Thunderbirds Are Go (2015–2020) User Reviews (59)

A decent enough homage to the original series and a good modern version of a classic

[azanti0029 · 6/10 · 4 April 2015]

Anyone who took this task on was always going to have a hard time of getting it right, and with the absolute utter abortion that was the live action version directed by Jonathon Frakes still firmly in people's minds care and attention was due.

Fortunately a great deal of care and attention has been spent on this show so it works in almost every area, almost.

The set is up is much the same. It's 2060 and the world is united under one army (The Global Defence Force)Thunderbirds already exists, any background as to how or why the organisation was set up is dispensed with. It's run by five brothers, their assistant Brains, and Kyrano, head of their intelligence and in this version a woman. Jeff Tracey is absent although you do get to see his desk. What happened to him is alluded to but not fully explained and will no doubt become a story arc as the show goes on. Someone is causing undersea earthquakes and putting lives in danger so Thunderbirds are Go and its time to launch!

So far so good. The CGI is better than in the live action movie, the new versions of the craft move and feel as though they have weight and have been designed with the flavor, feel and colours of the originals and all work a treat. Time is spent on the launch sequences and these look and feel right. Tracey island looks a little different but not too different and there's even the lemon squeezer on the wall of the Thunderbird 1 launch bay in fact if you keep a close eye on things you will see nods a plenty to the original show. Some of the writing feels a little cheesy but overall works well enough and the updated technology seems in keeping with the times of what may well be possible in the near future.

Some of the characters voices lack depth and I felt a better range of voices could have been chosen for the brothers. Shane Rimmer's voice as Scott in the original show was always going to be hard to match but here at times they blended together, also the CGI look of the characters whilst fine lacked any real emotion on the faces, perhaps to be expected for this type of animation but Alan and Gordon even looked too similar at times that I couldn't always tell them apart. However these gripes were fairly minor and didn't detract from the show the one that did for me was the music. I thought overall the score was weak.

The score for any Thunderbirds show is vital to its success and here I felt it was really lacking in a signature tune. Barry Gray had several stand out scores and easy to identify for each sequence, be that in the danger zone or the Thunderbirds launching sequence. Opening titles aside which paid a suitable homage to Gray, I found the music for the rest of the show a bombastic mess which lacked any real direction or clear emotional underscoring. While Grays shoes were large to fill here is one area they really didn't succeed in my view. That major gripe aside I will watch the show and suspect I will enjoy finding out where the back story of Hood goes as long as he is not a main feature in every episode. Otherwise it will feel like a spy show and not a show about rescues from disaster. The introduction of a new Thunderbird at the end was a nice idea though its worth pointing out that Tracey Island had this same vehicle in the original show, it just had a different name. The pilot was 55 minutes but the main show will run at 30 minutes which with the fast paced editing that CGI animation allows will probably be about right. All in all a commendable effort and not the mess it could have been.

A good effort, though some of the old charm is gone

[sabrizain · 6/10 · 4 April 2015]

Well, I've just seen the new Thunderbirds series with my eight-year old son and here's the verdict.

The Bad:

(i) No strings! The characters in the new series are CG! animation and not puppets. so you can't play "Spot-the-strings"! They also seem to walk quite normally - gone is the charming 'bobbing' gait you see in the original series. To make matters worse, the Tracy brothers can even do the impossible now, like running, jumping and even somersaulting with gay abandon.

(ii) No models! My biggest disappointment, though, were the models - or rather, lack thereof. In the original Thunderbirds, you knew that every Thunderbird you saw was a lovingly crafted and minutely-detailed real- life model - not just pixels on a CGI screen. So it didn't feel 'real' somehow ..... well, as real as plastic models and puppets can get, I suppose.

(iii) No real explosions! The same goes with the effects - somehow a CGI-generated explosion doesn't really have the same impact as a 'real' explosion created in miniature - and original Thunderbirds' bangs were glorious orgies of pyrotechnics.

(iv) Wrong sashes! Canon got thrown to the winds in the costumes - even eight-year old could spot that Virgil Tracy should have been wearing a yellow sash on his uniform, not a green one, and Gordon should be sporting a green sash, not a yellow one. Outrageous!

The Good:

i) Lady Penelope and especially Tin-tin Kyrano are so much hotter now. Tin-Tin is apparently now called Tanusha 'Kayo' Kyrano (due to copyright problems with Hergé's Tintin).

ii) Brains sounds brainier - though, inexplicably, he now has an Indian accent. My eight-year old commented that he now sounds exactly like Raj in The Big Bang Theory.

iii) Despite what I said earlier about the explosions. I liked some of the newer special effects. The vapour plume produced when Thunderbird 1 goes supersonic was a nice touch. And the falling-coconut-trees effect when Thunderbird 2 takes off is actually quite awesome now (as opposed to quite hilarious in the original series)

iv) There seems to be a lot more emphasis on science in this new series and it doesn't appear to take as many liberties with the Laws of Physics as the original series did (though Thunderbird 2 still looks gloriously un-aerodynamic with its grossly obese fuselage and stunted swept-forward wings).

All in all, a lot of the old Thunderbirds charm appears to have been lost in the new series and old fans will miss the wooden performances (literally) of the original crew. However, the new Thunderbirds does introduce the action-packed world of International Rescue to a whole new generation of kids - my eight-year old is now certainly hooked. And if it inspires our kids to be world-class scientists, engineers and pilots, rather than pop-stars, footballers and celebrity chefs, who am I to complain.

