Space 1999: Review: Space Warp

Space Warp is a wild, action-packed episode from the second season of Space: 1999. The story splits the main crew up, which instantly cranks up the stakes. While Commander John Koenig and Tony Verdeschi are away in an Eagle investigating a derelict alien spaceship, a massive cosmic anomaly hits Moonbase Alpha. The runaway moon is aggressively sucked into a space warp, sending it five light-years away and leaving the commander stranded in deep space.

Back on the main base, things descend into complete chaos because of a medical emergency. The resident shape-shifting alien officer, Maya, catches a space fever that makes her lose total control of her powers. Instead of her regular self, she turns into a massive, rampaging alien monster that starts tearing through the facility. Dr. Helena Russell and the security team are left struggling to lock down the base and cure Maya before she destroys everything in her path.

The split narrative gives the episode a really fast, entertaining pace compared to the slower, more cerebral episodes of the first season. Watching Koenig and Tony use their instincts to navigate the creepy, abandoned alien spaceship to find a way back home provides a great sci-fi adventure vibe. At the same time, the horror element of a monster loose on the moonbase brings a lot of energy, even if the monster suit looks a bit dated and goofy by today’s standards.

Overall, “Space Warp” works well as a high-concept disaster movie compressed into a single television hour. The visual effects of the Eagle spaceships and the classic seventies retro-futuristic sets are top-tier for the era. It is a fun, chaotic ride that shows just how vulnerable the crew is out in the deep unknown, making it a highly memorable standout of Season 2.