Alien Worlds Season 1 Episode 4
The Resurrectionists of Lethe
This is a two part episode.
Main Characters:
Dr. Richard Nicholson
Ann Nicholson
Maura Cassidy
Jerry
Carl
Jon Graydon
Buddy Griff
Commissioner White
Supervisor Simon Toddmaster
Berkie
Mrs. Thorndancer
Ratchet
Ships:
Shuttle Electra
Orcus Omega
Delta One
Planets / Locations:
Lethe
The Story, Part 1:
While arriving at Starlab, Dr. Nicholson’s ship suffers an accident where
there is a NO3 gas leak. Dr. Nicholson cannot escape in time and dies
from NO3 suffocation. It is decided by the ISA that Dr. Nicholson gets
an honorary interment on the artificial burial satellite, Lethe. The
satellite is run by Simon Toddmaster. Perhaps this Simon Toddmaster
isn’t as honest and kind as he appears to be.
Editorial Comments for Part 1:
This is an interesting and entertaining story, but looking at the idea of
Lethe itself, it seems ridiculous. Why would money and resources be
spent on a large satellite to house honored dead people? It would be
very difficult for anyone to visit or pay respects to these honored
people. There is also a joke that Richard Nixon is on Lethe and
Toddmaster says, “I thought he’d never pass on”, and his last will and
testament tape is blank.
This episode gives the current date as April 28, 2026. This gives
context to the show that was created in 1978, putting the show 48 years in
the future. As discussed in previous comments, in the first episode
the space station seems to be very new and aliens are unknown. In the
second episode, aliens are widely known to exist. In the third
episode, common people who are not in the ISA, have access to space ships
and are traveling throughout the galaxy. This all exploration occurs
in a very compressed timeframe. Now that 2026 is at our threshold, it
is clear we haven’t come close to this reality. Obviously this enlarging of
the story’s universe is necessary to allow for a wider selection of plots
and aliens for the series.
The Story, Part 2:
Dr. Richard Nicholson is being interred on Lethe. Supervisor Simon
Toddmaster has brought Richard’s wife, Ann, to Lethe for the ceremony.
Just after Ann leaves Starlab with Toddmaster, Maura learns that Toddmaster
is in use of illegal technology. Toddmaster uses this technology to
extract information from people who have knowledge of classified and
dangerous information. Now Maura, Jon and Buddy need to rescue Ann
before Simon Toddmaster does something terrible to her.
Editorial Comments for Part 2:
The appearance of Hans Conried makes this the first episode that has a well
known guest star. Hans has a distinctive voice and is well known as a
varied “character” actor. He is an excellent addition to this episode
as Simon Toddmaster.
Simon talks about the Oscar Wilde story The Picture of Dorian Gray.
This has an intentional, and fitting, analogy to Simon himself.
Episode 4 Part 1 Credits:
Based on an original story by Betty Ulious
Written by Ron Thompson
Associate Producer: Jeff Alan
Music Director: Tom Rounds
Engineer: Stu Jacobs
Technical Consultant: Peter Sky
Created, Produced and Directed by Lee Hansen
Distributed by: Watermark Inc.
Narrator: Roger Dressler
Episode 4 Part 2 Credits:
Based on a story by Betty Ulious
Written by Ron Thompson
Starred: Chick Olsen, Linda Gary, Bruce Phillip Miller, and Cory Burton.
Special Guests: Hans Conried, Susan Brown, George DeChenzo, Cliff Norton,
Jack Lukes, Joseph Secari, and Sally Smaller.
Associate Producer: Jeff Alan
Music Director: Tom Rounds
Engineer: Stu Jacobs
Technical Consultant: Peter Sky
Created, Produced and Directed by Lee Hansen
Distributed by: Watermark Inc.
Narrator: Roger Dressler
National Sponsors:
Show is sponsored by Peter-Paul Mounds, Almond Joy and Cadbury Chocolate
Bars.