Good, but there's room for improvement.

[bonnojacobs · 8/10 · 26 August 2015]

Let me start off saying that they've done a good job reviving the Thunderbirds series. Like many others I started off skeptic, especially because of the CGI. But let me tell you, it looks great. Apart from certain movements from the characters (the puppets from the originals moved awkwardly as well, so perhaps it's intentional) , they've done an amazing job.

The cinematography looks great.

Certain (re)design choices look good and are well thought out. They give a realistic feel to the world. Such as the ships and the suits. However, other designs were left out, such as the caps for the Thunderbirds and Parker and the music (much of the music is not on par with the original). It would've been a nice nostalgic nod.

The focus on the different characters is more balanced (e.g. Thunderbird 5 has a much bigger role). And the female cast has a bigger role to play as well. Plus, Brains is now Asian (so hurray for diversity I guess ;) )

My biggest criticism concerns the pacing. Perhaps kids these days like hyperactive TV and/or movies, but what I loved about the original Thunderbirds was its rather slow pacing and attention to (single) details. By pacing things up, scenes lose their tension and sense of urgency. Especially with the bombastic music playing in the background (the original Thunderbirds had lots of silent moments). They want to shove as many action as possible into a single episode.

I think today's kids would be just as appreciative of slower pacing as we were back in the day (but perhaps this is nostalgia speaking)

This could have been a total disaster but..

[jcinwmeng · 10/10 · 13 April 2015]

First of all, everyone needs to get over there are no puppets, we all would have loved that but hey this is 2015 not 1965. There are projects (hope all the YOU critics have signed up to the kick starter project) for A possible future puppets series :-)

This Thunderbird series is not bad at all, in fact it's really good. I have given it 10 to readdress the balance, as some people who have given it 1 is absurd. Yes it's a faster pace (but think about the time restriction) the CGI is fantastic, Thunderbird 3's launch is like something out of NASA footage.

There has been some meddling with the characters, not sure why Brains has now an Indian accent, perhaps he has spent some time out in Asia :-) Jeff Tracey is AWOL but there seems to be a story there, and yes to make it more PC we have females taking a bit more of a role. Nothing wrong with that,remember Gerry's new Captain Scarlet had a female LT Green.

I love the Original Thunderbirds (it is the greatest TV show ever made) but this is as close as you can get to it, and to be honest a lot closer than I thought it would be. There are people who will never be satisfied with any remake, and they need to think about the legacy Gerry has left behind, that Thunderbirds are go 50 years later, and I for one, although apprehensive, am thrilled to see the series, after writing to ITV many times telling them they were on a goldmine, has now been made.

Take this in isolation and enjoy it, I did.

Brains etc...

[raviswami · 11 April 2015]

I don't have a problem with Brains being Indian, in fact I think its quite funny and about time - it's the fact that it doesn't really redeem the reboot at all.

Charmless is a word I'd use to describe it - the characters are like robots, or dare I say it, "puppets", and the craft are no longer the "characters" they were in the original.

On the point of dramatic tension, if nothing else, Anderson was a great editor - that's how he started out, as an editor - and it's what gives the original series a sense of pace & excitement which is totally absent from the reboot.

Thunderbirds is not quite "go", but it's definitely not "no" either

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 1 October 2016]

As somebody who grew up with the 1960s incarnation of 'Thunderbirds', which still holds up as a classic and iconic, was expecting a disaster and knew that it was going to be difficult coming close to its quality.

Giving it a fair chance, it doesn't reach the standard of the 1960s show but it is nowhere near the disaster that the 2004 live-action film was. It does have its major faults but doesn't disgrace the original in the way that it could have done and actually makes a real effort to try and respect it while trying to appeal to younger and modern audiences (which apparently was not an easy task for them).

There are several good things. The animation is mostly very good, smooth, very detailed and colourful and with the notable exception of a rather plastic and too young-looking Lady Penelope the characters are mostly still recognisable. There are some tense and also humorous moments ("EOS" being one of the show's better episodes with particularly good effects), Parker is often very funny, and there is evidence of 'Thunderbirds Are Go' trying to respect and pay homage to the original 'Thunderbirds' show. The launch sequences in particular are very well done, the models do look good, and also really appreciated that there was more prominence on Number 5.

Love the brotherly bond often between the brothers, and they do have likable moments, if also some bland ones. Was mixed on the voice acting. David Graham comes off best, he is very good and entertaining, and provides some of the show's funniest and most lively moments. Virgil and Scott also come off well. But as much as I really like Rosamund Pike, despite having a beautiful speaking voice her voice acting doesn't really fit Lady Penelope, although the character looks young Pike sounds a little too mature as well as even in tense situations voices her with more-of-the-same expression which gave the sense that her heart wasn't in it (the more sophisticated and aristocratic Penelope is missed). Alan has his likable moments but often he sounds bland.

Where 'Thunderbirds Are Go' mostly falls down is the length and pacing agreed. The episodes are too short, and in an effort to try and cram in as much as possible many of the stories feel rushed and hyper-active (both in comparison to the original and on its own terms). The action is also mixed, sometimes exciting and fun but too many others veer on the cartoonish. There are also changes here, especially the immediately noted and deeply felt absence of Jeff and a more diverse depiction of Brains which struck a strange chord with me and many others and the feeling has not worn off yet.

