Children of the Stones: Full Circle

 "I think you have an exaggerated sense of your own importance..."

And so it ends... rather suddenly, but entertainingly. I'm not sure I understand what was going on, what with all this exposition about black holes, transmission, ley lines, Hendricks as some kind of sin eater, and the locals turning to stone, perhaps hinting at the origins of stone circles? Then there's Dai being alive again, Matt's theory about a "time trap" and Hendricks appearing anew at the end.

And Adam and Matt- a teenager- are exhibiting genius level of behaviour here in their father-and-son clever clogs display. They have throughout, but this episode really pushes it, with both of them being experts on all things from black holes to atomic clocks. But there's heart, too, as we feel the emotions with Adam and Margaret parting.

I'm not sure this episode quite sticks the landing- it's atmospheric, but bewilderingly confusing. Did they write themselves into a corner? Still, overall the series is all I was expecting from this well-known classic programme from the year of my birth. It's very, very 1970s in so many fascinating ways.

Children of the Stones: Squaring the Circle

 "There's no way out until the stones release us..."

This penultimate episode is the most gripping yet, from start to finish. Margaret and Sandra are now "happy", and the tension is superb as Adam and Matt gradually realise this. They're now alone in an increasingly claustrophobic village. It feels as though there's nothing they can do.

The attempt to leave the village fails, of course, in beautifully surreal scenes which are a triumph of trippy and imaginative direction. And they wake in Hendricks' house, as "guests", seemingly with no escape as villagers surround the house. 

Iain Cuthbertson is magnificent here, both urbane and sinister as, at last, he verbally spars with our father and son protagonists in his avuncular way. Yet, once again, it's the mood that lingers in the mind. I begin to wonder whether what's going on will be given some kind of explanation, or whether it may in fact be better if it isn't.

I have no idea how this can possibly end. But it truly is one of the greats of children's television.

Children of the Stones- Charmed Circle

 "Perceptive and formidable..."

An extraordinary gripping episode, this, with a pleasingly earned bit of exposition and the sinister Mr. Hendricks, portrayed to perfection by the splendid Iain Cuthbertson, moving very much to the foreground with his presence a constant. We get to see more of his extraordinary home at the centre of the circle... and it's a nice surprise to see good old John Woodnutt as his butler. 

Hendricks' creepy gaslighting about Dai's death is hugely effective, compounded by the disappearance of the body. But our intrepid foursome make some fascinating discoveries- the people in the painting seem to exactly number the population of the village. Discrepancies between painting and chart suggest one of the stones may move. And the amulet (with a jolt of static electricity) puts young Matthew in a bit of a trance, following which things get delightfully weird.

Which is handy because, with the four of them being the only villagers who are not "happy", Hendricks has only them to convert. And, with Margaret and Sandra invited to dinner, Matt gets to watch their extraordinarily gripping conversion from afar, with white light pouring down as their faces change. The whole setting looks amazing, and the acting really succeeds in building up the tension.

This is good, creepy, atmospheric, old-fashioned plot-driven telly. Every episode just gets better and better. 

Children of the Stones- Narrowing Circle

 "And then there were six..."

The halfway point and the mystery, and the mood, continue to deepen. Theories are made about how people, household by household, become "happy". There's speculation that Dai may be immune from living in the "Sanctuary" and that the ever-creepy Hendricks may be so because he lives right at the centre of the ley lines.

Yet it feels as though the net is tightening. We feel the tension for Adam, Margaret, Matthew and Sandra... especially after Matt's weird experiences with Dr Lyle's gloves, as he sees the good doctor try and fail to drive out of the village due to some kind of force... after which he's "happy". It's all quite engrossing, especially as young Kevin is got at, seemingly at the same time, leading to poor Dai's death, and to a deeply impressive, creepy performance from a child actor.

Then there's the subtle flirting between Adam and Margaret. It's understated, because '70s telly could do understatement, but it's there. And then there's the two of them stopping to talk to the increasingly sinister Hendricks, who insists that he can't possibly take part in all the dancing as he has to "maintain his position". There's more than a hint of a subtext here, of the stifling conformity of life in a small village.

