tbs-2-7The pursuit of the Mechanic takes International Rescue to the wilds of Scotland and outer space…

There are a few underplayed firsts in this episode – setting aside the “McPenelope” music for FAB1’s arrival at Skyfall courtesy of Lorne MacDougall – which include Grandma Tracy stepping up when Scott’s in trouble, and a launch without the Jeff Tracy 5-4-3-2-1 (when Scott and Alan take off in TB3). They’re little things, but alongside more use of different camera angles, particularly in the scenes involving human characters, and less reliance on stock shots (e.g. the one of FAB1 on the country road which never looked that believable in the first place, and became downright annoying by the end of the first year), it makes the whole show hang together far better.

We’re getting more background on this version of International Rescue as well: Brains and Jeff created the TV-21 but toned down the engine thrust when they built Thunderbird 1. It seems illogical – the whole point of TB1 is to get to the danger zone as quickly as possible, so why give it a smaller engine – but maybe it’s a pointer to Jeff Tracy’s ego?

The episode also sees the return of Ned Thetford whose comic antics counterpoint the more serious elements for the youngsters, particularly in a two-parter that sees two Thunderbirds damaged (a mere month after TB2 also was in the wars). Hopefully, though, this is Ned’s one and only guest staring episode…

Verdict: The show continues reinventing itself. 8/10

Paul Simpson