'Thunderbirds': Tube Talk Gold

Published May 26 2012, 09:00 BST  |  By Daniel Sperling

We here at Digital Spy feel we've created a pretty all-encompassing title in Tube Talk Gold. There's no specific type of show suited to that accolade - we've had gameshows, comedy, documentaries, dramas, all sorts.

Time's not an issue either. We've championed programmes from the early days of TV as well as those that seem barely old enough to be nostalgic. Basically if you've left an impact on us somehow, we'll argue your case.

But some shows simply win the Gold title all by themselves by becoming part of our cultural heritage, an untouchable telly relic if you like. Thunderbirds is one of these.

Thunderbirds: September 30, 1965 to December 25, 1966

In case you've been living under a rock for the last 40-odd years (in which case don't panic, we'll get the Thunderbirds on the case), the futuristic show focuses on ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy and his organisation International Rescue, run from a secret base on Tracy Island.

Central to International Rescue are a fleet of machines dubbed the Thunderbirds - piloted by his five sons Scott, Virgil, Alan, Gordon and John - and a team of agents all across the world. Their mission is basically to... well, rescue innocent people from the most spectacular situations of jeopardy occurring around the globe.



Thunderbirds may not have been the first production to come from the genius minds of Gerry Anderson and his wife Sylvia (Supercar, Fireball XL5, and Stingray were first), but it's arguably the most iconic.

Even if you've never seen an episode, you'll probably be familiar with terms like "Thunderbirds Are Go" and "FAB", and you'll almost certainly know the theme tune. Seriously, the music and visuals of the opening alone are worthy of their own article. Every episode of Thunderbirds started with the striking, shrieking countdown followed by a rip-roaring blast of Thunderbird One's engines and the furiously tense teasers of this week's adventure.



Then Barry Gray's famed 'Thunderbirds March' kicks in. The proud military-esque score is one of the best known TV themes of all time and sets the perfect tone for the show. The use of instruments that are almost regal - like trombones and heavy drums - conveys the courage of the characters while at the same time getting us all fired up for the next adventure. Oh, and let's not forget that scene before the episode started when everything exploded. Yes it was gratuitous, but hey, what little kid (or big kid) in their right mind would turn off after seeing that spectacle?

The effects of Thunderbirds were always pretty incredible. Even almost half a century later, you still get the impression that the Tracy brothers' giant machines could really exist. The set pieces, which almost always involved an explosion or something collapsing or another kind of visceral disaster, looked plenty realistic thanks to the painstakingly crafted models. Perhaps today's CG-happy filmmakers could learn a lesson from Thunderbirds. Destruction can be more breath-taking when real rubble is bouncing about in an authentic manner.



On top of that, the Thunderbird craft were so expertly designed and displayed that they almost became characters themselves - everyone had a favourite vehicle. Tracy Island itself was also an ingenious, intriguing machine. Viewers really bought in to the idea that beneath the luxury island retreat there could be a load of cogs and machines that would spring into life whenever International Rescue was needed. The elaborate procedure of ferrying the Tracy brothers to their vehicles and launching them was repeated every episode, but the whole thing was so alive with kinetic energy and bubbling with inspired touches (the pool retreating to launch Thunderbird One, the palm trees falling back for Thunderbird Two) that it was always looked forward to.

Another impressive aspect of the Thunderbirds production is the puppetry. Though much-mocked now, the sometimes-visible strings and jerky movements were never really a hindrance to the story. In fact, having figurines for stars probably helped crank up the tension of Thunderbirds, since puppets can get into more dangerous and outrageous situations than real actors ever could.

It's funny how little pieces of wood with painted on faces ended up becoming timeless characters. While the Tracy brothers themselves admittedly struggled to stand out as individuals, other Thunderbirds favourites like sophisticated secret agent Lady Penelope, her faithful servant Parker and stuttering, bespectacled genius Brains have almost become as beloved as the show.



Thunderbirds always seemed to have more of a cinematic quality to it than similar sci-fi shows. This was due in part to the 50-minute runtime ordered by Anderson's boss at ITC Entertainment because he was so excited by pilot episode 'Trapped In The Sky', in which International Rescue had to work out how to land a plane with a bomb attached to its landing gear (couldn't you see that premise coming to a cinema near you in 2012?).

The extra time allowed for each episode of Thunderbirds to become a slow burner, with many scenes simply being of International Rescue on their way to their destination as a casualty weakened or a bomb ticked down. Tension came from the fact that pretty much every operation was a race against time and unlike human antagonists - such as the semi-mystical master of disguise known as 'The Hood' - the clock is unstoppable.



Ultimately though Thunderbirds was a show about hope. Inspired by a 1963 German mine disaster in which 11 miners almost lost their lives due to there being no machinery close enough to rescue them, Gerry Anderson created a piece of escapism, where miracles always happen and where an unstoppable force like International Rescue is always able to save trapped souls.

Maybe that's why the show has endured so well - no matter what the time period, there's always peril, always tragedy and we're drawn to the idea of there being people out there like International Rescue guaranteed to save us. There have been numerous attempts to modernise Thunderbirds throughout the years, including a cheesy 2004 live-action film with a Busted soundtrack, but the raw thrills and grandeur of the original series will likely never be bested. Cue the amazing outro music!



Were you a fan of Thunderbirds? Does the show still hold up? Leave your comments below: