Dorzak
Psychon prisoner whose psychic powers allegedly threatened Croton civilisation.
Dorzak is a fictional character from the 1970s British science fiction television series Space: 1999, appearing in the episode of the same name. He is a Psychon, a member of an alien race with psychic abilities, whose alleged crimes against the Croton civilisation drive the episode's plot.
- species
- Psychon
- known_for
- Psychic abilities, being a prisoner of the Crotons
- first_appearance
- "Dorzak" (Space: 1999, Series 2)
- portrayed_by
- Lee Montague
- status
- Contained by Moonbase Alpha
Lore & Background
Dorzak was a Psychon who, according to the Croton captain Sahala, brought chaos to the Croton homeworld through his psychic abilities. Maya, another Psychon and a resident of Moonbase Alpha, knew Dorzak as a philosopher, poet, and man of peace, and refused to believe he had turned rogue. The Crotons developed stasis-inducing guns called 'stasers' to contain the Psychons, and Dorzak was being transported into exile when his ship encountered Moonbase Alpha.
During the episode, Dorzak is revived by Maya and initially appears innocent, but it is later revealed that he telepathically hypnotised crew members, causing one to attack another and another to throw herself out of an airlock. He also killed Yesta, a Croton crew member, by hypnotising her after her neuropulsonic jammer was removed. Dorzak attempted to escape by hypnotising Maya and forcing her to reveal the secret of shapeshifting, then switching places with her. He was ultimately subdued by Controller Tony Verdeschi, who had been implanted with Yesta's jammer, and was contained.
Reader's Guide
Dorzak is a significant antagonist in Space: 1999, representing the threat of uncontrolled psychic power. The episode explores themes of trust, deception, and the misuse of mental abilities. Critics gave the episode mixed reviews: TV Zone magazine called it 'one of the finest' of Series 2 and praised Lee Montague's performance, while John Kenneth Muir found Dorzak 'another two-dimensional evil alien' lacking depth. The episode is notable for being the only one in the series not to feature Commander Koenig, as it was filmed simultaneously with another episode. Dorzak's character highlights the series' shift from survival narratives to encounters with alien cultures, a change some critics viewed negatively.
Did You Know?
- Dorzak is one of several episodes of Space: 1999 not to feature Commander Koenig.
- The episode was written by Christopher Penfold, who said the final teleplay 'bore little resemblance' to his original script.
- Lee Montague's costume was padded to make it seem like Dorzak was wearing armour.
- Actress Jill Townsend developed appendicitis during filming but insisted on finishing her scenes before seeking treatment.
More in Space: 1999 episodes 1-24
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