I couldn't stand the way he was always so dead serious. He never smiled, he never joked, he never displayed any kind of a light side.
He was like a damn statue in every episode. It was always business with him.
After watching this show as a kid, it would take me years to warm to Martin landau in any way, shape or form.
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I probably didn't watch the entire series. But in every episode I did see, I have no recollection of him ever having a lighter side or even smiling.
I know he was only human (and probably had little reason to smile). But geez it's just a show and a little charisma wouldn't have hurt.
The 2nd season both he and Helena lighten up considerably.
Love will do that.
The 2nd season both he and Helena lighten up considerably.
Yes, Koenig was pretty serious for the most part, but he did smile a couple of times in the series which is far more freaky than any time he was sour.
shareYeah, when the moon's been blown out of Earth orbit and you're in command -- it's a laugh a minute.
shareHey, I watched Black Sun yesterday evening and I saw Koenig smile from ear to ear after they came through and when the Eagle and its crew miraculously returned due to Divine intervention. Give him a break, everyone.
shareHe smiled when he had something to smile about but he wasn't the type to just laugh at anything at any time. What was going on was serious, especially in season one.
But I do agree with the person who said he lightened up in season 2. A lot of that having to do with his relationship with Helena. It's obvious the two are lovers by then where-as in the first season we weren't altogether sure what they were.
And Martin Landau has a great smile so it's always nice to see.
All your reasoning for hating Koenig were all the reasons I loved him. At least he wasn't Capt Kirk who got down every young yomen's skirts.
Landau played Koenig with a ton of professionalism and stoicism that made me love Koenig far and above anything William Shatner created with Kirk. Considering the plight Alpha found itself in, moreso season one, it was appropriate for Koenig to be so business-like. Landau embued Koenig with a humility and humanity that was sadly lacking in anything Shatner played. It took me a long time to find anyone close to Koenig in terms of a solid leader of a show. That finally came with "Deep Space Nine" and Avery Brooks as Capt. Sisko. I began watching 1999 when I was twelve and because of how Landau played Koenig, I took to wanting quality television with a solid lead such as Landau.
"Sometimes my ruminations are too confusing for someone not inside my head." -Anon
You try running the place under those conditions.
He's a leader, not a minion.
I think Landau nailed the performance perfectly.
I thought year 1 Koenig was totally appropriate. It was year 2 that went off the deep end. I agree with the other poster about Helena. I loved the tense feel of the first season. It was perfect for the situation they were in. Season 2 seemed like the runaway moon was an amusement ride the way they acted. Totally inappropriate.
shareAnd let's not forget, if he hadn't been so dour and serious all the time the whole of Alpha would be stuck on that planet looking as high as kites and being manipulated by Maya in a white one piece bathing suit.
shareThat's why he was the way he was.
shareI'd like to think by season two they were more comfortable in their environment, despite the danger, and allowed themselves the luxury of love and moments of lightness. I didn't think it was a bad thing and enjoyed Commander Koenig and Dr. Russell in season two. However, I do understand why he and she were so tense in season one.
I think anyone would've been tense lost in deep space with very little control of their surroundings, with limited resources. It was season two's loose attitudes that seemed out of place to me. Vast sections of the base had been moved underground and they now had laser batteries set up on the lunar surface for defense, but their basic situation hadn't changed any.
shareI'd like to think by season two they were more comfortable in their environment, despite the danger, and allowed themselves the luxury of love and moments of lightness. I didn't think it was a bad thing and enjoyed Commander Koenig and Dr. Russell in season two. However, I do understand why he and she were so tense in season one.
And do not mention the total idiocy of Helena Russell from season two to me. Friedberger filled Bain's head with as much drivel as he could to make her think she was an actress.
Season one Helena was under the direction of Sylvia Anderson and with the divorce from Gerry for season two, Helena was off the rails as were any of the other female characters. Changing the dynamic between John and Helena to this put on love or admiration plus the addition of Koenig's wife in "Rules of Luton" just about made me quit watching.
What I loved about season one was the "2001: A Space Odyssey" homage it had. There was no need to change that feeling.
But seriously, can you look at those monsters Maya turned into and the ones in "The Bringers of Wonder" as anything remotely sci-fi-ish? I can't. The philisophical questions asked in season one like "The Black Sun," "The Full Circle," "The Testament of Arkadia" and others were the reasons I adore and love season one.
Fred Freiberger despised season one. For that reason alone, Gerry Anderson should've found himself another producer.
shareIt's sad how often people will make the wrong choice even when it's right in front of their stupid faces.
Such as Barack Obama saying he wanted to "fundamentally transform" America should have meant NOBODY voted for him. Along with "energy prices will necessarily skyrocket under my policies," etc.
I really didn't like either Landau's or Bain's acting in this show. They were a little bit better in Mission: Impossible, but they used the same techniques they learned in acting classes. I've tried to imagine Ed Bishop from UFO as Koenig instead and I think he would have done a great job. Wanda Ventham would have been much stronger and more attractive as Helena, with fewer weepy, breathy pronouncements.
shareI thought Landau did a great job portraying the gravity of the situation he was in. There were times he was able to relax or share a friendly moment with Victor or Helena, but most of the time he was dealing with the fact that he was responsible for the lives of people who were living subject to a largely uncontrollable situation.
shareNope. He was awful. I never got the impression that he felt all that responsible. Any of the Star Trek captains (with the possible exception of the equally awful Scott Bakula) felt like they cared more about their crew, including Janeway in the similarly lost Voyager.
shareOf course Koenig cared. He was at his meanest when lives were at stake.
shareIn Season 1 both John Koenig and Helena Russell are so cold and self absorbed it's very hard to care about them.
Thankfully Ferd Freiburger fixed that in Season 2 both act like John Koenig and Helena Russell *real* human beings and their loving relationship reflects that.
I never thought they were cold - they were trying to be professional (when Koenig wasn't losing his temper, anyway - lol).
On season two they went too far in the other direction, often acting as though they were at a party and not on a vulnerable rock plunging through space.
Martin Landau did acknowledge that Frieberger helped the characters to an extent, but had them act out of character too often.
Frieberger tried to ignore the first season whenever possible, trying to turn the show into something else. That's why season two failed (in most people's eyes). But there are viewers who thought season two was an improvement over season one. I'm not one of those people, but I do find that interesting.
In Season 1 both John Koenig and Helena Russell are so cold and self absorbed it's very hard to care about them.
Thankfully Ferd Freiburger fixed that in Season 2 both act like John Koenig and Helena Russell *real* human beings and their loving relationship reflects that.
I was totally appalled to discover that they'd dropped the Bergman character from the show, after naively being under the impression that the commercials featuring Maya were simply advertising the first episode of the new season.
But I was such a diehard fan that the fact that there was a whole new season ahead that I adjusted. It started out well. The Metamorph was good, the Exiles was mildly good, Journey To Where was good (the first three episodes shown in the Boston area), but the majority of the first half of the season weren't very impressive (eleven episodes were shown, then the first four were repeated - making me think it was a short season until a new group of episodes beginning with Space Warp appeared). I thought the next group was a general improvement.
Don't even get me started with Brian the Brain - the premise was absurd - a "star mission" launched in 1996? On Voyager's Return we were told that the Queller Drive made star travel possible, but was too dangerous for a manned crew.
Halfway through the season it was announced that there was to be no season three, which was disappointing, but after season two we were treated to the rerunning of the superior season one.
I don't know about him being the saddest human being ever, but he was certainly the angriest man in space. Man, could that man ever shout......
"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."
He should've shouted not to allow Fred Frieberger to join the show.
shareI don't know about him being the saddest human being ever, but he was certainly the angriest man in space. Man, could that man ever shout......
He shouted because he was under stress, as anyone would've been in his situation. Season Two had the characters unrealistically content to be stranded on a runaway moon.
shareStress was a his part of his job. He made the choice to put himself and everyone else under additional stress. Season Two had the character being content with the situation they themselves chose to accept.
shareWhich was unrealistic. The feel of season one was perfect - everyone on edge. Season two had the characters joking around as though they were on vacation.
shareHardly. Koenig made that decision for everyone, and that was never challenged until the Seance Spectre from the second season by Greg Sanderson who was psychotic. So they were on a vacation, one that they chose to take.
shareThey chose to work on the moon, not knowing they would end up stranded essentially on a comet.
sharePlease reread my previous post. I am talking about Breakaway.
shareOh, sorry.
You're right about that. I always thought the first episode should've been a TV movie so they could get into details like that - it would've been interesting to see crowds of personnel rushing for the launch pads as soon as they realized what had happened. Mutineers would've shown themselves as Koenig attempted to restore order. But within the confines of a single episode, the story had to be more succinct.
Thanks.
Sure, I agree that Breakaway should have been 2 hours but sadly it's not. Would have made that decision? Gerry Anderson and Lord Lew Grade. In every version I have seen or read Koenig makes that decision and no one even thinks of challenging that at all. Therefore, all the Alphans have resigned themselves to a ongoing vacation that they make the best of. Party time!
Look at this another way, you are dealing with the same people everyday all the time. You really don't have much choice but to sit back and enjoy the ride.
In reality, they would've had overworked base counselors. People committing suicide, drinking and drugging themselves to death. The saner ones would be concentrating on keeping the base operational, not standing around making jokes.
shareIn reality, they would've had overworked base counselors. People committing suicide, drinking and drugging themselves to death. The saner ones would be concentrating on keeping the base operational, not standing around making jokes.
Maybe I'm a pessimist, but I picture a lot of despair among the crew of Alpha.
There should've been a stronger reason for not attempting an exodus to Earth. Residual magnetic radiation from the explosions would've been plausible, wreaking havoc with the Eagles guidance systems - the only flaw with that is that Alan Carter made it safely back to the base.
"Helena, get out of the way!"
"Carter, look out!"
I loved him, loved him on mission impossible too.
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