Joe 90

I watched a "SuperMarionation" themed day yesterday on the SF TV Channel, comprising episodes of Stingray, Thunderbirds and Joe 90 and it struck me how much Anderson's puppets had evolved from Stingray, through Thunderbirds to Joe 90. Before Joe 90 the puppets looked toy-like with large heads and stunted limbs. However the puppets in Joe 90 have bodies that are correct in all proportions and faces that look human (in fact they look so human the visual effect can be a bit weird). I especially noticed it in scene in a church where the congregation puppets had such lifelike facial features that, for a second, I thought I was watching inserted library stock of human extras but they were all puppets, all with unique human facial features. Gerry Anderson had reached his goal with Joe 90 of having miniature people but it's a pity the scripts were a bit top-heavy with their wish-fulfilment fantasies of many of Britain's oppressed 10 year-old boys.

Stingray was good, Thunderbirds were fantastic, and Captain Scarlet was awesome - but for me Joe 90 was the best of all. Maybe because I was about "Joe's" age when I watched it that it seemed all the more wonderful.

Typical Gerry Anderson - superb sets, rocking explosions and fantastical vehicles. What more could you want! Haven't seen it for years on TV but as all the others have made it back to UK TV fingers crossed...

Thanks Gerry!

(P.S. Every kid I grew up with who wore glasses probably hates this show!)

For me personally, Joe 90 is one of the best SUPERMARIONATION shows from the creative talents of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.

It was one of the first television programmes, I remember watching when I was a boy.

This 1968 tv production, actually looked like it had money spent on it, unlike some 1960's children programmes that looked cheap and awful to watch.

Both the special effects and the model work are excellent for its time. This was in the days before CGI.

The dialogue is well written, and it is spoken well by the actors doing the voices for the puppets.

I have two favourite SUPERMARIONATION tv series, this one and Stingray.

Joe 90 had a concept that most children would dream of; after all, who wouldn't want to go on missions with the brain patterns of someone to succeed? This in itself seems quite a winning concept; however, the show wasn't as successful as the other Gerry Anderson productions, and in its own right.

One of the problems with the show, and why I didn't feel it was as a big a hit, is that the first episode was rather weak; it featured a 'this is what could happen' scenario that just didn't work. Fortunately, the later episodes were much better, but this may put you off seeing the rest of the series.

Not brilliant, but still had its good moments.

When you compare Joe 90 to other Gerry Anderson series such as Thunderbirds, Stingray or Captain Scarlet it just seems totally inferior. To be honest, it was rather average despite it's interesting premise.

The hero was Joe 90, a nine year old boy who could take on the brain patterns of some of the greatest minds. He then went on many missions to save the day. It was a good idea-a nine year old boy on missions to save the world. The series wasn't totally bad but it just wasn't exciting enough for me. I even liked 80's Gerry Anderson series Terrahawks better which is saying a lot.

Young children may appreciate the show more but I don't think it will appeal to adults.