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This is a serie never aired in the USA or UK, so it is particularly interesting. It's always a space-opera, but quite unusual: "Raumpatrouille Orion" is a german production, and in a genre monopolized by british-language productions (plus some japanese), it is very odd to find a show made in Germany. Although a large number of similarities, we can't even say it was a Star Trek copy: in fact the first episode was aired in 1966 a little before the first Star Trek pilot could be ready, and as we know the regular serie would have started a long time later... In that age it was a well-done show, but did not have as much money as an american one: 7 episodes (black and white) instead of 79 (in colour), and as we know for Star Trek it was only the beginning... Here too I wanted to choose a little remembered episode. There's always the war against the alien Frogs, but here they are only mentioned: the real episode villains are a group of criminals who are firmly intentioned to betray their people to go to the Frogs side... The Orion and its crew are always on punishment patrol duty, anyway we can notice how McLane superior, general Wamsler, shows an absolute trust in his man, if not a sort of complicity. Being this the last but one episode, we can also notice how the relationship between McLane and his guard, lieutenant Tamara Jagellovsk from GSD (the secret service with quite a resemblance with Gestapo or SS...) has evolved, and the beautiful police woman closes both eyes towards all the commander's insubordinations, when she doesn't suggest them herself. To make things more difficult, a very undesired passenger: a science-fiction writer, son-in-law of a minister, who wants to make a cruise on the Orion to find inspiration... Enjoy! WARNING: to read the comic you need Acrobat Reader. THE SPACE TRAP |
