MovieChat Forums > Space: 1999 (1975) Discussion > Alan Carter

Alan Carter

posted 9 years ago by Zanza8
3 replies | jump to latest

Alan was always far and away my favorite character. Not because Nick Tate was hot-he was and still is a very attractive man, and I did love to watch Alan bounce around, he was so physical, but that wasn't it. I could be wrong, but I have always had the impression that out of them all, Alan was the only one on the base by choice. He was out in space when the moon blew up, and one of the few consistencies in the series from year one to year two was the cruising range of the Eagles. I think Alan could have made it back to Earth if he had tried. He didn't try-he stayed at his post and when Koenig asked him if he could make it to Alpha, he said he could. It fascinated me-if Alan had known there was no going back, would he have gone on to the moon or would he have gone back to Earth? Here's a link to an interview with Nick Tate where he says that Alan had to make the decision whether he would to back to Earth or on to Alpha, but he doesn't say why Alan chose to go to the moon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CWp_WKldnA I've never been able to answer that question in my own mind-Alan seemed to me to have a great longing for Earth, and a great loyalty to his friends on Alpha. Anyway, that was always my impression of him. Thoughts?

http://thinkingoutloud-descartes.blogspot.com/

[–] Fletcherj119 9 years ago

His ship was still within the moon's gravity when the waste area blew up, which gave him the choice of staying or fleeing to Earth. He must've hit the throttle to remain within the moon's sphere of influence in order to maintain his orbital position. It was a brave choice, not knowing whether the base could withstand the catastrophe.

[–] Zanza8 9 years ago

It was a brave choice. I never liked it that in Black Sun, Alan asked to pilot the lifeboat. That seemed too much like Simmonds cowardly demand to go back to Earth in Earthbound. After reading Destination:Moonbase Alpha, I have to wonder if that was more of Martin Landau's work, wanting to pull Nick's character down a bit. In Collision Course, Alan stayed out there, willing to be blown up to save the base. It wasn't supposed to be a suicide mission but it turned into one and he was beyond brave. Must have killed Landau. 

http://thinkingoutloud-descartes.blogspot.com/

[–] Fletcherj119 9 years ago

Black Sun was the third episode, and some of the characters weren't fully fleshed out. Carter himself at that time had an irrational rebellious streak, displayed on Black Sun, Ring Around the Moon, and Another Time Another Place.
I never got the impression, though, that Carter was fleeing Alpha's fate for piloting the survival ship. I always thought he was just putting himself to good use.