The Man From TB5 - Re-Review #46
Definitely another strong favourite today!
Let me take you back to one of Lady Penelopeâs main episodes from TOS - âThe Man From MI5â˛. Nice play on the title here. But, when we might have expected this to be a job for Gordon, itâs actually one for er- John?
P.S. Did you know OâHagan and Aisling made a Thunderbirds Picture Storybook edition?
So yes, after all the asking, itâs John, and she is sticking with John. Gordon really must be gutted. This scene was absolutely golden as well.
âDid I hear party? Do you need a date? I could be there in no time! (Scott, let me borrow Thunderbird One).â
âThank you Gordon, but I already have a date.â
âNo way! You actually got him to leave Thunderbird Five.â
âHe wanted it kept quiet.â
âBut Iâm the obvious choice! John hates social... anything. Besides, whose gonnaâ do space monitor duty?â
âFunny you should mention that.â
âWalked into that one!â
âAnd who do you thinkâs taking him up there?â
Also, I like the fact that Lady Penelope has a wildlife preserve.
Yes, the date is none other than John. Not a second of doubt that he can handle a âlittleâ social situation.
âSpeaking of amazing how do you like that custom tuxedo I designed? Didnât you notice all the cool hidden functions? Like the radio in your collar.â
âThis isnât a spy mission, Brains.â
I donât know, John, you are with the UKâs top spy.
âItâs just a quiet, little charity auction.â
âI may haveunderstand the quiet part, a bit.â
Yeah, thanks for that Parker! So the only part she actually told him about correctly was that itâs a charity auction. Thankful for that radio now, John?
âJohn, are you alright?â
âI thought thereâd be less this. People. Talking. In person. I mean communications is my job, I talk to people from all over the world, Iâd just rather do it from space.â
I think John could be socially autistic.
Look at Sherbet though, sitting so happily on Penelopeâs arm.
âPlace like this his ha âot-bed for pick pockets. hIn my day, this would âave been ha gold mine.â
âNo one will be picking anyoneâs pockets tonight.â
âNot while hIâm hon watch duty, MâLady.â
Definitely famous last words. Wait for it.
I love how one minute Lady Penelope is pulling John away from people and telling him who to talk to, and then the next just walks off and leaves him to fend for himself.
âDid I mention the cufflinks?â
âWill they make me invisible to crowds?â
âWhy didnât I think of that?â
Because you are not John who is currently very desperate to disappear from the face of the Earth.
Also, I love how Scott has a laptop. Obviously heâs doing Tracy Industry work today.
âWhat exactly do you do, Dear boy?â
And could you be any more patronising? I mean, go on, give it a try.
Did I see Kat in crowd as well?
And the focus on the food? It was spot on really. Itâs the little things that help to make episodes like this. This episode had a great balance of humour and tense moments, with a brilliant rescue, a great appearance by The Hood and a very nice view of a different side to John.
With some absolutely brilliant moments by Parker. Only he and Sherbet could end up in a fight with kitchen staff in a Chateau kitchen at a party whilst heâs meant to be looking out for pick pockets.
âWonderful party isnât it?â
ââey? âeâs cheered hup. No kitchen staff? Goood grief, hitâs-â
âYou werenât supposed to see that!â
âhIndeed. Now, drop that weapon, hor hIâll be hobliged to serve you ha Parker âaymaker.â
And they actually showed more of the âfightâ than I expected them to. I mean, hitting someoneâs head with multiple saucepans..? Because thatâs PG.
âWelcome everyone, and-Â *Clatters* -Â And, theyâre obviously preparing our very delicious desert.â
Itâs a good thing she can talk her way out of almost anything.
Just throw and smash your glass... yes, thatâs exactly what I would do at a formal charity auction. As Iâm sure we all would.
âAnd how does he expected to pay for it? By robbing us?â
âThatâs exactly right.â
Yes, Parker, they made it past you. Just.
âWhat makes you think Iâll willingly give you any of my money, hey?â
âI placed laser cutters on the cables, that hold up this Chateau. Would you like a demonstation?â
Why did you even say anything man?
