ufo-boxxNetwork Distributing, out now

1980: Earth’s defence against an alien invasion – SHADO and its commander, Ed Straker…

As I noted when Network released the TV Movie version of the series, UFO is an oddity in the Gerry and Sylvia Anderson canon; aimed at an older audience, it was broadcast at teatime in some regions and late night in others. It’s got the darkness of Captain Scarlet – by no means everyone comes out alive, and there are plenty of discussions of moral grey areas. Central character Ed Straker is very much an anti-hero: he might be played by Captain Blue actor Ed Bishop, but he’s a lightyear away from that character’s innate heroism. Straker is a pragmatist, and puts the needs of the many ahead of the needs of the one… even when that is someone close to him.

ITV didn’t really know what to do with it: some episodes felt more like they were offcuts from The Prisoner (which is a little ironic, given Jamie Anderson is now script-editing Big Finish’s Prisoner audio series!) with psychedelic sequences and mind-altering drugs. Others were grittier drama than you’d expect from a series that also featured a load of technology driven sequences. It floated around the schedules, and it was only comparatively recently with the DVD releases that I could be sure I’d actually seen every episode.

If you’ve got those DVDs, though, you’re going to want to upgrade. UFO has never looked so good – or sounded it. Every nuance of the design (whether visual or audio) has been brought out, and Network deserves full marks for this. The book by Andrew Pixley is insanely detailed about the creation of the show. The extras include From Earth to the Moon, a feature length documentary that may be eye-opening for some, and a worthy piece on The Women of UFO. It is pricy for just one season of a show, but it’s a show that for many justifies the outlay.

Verdict: Beautifully presented, this is the finest version of UFO you’re likely to see. 8/10

Paul Simpson