A Matter of Balance
An antimatter alien tricks a young woman into swapping universes.
"A Matter of Balance" is an installment from the second season of *Space: 1999*, a British science-fiction series from the 1970s created by Gerry Anderson Productions for ITC Entertainment. The script was penned by Pip and Jane Baker, with direction by Charles Crichton, and production took place at Pinewood Studios during August 1976. The episode debuted on 25 November 1976 via Associated Television.
The series begins in 1999, following the staff of Moonbase Alpha after a nuclear blast sends the Moon hurtling out of Earth's orbit into deep space. With no control over their path, the Alphans encounter alien species and cosmic events while seeking a route home or a planet to colonize. In this episode, a young woman from the colony aids an antimatter being in crossing into the material world, unaware that the act will have irreversible effects on her.
**Plot** The Moon nears a lush, habitable planet devoid of animal life. Commander Koenig organizes a survey team, selecting Maya, pilot Fraser, and botanist Collins. Technician Shermeen Williams is upset when Controller Verdeschi—whom she secretly admires—informs her she was not chosen for the mission. A ghostly alien named Vindrus appears to her, exploiting her unhappiness. He instructs her to bombard a seed with protons, instantly growing a plant whose scent knocks Collins unconscious. Williams then takes his place on the Eagle.
On the planet Sunim, Williams collects plants while the others find a temple guarded by a hostile reptilian creature called a Thaed. Vindrus guides Williams past it into the temple, where a broken machine could make him solid—if she repairs it. Maya, shapeshifting into a fox to evade the Thaed, enters the temple and finds Williams. After Maya photographs wall markings, the two leave unhindered, as the Thaed no longer sees Williams as a threat.
Back on Alpha, Maya deciphers the markings: Sunim’s civilization was destroyed in a fiery cataclysm, likely from matter–antimatter conversion. The Thaed is an antimatter being, explaining why sensors missed it. In Hydroponics, Vindrus tells Williams that his people are devolving into "primordial slime," unlike evolving humans. The temple’s converter can bring antimatter beings into the matter universe, but to maintain balance, an
- Series
- Space: 1999 (Series 2)
- Episode Number
- Not specified
- Air Date
- 25 November 1976
- Network
- Associated Television
- Written by
- Pip and Jane Baker
- Directed by
- Charles Crichton
- Filmed at
- Pinewood Studios
Lore & Background
In the episode, the Moon passes a habitable planet with abundant vegetation but no animal life. Commander Koenig leads a survey mission with Maya, Eagle pilot Fraser, and botanist Eddie Collins. Shermeen Williams, a technician in hydroponics, is upset when Controller Verdeschi tells her she has been passed over for the mission. A humanoid alien named Vindrus appears to Williams in a ghostly vision, exploiting her unhappiness to manipulate her into joining the landing party. He shows her how to grow a plant with an intoxicating scent that renders Collins unconscious, allowing her to take his place.
Reader's Guide
The episode is notable for its negative reception, with particular criticism directed at its portrayal of antimatter, Stuart Wilson's costume and make-up as Vindrus, and plot holes. TV Zone magazine considered it the worst episode of Series 2, and SFX graded it "D-minus." John Kenneth Muir found the episode technically "sloppy" and cited inconsistencies in explanations of matter and antimatter reactions, as well as Verdeschi's seeming unfamiliarity with antimatter despite previous encounters. The episode's use of the names "Sunim" ("Minus" backward) and "Thaed" (nearly "Death" backward) was criticized as weak and childish. Despite this, some praised the location filming and actress Joanna Frederick's performance as Williams.
Did You Know?
- The episode was filmed over 14 days in August 1976, with outdoor scenes shot on the woodland sets at Pinewood Studios.
- The Thaed costume head was originally built for the robot in 'The Beta Cloud', making it a direct reuse of the same prop rather than a separate resemblance.
More in Space: 1999 episodes 1-24
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