the tripods series 2
-
lockar — 22 years ago(January 26, 2004 12:33 AM)
I have only seen a couple of the episdoes. Because I haven't seen when it started, I am having a hard time getting into this story. Can any one explain to me what the is the basis of this story.
I have read two of the reviews and they do not shed any light on it.
What is this 'cap' thing that the three 'boys' (what they are called in the episodes I saw), are running from. What is a Tripod, I saw what they are in the show. But I do not understand what they are.
Thanks in advance.
-Lockar
PS If you tell me to go read the book, don't bother. So far I'm not really interested in the story to even read the book.. Maybe if I knew more of the basis. -
von_Sudden — 22 years ago(January 27, 2004 02:59 PM)
The story of "The Tripods" is loosely based on the concept presented in "The War of the World" (the novel, not the radioplay nor the movie): aliens from another world invade Earth with their three-legged war machines. Unlike H G Wells original, the aliens in The Tripods do not succumb to our bacteria, but eventually gains control of the world, partly because of the "cap".
The "cap" is a mind control device, installed on the top of the head, so that people become placid and peaceful and think well of the Tripods. In the first episode of the show, the effect of the cap is all to apparent as the one year older friend of Will and Henry (two of the three "boys" you remember) gets capped by a Tripod. When the process is over, the friend is distant, boring and well, grown up, all within 24 hours. This scares the hell out of Will and Henry, who know that they will be capped next year.
About this time, they hear from Ozymandias, a vagabond, that there are uncapped free men at the White Mountain across the channel. So Will and Henry sets off on an epic journey to find the free men. That journey is covered in the first Tripods series. To Will and Henry, the fear of getting capped is basically the fear of having ones dreams and will ripped out of your head.
The "Tripods" are the giant three-legged war machines of the alien masters. Although iconic, they are not much more than a tank or a bus. The Masters are explored in the second series, as the free men tries to infiltrate one of the master's cities. The third series would presumably take the fight to the Tripods.
There are four Tripods novels, all rather short and all written under the pseudonym John Christopher. The first three were written in the sixties. "The White Mountain" roughly correlates to series one. "The City of Gold and Lead" is roughly covered in series two. The third book, "The Pool of Fire", would have been covered by series three, but BBC axed the show (and, as I gather, not from falling ratings but from a new management who didn't think that sci fi could be serious television - remember that BBC in those days were public service and not particularly interested in ratings).
"When the Tripods came" is the fourth book. It is a prequel that was written much later, late nineties I think, and it takes place in our time, roughly 100 years before the TV series and the first three books, and it ties up a lot of questions open in the first three books.
I have many fond memories of the show. It's a pity that BBC axed the show and it's a pity that series two was never released on DVD. The book - and the TV series - is a good youth story of coming of age and a nice adventure epic. But honestly, the TV series are old and it shows. -
lockar — 22 years ago(January 29, 2004 12:28 AM)
Thank you very much for explaining the story to me. Now I understand. I might watch a few more episodes, if I get interested in it. It might be the next series I read.
As for the show showing it's age, well any SCIFI show in that time period is going to show their age. You just need to see past that, whats important is the stories and the acting that was in the show.
Again, thank you for letting me know what it's all about.
-Lockar -
necronite — 22 years ago(April 08, 2004 11:49 AM)
Maybe if we're lucky the Sci fi Cable channel will revisit it, esepcailly since the war of the worlds movie is being remade. I onlt caught bits and pieces of this show, but I remember I read the Boy's Life comic religiously which covered the white mountains, city of gold and lead and the pool of fire. I think that comic came out in BL issues in the early 80s before this BBC series. Maybe one day I will pick up the books (now that I'm much older).
-
necronite — 21 years ago(April 24, 2004 06:54 PM)
Hi I am watching the Tripods right now. Go to www.suprnova.org. Do a search for tripods. Download them all. I am on episode 5 right now. It is a good show (about 24 min each).
-
Aliebarnes — 21 years ago(May 02, 2004 08:48 AM)
you can currently Dload all series one using Bittorent from http://opoue.no-ip.com:6969/
enjoy them its a great series, look pas the 80's efects but its still a great show.
