Moloch (11 Mar. 1980)

The Liberator follows Servalan's flagship to Sardos, where a rogue Federation officer has designs on the galaxy.

Director:

Vere Lorrimer

Writers:

Terry Nation (creator), Ben Steed

Stars:

Paul Darrow, Jan Chappell, Michael Keating

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Paul Darrow	...	Kerr Avon
Jan Chappell	...	Cally
Michael Keating	...	Vila Restal
Steven Pacey	...	Del Tarrant
Jacqueline Pearce	...	Servalan
Josette Simon	...	Dayna Mellanby
Peter Tuddenham	...	Zen / Orac (voice)
Davyd Harries	...	Doran
John Hartley	...	Section Leader Grose
Mark Sheridan	...	Unit Commander Lector
Deep Roy	...	Moloch (voice)
Debbi Blythe	...	Poola
Sabina Franklyn	...	Chesil

Storyline

Avon follows Servalan to the planet Sardos, home of a society that can create anything using special energy-mass transformers. Once there, they discover a group of Federation troops planning to build a battle fleet to take over the rest of the galaxy. All the conspirators need is the specifications of Servalan's cruiser and a suitable pilot.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Release Date:

11 March 1980 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Betchworth Quarry, Betchworth, Reigate, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Debbi Blythe was a possible for series regular Dayna.

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Quotes

Avon: For a man of his era - to coin a phrase - he has just made one hell of a stupid mistake.

User Reviews

On The Muppet Show Tonight It's Moloch And Some Rapists

Following Servalan's spacecraft the crew of The Liberator are puzzled when the craft disappears . They find that she's landed on the Planet Sardos which is hidden by an energy barrier that makes the planet invisible

This the second episode of season three written by Ben Steed and I'm probably in a small minority in enjoying his previous contribution The Harvest Of Kairos . Okay I'm not saying Kairos was a good episode but it was entertaining due to its rabidly dated and sexist nature . That was however good natured sexism . Here everything is bad natured sexism

That's the major problem - it's impossible to enjoy something that alludes to gang rape and make no mistake here when the eponymous Moloch orders the Federation deserter Section Leader Grose to " Give her to your men " you are not left with the impression that she's being conscripted in to domestic chores

It's not just the the women who are in danger from rape . There's a supporting character called Doran who befriends Vila and the way he describes women and the histrionic way he reacts every time he thinks " my mate " has disappeared gives no room for doubt he's a homosexual , a nasty psychotic one . One realises the production team aren't working on children's television and aren't making a show for children as illustrated from the plot point in the opening episode where Blake is publicly branded a paedophile but that was dramatic and light of touch . Here the " adult " elements come across as entirely heavy handed and crass

What also makes this jarring is when the title character is exposed . According to legend a Moloch is a mythical Ammonite God . It'd be impossible in 1980 for a BBC television show to even try to realise a awe inspiring God like being on screen so they haven't tried . To their discredit they haven't even tried to make the Moloch anything other than laughable and one wonders if the BBC make up and special effects team are having a joke at the viewers expense . Rumours are during filming the cast couldn't look at the creature without bursting in to fits of laughter and in order to complete the climatic scene the Muppet ... oppps I mean Moloch was taken off screen and his scenes were shot on its own . If you watch this episode you have no problem believing this