Streaming Finds: Space 1999 The Complete Series Is Available at Shout Factory TV

Streaming Finds: Tracking down sci fi and fantasy shows of interest available on the streaming services.

What Is It? The Moon gets torn out of orbit Earth’s orbit when a nuclear waste dump erupts in a massive explosion, sending the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha on a journey through the stars. They encounter alien civilizations and cosmic phenomena as they seek a planet that can become their new home.

Starring: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Barry Morse, Catherine Schell, Nick Tate

The Skinny: This mid-70’s space epic tried to mix Star Trek with 2001: A Space Odyssey profundity, and ended up delivering a rather mixed-bag of a sci fi series. Coming from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson who had made a name with their Supermarionation shows like Thunderbirds and who has also produced the short-lived, but well-remembered UFO, this series tried to tap into the audience that had made Star Trek a phenomenon in the syndication market in the 70’s. Playing fast-and-loose with science, Space: 1999 followed the runaway moon as it encountered new planets or alien spaceships each week. The first season tried to deliver heady, philosophical stories while the second just went for straight action. The special effects were quite good for the time and they are the highlight of this show. But it also acts as a guilty pleasure full of 70’s cheesiness and provides some nostalgic value, especially for those of us who watched this one when we were younger. It doesn’t count as must-watch sci fi TV, but it is worth your time to check out a few episodes, especially from the first season. (You can read more about Space: 1999 at this link).

The entire series is available for free streaming on Shout! Factory TV and no adds run during the episodes. Shout! Factory is a home video company that has put out multiple DVD releases of movies and television from all genres. I’m really not certain how what they have on the streaming site relates to their DVD production as I don’t believe they ever put out a Space: 1999 set (if I’m wrong on that, let me know in the comments). Other shows of interest to sci fi fans available through the service includes The Prisoner, Thunderbirds, and Mystery Science Theater 3000 (though not the complete series) as well as several older, low-budget films. You can watch these at ShoutFactoryTV.com and/or on their Roku channel. The selection of sci fi TV shows is not extensive, but there are several like Space: 1999 that you will not find on the other streaming services.