Btw i recently heard that Ceri Seel (beanpole) passed away recently. -
-
barend3 — 21 years ago(March 14, 2005 04:39 PM)
i was so addicted to this show
i used to run home from school to watch it, then as always, the BBC pulled the plug. I'm not sure to be honest, it was the BBC, but they totally have their heads up their backsides when it comes to marketing and keeping shows.
and they picked such a bad point in the story to not continue
really comes off quite depressing. but if it comes out on DVD it'll be worth getting. -
ben-hennessy — 21 years ago(April 06, 2005 02:14 AM)
how have you got hold of themhave looked everywhere
baught series 1 on dvd a few months ago:- entertaining in a blast form the past sort of way really want to complete the "filmed" trilogy
leakthey won't leak..theyre made by the US army -
kashifsh — 20 years ago(July 08, 2005 10:04 PM)
I am interested in getting a copy of Tripod series 2 on dvd, I would be gratefull if you forward me the address of the site from where you bought this series. Thanks.
kashifsh@hotmail.com -
Stainless_Steel_Rat — 20 years ago(August 25, 2005 10:26 AM)
These guys sell it, but it's damn expensive
http://www.eurofilmsltd.com
Better to find someone who can download it.
StainlessSteelRat
http://www.stainlesssteelrat.net/dd.htm
Donnie Darko FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) + other stuff
http://www.richard-kelly.net
For information and forums on Donnie Darko, and much much more, including the latest news on the Donnie Darko Director's Cut and releases, and other Richard Kelly projects (not my site!)
http://www.brmovie.com
The Home of Blade Runner, with FAQ and much more (not my site!)
Dear IMDB can we
please
have Sticky FAQ's, a forum search and more signature space for Christmas! -
Stainless_Steel_Rat — 20 years ago(August 25, 2005 10:28 AM)
Someone else is already
http://us.imdb.com/board/10441811/
StainlessSteelRat
http://www.stainlesssteelrat.net/dd.htm
Donnie Darko FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) + other stuff
http://www.richard-kelly.net
For information and forums on Donnie Darko, and much much more, including the latest news on the Donnie Darko Director's Cut and releases, and other Richard Kelly projects (not my site!)
http://www.brmovie.com
The Home of Blade Runner, with FAQ and much more (not my site!)
Dear IMDB can we
please
have Sticky FAQ's, a forum search and more signature space for Christmas! -
bluerisk — 20 years ago(October 24, 2005 01:09 PM)
I bought my copy at ebay.co.uk for about 12 pounds.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tripods-Series-2-TWO-Disc-DVD-like-Doctor-Who_W0QQitemZ6445197072QQcategoryZ2307QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting -
Cyberleader — 20 years ago(December 14, 2005 07:20 AM)
Anyone out there have season 2 on vhs/dvd they would wanna sell to me?
I have lots of Doctor Who videos I could swap for it.
I watched Season 1 over a weekend and adored it, now I just wanna see season 2 and much to my annoyance, like no series 3 being made, season 2 has not be released yet and looks unlikely to be anytime soon.
Can anyone help me?
anubis501@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks -
King-Grim — 20 years ago(January 02, 2006 06:37 AM)
Season 2 WAS released on DVD around the same time as season 1. However, much to my annoyance as well, for some reason it was withdrawn soon after although season 1 is still available. Maybe when the movie is out, it'll be rereleased.
-
The_Khazi — 19 years ago(April 18, 2006 10:51 AM)
I looked on Amazon.co.uk & it does indeed seem that it was officially available on reg2 dvd for a limited time.Does anyone know why it was deleted so quickly?
-
Carlzere — 19 years ago(May 29, 2006 05:26 AM)
I ordered this from Play some years ago when it was advertised as being 'out of stock' Then it just quietly disappeared..GRRRRRRR! I liked the first series, but at the time didn't get to see the second. Then a few months ago I bought season two on E-bay..YAY! I thought in many ways it was a great improvement on series one, although there were some jarring notes..the oft-mentioned Masters'lack of menace, for one. There was also the fact that there was no evidence of the Masters' greater gravity..all the slaves were able to dance around in the (silly) 80's wine bar/disco, 'The Pink Parrot', despite the fact that the Masters treated them likeerm..slaves.. Then there was Georg, the old slave who Will replaced.. he looked pretty sprightly to me, rather than as in the novels someone 'who went to his Happy Release, secure in the knowledge that he has served the Masters to the last atom of his energy' or something like that!!
All gripes aside it was great to see the second series. The set I have is pretty grainy and looks like a transfer from a dodgy video..but it's a lot better than not having it.
Just out of interest.. does anyone know why the second series was only available for such a short time? Seems odd especially when you consider that the first series is stil widely available.