Another major problem is the music, there are attempts to use the iconic themes but mostly they are lost within the more brash and over-bearingly bombastic style adopted here and very rarely stops. The villain is not particularly menacing as a villain and seems to be there for the sake of it, and while the script has its good moments there is some awkwardness.

Overall, could have been a disgrace but wasn't, while also not being completely successful. Good try though. 6/10 Bethany Cox

f a b

[Jeremy-608 · 10/10 · 19 May 2015]

I'm such a hard marker I'm annoying and I just gave this a 10. I actually cannot see any valid reason to give it less. Actually, maybe Grandma should bring it down a couple of points, but I'll stick to a 10 even with her. I grew up on the original (yes I'm that old) and was totally hooked as a kid. I'm still hooked (on the original) and force the re-runs on every child in the family as an important part of their basic education. The movie was a nice idea but the less said about that the better. *Because* of the movie, I had low expectations of this latest. Watched the first episode ... after 5 mins I was feeling disappointed. Modern language, no strings attached, blah blah. By 15 mins I was thinking "Damn if I don't think I might like this." By the end of the second episode it's all over ... I'm sold. This series is outstanding and I can't wait for each new ep. Sure the language is 'modernised' .. remember that they have to be all things to all people with this series; children of today won't sit through the dialogue that accompanied the original version, delivered by cgi characters. The balance they've achieved is stunning. The 'remake' eps (e.g. Fireflash) are just as exciting, maybe more so, as the originals. And as much as I might try to get kids to love the originals as much as I do, they .... don't. Times have changed. The kids do love this new series; they love the scripting, they love the action, they love the speed at which it moves, they love the fact that they don't really understand a lot of what just happened. They just love it. And so do I.

Decent Plot, Action, and Animation, Poor Characters

[pippypop-34555 · 6/10 · 26 December 2016]

In short: Thunderbirds Are Go! is an fast-paced show with interesting plots and rescue operations, yet is brought down by the lack of interpersonal conflict and character motivation.

Please note that this review comes from the point of view of someone young with no experience or nostalgia for the original series, so this is from a completely new perspective.

Starting with what works with the show, the interesting plots and rescue operations. Though episodic in format, the show has plenty of interesting missions to give International Rescue and is very creative when it comes to that aspect of the show. If you're simply looking for exciting action without being very heavy with drama, this is certainly a good show for you.

The visuals often waver between beautiful realism and clashing CGI. The creators of the show used miniature sets as a homage to the original, and for that same reason decided to make the CGI characters intentionally doll-like and unreal. While the homage may be appreciated by many fans of the old show, it can still be difficult to process. Cartoons are primarily a visual medium, and unfortunately, the stilted facial expressions often do a poor job of communicating emotion to the audience. The miniature sets are incredibly detailed and often stunning, but the jarring animation can be a turn off for some. Though, with some time, you can often get used to the CGI.

The pacing is generally kept rather well, but there are times when things happen too quickly. They often leave you feeling like there was something more that could've been written in. This quick pace is due to the much shorter time constraints of a 22 minute episode. Perhaps if the episode length was half an hour, they could take more time with certain scenes, but the pacing of the action is otherwise OK.

However, for me, the biggest issue with the show is the characters. They seem like interesting foundations for characters, but they're simply not fleshed out. The characters themselves are not given enough screen time to develop. It is clear that everyone is very close and they all care dearly for one another, but their relationships simply do not have enough time on screen. Despite the engaging plot and gripping action, as a newcomer to the franchise, I just don't have much of an emotional connection to the characters. None of them really have internal conflicts, either. Yes, they are all struggling to deal with the untimely disappearance of their father, but this grief is never given much time. Kayo is the most interesting character because of her personal ties and characterization, but even those aren't really given more than an episode.

Overall, the show has decent episodes with a loose overarching plot that needs fleshing out, interesting visuals, but desperately needs more time devoted to the characters and their issues and conflicts.

Enjoyable for all ages - a credit to the classic.

[sonicfanryan · 9/10 · 5 April 2015]

First off, I'd like to state that at 19, I represent what I call the "transitional" generation. A generation that got all the classic shows and cartoons but were also introduced to the new age of animation at a fairly young age. Recently we've seen a good few remakes and overhauls of classic shows, such as Bob the Builder and now, Thunderbirds. I had the classic marionette Thunderbirds on VHS as well as several of my own puppets when I was young. Needless to say, I loved the Thunderbirds. And I'm glad to say, I still do after watching the reboot. The premise has changed slightly: it is now set in 2060 and IR now operates publicly, as it would be unrealistic in a modern day of cell phones and constant surveillance for IR to remain secretive. Jeff Tracy is also absent and the character TinTin has been replaced by 'Kayo', IR's head of security (though the two differ really only by name). All of the Thunderbird vehicles have had a bit of a facelift, however the designers have done their best to stay true to the classic show. While being modernised, the Thunderbirds themselves still bear striking resemblance to their 1960s counterparts. There's been updates to the costumes and some small changes but (for me at least) each character is easily linked with their old puppet. There's an amazing feeling of nostalgia the first time you see each Thunderbird launch, with the classic "5, 4, 3, 2, 1" countdown and launch sequences that, while again having some changes made, stay very true to the original. The old lemon squeezer used in TB1's launch bay is included in this new edition as a homage to the miniature sets used in the 60s. Speaking of which, while CGI is the most dominant form of capture, many of the sets used are actually miniatures, just like the old show. For example, in the pilot where they re-orient a solar dish I noticed a PC power unit used in the construction of the rear of the dish; another nod to the classic. The CG on top of real sets at times looks odd and provides some scaling issues at times, but that's also similar to the classic (Alan and giant alligators, anyone?).

