User Reviews

Wow. When I looked at the IMDb summary for this particular episode, I wasn't sure if they were talking about the same one I saw! Yep, the episode is a bit different than IMDb indicates, so here is a better summary:

Straker is upset that there is so much space junk around the Earth and Moon. He's not only concerned about it being a menace to his ships but aliens could somehow use this space debris against us--though how is never really stated. So, Straker goes to a big-wig with the commission that controls his funding. But, it turns out that this General Henderson is a hard-headed jerk who is determined to either dismantle SHADO or at least replace Straker as its leader. It seems that Henderson is less concerned about the Earth's security as this fight has become personal.

In the meantime, the aliens did, in fact, find a way to use the space debris. An old spent rocket stage hides a tiny limpet-type device that attacks ships that come nearby. But, the problem is, it's hard to prove that is what occurred and Henderson just uses this as an excuse to say that Straker's crews are at fault. Eventually it all boils down to a fight between two men in a game of chicken.

Overall, a very good episode. While not perfect because the machismo level seems a tad too high, it is entertaining throughout and well worth seeing.

This episode was noticeably tighter and tenser than the previous episodes I've watched. That's not to say it didn't drag its feet in places, but with a finish which saw Foster engage in a possible suicide mission might and Straker risk losing his job, this one kept you watching to the end.

The main subject here was one which still has relevance today, the issue of space junk or abandoned parts of spacecrafts jettisoned into space and now orbiting uncontrolled around the earth. Taking advantage of this, those mischievous Martians hide behind one of the many such objects out there to then surreptitiously creep up behind an Earth vessel and cause it to crash down to earth, killing its pilots.

In the end, it takes a brave gesture by Foster and a bold high-stakes strategy by Straker to expose the enemy ruse and convince his hostile superiors not to sack him.

Yes, the model work is unconvincing, the spacecraft exteriors looking as if they're all flown by the Tracy family and some of the acting isn't much above Scott, Virgil and the other brothers too, but this episode, with its contemporary relevance and slightly deeper content made it the best of the bunch I've watched to date.

Though the setting is the moon, this segment of the show deals with all-too-real and current issues (involving NASA for instance) of how government agencies and competing interests, sometimes petty and short-sighted, compete for funding, hence the title "Conflict". Ed has to deal with a jerk of a general who heads up an international agency and insists on blocking Ed's serious plan to clean up space junk as a matter of security, since its existence gives the aliens an opportunity to hide from SHADO and itgs investigators.

In fact, the very future of SHADO is put on the chopping block by the general. It's almost a metaphor for the TV series threatened with cancellation, which of course did occur in real life.

Excellent miniatures highlight the show, with a fun war of wills as the central issue.

Straker is concerned about space debris. It looks like he was ahead of his time on the issue of space junk.

Straker has suspicions that the aliens could be using space debris to hide a device behind and cause disruption to SHADO's spacecraft.

It sets Straker in a collision course with General Henderson. Both men are pig headed, loath each other and refuse to compromise.

Henderson does not have the funds to clear up space debris and has no time for his wild theories. Even after Colonel Foster replicates the space flight path of a lunar module that crashed during re-entry, this time Foster nearly crashes but hr manages to survive.

There are plenty of shouting matches in this episode as Foster looks on in bemusement. It did not lead to exciting drama.

The conflict in this episode is that there is too much space litter...and the higher ups don't want to spend the money to clean it up...so there is a big bureaucratic fight about it all...with reports...evidence...suggestions of bad faith. Everything you would want in an exciting space alien opera. Of course, the problematic space junk says U.S.A. right across it in big letters.

This episode is exactly why UFO only had one season. There was enough back story for any number of incredible episode stories, but we spend an hour talking about space junk and bureaucracy and playing or not playing by the rules.

Also, on the moon, only 3d chess is allowed. This series is set 10 years in the future, but they are playing 3d chess?

This one can be safely skipped.