Mysterious Island
Mysterious Island is a Canadian television series based on Jules Verne's novel L'Île mystérieuse. It ran for one season in 1995. The beginning of the series is much as in the novel. A group of refugees attempting to escape the American Civil War in a balloon wind up stranded on a remote Pacific island, where they are able to improvise a comfortable living for themselves while they wait for a passing ship. As time passes, they become suspicious that some unseen force is watching and directing their movements. The main difference between the protagonists of the series and those of the novel is the addition of a female character, the wife of Pencroft. The unseen watcher, Captain Nemo, is more active and less benevolent than in the novel. Able to monitor the island through steampunk-style closed-circuit television and other advanced devices, he treats the castaways as human laboratory specimens, influencing their environment to test their behaviour under stressful conditions. As the series progresses, his tests become more extreme as their continued co-operation threatens his preferred thesis that all humans are, at base, selfish and untrustworthy. In the series finale, Nemo apparently succeeds in breaking up the group; this proves to be a ruse by the protagonists, who are now certain of Nemo's existence. After they penetrate his hideaway, Nemo admits that the 'experiment' is ruined, and offers to return the castaways to civilisation in his submarine. In a final twist, he puts out to sea without them, apparently leaving them alone on the island, without his influence for good or ill.
Overview
Mysterious Island is a Canadian television series based on Jules Verne's novel L'Île mystérieuse. It ran for one season in 1995. The beginning of the series is much as in the novel. A group of refugees attempting to escape the American Civil War in a balloon wind up stranded on a remote Pacific island, where they are able to improvise a comfortable living for themselves while they wait for a passing ship. As time passes, they become suspicious that some unseen force is watching and directing their movements. The main difference between the protagonists of the series and those of the novel is the addition of a female character, the wife of Pencroft. The unseen watcher, Captain Nemo, is more active and less benevolent than in the novel. Able to monitor the island through steampunk-style closed-circuit television and other advanced devices, he treats the castaways as human laboratory specimens, influencing their environment to test their behaviour under stressful conditions. As the series progresses, his tests become more extreme as their continued co-operation threatens his preferred thesis that all humans are, at base, selfish and untrustworthy. In the series finale, Nemo apparently succeeds in breaking up the group; this proves to be a ruse by the protagonists, who are now certain of Nemo's existence. After they penetrate his hideaway, Nemo admits that the 'experiment' is ruined, and offers to return the castaways to civilisation in his submarine. In a final twist, he puts out to sea without them, apparently leaving them alone on the island, without his influence for good or ill.
Episodes
1. Genesis
The Battle of Richmond, March 20, 1865: Captured by Confederate forces, the group escapes their captors and flees in a helium balloon. Rising into the sky, the travelers and their balloon are carried away by strong winds and soon find themselves over open water. Attempting to land, the balloon descends uncontrollably (helped along by Nemo observing from an island below) forcing the group to climb into the rigging and drop the backet to remain aloft in hopes of reaching the island before they plunge into the ocean. Struggling to stay in the air, Captain Harding sacrafices himself to the ocean, allowing the balloon to slow its descent and reach the island. Exploring the island for signs of civilization with Neb, Herbert becomes trapped in a rock pool as the tide comes, threatening to drown him. Neb manages to rescue Herbert (with unseen help from Nemo). Herbery and Neb enter into a cave where they encounter signs of habitation.
2. Down Under
Herbert and Neb find Captain Harding alive in the cave but he has no memory of how he got there, only of slipping below the waves after jumping from the balloon. Reunited, Harding, Spilett and Neb decide to climb to the top of a mountain to get their bearings. Along the way they stop at a pool where Spilett takes a swim only to get attacked by an unseen creature, eventually escaping to the safety of the shore (with help from Nemo). Meanwhile, Jack and Herbert go off hunting but Herbert can't bring himself to kill. They come across a cave and inside they find an alter and a gold plate. They become trapped when the entrance closes up. Unable to dig their way out and with hope seemingly vanishing, a green light (Nemo) draws their attention to an underwater exit that leads them back to the sea and the arms of their companions.
3. Safe Haven
Following an earthquake, the group decides to seek shelter further inland. When a landslide strikes, Gideon becomes trapped beneath some large boulders. Harding and Neb set out to find materials to make an explosive change but Neb is overcome by sulfur fumes and must be pulled to safely by Harding. The final item on Cyrus's list turns up out of thin air (Nemo) allowing him to formulate an explosive to free Gideon. Traveling on, Neb falls down into a cave complex which becomes the group's new home, christened "Granite House" by Gideon. While fishing, Neb and Herbert pull an old sea chest out of the ocean. Returning to camp for asistance, Neb is hit by the effects of eating wild berries and loses his sight while atop a dangerous precipice and loses his footing…
Cast & Crew
Alan Scarfe
Gordon Michael Woolvett
John Bach
Stephen Lovatt
Colette Stevenson
Andy Marshall
