Space 1999: Review: The Metamorph

“The Metamorph” serves as a massive, chaotic soft reboot that completely flips the script for Space: 1999 Season Two. Right from the jump, you can tell the corporate higher-ups wanted to ditch the heavy, philosophical mood of the first season to chase that American Star Trek money. The original, cold Main Mission control room is gone, replaced by a much tighter Command Center. They even threw some bright, colorful jackets on the crew to make them look less like they were living in a high-tech hospital. It is a jarring shift for anyone who liked the sterile, cerebral vibe of the early episodes.

The actual plot brings a lot of high-stakes energy, centering on a dying volcanic planet named Psychon. The legendary Brian Blessed completely steals the spotlight as Mentor, a delusional alien leader running a biological computer called Psyche. He captures the crew of Moonbase Alpha, planning to harvest their brains to jumpstart his wasteland of a world. It is pure, classic sci-fi madness, backed by some heavy action, exploding mountains, and spaceship graveyards that keep the pacing fast and engaging.

The biggest win of the entire episode is the introduction of Maya, played brilliantly by Catherine Schell. As Mentor’s shapeshifting daughter, she brings an incredible dynamic to the show, turning into lions, birds, and random aliens on a whim. Her innocence contrasts perfectly with her father’s secret villainy. When Commander Koenig finally convinces her that her dad is a monster feeding people to a machine, her loyalty shatters, setting up a wild, emotional climax where the entire planet literally blows to pieces.

Ultimately, “The Metamorph” is a total fun-packed ride, even if it trades hard science for pure fantasy. It leaves a few plot holes, like where Barry Morse’s character disappeared to, but gaining Maya as a permanent crew member makes up for the gaps. The special effects, done without any modern CGI, still look surprisingly solid today.