After the worldwide success of the kid-oriented action series Thunderbirds (1965-66)—a show created entirely with marionette puppets and lavishly-designed miniatures—Gerry and Sylvia Anderson crafted new gadgets, gear-ific fantasy vehicles, and "Supermarionation" puppets for the first (and still the greatest) paranoid conspiracy adventure series made for kids. Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons begins with the first men to visit Mars panicking and opening fire on the Martian welcoming committee, after which the alien civilization naturally retracts the hand of friendship and instead declares war on all mankind. The Martians' insidious method of attack is to possess the bodies of the agents of the elite Spectrum defense team (all named after colors) and turn them into puppets (so to speak) controlled by the Mars race known as Mysterons. The blandly good-looking Captain Scarlet (the Cary Grant of the marionettes) is Spectrum's secret weapon, an early victim of the Mysterons who survived the attack and gained a super power. He is not technically indestructible, since he does come back to life after dying in the line of duty, but he's killed in practically every episode (which prompts the narrator to remind viewers that "Captain Scarlet is indestructible. You are not. Remember this. Do not try to imitate him."). A cult show with limited mainstream awareness, this is a unique, inventive, and decidedly surreal kids' series that adults can also appreciate. Compiling all 32 episodes from 1967-68, extras include audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and an interview with Gerry Anderson. Aud: P. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons: Complete Series
(2013) 4 discs. 832 min. DVD: $29.95. Timeless Media Group (avail. from most distributors). Volume 30, Issue 2
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons: Complete Series
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