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I’m not a racist, but I can remember when America still had space shuttles. During this summer of raised consciousness, while stuck in covid lockdown, I am enjoying an old Showtime cable series about five people trying to save the world: Odyssey 5.
Series note:
The show was still getting good ratings (link) when Showtime decided to get away from sci-fi.
Craft note:
I remember the TV commercials for the series said, “Odyssey 5 uncut.” The “uncut” means not cutting gracious nudes, and including swear words. In fact the very first word is “sh—t” during an “establishing shot” of a solar space panel.
Diversity note:
Two boys are playing: One is white, one black; —The line of grey consoles at Mission Control is staffed by women in colorful tops; —Some of the shuttle survivors, while themselves “nonHispanic,” speak Spanish to a hospital cleaning lady; —One man can even speak Sign Language; —The vast majority of guest stars, including brilliant scientists, are nonwhite. This in 2002.
Long before our 2020 summer of “raised consciousness,” a person of color’s words, after the shuttle crew has died (possibly) and they see an old man in a tweed suit approaching… “It figures. Wouldn’t you know it, God is a white dude.” The scientist says no, some alien has merely taken on this form to converse.
DVD note:
In “the business” actors are merely “the talent,” as they often lack perspective. How delightful to hear the DVD commentary, for the two hour pilot episode, with actor Peter Weller and producer and writer Manny Cotto. Weller sounds like the director and college professor he is, easily holding up his side of their conversation.
By his episodes, Cotto disproves any modern belief that “people in 2002 didn’t care about racism,” (wrong) or any smug belief that “everybody has always known that for sci fi, special effects are the most important thing.” (wrong again) If we view with chauvinism for our own space-and-time, then we are humbled.
Review:
… Here’s what you would see if you were a waitress in a dumpy diner in Houston… In a booth are gathered five (5) people: —A TV news anchor, wife and mother, rather devout; —A British scientist-and writer, rather anti-authority; —A seasoned fighter pilot, now a NASA mission commander; —His 17-year old son; —A freckled “girl next door,” also from the airforce, now flying space shuttles.
When the waitress comes over to re-fill their coffee she comments, “How come you folks always clam up when I come by?” …
Their small secret: The five had their consciousness downloaded, into their present bodies, from five years into the future. Time travel. So the son, although now in high school, is actually 22, and he too was an astronaut on the doomed space shuttle Odyssey.
Their big secret: They were—will be—five years from now, the last surviving humans, running out of air, looking down from the Odyssey… as the earth is being destroyed… Now they have been granted a five year “do over” to prevent the horror, to stop whoever or whatever causes the apocalypse—except they are already disturbing the “time line,” so they are probably speeding up the end.
The five survivors are dissimilar: How enchanting. As the commander says in the booth, they would never “put up with each other” in real life.
I am reminded of a farm boy from Quebec, newly arrived in the city: He went around the neighborhood saying “bonjour” and conversing with every Anglo he could find. The novelty of learning that English speaking people don’t dislike French speaking people took a long time to wear off, a time when he went around with a huge smile. Just like that boy, I smile with glee to see the five befriend each other…
Peter Weller plays the old pilot, Chuck Taggart. I cannot imagine Weller ever performing a better role. Taggert may go into space, but he’s no white-collar scientist—he’s blunt, swears, and hates bullshit. When an old woman asks, “Are you humoring me, Chuck?” he replies, “You know I never humor anyone.” Never impulsive, he has no use for “God. Damn.” Indecision. Now, back on earth, he acts as mission commander, keeping the survivors focused.
Taggart’s wife is plain and real, beautiful like a mother, not some long legged fashion model. Taggart surprises his older son by hugging him instead of shaking hands as men do—because he knows.
Special effects are not important when set beside fine ensemble acting… Imagine: Knowing your little boy will die of cancer, wanting desperately to take action to prevent the cancer—but your husband won’t let you…
I gasped when the NASA commander and the scientist, as themselves, walk into an air-conditioned office tower to talk to a man in a business suit while their white shirttails are hanging out—Of course! Houston is hot! How nice to see a show that for once isn’t set in New York or L.A.
…My DVD advice? Skip episode 12, a “drama-comedy” called The Trouble With Harry. Watch it last, because, by definition, “comedy” means happy ending: Earth is saved. (possibly) Years ago the shuttles stopped flying; Odyssey 5 remains a wondrous show.
Sean Crawford
Western Canada,
July 2020, any comments?