But it's all about slowly removing each layer from the onion as gripping mysteries unravel, as the mood remains unsettling and we have another excellent cliffhanger...

Children of the Stones, Part 3- Serpent in the Circle

 "I feel things..."

The intrigue very much continues here. It's 1977, times were different then, and I very much like how no big deal is made on the part of Adam as to what Matt was up to the previous night- these days, so much drama would be made of that, getting hugely in the way of things. Fortunately, we get only token friction here before the fascinating plot takes centre stage, as it should. Oh, and I probably ought to once again prose the atmospheric location, direction and music, lest I forgot.

So we left the villagers all singing, except a small and decreasing number of families who are not "happy"- I love the bond between the three kids determined not to be "happy", as it does rather seem a somewhat miserable existence. There's some nice hints about Dai and the "Sanctuary", with a few cryptic statements about things he "feels", both danger and knowledge... and a brass rubbing of an artifact with a serpent. Oh, and summat to do with the alignment of the magnetic field means there must have been a recent influx of energy.

Then Adam gets a telegram(!) in the pub... ah, the year of my birth seems so long ago. It seems that the area the central stone is pointing to is a black hole, remnant of a supernova observed a few hundreds of years BC... and Mr Hendricks, his drinking companion, played (as ever) with deliciously sinister joviality by Iain Cuthbertson, happens to know, and seemingly believe, a few legends about it.

Cue the true existential horror that is Morris dancing.... and the revelation that more and more villagers are becoming "happy". This is gripping stuff that draws you further in with each layer of the metaphorical onion.

Children of the Stones, Part 2- Circle of Fear

 "Don't meddle with the stones!"

Another episode suffused with atmosphere, as we (and Adam, Matt and Margaret) dig further into the mysteries of the stones... and the villagers. It rather helps that we have a very scientifically clever father/son combo as leads, with Margaret there for the history, folklore and superstition.

One has to smile at the innocence of those days, though- Matt just expected to be off on his bike for much of the day, and absolutely no concerns at the very intriguing Dai (the textbook example of the "rural and superstitious person" trope that all programmes like this absolutely require) simply inviting himself round when Matt is alone in the cottage.

But the mysteries of the stones deepen. Ley lines stopping at the circle's edge, with Hendricks' house in the centre? All the stones at a perfect ninety degree angle? The clues are given to us, bit by bit, at a perfect pace. and then... the suggestion that the stones are "a primitive Jodrell Bank" pointing at something out there in the stars, but the space is empty...

The last few minutes are atmospheric and perfect, as the camera has us look again at the painting and then Matt, in evocatively shot outdoor footage, sees the whole village singing at the stones... and this time it's for him to touch the stone and collapse...

Slow burn, addictive and brilliant. 

The Prisoner: The General

“Nothing’s impossible in this place.”

Another intriguing episode this time, with yet another very ‘60s and very British view of freedom and repression- the conceit is that the “Professor”, with the aid of the “General” is able to create subliminal educational courses which can deliver a three year degree in three minutes. This is, of course, an obvious means of brainwashing, as we see. And the “education” it imparts is of doubtful value- learning by rote set phrases about the Treaty of Adrianople does not impart any real understanding, as Number Six immediately sees.

Number Six is aided, however, by Number Twelve, whose rebel sympathies are  never actually exposed, and it’s ambiguous whether he gets away with helping Number Six. He is played, of course, by a shockingly young John Castle, whom I know well from I, Clavdivs and RoboCop 3. It’s also odd to see Colin Gordon back as Number Two but with no suggestion that Number Six has met this particular Number Two before. Will this keep on happening as previous actors return?

The conclusion to all this is fascinating; the “General” turns out to be a very ‘60s advanced computer, covering a whole wall and with spoils everywhere. And we end with a very ‘60s viewpoint of computers meaning control and repression, of computers as calculating decision makers rather than toys for entertainment, of man needing to make his own decisions. If only they could look ahead...