Action is noticeably faster paced but to keep the attention of kids today, it would need to be. Fans of the classic mightn't be fond of that, but its a concession that it will need to make to be successful. Would you rather a slightly different Thunderbirds, or no Thunderbirds?

Overall, this new Thunderbirds is a fantastic remake that remains grounded by and extremely respectful to its origins. With simple nods to straight up references (such as a brief glimpse of 1960s Stingray in the pilot episode). Things haven't been completely redesigned or remade, they've just been given a coat of polish and a slight facelift and CGI makeover. As you watch the scenes on Tracy Island you'll recognise the old set and you will smile at it. In fact, if you're like me, you'll be sat grinning the entire time as your childhood comes rushing back at you as you watch the swimming pool retract to allow Thunderbird 1 to launch.

I give it a 9/10. F.A.B.

Thunderbirds are Go! And I love it!

good and can get better

[nathanjonesrs · 6/10 · 1 May 2015]

Having now seen a number of episodes including "Fireflash", which is a partial remake of the very first Thunderbirds episode "Trapped in the sky" I feel this is a good series which could get better, with some adjustments.

Firstly there needs to be more background to the characters and to the world they are living in (this could well happen over time as there are still many episodes left in season 1 and season 2 has already been given the go-ahead). But this needs to happen soon, so that we can grow to like the characters and have an understanding of their (future) world. It's all too vague at the moment and is really just 5 boys whizzing about (loudly) in great looking machines. Yes, the original was about that too, but you were given info. right at the start, that Father Jeff Tracy had been an astronaut and that he had set-up the International Rescue organization. In this remake we are not told this. What we are told is the year, that there is a Global force which has col. Casey as one of its leaders and that the mysterious, villainous "Hood" is the Uncle of Kayo, and was somehow involved in Jeff Tracy's disappearance. Hopefully this will all be expanded upon in upcoming stories. And hopefully we will also learn more about Lady Penelope and how she became involved with the team, as this has not been explained at all yet.

We don't need to know everything right away of course, but we do need some more information if we are to become involved as viewers. As it's not a continuation of the original series (Brains could not suddenly be Indian!) more info. is needed. And on that note about Brains I have to be honest and say I'm not in favour of the change to his character. As David Graham is back doing the voice of Parker, as he did in the original, I feel he could so easily have also reprised the voice of Brains as well. It seems very silly to change a beloved character, for no good reason. All it does is upset fans of the old series. The remake of "Battlestar Galatica" did a similar thing, by turning Starbuck into a woman! It seems the producers of these things do this on purpose just to make it a talking point to generate publicity! It does them no favours as fans of the old series are already against them from the start! And to say they just wanted to appeal to a new audience is incorrect, otherwise they wouldn't have taken so much trouble to keep it as close to the original as they have done. So it's clear they wanted old fans to come onboard also. Not the best way to go about it!

Also questionable is the "Fireflash" episode which is a remake of the very first episode of the old series. I'm not sure why this was done-and so soon-was it a homage to the original? Was it a way to tell old fans that although Brains and other things are different, this is still Thunderbirds as they knew it?!! I have no idea, but as a lover of the original series it was nice to see Fireflash again, albeit in re-designed form.

what isn't as nice is the new score. The opening intro, with the same countdwown as the original, is welcome, but the music is missing the power of the original, bombastic Barry Gray theme. And, yes, of course there is too much music in the episodes and too loud. But this seems to be the norm now with shows aimed at a young audience-don't let them get bored with too much dialogue just boom-out the music as much and as loudly as possible! No thought spared for the adults or parents who have to reach for the volume-down button on the remote!

The look of the series, however, is very good. The CGI is mostly extremely well done, although the characters are a bit clunky in their movements at times. But that is a minor point and it could improve in time. The machines and environments all look great, which is probably the most important thing. (I have to say, though, that I did wonder where on earth Lady Penelope & Parker were in the opening episode. It was, presumably, meant to be an English country lane that they were driving on, but it looked more like they were driving around and around on a snow-globe type diorama!)

So, although I feel there is promise for the future of this series, it depends on how quickly the producers start injecting more background info. into it, to get viewers more involved. Seeing all the machines flying around is great but that isn't enough-otherwise we could just play with the toys! Whoooosh!

Nice CG but for an adult lover of classic series, not my cup of tea

[crmfghtr · 5/10 · 9 March 2017]

I really enjoyed the CG Captain Scarlet reboot. Even within its half hour format, they got some good story and character development. There was plenty of people story in it and enough darkness to keep an adult interested. I was hoping to see the same with Thunderbirds. But they use most of the brief 22 minutes to do non stop action. There is really nothing along the lines of people stories. They really should have made it the hour format like the original.

