Survivors (BBC 1) 1975-1977

Survivors
(BBC 1, 1975-1977)

I guess this series is almost forgotten, it hit our screens when I was at the tender age of 8, so I didn't get to see the episodes first time round. I did check them out on cable in the 90's and was blown out with this apocalyptic tale of survival in a post plague world (...well England anyway!).
It all starts ...as the opening credits show, with a Chinaman dropping a test tube (presumably holding the deadly plague) and then dropping dead at an airport after we are shown a bunch of immigration stamps for major world cities, finishing with London on September 23rd!
After this we are introduced to our main players one by one, Abby Grant (posh, bossy, 70's woman), Jenny Richards (powdered fanny, needy type), Greg Preston (Pilot and alpha male) and Tom Price (bum & dirty old man...on screen and off apparently!). We are shown each survivor's story from the moment the plague takes hold, and the rapid realization that they must find help.
After a couple of episodes, the four leads end up relying on each other to survive and eventually set up a commune in a large house, Greg and Jenny by now having started a relationship. Others join week by week, including 2 very annoying kids (who never die...even though you REALLY want them to!), a half wit called Barney, a sexy girl called Wendy and her VERY irritating foreign mother figure, Emma Cohen, a grumpy cripple called Vic Thatcher, a wandering hippy, Tom Price and finally a posh bloke Arthur Russell and his secretary Charmian. The first series was written by Terry Nation (of  'Blake 7' fame) and his skills really shine through during these first gripping 13 installments. The characters are also very likeable and easy to warm to, which is why it is distressing when some have to die. One of the most powerful episodes is 'Law and Order' in which Tom rapes and murders Wendy after a drunken party, but Barney is the chief suspect and is shot by Greg after a trial. Tom is exposed by Abby, but Greg decides to keep it quiet from the others. 'Gone To The Angels' is another moving episode. When Abby goes to see three holy men on a mountain in a search for some meaning, all contract the killer virus from her and die. This is a strange installment as it deals with the religious side of the disaster and leaves Abby and the viewer feeling empty and hopeless!

The trial from Law and Order.

Other stand out episodes of this series include the distracting 'Garlands War', in which Abby finds love with the hansome aristocratic warrior Jimmy Garland, 'Revenge' where the interesting, but under explored character, Vic Thatcher meets up with his posh girlfriend Anne, after she left him for dead in episode 2, and 'A Beginning' which ends the series with the introduction of Ruth Anderson (a key player in series 2), and the possibility of trade between the local communities.
The only disappointment with the conclusion of series one, is the failure of the sinister 'Government Forces' to attack or even materialize, after continued warnings of their encroaching presence in the area since episode 3! (This could be explained by the departure of Terry Nation as writer at the end of the first series).
Series two, starts with a real shock for regular viewers, as half of the cast are culled in a fire which destroys the house. Sadly, Vic Thatcher, and not so sadly, Charmian, Donny, Emma and Laura (plus baby) perish. The survivors now end up staying with Charles Vaughan (who played a kind of David Koresh type in an early episode). Charles is now given a more stable setting with his new partner, Pet, and the new community is led by Greg as engineer, and Charles as farmer. Abby is sadly not present in this series her absence is explained by her long drawn out (and tiresome) search for her son (in reality, Carolyn Seymour who played the part, left the series due to an out of control cocaine habit!).
The second series lacks the punch of the first and it feels like a post plague Emmerdale Farm. The new characters, Ruth, Charles, Jack and Hubert take up the slack, but the absence of Abby is a great void in the remainder of the series. Sad losses during this series include regulars, Arthur Russell and Paul Pitman, who both succumb to disease. Other highlights include a 2 part episode 'The Lights of London', where Dr Ruth is tricked into journeying into the rat infested capital to help the 500 inhabitants overcome a deadly virus. 'New Arrivals' see's Charles's authority challenged by a new kid on the block and 'Parasites' deals with a couple of criminals arriving by barge to upset the peace!
The series ends with Greg taking off in a balloon going to Norway to find ways of harnessing electricity. This is another blow for the viewer as Greg has been a foundation stone throughout the series, and although he does return in the next series it is only for a couple of adventures, before he eventually dies of smallpox in 'The Last Laugh'.
Series three seems to loose all cohesion with the community spirit that had characterized the previous series and feels more like a bunch of isolated quests, which lead up to the final episode, where Charles, Hubert and Jenny head to Scotland to switch on a generator which will bring power and industry to England again!
In all, the series is very intelligently written, and although the main characters are all middle class (and the dodgy, dishonest, stupid and criminal, are all working class!), there is a reality about this future, and that is that the class system will still exist even when humanity is almost extinct. This vision persists throughout the series, but that doesn't detract from the overall feel as the plots are at worst, mildly entertaining, but at best gripping and thought provoking.
A 2008 remake of the series did not hit the mark with the public, but the original is still worth getting hold of, and locking yourself away all weekend to watch!

