Die dreibeinigen Herrscher

In the late eighties, I saw The Tripods on WGBH in Boston, the Public TV station there. They broadcast parts one and two. The British production company never made the third and final part, so the story just ends unresolved. Never-the-less, it's a terrific adventure for young people based on a series of books. The production values and slower pacing may date it somewhat compared to later standards. Still, the characters are appealing. The special effects are convincing enough to make the Tripods ominous, and there's a surprisingly well sustained dramatic tension that keeps the episodes going. There's a good mix of studio and location photography. The series has now been issued on DVD in the U.S.

It's been a long time since I saw the first of the two installments of this "video series." At the moment, I'm re-reading the books for the third time - this time with my 9-year old daughter, who is riveted to the story.

Whether you track down these films or not, do yourself a favor and read the trilogy by John Christopher. Simply some of the finest sci-fi work ever written, IMHO.

I know what you're thinking. What the----? Let me enlighten you. Once upon a time in the 1980s, there were two series. The long-running Doctor Who, which in its first incarnation, ran from 1963 to 1989, and The Tripods, which was, at it said in the opening: "Based On The Tripods Trilogy By John Christopher." The first two seasons, (series in Britain), were based on the first two books of the Trilogy, The White Mountains, (1967), The City of Gold and Lead, (1968). However, before the third season, (third series), could begin, there was a strike at the BBC. Doctor Who now had low ratings. Doctor Who was on the verge of being canceled. So what could be canceled instead of the venerable Doctor Who? The Tripods. The third season, if it had been produced, probably would have been based on the third book of the Trilogy, The Pool of Fire. Would there have been a fourth season? I don't know. Maybe. If so, it probably would have been based on the fourth book, When The Tripods Came, (1988), which was the prequel to the original Trilogy.

I saw this series when it first came out, and I was hooked! I arranged my schedule each week, to make sure I wouldn't miss an episode. It was riveting and menacing and sinister. My only complaint was that the series seemed to peter out at the end. Perhaps PBS in the USA simply stopped running the series. I really wanted some closure, some final battle in which the evil tripods were defeated, once and for all! It's really well done and very well written... worth watching, if you can ever find it (in the US, anyway).

I have nothing but praise for this excellent series. It may be a little long and slow going in parts but this only serves to build the tension and the excellent "they're watching you" atmosphere.

WARNING! PLOT DETAILS! # #

It starts off in an English village where the annual capping ceremony is about to begin. The world has been invaded by Tripods, giant three legged craft which dominate the countryside. According to Tripod law, all humans must be capped at age 16. It is time for young Will's capping, and all the villagers are getting excited, but Will has other ideas...

The effects are well done and the tripods themselves frightenlingly well conceived. There is good attention to period detail and the European location filming is marvellous.

Unfortunately this was never finished and the final part of the serial never came to be. I'm not sure if they have released the second part yet but if you come across the first buy it (I think it is about 12 episodes long 4 tapes)

***** stars (highly recommended)