Space Island One

Space Island One (or Raumstation Unity in German) is a British/German science fiction television series that ran for 26 episodes beginning in 1998. A co-production between the UK's Sky One channel and the German Vox channel, it starred Judy Loe as Kathryn McTiernan, the commander of the multinational crew of the space station Unity.

Space Island One
Genre
Created byAndrew MacLear
StarringJudy Loe
Indra Ove
Angus MacInnes
Bruno Eyron
Julia Bremermann
Kourosh Asad
William Oliver
Country of origin Isle of Man
 Germany
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducersAndrew MacLear
Margaret Matheson
Running time45 minutes
Release
Original networkSky One
Picture formatPAL (576i), 4:3
Audio formatStereophonic sound
Original release7 January (1998-01-07) 
9 November 1998 (1998-11-09)

Among the screenwriters for the show were acclaimed science fiction novelist Stephen Baxter, as well as Doctor Who alum such as P. J. Hammond, Adrian Rigelsford and Andy Lane.

Cast

  • Judy Loe as Commander Kathryn MacTiernan
  • Angus MacInnes as Lieutenant Commander Walter B. Shannon
  • Bruno Eyron as Dusan Kashkavian
  • Indra Ové as Paula Hernandez
  • William Oliver as Chief Science Officer Lyle Campbell
  • Julia Bremermann as Harriet "Harry" Eschenbach
  • Kourash Asad as Dr. Kaveh Homayuni
  • Sally Grace as the voice of Control
  • Charlie Bovenizer as the first baby born in space

Episodes

Season 1 (1998)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Message from Keeler"Dirk CampbellAndrew MacLearJanuary 7, 1998 (1998-01-07)
A new crew member, an environmental specialist named Paula Hernandez replaced a man who kill himself and placed a bomb on the Unity.
22"All the News that Fits"Mary McMurrayAndrew MacLearJanuary 14, 1998 (1998-01-14)
A visiting journalist uncovers information regarding a secret space mission. Paula Hernadez begins her sexual pursuit of Dusan Kashkavian.
33"Quarantine"Crispin ReeceStephen BaxterJanuary 21, 1998 (1998-01-21)
A acrylic-eating martian virus is brought aboard for examination and may cost Lyle Campbell his life.
44"Rogue Satellite"Colin BuckseyAndrew MacLearJanuary 21, 1998 (1998-01-21)
55"Dangerous Liaison"Colin BuckseyAndrew MacLearFebruary 4, 1998 (1998-02-04)
66"Crew Test"Colin BuckseyMatthew BardsleyFebruary 11, 1998 (1998-02-11)
77"The Barrier of Second Attention"Kevin DaviesMatthew BardsleyFebruary 18, 1998 (1998-02-18)
88"Sarcophagus"Colin BuckseyAdrian RigelsfordFebruary 25, 1998 (1998-02-25)
99"Spring Fever"Crispin ReeceAndrew MacLearMarch 4, 1998 (1998-03-04)
1010"The Third Man"Roy BattersbyMatthew BardsleyMarch 11, 1998 (1998-03-11)
1111"Awakening"Rick StroudWritten by: Jimmy Richards
Story by: Andy Lane
March 18, 1998 (1998-03-18)
1212"Nemesis"Kevin DaviesJohn BrosnanMarch 25, 1998 (1998-03-25)
1313"A Child is Born"Roy BattersbyAndrew MacLear & Adrian RigelsfordApril 1, 1998 (1998-04-01)

Season 2 (1998)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
141"Unfinished Business"Dirk CampbellAndrew MacLearAugust 17, 1998 (1998-08-17)
152"Split Allegiances"Sarah HellingsAndrew MacLearAugust 24, 1998 (1998-08-24)
163"Winter Kills"Sarah HellingsAndrew MacLearAugust 31, 1998 (1998-08-31)
174"A Place in the Sun"Rick StroudJimmy RichardsSeptember 7, 1998 (1998-09-07)
185"Lost Property"Dirk CampbellP.J. HammondSeptember 14, 1998 (1998-09-14)
196"Mayfly"Adrian ShergoldAndy LaneSeptember 21, 1998 (1998-09-21)
207"Not in My Back Yard"Rick StroudDiane DuaneSeptember 28, 1998 (1998-09-28)
218"Abandoned"Adrian ShergoldMatthew BardsleyOctober 5, 1998 (1998-10-05)
229"Silver Bullet"Sue DunderdaleRobert SmithOctober 12, 1998 (1998-10-12)
2310"Anniversary"Rick StroudAndrew MacLearOctober 19, 1998 (1998-10-19)
2411"Lost in Space"Matt McConaghyMartin StoneOctober 26, 1998 (1998-10-26)
2512"Money Makes the World Go Round"Rick StroudWritten by: Jimmy Richards
Story by: Andy Lane
November 2, 1998 (1998-11-02)
2613"Trouble in Paradise"Rick StroudAndrew MacLearNovember 9, 1998 (1998-11-09)

Reception

Described by Dave Bradley as “a mix of Moonbase 3 and Jupiter Moon, but more turgid than either,"[1] io9 described it as:

The best science fiction show you've never heard of… The show unflinchingly looks at the implications of for-profit science… and provides the most realistic look ever at life in space, including bone-mass loss. A few episodes are dull, but the show is often surprisingly weird and fun… It also features some of the most complex, believable characters of any television show.[2]

References

  1. Bradley, Dave (editor) (2005). "Britannia Rules the Airwaves". SFX Collection 22: Best of British: 128.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
    1. 41 on the io9.com list of the Top 100 Science Fiction/Fantasy Shows, found at http://io9.com/5347065/the-top-100-science-fictionfantasy-shows-41-through-50 (retrieved 8/28/09)


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