âThis one doesnât show up on the system.â
âWho exactly are you?â
I did find it hard to believe that The Hood wouldnât recognise John though. I mean, heâs even been to Tracy Island, heâs seen their portraits. I know John looks a little different in a suit, but still. I mean, it does look like The Hood is considering him, but I still think there would have been recognition there.
âIf I could get outside, I could try and disable them.â
âYouâll need a distraction. Parker?â
âRight âaway, MâLady. hOi! hIf youâre gonna rob hus, hat least âave the decency to serve proper canapes!â
Now chair throwing! This is perfect! Exactly my type of party.
Oh Bottomsly really is an idiot. I mean the name did hint.. A candlelabra? Great choice of weapon. TAG really risked their Universal rating on this one.
âFool! Youâve activated the laser cutters!â
For once, and only once, I agree with The Hood. Bottomsly, you are a fool.
âThis place is doomed!â
Well... nearly. When have we ever known The Hood not to have some kind of escape plan at the ready? I mean, he did in âLegacyâ and he really should have been done for then.
Nice of him to give us a little bow as well.
Now to go off topic for two seconds and see if I can give anyone a laugh for today;
You know what, I will give you the two images that popped into my head during this scene, particularily from the above photo.
1. Titanic. Iconic moment that I need not say more on.
I will advise though that Iâm not really a fan of this film, so I donât quite know why it came to me.
2. Richard III (Ian McKellenâs version) - where, defeated Richard III falls into the fire below, arms wide and smiling. I never really understood this version of the film. Itâs set in Nazi Germany... I will say no more.
âHairstyle not recognised. And not very stylish.â
âWe speak of this to no one.â
Oh my gosh, the humour with this pair and EOS (finally someone wrote an episode with EOS)! This was so so needed in this episode and had me in fits.
âIâd like to see the reports for myself.â
âIâm not sure youâd understand them. But Iâve found a wonderful puppet show you might find entertaining.â
Best thing is - I reckon Gordon would have really liked that puppet show.
âGordon to John. Youâre AI is being evil again.â
I wouldnât quite say this counts as evil, Gordon, more like mean, but your choice of words.
âItâs not me this time!â
Oopps, nearly gave it away.
âI mean... How can I assist?â
See, there you go! Bond over your love for John. Probably the only thing (besides humour) that these two have in common. It was also really nice to see Gordon in Thunderbird Five. He never made it up there in TOS.
âIâd still take this over the crowds.â
John really does have a better head for heights than I do then.
âScott, we need you now!â
Yep... like overdue need you that should have been.
âJohn, Iâm on my way.â
Yeah, because Kayo does the Bad Guy Chasing not the Rescuing.
âYou expect me to slide down that wire? What, in a dining chair?
âNo, Bottomsly, I expect you to help the others first. And if youâre lucky, youâll get to leave before this whole place falls down on your head like a rock!â
Maybe a little harsher than it needed to be said like, but it did need saying. I love how Sherbet gets to go first!
âAll I need is money!â
Donât we all at the moment, Hood. Care to share?
âSurely you have something up your sleeve?â
âActually I do. Brains said something about cufflinks.â
And probably should have finished explaining about them.
âHe put a laser up my sleeve!â
That could have gone very wrong.
âHang tight, Iâm coming to get yaâ.â
Did Scott forget to say that he meant that literally?
âI got you, party boy.â
Kind of you to save your brother from possible death.
âThanks, Scott. Just put me down anywhere. Anywhere but here!â
I love how John was desperate enough to try and climb away! That was a little mean of Scott to try it though.
âMuch happreciation for fishing FAB hOne hout hof the sea.â
I love Parkerâs priorities! In fact, there might be a fanfiction coming based of this. Stay tuned.
âIâve been sent dozens of messages inviting the mysterious hero to parties everywhere. Shall I forward them?â
âItâs a chance to see the world.â
âThanks, but the world looks just fine from Thunderbird Five.â
Couldnât agree more. Iâd love to hace that view.