This show is another under the radar gem, well not exactly the show was a hit at the time in the 70's mainly in the UK and was slightly know here in the states, but as time went on has been slightly forgotten. There were two revivals made one from the 1990s that I saw on Nickelodeon which I thought was good. Another in the 2000s from the CW which I thought was okay; both are stories for another time. I honestly never heard about his show as I said I was a kid from the 80's and 90's, it was mainly though the 90's revival I saw was how I heard about this classic.
The show was an interesting one sort of the UK's version of "X-Men" though also a little of "Power Rangers" (sort of) and this show was years before both properties got TV shows and movies.
This was a pretty cool concept at the time on youth having superpowers and it makes sense as this show was in the 70's and there was this craze on psychic phenomenon along with youth counterculture growing bigger, and the pursuit of nonviolent solutions to violent problems. It was also a time when TV along with culture was starting to open more, there weren't many live action programs which featured leads or character that were young. Most live action family/kids shows don't always hold up with me, but this show despite one from yesteryears is one of the ones that do.
The show is also a bit of a wish fulfillment fantasy, because it really has some of those things and feelings youths of certain ages have had the first time they were coming of age. As we've grown up, we begin to be able to do and even have access to things we couldn't before which has given most of us that feeling of empowerment which is part of what those superpowers are a metaphor for.
Really like that lair they have which is sort of an interior spaceship design which I think is cool as it seems to provide most of what the character need but also, it's just that feeling of having your own place away from you parents and simply just society itself, which is human nature as we all need our own space.
But also, the powers are a metaphor for freedom that most youths desire and first attain. Much like Nightcrawler on "X-Men" they can teleport which is called a Jant, I personally think that's a cool superpower it's one of my favorites as you can practically go wherever you want by just simply thinking about it and your there; if I want to go to Toronto, Canada to a Fantasia film festival I'm there, still wish I can do that beats all the difficulties. That's also the joy in the youth mentality being able to go wherever you want to do without anyone stopping or telling you where to go.
Though there is a little catch with this power as without one of those belt buckles it drains you a little of mental and physical energy as it takes some effort to utilizing it. But also, range is limited as you can get far locally but to get to far off location like say California you must jaunt many more places to get there, much like going on a road trip and having to make stops at multiple towns. I didn't mind this aspect as you don't want hero/superheroes to be too powerful, this gives us the human factor reminding us that these guys aren't invincible and that having powers doesn't mean you going to have or get everything.
Character are pretty good the cast all work well together, I really like that the group consists of youths of varied ages, not just kids but also teenagers and young adults, which I thought was cool showing that being young isn't restricted to kids only but also that you don't have to be a kid to be or feel truly young. This also helps in balancing characters out giving the group an almost family dynamic.
Jon he's pretty much the leader of the group, this character to me could be Charles Xavier of the "X-Men" as a young adult. His character is very much a big brother type as he keeps things under control. Determined and focused on constantly training and strengthening his mind powers but also on their never-ending mission to keep peace in the galaxy. There is this sharp dry wit to him, and at times seems like he's a bit detached from what goes on Earth or anywhere else but isn't blind as he is aware of what's going on and reconnects when he should.
Steven is the teenager of the bunch, despite being slightly experienced being a Tomorrow person he still has a lot to learn, as he can be a tad arrogant/cocky with the powers. I really like that he's sort of the aggressive one of the bunch as he is the one that is willing to take action.
Tim is pretty much who Jarvis is to the Marvel verse and a bit like Zordon of the Power Rangers. His character is pretty much the mentor figure for "The Tomorrow People" he's does give them what they want where he is able to replicate any kinds of drinks, they desire like iced tea, shakes, maybe even Starbucks coffee. However, he doesn't spoil them as he also gives them what they need which is guidance, making sure they're on the right path, that they don't abuse their gifts.
And of course, this show is a fun pulp sci-fi adventure, from some of the goodies like those fan favorite belt buckles which look like Intelevision controllers which supposedly help to control, takes less time and energy, but increase the range on the jaunt ability by just pressing the button. Though the function of is a little inconsistent as I wonder if you had to always preprogram them so that it would know all the places it goes, let alone how would it know where they're about to go every time they touch it, is there some built in A. I. that picks up telepathic signals?
