Director Alan Pettillo does a nice job in building the tension and suspense of this adventure and creates a relentless new foe for Steve Zodiac in the Granatoids. However, he can't cover up all the holes in the script by Alan Fennell and in the end I found this adventure to be unsatisfying.
A couple of scientists at a Mineral Research Lab on a distant planet find the planet is under attack by the Granatoid robots (sounding suspiciously like our own beloved Robert the Robot!). They immediately call Space City for help and Steve Zodiac's shopping expedition for Venus' birthday present is interrupted.
The XL5 rockets to the rescue with Venus' birthday present aboard, as well as the woman who sold it to them, Ma Dougherty of the music store.
On the way Matt tries to create a device that might stop the Granatoids. Supposedly the only thing that can stop them is an element called Plython, which is in short supply in the universe.
Fortunately for the scientists at the Research lab, the Granatoids for some reason have decided to start their invasion on the other side of the planet, destroying rocks and any other obstacles in their path as they (slowly) make their way to the research lab. Why they didn't land near the lab (which appears to be the only target on the planet worth destroying) is left unexplained. In fact why they even bothered to attack this desolate planet is also unexplained.
When the Granatoids arrive, Matt's invention fails to stop them and it seems all is lost--though I would think a missile from the XL5 probably could easily stop these tanks--until Ma Dougherty steps up and saves the day by using a Plython necklace her father gave her years ago. This hardly comes as a surprise in that it is telegraphed a number of times early in the episode. The Granatoids retreat and go back to their own planet and the universe is once again saved.
Although it is Ma that actually saves everyone, Steve has a good moment when he tries to step in and save her as the tanks advance on the elderly woman. He knows there's nothing he can do, but he's going to try and save her anyway.
Also some nice music early on as Steve and Matt listen to a new disc they are planning to get for Venus and Matt displays his musical talent by playing a tune in the music shop.
A couple of scientists at a Mineral Research Lab on a distant planet find the planet is under attack by the Granatoid robots (sounding suspiciously like our own beloved Robert the Robot!). They immediately call Space City for help and Steve Zodiac's shopping expedition for Venus' birthday present is interrupted.
The XL5 rockets to the rescue with Venus' birthday present aboard, as well as the woman who sold it to them, Ma Dougherty of the music store.
On the way Matt tries to create a device that might stop the Granatoids. Supposedly the only thing that can stop them is an element called Plython, which is in short supply in the universe.
Fortunately for the scientists at the Research lab, the Granatoids for some reason have decided to start their invasion on the other side of the planet, destroying rocks and any other obstacles in their path as they (slowly) make their way to the research lab. Why they didn't land near the lab (which appears to be the only target on the planet worth destroying) is left unexplained. In fact why they even bothered to attack this desolate planet is also unexplained.
When the Granatoids arrive, Matt's invention fails to stop them and it seems all is lost--though I would think a missile from the XL5 probably could easily stop these tanks--until Ma Dougherty steps up and saves the day by using a Plython necklace her father gave her years ago. This hardly comes as a surprise in that it is telegraphed a number of times early in the episode. The Granatoids retreat and go back to their own planet and the universe is once again saved.
Although it is Ma that actually saves everyone, Steve has a good moment when he tries to step in and save her as the tanks advance on the elderly woman. He knows there's nothing he can do, but he's going to try and save her anyway.
Also some nice music early on as Steve and Matt listen to a new disc they are planning to get for Venus and Matt displays his musical talent by playing a tune in the music shop.