It's surprising how everyone accepted their fate. There was little objection to the computer's selection of the crew for the survival ship. No real protest, no one trying to steal a ship and escape. Really well trained personnel.

Exactly. I wonder if people would be that way in real life. Surprisingly, history sorta tells us yes (for the most part). For example when it was announced that the Titanic would only save women & children, there were no riots and in fact some of the men went to their cabins and dressed in tuxedos to go down like gentlemen. I can't think of any recent examples to compare, but at least Black Sun confirms what I hope human nature might be.

Of course, panic situations don't count (fires & stampedes and all that crap, where nobody thinks rationally). I'd like to think when we have time to really consider our end, we'll go out with a bit of class.

A thoughtful and articulate thread.

I love this episode for all the reasons cited by the OP. It reminds me of the quote from Kirk in Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan: "How we face death is at least as important as how we face life." I hope when my time has comes, I'll be able to show composure and some dignity.

The movie "When Worlds Collide" has what might be a more realistic portrayal.

And then of course there's Monty Python:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zisjRgcuL9k

@Dark_Sithlord said:

A thoughtful and articulate thread.

I love this episode for all the reasons cited by the OP. It reminds me of the quote from Kirk in Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan: "How we face death is at least as important as how we face life." I hope when my time has come, I'll be able to show composure and some dignity.

Totally random (and 3 years late to the discussion) but that reminded me of the original 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea when the Nautilus is sinking and instead of abandoning ship or freaking out, Nemo starts playing the organ. A lot like Paul playing the guitar in Space:1999 there’s something really dignified and triumphant about playing music in the face of catastrophe.

And of course there’s the way Spinal Tap kept playing even though the colossal Stonehenge prop was only 18” high.

Been a long time since I saw those episodes, what was the claimed reason for why there could only be one survival ship?

@Knixon said:

Been a long time since I saw those episodes, what was the claimed reason for why there could only be one survival ship?

I think Koenig had all the Eagles dismantled so their power generators could be used to power up Victor's force field to protect Alpha from the Black Sun. He kept one Eagle in reserve.

@Dark_Sithlord said:

@Knixon said:

Been a long time since I saw those episodes, what was the claimed reason for why there could only be one survival ship?

I think Koenig had all the Eagles dismantled so their power generators could be used to power up Victor's force field to protect Alpha from the Black Sun. He kept one Eagle in reserve.

A very wise leadership decision on Koenig's part: allotting their resources on keeping the Moonbase alive while sending out only 1 escape Eagle. I recently watched the film Aniara which is kinda like "Black Sun" but with an extra heavy dose of depression. Aniara briefly covers how it would be certain doom to attempt escape in small lifeboats because, well, space is a big empty void. The chance of you reaching anywhere is slim to none, so it would be like trying to cross the Pacific in a canoe.

All the same, Koenig had to give them all a sense of hope. The escape Eagle was a 1-in-a-million longshot, but it gave the Moonbase crew a faint sense of hope that some of humankind might survive even if the moon gets swallowed. I think Koenig's decision was a psychological maneuver more than anything practical. To a scientist, they were all doomed no matter what, so you might as well do what you can to keep morale up.

I'll just mention that When Worlds Collide is currently free on YouTube.

@Knixon said:

I'll just mention that When Worlds Collide is currently free on YouTube.

And on Pluto TV.

https://pluto.tv/us/on-demand/movies/639ce08aa6bb3b00146cd5ea?utm_medium=deeplink&utm_source=justwatch

Second season Fred Freiberger tried to make it like star trek.