On the plus side they are faithful to the vehicles of original show, the action is good as is the CG. But it just doesn't fill the shoes of the original. Probably great for kids but as a long time Gerry Anderson fan, its not the same for me

Thunderbirds are indeed a GO !!!

[wgc-15558 · 10/10 · 25 April 2015]

I watched the original when I was a kid, I think they have captured the spirit of the original, sure it is updated no strings :) But the stories are really good they still have some of the look of the original, the ships and landscape, was glad I found this brings the kid out in me again. I love countdown scenes, and I see they kept the big eyes of the characters. I hope they keep the quality up and this ends up being a long run. I don't see how anyone that watched the original could not like the remake, I feel like I have stepped back in time kind of. I like the cast the voices seem to fit the characters they are playing it is just fun show to watch.

Fun, but not a patch on the 60's original.

[24540647 · 6/10 · 14 May 2022]

The new series looks pretty but the stories aren't anywhere near as interesting or exciting add the original 60's version. Far too many episodes revolve around the Hood and/or the Mechanic who are mere shadows of the old, evil Hood.

The biggest annoyance though is what I call the "K9 effect" because, like Doctor Who's old companion, whenever IR have a problem Brains has "coincidentally" just crafted/ installed/ tested exactly what they need for the mission.

Another problem is the Tracy brothers. Several act like spoilt children most of the time. You wouldn't trust them with the TV remote, let alone a Thunderbird vehicle!

Overall a fun watch for under 10's but if you have the originals, let them watch those instead.

If only they'd payed as much attention to the plots as to the graphics

[estrellebelle · 3/10 · 18 July 2015]

No review sentence more damning then: this could have been great. Combining CGI characters with physical models was a bold and interesting move, and the result looks unique and charming. If the writing had been even half-decent, this would have been a modern classic. It took me a while to find out who perpetrated the crime that is this shows writing because the writers are listed at the very, very end of the credits, after the caterer. For the record, it was Patrick Rieger. If the script had been higher on the priority list, someone would have noticed how cringe-worthy the dialogue gets, and how illogical the plots are. Nothing wrong with the message that you can overcome everything through the power of friendship (even if it is not true), except when a show spells it out first and then proceeds to cram it down the audiences sore troath. The show has adapted the action, graphics and pace to modern standards , but the plot hand holding, jokes recurring till the end of time, and the overt wise lesson of the week, are worse then they were in the nineties. The show can not even claim to be educational because of the gaping plot holes, questionable morality, and misrepresentation of concepts like AI, Physics, Computers and Politics. Sad to see such beautiful imagery and love and dedication to visuals made unwatchable by a shoddy script.

Thunderbirds are a dud...

[foreverknight47 · 9/10 · 6 April 2015]

I was very harsh on this series when it started but I have come to rather love it, despite some ropey characterisation & the merging of CGI & models still strikes me as odd. I'm getting used to it, though.

That said, I now watch it every day on TV catching up & I see the frenetic pace has been modified somewhat, concentrating on one situation at a time,

The new versions of the Thunderbirds are superb & using camera tricks like the zoom to make them more realistic is appreciated. Main characters are much improved, some humour has crept in & Lady Penelope & Parker the great double-act they used to be.

Pity that Kayo still has so little to do.

In summary I guess I was too stuck in the mindset of the young boy who saw the original series. This is a fine continuation.

Rather than delete the original comment & pretend I was prescient, I leave the original below.

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO, what a disappointment. While I liked the up- dates on the machines and an active role for Kayo, the character CGI was absolutely appalling. Their decision to deliberately make the characters skin look plasticky is ridiculous and the movement is primitive beyond belief. The NEW CAPTAIN SCARLET reboot was miles better and that was using 2005 technology.

The next problem was stuffing so many missions into the hour, presumably on the assumption that kids today suffer from attention deficit disorder. Thus no tension whatsoever was generated in any of the missions whereas the original concentrated on one disaster at a time and twisted the tension almost to screaming point.

Finally, the disappearance of Jeff Tracy. I thought at first they were suggesting he had died (a nod to reality and the passing of time) but it soon became clear that The Hood had caused him to disappear. So any chance that the Tracy boys WON'T find him at some point? Not exactly holding my breath on that plot twist.

This is a sad new wrinkle because the original showed that a father could run a family with grace and wisdom. Now his absence seems a nod to so many of the young viewers being from broken families with absent fathers. In my opinion, a step too far in entirely the wrong direction.

It says something that the best moments of the entire hour were the repeats of the original Jeff Tracy voice saying "5, 4, 3, 2, 1"

After the razzmatazz of the launch it seems ITV is burying future episodes at 8am on Saturday mornings. Maybe it will give the grownups an hour of peace on a Saturday morning which is about the best you can say for this spectacular misfire.

Well-made reboot, with one major flaw

[phil-205-629777 · 7/10 · 6 February 2022]

I grew up with the original and introduced this reboot to my kids, and they love it. I don't mind that it's CGI rather then puppets, because all the other major elements remain: the countdown, the music, the vehicles and the Tracy Brothers... ah, the Tracy Brothers, the all-white, male team of "International" rescue. Why-oh-why couldn't they bring this huge part of the show up to date. The only non-white member is Brains, who has been given an Asian stuttering accent. 🤦

A shout out, though, to David Graham, the voice behind Parker - who played the same character in the original in the 60s!! He's 95 years old and still finding the time to do Peppa Pig. Now there's a career.

