The Starlost–Children of Methuseleh (1973)

Above:  Old Children

A Screen Capture

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

EPISODE 5

Aired October 20, 1973

0:49:53

The episode is available here.

STARRING

Keir Dullea as Devon

Gay Rowan as Rachel

Robin Ward as Garth

GUEST STARRING

David Tyrell as One (Captain)

Scott Fisher as Four (Prosecutor)

Susan Stacey as Five (Sarah)

Ricky O’Neill as Six

Mark Lynas as Seven (David)

Gina Dick as Ten (Elizabeth)

William Osler as Computer Voice and Host

BEHIND THE CAMERAS

Series created by Cordwainer Bird (Harlan Ellison)

Episode written by Jonah Royston and George Ghent

From a story by Jonah Royston

Story Consultant = Norman Klenman

Director = Joseph L. Scanlan

Science Consultant = Ben Bova

Producer = William Davidson

Executive Producers = Douglas Trumbull and Jerry Zeitman

Above:  One (Captain)

A Screen Capture

SUMMARY OF THE EPISODE

On May 2, 2790, Rachel and Garth have just sat down for a meal when Devon rushes into the dining room.  He exclaims that he thinks he has found the backup Bridge.  The trio goes about a mile away, where Devon says the backup Bridge may be.  Along the way, Garth eats part of his sandwich.

Alpha Complex 3 is a restricted area populated only children.  Devon’s key does not unlock the door, but one of Garth’s crossbow arrows does.  The children, numbered 1-18, think they are the command crew of the Earth Ship Ark.  Number One thinks he is the captain of the Ark.  Devon spends much of the episode explaining the peril of the Ark to children who refuse to believe him.

These children left Earth in 2285.  An anti-aging serum has kept them physically young.  They also have the power to “think pain” upon another person, but never use that power against each other.  Maybe the children occasionally “thought pain” against their tutors, all of whom died long ago.  Otherwise, one may legitimately wonder how they remain in practice “thinking pain” to use that power against Devon, Rachel, and Garth.

These children do not know that they have been in a training simulation for 505 years.  They are aware of the passage of time, though.  They expect to land the Ark then to take a serum that will cause them to resume natural aging.

The children are machine-like.  When they “play,” they receive recline and receive stimulation via a cerebral probe.

To make a long story short, Number One sends Devon and Garth to a cell, but the duo breaks out.  Meanwhile, Rachel teaches children to play blind man’s bluff.  Also, children start requesting names.  Rachel names them.  Number Five becomes Sarah and Number Seven becomes David, for example.

Number One is livid to see members of his crew playing like children.  He is powerless to prevent them, however.  Then Devon pulls the Master Separation Switch.  The simulation ends.

Rachel names other happy children.  She, Devon, and Garth plan to return after they find the backup Bridge.

Above:  Tribunal

A Screen Capture

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Where is the laundry in the tubes and corridors of the Earth Ship Ark?

Where are the bathrooms and showers in tubes and corridors of the Earth Ship Ark?

How does Garth maintain that early 1970s haircut while on the run in the tubes and corridors of the Earth Ship Ark?

Given that Devon, Rachel, and Garth have been to the Bridge, why do they need to find the backup Bridge?

Why have the children had numbers, not names, for 505 years?

Why is the control panel for the force field in the brig cell inside the cell?

Given that the Earth Ship Ark left Earth orbit with a crew of adults, what was the plan behind having children training to take over?  And what was the rationale for not telling the children they were training?

Above:  Green Foam Mattress Padding in the Play Center

A Screen Capture

OTHER COMMENTS

The set designers of The Starlost favored green foam mattress padding.  In this episode, children recline and sit on it.

The Earth Ship Ark has dining areas and food replicators.

This episode lacks any reference to a “solar star.”

Number Four, the prosecutor at the tribunal, identifies Devon as “Devon,” Rachel as “Young Rachel,” and Garth as “Young Garth.”  This is consistent with two other episodes.  In Voyage of Discovery (episode #1), we meet “Old Abraham” and “Old Jeremiah.”  In Space Precinct (episode #16), we see a computer record listing Garth’s father as “Old Garth.”  Just as (Young) Garth is the son of Old Garth, (Young) Rachel is the daughter of Old Rachel.

Consider also, that the novelization of Ellison’s screenplay for Phoenix Without Ashes identifies Devon’s father as “Old Devon,” Garth’s father as “Old Garth,” and Rachel’s mother as “Old Rachel.”

Next Episode:  And Only Man is Vile

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 COMMON ERA

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All images in this post are screen captures from a series that is freely available at archive.org and YouTube.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++