"The Tripods" (1984) TV series 1984-1985

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Directors:

Christopher Barry
Bob Blagden

Writer:

Christopher Penfold (dramatisation) (1985)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

15 September 1984 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Sci-fi thriller about the takeover of earth by alien tripods. The conquerers start controlling human minds...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Independent Film

Cast

John Shackley	...	Will Parker (25 episodes, 1984-1985)
Ceri Seel	...	Beanpole (17 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jim Baker	...	Henry Parker (15 episodes, 1984-1985)

Runtime:

Germany:25 min (25 episodes) | UK:30 min (25 episodes)

Country:

UK | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:G

Company:

7 Network

Trivia:

Peter Halliday has stated in interviews he does not recall at all working on the series.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Cult of...: Tripods (#1.6)" (2006)

Stodgy, but sometimes effective

I've only recently seen the whole series, and read the three books, though I remember watching some of the stories when it first aired, close to 20 years ago now.

The trouble with the series is that they added far too much filler material - plotlines absent from the books - and instead of making a really good single series, of perhaps 12 hour long episodes, they opted to make one series per book - and then had themselves cancelled before they could televise the rather crucial third book.

The first series has some excellent moments, but far too much filler material added, and acting (and/or scripting) is at times very wooden. The special effects are very good, considering budget, and are the saving grace of the whole series.

The second series seems to make far too much of the journey to and from the Tripods' city, introduces an irrelevant second tier of power in the city, while eliminating some of the feeling of hardship and brutality imposed on the human slaves, and then the series ends on a sour note, quite unnecessarily, since in the book, there is a happy and surprise ending.

There are some huge errors of judgement in the second series. The French language is lost altogether, whereas it is at least partially used in the first set of stories - they are in France after all! And then in the masters city, where we've established that by 2089 that peasant life is a simple affair, with country dancing, and no electricity - we have a blasted 1980's style Disco, with flashing lights, and pop music - good God, what possessed the idiot director to put that scene in there? How are the humans dancing, when the masters installed extra gravity, and wear their subjects into the ground?

Overall, I'd recommend reading the books (even as an adult), and forget the TV version. The books are well-written, and have a certain nobility and charm.