Space: 1999 (TV Series) Devil's Planet (1977) User Reviews

A Lot of Action but Little Exposition

[brian_m_hass · 6/10 · 4 July 2015]

Commander Koenig and another member of Moonbase Alpha land on a world, where they discover that everyone on the planet is dead. They discover a habitable nearby moon where their Eagle crashes. Koenig is the only one who survives the crash; and, he is taken prisoner.

The episode had high production values as well as a lot of action. The problem was that the episode explained very little about its premise. For example, why was everyone on the planet dead? Why were the people being held prisoner on that moon? Why didn't the woman in charge of the prison tell the prisoners that everyone on the other world was dead? Why didn't the members of Moonbase Alpha die when they visited that planet? Why were all of the prison guards female?

The only thing that this episode had going for it was Koenig's escape from that prison. Otherwise, the episode consisted of a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions which were never resolved by the end of the story. The episode was generally well acted; but, the writing was virtually non-existent. The episode had a lot of style; but, that style was insufficient to overcome the lack of substance.

Planet of the fully dressed S&M babes!

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 25 July 2010]

This episode begins with Koenig landing on a planet that might be habitable. Then, suddenly, a man materializes from the machine--only to choke and die! Koenig is taken prisoner and his brain is probed by some weird ladies who appear to be into S&M--whipping prisoners for kicks and acting pretty much like fully dressed characters in a weird porno flick! The nasty kinky whip folks are only women and they are prison wardens for some sort of prison complex. Most, but not all, of the residents are guys who are tormented seemingly for no good reason.

A bit later, an Eagle approaches the planet looking for Koenig and the other crewman (who has died). The angry lady in charge of the penal colony initially is pretty hostile but relents when they are informed by the Eagle crew that they won't take no for an answer. Then, she's sweet as can be and plans on showing them the dead bodies of the missing crew. The evidence they are shown looks pretty convincing and the humans return home. It sure appears as if Koenig is doomed to remain behind on the S&M world of angry bimbos. Can Koenig escape or will be be yet another victim of these crazy ladies and their 'hunt'? Well, I can at least give this episode credit for being somewhat original--though it is a bit reminiscent of the two Gene Roddenberry pilots "Gensis II" and "Planet Earth"--one having a plot involving folks in a sadistic society who torture for pleasure and the other involving an angry amazonian society that dominates men. And, you do get to see Koenig slug hot women--something you don't see every day! But, unfortunately, the show is also pretty silly--with silly music, over-the-top costumes and a plot that is just plain confusing and weird. Not great, but strangely watchable for its kitsch value.

Secondary Crew?

[tinaw · 14 January 2013]

It appears that the only familiar face in this episode is that of John Koenig. It looks like, while the other stars were filming a different episode (one where Koenig was out "exploring"), Martin Landau was filming this one with an entirely different crew, including a whole new set of people in the command center. Were they the evening shift? Some of these people appear in this next episode, so I can't say they're all new. But, no Tony? Helena? Interesting.

The episode is not bad, by second season standards, anyway. The actress who played Alizia seemed to relish playing a sadistic dominatrix. My only complaint is that I would have liked to see how the people in the penal colony dealt with finding out that Alizia had been lying the whole time.

One of the better 2nd season episodes

[jameselliot-1 · 8/10 · 26 November 2018]

The second season of Space 1999 was much weaker and cheaper than the first. Fred Freiberger, also producer of the cheesy 3rd season of Star Trek, was criticized for his production of the 2nd series. "Fred Freiberger helped in some respects, but, overall, I don't think he helped the show, I think he brought a much more ordinary, mundane approach to the series," said Landau.

Devil's Planet is a generic title that could have applied to any script about a planet. It utilized one of the oldest schticks in science fiction, a civilization run by stacked Amazons in tight costumes (Catwomen of the Moon, Abbott & Costello Go To Mars, Missile To The Moon, Queen of Outer Space and numerous pulp magazine tales). Koenig crashes on their planet and the queen is hot for him. At this point in the series, Landau was either alone or the crew was without him in other stories, like Dorzak, so the production team could shoot faster but this cost cutting technique damaged the individual stories. The rest of the story is about him escaping. A lot of questions are left unanswered. A good portion of the cinematography is aimed at the Amazons' buttocks. The cheaply designed transporter box they use to beam the prisoners to the planet Elena looks like a turnpike toll booth. The second season music is mainly horrible, a mix of TV disco and Love American Style garbage.

landau does well in his own story

[marcgreenman · 9/10 · 15 December 2019]

