- [Cameron] Welcome to another
Gerry Anderson themed countdown.
I'm your guest host Cameron Stewart.
Today we're looking at the top 20 supermarionation moments.
A project I started all the way back in 2009
where I got you the fans all over the world
to vote on their favourite moments
from Supercar through to The Secret Service.
Also included were the two films
Thunderbirds Are Go and Thunderbird 6.
Let's get the countdown started.
Number 20 the first appearance of the sidewinder.
This impressive opening sequence is edited
to present the contrast between the natural wildlife
and the technologically destructive
machine of the sidewinder.
The full reveal of what the sidewinder looks like
is held back for a very long amount of time.
It is only until it is completely out of the jungle
does the episode give us a wide shot
to see it in its entirety.
Building up to a huge reveal of an impressive machine.
Number 19 the first view of the crablogger in action.
After watching the episode for nine minutes
audiences finally get to see
what the crablogger is like in action.
Before hand a lot is built up
by the secondary characters
as to what the crablogger can and is going to do.
Finally we get to see it,
and with the dramatic music and multiple shots
we get to see the complexity of this machine.
Most notably the crablogger is never seen
in its entirety in a shot.
It is only seen moving across the screen from right
to left which emphasises the enormity of its size.
This all comes together to present
a machine that is colossal.
Number 18 the opening sequence of Fireball XL5.
Memorable opening sequences are key to any television show.
And Fireball XL5's is no exception.
With the emphasis on the enormity of the spaceship
and the music that builds up
until the rocket shoots off into space,
it all culminates to suggest
that the show is going to be big, bold, and exciting.
In many ways, this is the first big launch sequence
that paved the way for the one scene in Thunderbirds.
Number 17 Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons opening.
Unlike many of its predecessors,
Captain Scarlet's opening didn't have
the fantastical images and music
that Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray and Thunderbirds had.
Instead it presents us with the dark
and spooky undertones that informs the viewer
that the programme they are going to watch
is going to be very different than what they are used to.
Number 16 there's trouble ahead.
After watching our main heroes
lose control of the situation on board skyship one,
this scene flips the scenario
and shows the villains lose control
as skyship one crashes into the towers.
Thunderbird 6 is often criticised
for not feeling like a Thunderbird story,
but this is the moment that familiar music from the TV show
is used which reminds us that this
is a classic Thunderbirds moment.
Number 15 Seascape's destruction.
The destruction of seascape is not just an explosion
but instead a very dynamic scene
where we see a desperate rescue occur
with an evacuation and jets of fire raging throughout.
With so many variables, this scene is brimming
with all sorts of exciting imagery presenting numerous
problems for the main characters to overcome.
Number 14 Troy trying to escape the forest fire.
This moment features one of Barry Graves's
jazziest music tracks played by The Wasp band.
However, this catchy music is set against
Troy trying to escape from a burning fire,
and makes the sequence all the more memorable and exciting
as we see our hero try to make his way out
of a perilous predicament.
Number 13 the recovery vehicles hauling the sidewinder.
This rescue is one of anticipation.
Before this we've had two failed attempts
by the US Army to save the sidewinder.
Even international rescue have had to prepare and perform
other tasks before putting the rescue into operation.
This is the scene the whole episode has been building up to.
Not to mention there's no guarantee
that it is going to work.
All of this adds to the great struggle
that puts the viewer on edge.
Number 12 the shoot out between Joe and Colletti.
All round I believe most fans would agree
that Hijack is the best episode of Joe 90.
It perfectly incorporated the espionage theme
the series needed to be.
The final shoot out between Joe and Colletti
is interlaced with Barry Graves's exciting music
that knows exactly when to hype it up
and when to bring the pace down
to reflect the action on the screen.
Number 11 rock snake attack.
In comparison to the whole movie,
besides Adam's dream sequence,
this is probably the most out of place scene.
It has a far more sinister and unworldly feel to it,
which of course is appropriate.
The rock snakes are perfectly represented
to be monstrous, scary, and above all a threat.
This is done through the opposing camera shots
of the snakes and the music score.
Leaving this scene to be highly memorable.
Number 10 the fall of cloudbase.
Once again Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
break tradition and presented audiences
with a nightmare episode instead of
the very familiar dream episodes.
However, it fits and compliments the series' dark tones
and probably leads people to remember it strongly.
Of course let's not forget that this is an episode
that tricks the audience into thinking it's killed off
its entire main cast as cloudbase falls from the sky.
Number nine, Skyship One exploding.
With every Thunderbird story there is always an expectation
that there will be an explosion.
Thunderbird 6 sets out to deliver this expectation
and presents a huge explosion which is visually impressive
and almost feels endless.
Number eight Thunderbirds Are Go opening.
While often being criticised for being too long
there can still be something said
about the very stunning look
of the Zero-X as it is put together.
Each shot shows off the magnificent design of the craft
and the music gives a grand sense of importance
showing that this Thunderbirds movie
wants it to be bigger and grander than before.
Number seven perils of Penelope shootouts.
While only lasting roughly two minutes,
the shootout is quickly edited with fast music
and high stakes that all lead to one exciting scene.
Not to mention that some of Goldberg's actions
are so extreme that you get the impression
that Gordon is up against a desperate foe.
Number six Thunderbird two bumping the KLA satellite.
For viewers watching this scene for the first time,
they are left believing that Ricochet
is still on board the KLA,
which creates a tense sequence.
And for a moment it seems international rescue have failed.
We feel their disappointment and are confronted
with the idea that the good guys might not always win.
Even though by the end everything is fine.
Number five Thuderbird two crash landing.
It's a big moment where we see
one of the star vehicles almost get destroyed,
made even bigger by the near loss
of one of the main characters.
Showing the audience that International Rescue
are not invincible.
Number four monorail slowing down.
Sometimes some of the best episodes of Thunderbirds
are when the main characters are put in danger.
For this scene we get three main characters
hurtling to their doom.
Even when Brains manages to get the monorail to brake
there is not guarantee that they will stop,
making this moment very tense.
It's worth mentioning that this scene
and the last four moments have all used
extracts of the same piece of music,
showing Barry Graves's power of influencing fans' memories.
Number three Captain Scarlet bursting the tyres
on the delta tango one niner.
This is of course the first time
Spectrum lose to the Mysterons.
And potentially the first time in supermarination history
that the heroes couldn't save the day.
Visually this moment is also powerful.
The SPV is tiny in comparison to the Delta Tango One-Niner.
Making Captain Scarlet's mission all the more a struggle.
Number two battle on the London Car-Vu.
The episode's build up to this moment has shown one thing.
There's no place safe from the Mysterons.
With the London Car-vu being several thousand feet high
this is the perfect place to have the final battle
as both sides are trapped with nowhere to go.
This is also the moment when the audience gets to see
how cool, calm, and brave the character of Captain Blue is.
It's dramatic, pacy, and well edited,
which helped make it moment number two on our list.
Before we reveal number one,
here are some honourable mentions.
(jazzy rock music)
Number one the Fireflash landing.
There probably aren't many fans
who didn't expect this moment to come out on top.
The Fireflash landing is exhilarating,
dramatic, and breath-taking.
With high stakes, dramatic editing, fast music
this moment is designed to make any fan's hairs
stand on the back of their necks.
Being the first Thunderbirds rescue
after an entire episode's worth of build up,
we see international rescue succeed for the first time.
Even after things being failed
due to the elevated car's malfunction.
Did you enjoy our list?
Let us know in the comments below
what your favourite moments are.
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and see you in the next video.