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Set in the "near future", this series looked at the lives of seven people
cooped up together in a space station as they tried to deal with personal
issues, challanges that came in from space as well as up from Earth and a money
hungry corporation that just happened to be in charge of their lives.
"Space Island One" (known as "Raumstation Unity" in Germany) was produced as a
cooperation between British and German production companies and featured a mix
of British, German and Canadian actors playing the international crew of Space
Station Unity. The show looked at such concepts as the first child born in
space, rogue satellites, the problems with corporations controlling scientific
advancement and the dangers of getting involved with your workmates when you
are stuck in space with them for months on end.
The show had its moments, but was uneaven in places. Many ideas were good and
the set was reasonably believable as a piece of technology set in a time when
artificial gravity was possible but people still had to operate most things by
hand, but the writing would often ask the characters to change their
personality from show to show, or act in an immature manner for no apparent
reason. One episode would be really striking and present an idea equal to the
better episodes of Blakes Seven or Dr Who, while another would be poorly
realised and leave you confused or unsatisfied. It was never entirely clear
whether the show was aimed at young viewers or a more general audience, and I
think this lack of a definite target audience also hindered the story-telling
process.
A similar programme has been produced by the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation, with a younger cast and a better realised target audience.
"Silversun" (2004) is also set in the near future and also deals with a small
group of people working together in space and the problems that can arise from
their relationships, but it has squarely set its eyes on an audience in its
early teens and has so far worked to ensure the characters stay consistent. If
"Space Island One" had managed to do this, it may have lasted a few more
seasons.
Many thanks to Sharon for this detailed submission.
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