For a straightforward action story concept this works fairly well. there was enough drama and enough twists to keep me watching. landau holds the story, most of the regular's don't make an appearance but koenig was the main lead on many episodes so this works fairly well. there are no high concept ideas behind this episode, it is a story about freedom and the individual's right to freedom against oppression. we don't really know about the prisoners and never do, this is a shame as it would have enhanced the story. there is an implication that they used to be enemies of the state and that they may have been imprisoned unjustly in order to control the population on the home world. on the other hand they may have committed violent crimes and their treatment may be fully justified; they certainly use violence against koenig. elizia is a strong villain, some of the best moments in the episode come from the conflict between elizia and krael, the prisoner's representative, who makes some very stinging comments and tries to resist in the limited way he is allowed. this helps to make the conclusion very satisfying. there is yet another eagle crash, and once again it is very exciting, as expected. the teleportation effect looks a little cheap. there is no explanation for how the plague came about; biological warfare gone wrong perhaps. the costumes and sets look very striking, the planet's surface works but the interior sets are better. landau carries his new look as a prisoner very well; it is clear that he is still a leader and won't take any nonsense. the ending ties everything up nicely and makes sense, as well as delivering a fitting punishment for one villain.

Prisoner Koenig

[oopboys · 13 September 2011]

I to Like the episode, however they could have done more to enhance the episode..what accent did that interrogator have again???As for Keonig he was good he was not afraid to give a beautiful woman a punch in the jaw and the women can take a punch..the head of the amazons was stupid to not intervene or stop the commander from going in the complex unhindered, that was her ultimate downfall..another thing why does all costumes/clothing have to have boots??? The chase/hunt with John Koenig was interesting, but it would have been more if the evil queen actually caught John and gave him a thrashing of her electric whips Alizia even though she knew John was dangerous to her controlling her prisoners it would seem if John did get caught in the hunt.. Alizia would have tortured not kill John she went to to much trouble to kidnap him..., but to teach him a lesson about who is in charge probably do it infront of the other prisoners.,But krill would ask the alien (John)did he tell the truth about their home planet and even in a terrible weaken state he stand firm everybody is dead.Alizia of course would slash him again unconscious, later Krill would have came back awaken John given him water and ask again... John again would tell him yes everyone is dead, convince the Alien was telling the truth Krill would have cut him down or something and the interrogator would come in .realizes it was the right thing to do to let john go back to his people Enter Alizia and again we get the scene from the trans-beamer...Alizia attraction for John was her downfall, that very long kiss he gave her before John escape..her face expression was I like that fight in him look..... I think ..save john from death and let him go,because she felt sorry for what There was a lot of possibilities as Imention..other brothering things When John was locked in with the otherprisoners and soon there is a fight John was winning then for some oddreason John jumped into the pipe..did he think he could jump that highoff the ground to avoid it??he got whacked in the stomach doing thatthe prisoners were about to hang john with something no larger than a blind fold how on earth were they going to hang john from the ceiling with that ?? It barely fitted around John's neck... I found it strange some of the female guards knew that their home planet was deadly..they had to hear John and Alizia conversation they weren't deaf..but when they all converge on John and they were told ... they seem to have the look of Oh my god everybody is dead on their home planet???..but if you saw it when the interrogator was telling the Amazon queen only she and her and now John knew that their home planet was dead...Another puzzling thing..why does John's stunt double does not resemble him in the slightest ?? either he's balding episode:War Games) the stuntman that post to be john after he got shot by the alien laser was balding on the top.. John has great hair of thick hair little trim in the back and a little gel in the front he had some uncontrol poof hair in this episode , anyway when

the stunt double went crashing after the blow of the gun you can clearly see a baling spot on top of the stuntman's head.. In this episode John's stunt double hair is to dark almost black and thinner than John's hair .. John's hair is brown and the stunt double ear stuck out john ears are not sticking out in another episode:.The Guardian of Piri.. John stunt double was very noticeable in the fight scene with Alan on the eagle. I was wondering where is John???lol,But of course I can watch all the episodes over and over again and find something wrong in all Just one more thing What with the undecaying bodies on the deadly planet 2 came down I assume the same day that's all fine and good they wouldn't have decomposed , but what about the others.Alizia just didn't start using the Trans-beamer yesterday, but you have us to believe the rest of the dead boies should have decomposed by now???what happen to all the rest of the trans-beamers prisoners..all that was seen and they couldn't get far if the nerve agent worked so quickly ..it should have been lots of bones everywhere, why didn't the last prisoner who was set free didn't notice all the bodies around the trans beamer would you go out there if you saw them???, but with all the errors /bloopers ...I loved the show and wished it had been successful for a 3rd season....Martin Landau said in a long ago interview he would have came back for the 3rd season..but by this time Barbara Bain and him was having a falling out and probably if there were a 3rd season would not have came back..several years after Barbara and Marty separated and then divorce some say after space 1999.. Mrs, Bain couldn't find a job because of the show ,but soon to be ex Landau got roles..and that was that