Abby & Greg



  Series One
  1. The Fourth Horseman *****
  2. Genesis ****
  3. Gone Away *****
  4. Corn Dolly ****
  5. Gone to the Angels ****
  6. Garland's War ****
  7. Starvation ***
  8. Spoil of War ****
  9. Law and Order *****
  10. The Future Hour ***
  11. Revenge *****
  12. Something of Value ****
  13. A Beginning *****
 
  Series Two
  1. Birth of A Hope ****
  2. Greater Love *****
  3. Lights of London Part 1 ****
  4. Lights of London Part 2 *****
  5. Face of the Tiger ***
  6. The Witch ***
  7. A Friend In Need ***
  8. By Bread Alone ***
  9. The Chosen ****
  10. Parasites *****
  11. New Arrivals ***
  12. Over The Hills
  13. New World ***
     
Series Three
  1. Manhunt ***
  2. A Little Learning ***
  3. Law of the Jungle ***
  4. Mad Dog ****
  5. Bridgehead ***
  6. Reunion ****
  7. The Peacemaker ***
  8. Sparks ***
  9. The Enemy ***
  10. The Last Laugh ****
  11. Long Live The King ****
  12. Power  ***

**        A bit boring
***      Average
****     Good
*****    Exellent

Cast Members

  • Abby Grant (Carolyn Seymour)  (13 episodes, 1975)
  • Greg Preston  (Ian McCulloch)  (26 episodes, 1975-1977) **
  • Jenny Richards (Lucy Fleming)  (32 episodes, 1975-1977)
  • Tom Price (Talfryn Thomas)  (7 episodes, 1975) **
  • Arthur Wormley (George Baker)    (1 episode, 1975)
  • Vic Thatcher (Terry Scully / Hugh Walters / Terry Denton)  (7 episodes, 1975) *
  • Anne Tranter (Myra Frances) (2 episodes, 1975)
  • Charles Vaughan (Denis Lill)  (24 episodes, 1975-1977)
  • Emma Cohen (Hana Maria Pravda)  (7 episodes, 1975) *
  • Wendy (Julie Neubert)  (3 episodes, 1975) **
  • Barney (John Hallet) (3 episodes, 1975) **
  • Paul Pitman (Chris Tranchell)  (8 episodes, 1975-1976) **
  • Arthur Russell (Michael Gover)   (12 episodes, 1975-1976) **
  • Charmian Wentworth (Eileen Helsby)  (6 episodes, 1975) *
  • Jimmy Garland   (Richard Heffer)  (2 episodes, 1975)
  • John Millon (Stephen Dudley)  (22 episodes, 1975-1977)
  • Lizzie Willoughby (Tanya Ronder / Angie Stevens)  (19 episodes, 1975-1977)
  • Sam Mead  (Robert Gillespie)  (4 episodes, 1975-1977) **
  • Donny  (Robert Tayman)  (1 episode, 1975) *
  • Ruth Anderson  (Annie Irving / Celia Gregory) (12 episodes, 1975-1976)
  • Pet Simpson (Lorna Lewis)  (15 episodes, 1976-1977)
  • Hubert Goss  (John Abineri) (17 episodes, 1976-1977)
  • Jack Wood  (Gordon Salkilld)  (9 episodes, 1976-1977)
  • Alan  (Stephen Tate) (4 episodes, 1976)
  • Mina  (Delia Paton)  (2 episodes, 1976)
  • Lewis Fearn  (Roy Herrick)  (2 episodes, 1976) **
  • Agnes Carlsson  (Anna Pitt) (5 episodes, 1977)
  • Alec Campbell  (William Dysart)  (4 episodes, 1977)
  • Frank Garner (Edward Underdown)  (3 episodes, 1977) **

*   Died in the fire in 'Birth of a Hope' Series 2, Episode 1
** Murdered or died horribly in Series 1
** Murdered or died horribly in Series 2 or 3

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)