What a relief! Thunderbirds reboot is a GO-er!

[stephen-abraham · 8/10 · 5 April 2015]

Jonathon Frakes TERRIBLE 2004 live action film showed us the danger of attempting a reboot/refresh of an iconic TV series that is so beloved and cherished to this very day.

As a huge fan of the original series, I'm happy to say this reboot/pilot episode is a a very good homage to the original and a good "refresh" for 21st century audiences. Richard Taylor and the Weta team have really outdone themselves with the visuals. The ships look amazing and true to the originals (Scott even explains that they have been through a "refit"). Things like the weathering on models that FX wizard Derek Meddings did to make the miniatures look real - its all there in hi-def realism. Even the way the water moves in that strange "high-frame-rate-slowed-down-to-look-real" is there (and note the head of the undersea lab is "Dr Meddings"!). I was gob-smacked at how they made the ships/sets have both realism AND a vibe that "this is looks like a model".

I like the updates to all the sets: definitely reminiscent of the originals but with a modern edge. The updates to the costumes make sense: especially the sashes now being utility belts. The lead characters presentation is pretty good: they look half-way between the original puppets and real people - especially the faces. Parker's nose is there in all its glory!

One of the things that makes the original series difficult for young audiences is that the pace is slow: really slow. The pace here is fast (almost too fast?) and really keeps you on edge. There is a sense of peril - difficult to present when you know that every time "the good guys save the day". My adult son thought the music was great and well done. It certainly is epic, but being a fan of the Barry Gray score it would have been nice to have a little of those classic melodies to tease us old fans.

Not having Jeff Tracy (who appears to be MIA) is quite a plot twist. It appears as if he has been missing for some time and the boys have "stepped up" with John in more of a lead role. It will be interesting to see where this goes as a story arc. I must say, when I heard Jeff Tracy's countdown in the intro: my heart leaped! You HAD me at the count down!

Really looking forward to the rest of the series. The respect and love the creators have for the original series is evidnet and very much appreciated. They have really outdone themselves in this respect. Hopefully the stories will continue in this fine form.

If you watched the original series on LSD...

[Rob_Taylor · 6/10 · 6 June 2015]

Then this is what you would experience! Don't get me wrong. It isn't awful. In fact, it is way better than I would have expected. The character, Thunderbird, Tracy Island designs are all decent iterations of the originals and the rest of the world feels to fit quite nicely too.

Where it falls down quite alarmingly is in the pacing. There seems to be a belief among the purveyors of children's programming that faster is better. It isn't. Here, the show whizzes by so fast that you don't have time to fully appreciate the effort that went into it. Rescues are accomplished a little too quickly. Discussion of what to do and how to proceed is rushed. Everything moves too quickly to properly enjoy it.

Just because psychologists/psychiatrists would have us believe that every child suffers from ADD/ADHD does not make it true.

Additionally, or perhaps because of, the pacing, there are some scenic jumps that cut out moments during the rescues. Instead, there is a jump due to editing constraints on running time. It is like they are trying to cram too much into too short a timeframe.

There is a decent kid's show here, based on the old classic, but it suffers badly at the hands of people who "know what kids want". It's almost as if they decided the content itself was irrelevant and focused instead on shiny action that, ultimately, feels hollow and unrewarding.

You might think I'm being a little harsh, but just ask yourself this question.

"What movie/TV series remake have I watched recently that is better than the original?" I have a feeling that your list will be a very short one.

SUMMARY: Too fast, too loud. Designed and made by people who think all kids are Methamphetamine freaks who won't sit still for more than a minute. Ulrimately a bit of a failure.

Exciting C.G.I remake with minor flaws

[nortontowers · 8/10 · 5 April 2015]

having seen the trailers advertising the up and coming Remake I was eagerly waiting to see it start on our screens and it doesn't disappoint. The opening sequence of 5,4,3,2,1 has be preserved with Jeff Tracey's voice over. The C.G.I is as you would expect is excellent, beautiful detail and all the 5 thunderbird crafts have been faithfully reproduced.and so to is Tracey Island. Thunderbird 1 and 2 still emerge from under the swimming pool and cave retrospectively and exactly as in original series. Its nice that Parker is voiced by the original actor again and Sylvia Anderson who voiced Lady Penelope is voicing the Auntie this time, and the Hood is still with us! on the critical side. I don't know why Brains has an Indian accent it doesn't sound right. The original Brains had a stutter which was part of his character. the eyes of the boys and lady Penelope still light up in the picture frames when they want to make contact but when answered become a full hologram now. and Now the pink rolls can fly. and there is no Jeff Tracey, and some of the costumes are not quite right. But these are minor gripes on the whole it's Brilliant and looking forward to the rest of the series to unfold!

don't like some parts

[sircully38 · 6/10 · 28 April 2015]

This comment is not meant to be a racial slur on the person who plays the voice of brains but I grew up watching the original series just like Richard Taylor from Weta workshops who said he was going to get as close as possible to the original, well the original Brains didn't have an Indian accent and he had a stutter (the stutter was even reproduced in the movie version played by Anthony Edwards)

Why oh why did they have to get rid of the name Tin Tin, I realize that was just an alternative name and her real name was Tanusha "kayo" Kyrano but Tin Tin was what she was always called even by her parents.