But that's part of the charm like all the pulp sci-fi it shelves logic and focuses on story, so you just simply roll with it and have fun. Even like the fact they have guns which are of course laser stun guns but just the idea the youths can bear arms was cool. But they do use them as they should be tools for self-defense.
Then there is that theme song which is one of my favorite theme songs of all time. It's a very interesting and eerie theme song, along with that really trippy intro sequence which had a series of pictures from a hand that is constantly making signs, the characters faces on some weird graphics, a flower of some kind I think, and some other weird stuff. It really fit the shows, sort of its way getting you ready for something strange and unexpected.
There are some memorable adventure serial stories some which are written well and do have some creative and thoughtful sci-fi, which really give the show a sense of slight maturity where things aren't watered down or even afraid to take risks.
Three favorites of mine are "The Blue and Green" where there is some Salvador Dali like paintings that act as mood rings that cause people to enact violence, this was a slightly dark serial as it was a little prolific on the issue of school violence. "The Doomsday Men" another intelligent one where the Tomorrow people must stop a war from happening. "The Revenge of Jedikiah" where they deal with the only major super villain the show has.
Only mis jaunts are that the pacing can be a little slow in places, this is probably because of padding or filler spots in certain episodes which can annoy me because it's practically wasted time that could have been used better, almost like when those happen someone realizes they have some extra time left but doesn't know what to do with it. Though same can be said about a lot of other episodes for other programs which is a fundamental problem that's easy to have so I can't complain too much, and this is easy to get past as this just happens sometimes.
The other problem is simply The Tomorrow People don't really get to kick much ass which is why the show isn't that exciting. Well ok they kind of do but rarely, it's just they have the powers and the gadgets, but they don't always get to do anything really cool with them. This could be chalked up not just to budget limitations but hardware limitations as the technology they had back then still wasn't very strong yet to support certain ideas. So, I can't complain too much let alone the Tomorrow People aren't trained fighters so it makes sense which is why I can let this slide.
I wouldn't mind another revival as long as it's done right go maybe from the BBC and put in the right hands. Though personally I'd like a Big Finish audio play series based on this show, they did it for a lot of other UK sci-fi shows most notably "Doctor Who", "Torchwood", "The Omega Factor", etc.; so, it would make sense this would be among them. It could act as a new season picking up where the original show left off, or just be a complete revival. If they have the right voice cast, writing, and cool sound effects. Well, their thoughts to consider jaunting towards.
This is a sci-fi classic that worth a jaunt.
Rating: 3 stars.
The show was an interesting one sort of the UK's version of "X-Men" though also a little of "Power Rangers" (sort of) and this show was years before both properties got TV shows and movies.
This was a pretty cool concept at the time on youth having superpowers and it makes sense as this show was in the 70's and there was this craze on psychic phenomenon along with youth counterculture growing bigger, and the pursuit of nonviolent solutions to violent problems. It was also a time when TV along with culture was starting to open more, there weren't many live action programs which featured leads or character that were young. Most live action family/kids shows don't always hold up with me, but this show despite one from yesteryears is one of the ones that do.
The show is also a bit of a wish fulfillment fantasy, because it really has some of those things and feelings youths of certain ages have had the first time they were coming of age. As we've grown up, we begin to be able to do and even have access to things we couldn't before which has given most of us that feeling of empowerment which is part of what those superpowers are a metaphor for.
Really like that lair they have which is sort of an interior spaceship design which I think is cool as it seems to provide most of what the character need but also, it's just that feeling of having your own place away from you parents and simply just society itself, which is human nature as we all need our own space.
But also, the powers are a metaphor for freedom that most youths desire and first attain. Much like Nightcrawler on "X-Men" they can teleport which is called a Jant, I personally think that's a cool superpower it's one of my favorites as you can practically go wherever you want by just simply thinking about it and your there; if I want to go to Toronto, Canada to a Fantasia film festival I'm there, still wish I can do that beats all the difficulties. That's also the joy in the youth mentality being able to go wherever you want to do without anyone stopping or telling you where to go.
Though there is a little catch with this power as without one of those belt buckles it drains you a little of mental and physical energy as it takes some effort to utilizing it. But also, range is limited as you can get far locally but to get to far off location like say California you must jaunt many more places to get there, much like going on a road trip and having to make stops at multiple towns. I didn't mind this aspect as you don't want hero/superheroes to be too powerful, this gives us the human factor reminding us that these guys aren't invincible and that having powers doesn't mean you going to have or get everything.
