "three in a row." Zeroids and Cubots alike boasted three different facial expressions throughout the game: blank (during play), frowns (for the losers) and smiles (for the winners). Said credit sequence was rarely seen in the U.S. until TERRAHAWKS' recent 5-DVD box set had been released to stores, 20 years after its TV debut. Prior to that time, the end-credit sequence-background familiar to U.S. audiences had featured a bouncing Zeroid and stationary Cubot (both animated); after most of the titles had rolled, the Zeroid would bounce high out of frame, then fall on the Cubot and crush it, finally smiling and winking at the camera.

Quotes:

Lt. Hiro: [his favorite response to nearly anything] ... Exactry.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Making the Unexpected (2008) (TV)

The Best Gerry Anderson

Contrary to other user reviews, I find Terrahawks far more enjoyable than Thunderbirds and Stingray, and a little more enjoyable than Captain Scarlett. The plots of Thunderbirds always seemed very one-dimensional, with the good-guys consistently getting on with each other and being good. Terrahawks has a little more depth to the characters, and some splendidly horrible running jokes (Tiger's consistent failure to beat the high-score on his game, the horrific mocking of Hiro's 'accent' ("Exactry!"), and the rivalry between the football Sgt. Zero and the speciesist Tiger).

The plots also get a bit darker, later in the series, which adds further depth, and brings it closer to the more compelling style of Captain Scarlett, without giving up the humour.

For Americans, trained by Hollywood to always expect a fluffy happy original-Star-Trek ending, I recommend Thunderbirds. For anyone who'd prefer a bit more of a Blake's 7 or Babylon 5 puppet show, I recommend Terrahawks.