Lastly where is The father Jeff Tracey ?? Have they retired him because John is no longer in school ?

I feel these are critical errors for die hard fans like myself. Richard Taylor also said that he had full approval from the creators to do this series in cgi format, he also stated that he wanted it done in cgi because it would make the characters be able to do things like abseiling down a cliff which was hard to recreate in the puppet version. Maybe I just need to get with the times, but when you promise to get it as close to the original as possible then I feel you should honor that promise.

Episode 4 has just played in New Zealand and to be honest I'm forcing myself to watch it in the hope I'll start to enjoy it but so far that's not happening.

Nice try- but not quite there

[jeffcole-93050 · 4/10 · 4 April 2015]

Real effort made with this series but first episode just too frantic- script just trying too hard!

Could have been really good but let down by very poor music score that is plain dull- see the original series to see how it's done.

In episode one someone forgot to put a bit of suspense and build up in. Hopefully better scripts to come but the dramatic "disaster" music and triumphant IR theme lost to a score that seems to have escaped from Disney's Frozen.

Models are a world apart from the sometimes flaky original series - but the attention to detail that inspired a generation of aero and space engineers was not there in this new series.

Maybe this attempt will inspire a new movie with live action - and erase the memory of the last catastrophe

The 60s and 90s are gone - It's time to pass the buck and enjoy the ride from the back seat!

[kit_rackley · 9/10 · 5 April 2015]

NB: I'm going to do my best to update the review as more episodes air; as I appreciate it is unfair to criticise and review something that's only aired one or two episodes.

---

I will state that I am in my early 30s and so in the middle between the youngsters that this new series is aimed at and those like my dad who grew up when Gerry Anderson's creations were hitting the small screen for the very first time. I have the benefit of having been in the position of being someone young when introduced to something old, and "young enough" to understand the entertainment needs of todays youth.

There are many things about it that will take some getting used to, definitely for the oldest fans as well us from the 1990s. In the first two (double-bill) episodes, "Ring of Fire", all the things I were irritated about were logistical. The constant music all the way through started to distract and grind after a while, and the constant countdowns (using the late, great Peter Dyneley's voice) got repetitive - Given that the first episode was a double-bill, there were more launch sequences, so I hoped that Jeff's voice wouldn't feel as overplayed in the 30 minute episodes. To my surprise and relief, there was only one countdown in the third episode "Space Race" and it was Alan's voice when launching TB3.

The pace of "Ring of Fire" was even too quick for me and speaking to my dad he found it hard to keep up with. However, my nephew absolutely loved it and was hooked from start to finish. Given that he is the target audience, that is all that matters and the rest of us will just have to manage. I was very happy to watch it again and since I expected the pace, it was a lot easier to watch and keep up 2nd time around. However when the "one-rescue, one-plot" per episode format returned for the following episode, the pace and feel was a lot more comfortable. You felt more in suspense of the story. The episodes do have a few plot holes, but let's face it, what fictional entertainment doesn't to some degree?

Being a geek of the original (thanks, dad!) I get a lump in my throat many times. There are so many "lemon squeezer" moments (hardcore fans of the original, and those on the Official Fanderson Facebook page know my reference there!). Alan's crush on Kayo (Tin Tin); TB2 dropping Pod 4 onto the water; Parker's line of "ome m'lady" amongst many things...

I loved the interplay between Kayo and the Hood, and all the talk about Jeff has got me curious and wanting to know more. All the technological updates were more or less perfect - they kept all the original stuff that could plausibly be true in the 2060s, and updated everything else that was just too out there. The mixture of CGI and models was smooth in places, a little sticky in others, but mostly very very impressed with that. The way the solar collector slid down the hillside in "Ring of Fire" took my breath away and it threw me back to the 'supermarionation' effect of the old series; and the "cinematography" of the CGI in "Space Race" was very well directed. That in turn means I was able to appreciate the creative-side of the program.

Some people of a certain demographic have lamented some character changes as 'PC', however while they may be some truth in this I can only see it as living in a more globalised world - a trend that will only continue into the near future. For example, I wouldn't say Brains being Indian is being PC at all. In fact, India's science and technology development is currently (today) quickly becoming one of the best in the world. It's not just feasible but totally probable that there will be many such 'Brains' out there in the near future - unlike the 'Western' superiority domination that existed in the 60s and some argue still today. Grandma has gone from being a slightly senile and ageing old dear to someone who is more active, and Parker calls himself the "grey ninja" - and can do things almost Spiderman-like! But, it makes sense that Grandmas in the 2060s will be less able to cook than those from 1960s due to all the automated thingamajigs! Also the life expectancy in 2060 will probably be in the 100s, so a 80/90 year old in a tracksuit and a 50/60 year old ninja - why not!? That's happening even now!

We all have to bear in mind the primary target audience is not us from the 1990s and 1960s. The production team knew full-well that they had a very difficult job with balancing their intended target audience and their 'actual audience'. They were trusted with some Crown Jewels and in my opinion, handled them very well. Something like this will NEVER please everyone. I think they did a great job with all that pressure in mind. I have mentioned above that there are aspects I don't like - so I accept the fact that it's not the 1960s or 1990s anymore, and just enjoy it for what it is. If anything - it's fun to think about the 'old boys' having new adventures. I think everyone who is criticising it based on the original is missing the point. And all those who say that this new series is "destroying a classic" or "messing with their childhood" are just being melodramatic, in my opinion.

