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.

Actually there's two versions around of the first episode.

The original one where the mission was just a scenario, then there was a later compilation of episodes were the 'scenario' elements were taken out and he actually did blow up everything.

Of course the idea of a Westerner sneaking into a Russian base, jumping into a fully armed fighter, and taking off, and battling back to the West - was obviously a great idea...

... years later, the whole episode was ripped off to become a Clint Eastwood movie called Firefox...

The similarities are rather extreme, then there's that episode of Space: 1999 where a crew come across an abandoned derelict spacecraft, and find a lone creature that attacks the crew and eats them, with one lone survivor escaping in a life pod, whose story is not believed. I think that became a movie or two as well...

Joe 90 is the next series that sticks in my mind as a favourite next to Thunderbirds and Stingray. Great story lines to this series, more so than Thunderbirds. I prefer this to Captain Scarlet. Definitely an essential to add to your Gerry Anderson collection.

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.

Joe 90 was one of those precious shows from the Century 21 stable from the glory days of the swinging sixties.

The show depicts the adventures of a young boy who, with the aid of his scientist father (Joe was adopted) is able to assume the brain patterns of any one, provided he wears a special pair glasses.

Typically this might be the brain pattern of a pilot or a computer expert.

This allowed the show's story lines to venture into territory that otherwise would have been impossible

One of the really memorable things about the show was the absolutely cracking title sequence with music by Barry Gray which really set the adrenaline flowing, and could only have been produced in the late sixties.

The whole show oozed quality and imagination of the type that you simply do not get in kids shows today.

This was a truly great and memorable show so come back Joe 90, we need you !