Character are pretty good the cast all work well together, I really like that the group consists of youths of varied ages, not just kids but also teenagers and young adults, which I thought was cool showing that being young isn't restricted to kids only but also that you don't have to be a kid to be or feel truly young. This also helps in balancing characters out giving the group an almost family dynamic.
Jon he's pretty much the leader of the group, this character to me could be Charles Xavier of the "X-Men" as a young adult. His character is very much a big brother type as he keeps things under control. Determined and focused on constantly training and strengthening his mind powers but also on their never-ending mission to keep peace in the galaxy. There is this sharp dry wit to him, and at times seems like he's a bit detached from what goes on Earth or anywhere else but isn't blind as he is aware of what's going on and reconnects when he should.
Steven is the teenager of the bunch, despite being slightly experienced being a Tomorrow person he still has a lot to learn, as he can be a tad arrogant/cocky with the powers. I really like that he's sort of the aggressive one of the bunch as he is the one that is willing to take action.
Tim is pretty much who Jarvis is to the Marvel verse and a bit like Zordon of the Power Rangers. His character is pretty much the mentor figure for "The Tomorrow People" he's does give them what they want where he is able to replicate any kinds of drinks, they desire like iced tea, shakes, maybe even Starbucks coffee. However, he doesn't spoil them as he also gives them what they need which is guidance, making sure they're on the right path, that they don't abuse their gifts.
And of course, this show is a fun pulp sci-fi adventure, from some of the goodies like those fan favorite belt buckles which look like Intelevision controllers which supposedly help to control, takes less time and energy, but increase the range on the jaunt ability by just pressing the button. Though the function of is a little inconsistent as I wonder if you had to always preprogram them so that it would know all the places it goes, let alone how would it know where they're about to go every time they touch it, is there some built in A. I. that picks up telepathic signals?
But that's part of the charm like all the pulp sci-fi it shelves logic and focuses on story, so you just simply roll with it and have fun. Even like the fact they have guns which are of course laser stun guns but just the idea the youths can bear arms was cool. But they do use them as they should be tools for self-defense.
Then there is that theme song which is one of my favorite theme songs of all time. It's a very interesting and eerie theme song, along with that really trippy intro sequence which had a series of pictures from a hand that is constantly making signs, the characters faces on some weird graphics, a flower of some kind I think, and some other weird stuff. It really fit the shows, sort of its way getting you ready for something strange and unexpected.
There are some memorable adventure serial stories some which are written well and do have some creative and thoughtful sci-fi, which really give the show a sense of slight maturity where things aren't watered down or even afraid to take risks.
Three favorites of mine are "The Blue and Green" where there is some Salvador Dali like paintings that act as mood rings that cause people to enact violence, this was a slightly dark serial as it was a little prolific on the issue of school violence. "The Doomsday Men" another intelligent one where the Tomorrow people must stop a war from happening. "The Revenge of Jedikiah" where they deal with the only major super villain the show has.
Only mis jaunts are that the pacing can be a little slow in places, this is probably because of padding or filler spots in certain episodes which can annoy me because it's practically wasted time that could have been used better, almost like when those happen someone realizes they have some extra time left but doesn't know what to do with it. Though same can be said about a lot of other episodes for other programs which is a fundamental problem that's easy to have so I can't complain too much, and this is easy to get past as this just happens sometimes.
The other problem is simply The Tomorrow People don't really get to kick much ass which is why the show isn't that exciting. Well ok they kind of do but rarely, it's just they have the powers and the gadgets, but they don't always get to do anything really cool with them. This could be chalked up not just to budget limitations but hardware limitations as the technology they had back then still wasn't very strong yet to support certain ideas. So, I can't complain too much let alone the Tomorrow People aren't trained fighters so it makes sense which is why I can let this slide.
I wouldn't mind another revival as long as it's done right go maybe from the BBC and put in the right hands. Though personally I'd like a Big Finish audio play series based on this show, they did it for a lot of other UK sci-fi shows most notably "Doctor Who", "Torchwood", "The Omega Factor", etc.; so, it would make sense this would be among them. It could act as a new season picking up where the original show left off, or just be a complete revival. If they have the right voice cast, writing, and cool sound effects. Well, their thoughts to consider jaunting towards.
This is a sci-fi classic that worth a jaunt.
Rating: 3 stars.