Thunderbirds are back, and for me, they are most certainly GO!

P.S. I strongly urge people to read this article from the New Zealand Herald before anyone makes their mind up, or decides to write a review: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/canvas-magazine/news/article.cfm? c_id=532&objectid=11426329

Mostly nice remake, except for one EXTREME disappointment

[imdb-19311 · 2/10 · 13 April 2015]

First, let's make something clear: this show is not available from my cable TV provider at this time and at my location (Montreal, Quebec, Canada). So I had to look for it on "scene" sites that some view as a slightly shady portion of the web. I was initially pleased to see the first episodes appear very quickly after their UK broadcast.

Second, I will be turning 60 in late spring. That brands me clearly as someone who was in his pre-teens when the original series aired, and I watched it religiously and delighted in each and every episode. At the time, this was the Canadian broadcast of the French-dubbed episodes, under the title "Les Sentinelles de l'air".

I watched with disappointment the 2004 live-action movie, although it made me discover the existence of the two long episodes packaged as DVD movies. I promptly sought and purchased the two DVD box set of "Thunderbirds Are Go" and "Thunderbird 6" and found them quite pleasant as trips down memory lane.

Watching the double episode that launched this new version, I found it well thought as a modern day evolution of the original, dispensing with the impossible secrecy of "International Rescue" in a world even more advanced than our current one in terms of satellites, radars and GPS devices everywhere. I could say a lot more about how I readily accept or even prefer some character changes (especially replacing/upgrading the token "Tin-Tin" with a substantial "Kayo" chief of security), but that would repeat stuff already mentioned in other reviews.

Here is where I my suspension of disbelief was completely destroyed: Alan flies out of TB3 on his rocket-powered hoverboard and performs what appears to be mind-controlled flying (including rolls and banks) over to the Hood's satellite, then hovers in front of a control panel while his board's apparently decorative only rockets keep blasting from the back while he floats in place. People, this is Saturday morning cartoon physics right out of the 60s, i.e. nothing like the mostly realistic physics the original puppeteers worked pretty hard to present.

All week afterwards, I was telling myself that I can endure this one ridiculous, uber-childish bit of show-off cartoon physics if the rest of the show keeps giving us what we saw in episodes 1 and 2. Then what do we get in episode 3? A complete episode of Alan flying TB3 with rockets fully on while he approaches bits of space debris he is about to grab, then more (LOTS more!) of him flying his hoverboard in impossible ways with his light-show rockets blasting backwards all the time, no matter whether he is holding still or moving in any direction. Oh please! None of this can possibly work (even discounting the silly rockets on that board) unless humanity in the 2060s has mastered artificial gravity, something which is not hinted at anywhere...

I am now just about to give up on this ridiculous show. Having seen an outline of episode 4, I know it's mostly about Scott and TB1, so I may give it a chance. But the next bit of silly cartoon physics that I see in there, in association with any character or vehicle, is the moment I give up on this travesty.

YES yes, Milady!!! >>> THUNDERBIRDS ARE GOGO >>>

[terry-548-479322 · 9/10 · 27 May 2015]

The new THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO is an excellent return. Yes International Rescue have morphed, no longer have strings and jockey around more than they used to. Yes on rare occasion the pacing and/or edits are a bit off. BUT more often than not the pacing is BANG ON! And the show has been getting better and better with each episode. Better, deeper characterisation, humanity, humour, wit and storytelling.

Characters = Excellent. Vehicles = Awesome. Story Telling = Just gets better & better. Parker = All the original Magic and more Grey Ninja! Virgil = Gotta love the Lumberjack shirt! Grandma = Brilliant You Cookie! Production = Excellent and improving all the time.

As an 'Avid Anderson' it is an enormous pleasure to see the THUNDERBIRDS are back with such vigour. In sometimes difficult, cynical, and depressing times, it is also great to see the ideas, outlook and invention of the 60's 'original' updated with such love, innovation and attention to detail. Rare, Brilliant, Classic Stuff!!!

Great revamped Thunderbirds that stays true to the original! (MINOR SPOILERS)

[ben-vacher · 9/10 · 4 April 2015]

I'm sure there are going to be many people who dislike the use of animated characters with model sets. I was really excited to see how it would work out and I have to say, it works superbly! A lot of the Tracey Island model sets are very similar to the original 60s show. Even the animated 'Thunderbirds' are very similar in design. What's different is the use of futuristic computers such as holograms which does, on the most part, work fine.

The iteration of a female lead is great and the character of 'Kayo' fits in well with the other Tracy brothers. The sub-plot with John Tracy being 'abducted' by the Hood adds mystery to the story and drives the Tracy brothers on their missions... I expect we'll see John return sooner than later. Kayo also seems to have replaced the role of Tintin with her being related to the Hood. I think this is good change for I remember Tintin never did much in the original show. The fear of Grandma's cooking adds some comedic value for the younger audiences although I was not too amused by it my self!

However, all in all a fantastic reboot that puts the 2004 failure to shame! Also has a strong soundtrack composed by the very talented Ben & Nick Foster.