Tripods - Series 1 [VHS] [1984]

And now, Second Sight has remembered a TV series that I thought everyone had completely forgotten about. The books might be aimed at "younger adults", but at 26 I still consider them a pretty classic sci-fi story, and was pleased to see that the series has finally been resurrected.

The loose TV conversion of "The White Mountains" which constitutes Series One manages - aforementioned shaky acting and dodgy effects aside - to retain the atmosphere of John Christopher's books, even if it doesn't exactly closely follow the storyline. Much of the content of the series - for example Will's rivalry for Eloise with the arrogant Duc du Sarlat, or the boys' stay with the family at the vineyard - does not appear in the books at all. The books are short, however, and it is not completely surprising that the producers chose to "pad out" the story. But as other reviewers have commented, it may have been this very padding out that was the series' ultimate downfall. Where the characters are on the move, the programme holds the interest. When stops are made, such as at the Chateau Ricordeau (the Chateau de la Tour Rouge in the book), and extended and embellished as they are for the series, I often found myself trying to decide whether or not to "spin on" to the next "interesting" bit.

Like the 1954 film of "War of the Worlds", this conversion was great for its time, and should be watched in that frame of mind. But, also like "War of the Worlds", it takes great liberties with the novels, and I live in quiet hope that one day some great Hollywood blockbuster will be produced that's faithful to the original story. I'm being unfair, though. This series and the one that followed it are good entertainment, and nothing about it in terms of acting, sets, props and effects is any worse than the much-revered "Doctor Who" from the same time. Watch it for fun - I'm sure its widest audience now will be adults on a nostalgia trip!

And now, of course, it just remains to nudge the BBC meaningfully in the ribs and mutter "The Pool of Fire"...

This, we were told, would be ground breaking television with cutting edge special effects - and one which, the BBC hoped -would become the Sci Fi successor to Doctor Who. The corporation almost pulled it off; but their folly was in adapting the books too literally. Whereas the series could have been an action packed 13 part version of the three novels, the producers decided to split the plot across three series in as many years.

The eponymous tripods themselves were largely absent from the first series, the adventure being based around three teenage boys. Instead, they would make fleeting appearances,and rather than being seen in action, more often than not, were hidden in darkness, or by convenient forests.

For this reason, the series became an albatross, rather than an eagle. Viewers soon grew bored with the meandering plot, and by the end of the first season the writing - in viewing figure terms - was already on the wall (in fact the third series - the resolution of the plot - was never produced).

For all its faults the series is in retrospect very entertaining; and the effects are actually pretty good. Shot entirely on video, the mixture of physical and electronic effects show what the beeb used to be able to do; make involving TV on a shoe string (compared with contemporary US shows that is - this series was not cheap to make). Whilst some of the youger actors were obviously new to their profession, the scenery, and the script were the stars.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and in the end, however, it was not until the second half of second series that the towering creatures and their three legged masters entered the main plot; it was worth the wait, but far too many viwers had already given up on the series.

Doctor Who's crown was safe - at least for another few years, and the Tripods disappeared on a winter's evening, with a cliff hanger that was never resolved. Enjoy this first series as the foundation of what is to come in the second- a prologue almost. Let's hope (unlike BBC Video) that Second Sight release series 2 as well. If they do you will be rewarded with an entertaining slice of TV from the era when families still sat down in front of the TV on Saturday nights, and England was a far more green and pleasant land.