Space 1999: Review: All That Glitters
This episode stands out as one of the most infamously bizarre entries in the second season of Space: 1999. The premise hits when the crew of Moonbase Alpha detects a rare mineral called milgonite on a nearby desert planet. Commander John Koenig leads a team down to secure the resource, but things go sideways fast. They soon realize the glowing rock formation they are targeting isn’t just a mineral, it is a sentient, living petro-form that needs the water inside the Alphans and their ship to survive.
From a narrative standpoint, the concept of a living, predatory rock is pure, unfiltered 1970s sci-fi camp, but the execution really struggles to find its footing. Once the crew cuts a sample of the rock, the entity strikes back by taking over Tony Verdeschi’s mind, turning him into a literal rock-carrying zombie. The pacing slows down massively after this initial setup, trapping the main characters inside the Eagle transporter for a huge chunk of the runtime. It is a very isolated, claustrophobic story, but it drags because the central conflict mostly involves the crew arguing over a rock that shoots colored light beams.
What makes this episode particularly memorable behind the scenes is how much the main cast absolutely detested the script. Martin Landau was reportedly so unhappy with the material that he threatened to walk off the production entirely. You can honestly feel that friction on screen; the actors do their absolute best to treat the threat with deadly seriousness, but it is hard to look past the absurdity of the situation. Even Maya’s shape-shifting abilities feel underutilized here, as she tries to transform into a rock to communicate with the entity but just ends up trapped in that form, adding more frustration than actual progression to the plot.
Ultimately, this episode is a flawed, slow-burning episode that is best enjoyed for its nostalgic value and striking visual effects. The glowing, bleeding rock and the psychological toll it takes on the isolated crew give it a distinct, almost horror-like atmosphere despite the silly premise. It might not be a masterclass in sci-fi writing, but it serves as a fascinating example of the creative swings the series took during its second season, fully committing to a wild idea no matter how ridiculous it seemed on paper.