“Lost in the Devil's Triangle, trapped in a dimension with beings from the future and other worlds, a party of adventurers journey through zones of time back to their own time. Varian, a man from the 23rd century, possessing awesome powers; from 1977; Fred, a young doctor just out of medical school; Scott Jordan, the thirteen-year-old son of a famous scientist; Liana, daughter of an Atlantean father and an extraterrestrial mother; and Jonathan Willaway, a rebel scientist from the 1960s. Together they face the frightening unknown on . . . The Fantastic Journey.”
The Fantastic Journey was an American science fiction television series that was originally aired on NBC from February 3 through June 16, 1977. It was originally intended to run 13 episodes, as a mid-season replacement, but NBC cancelled the series in April, after the ninth episode aired. A tenth episode, already produced, was broadcast two months later.
Star Wars was still a few months away but the Bermuda Triangle was popular, thanks to Charles Berlitz’ bestselling book—which spawned more books about the Triangle and even a number of documentaries and TV specials. Hollywood wanted to cash in on the craze.
Writer-producer
Bruce Lansbury—Angela’s brother—had an idea for a series.
Lansbury was the creative force behind such wildly popular genre
favorites, The
Wild, Wild West and Mission:
Impossible,
presented the story of a group of scientists and adventurers who find
themselves trapped in the Triangle and throughout the series, they’d
travel from one time zone to the next, seeking the right portal that
will take them home.
D.C. “Dorothy” Fontana—who wrote some of the best Star Trek episodes—was hired to work in the writers’ room.
A scientific expedition brings a family and their colleagues to the Caribbean aboard a chartered vessel—crewed by veteran character actors, Leif Ericson and Scott Brady. Their journey takes an unexpected turn in the Bermuda Triangle when they sail through an otherworldly green mist filled with phantom bell sounds. The encounter leaves them stranded on an enigmatic island with no apparent way to return home.
The main characters:
Varian (Jared Martin) is a man from the 23rd century endowed with extraordinary abilities channeled through a crystalline “ tuning fork” device called the Sonic Energizer. By focusing his thoughts into the Energizer, he can manipulate matter sonically—unlocking doors, disrupting electrical systems, unleashing widespread destruction, or performing diagnostics and healing. The device responds only to him. When Professor Paul Jordan departs at the end of the pilot film, Varian steps in as the group’s de facto leader and assumes a fatherly role toward Jordan’ s teenage son, Scott—a dynamic highlighted in episodes like “ An Act of Love” and “ Turnabout.”
Scott Jordan (Ike Eisenmann) is the 13-year-old son of a prominent scientist. Though he possesses a solid understanding of Earth’s history and major events, his youth means he still has plenty to learn.
Dr. Fred Walters (Carl Franklin) is a newly graduated physician whose hot-headed, impulsive nature contrasts sharply with Varian’s calm pacifism. A longtime friend of Scott’s father and the only other member of the team from their original era, the athletic Black doctor naturally takes on a protective, older-brother role with Scott.
Liana (Katie Saylor) is born of an Atlantean father and an extraterrestrial mother. Her alien heritage grants her superhuman strength—owing to her mother’s high-gravity home world—and powerful psychic abilities, such as telepathic communication with animals, especially her cat, Sil-El. Saylor left the series after “Turnabout” due to illness; in the subsequent episode, “Riddles,” it’s explained that Liana stayed behind on Coriel to help its inhabitants establish a new government and would rejoin the travelers later.
Dr. Jonathan Willoway (Roddy McDowall) is a rebel scientist from the 1960s whose mastery of computers, robotics, and scientific theory proves invaluable. He resembles Lost in Space’s Dr. Smith in his untrustworthy, self-interested streak, though he lacks Smith’s cowardice. Over time, Willoway forms genuine bonds with Scott and the others, becoming more integrated into the group—despite Dr. Walters’s lingering mistrust, which fuels a constant, Spock-and-McCoy–style banter between them.
Sil-El (the Felix Team) is Liana’s tuxedo cat and telepathic companion. Often sent ahead as her eyes and ears, Sil-El scouts dangerous territory and relays vital information back to her.
The pilot episode "Vortex" concludes with the departure of Professor Paul Jordan, Scott's father, from the series. While exploring Atlantium, the travelers become separated. Later, Scott learns from the Atlanteans that his father and two companions have been transported back to their own time period. Dar-L, an Atlantean leader, hands Scott a letter purportedly from his father. In it, the Professor reassures his son that Varian and Fred will protect him, while explaining he must return to Scott's mother, who waits anxiously at home.
This narrative decision facilitated the show's cast reorganization but struck many viewers as implausible—what father would willingly leave his teenage son stranded in a perilous interdimensional realm?
The pilot also starred Ian McShane with Gary Collins and wife Mary Ann Mobley appearing as Alantean villains. Future guest actors in included John Saxon, Joan Collins, Cheryl Ladd, Richard Jaeckel, Lew Ayres and other ‘70s’ veteran character actors.
But no Dabbs Greer or Whit Bissel.
However, Don Adams had a voiceover cameo.
McDowell’s casting was a few years after the canceled Planet of the Apes series. While he could have been the series’ scheming foil like Lost in Space’s Dr. Smith, Willoway became roguish ally who grew fond of Scott and always willing to protect the rest of the group. It was a pleasant change of pace for such characters and a nice role for McDowell.
The pilot also starred Ian McShane with Gary Collins and wife Mary Ann Mobley appearing as Alantean villains. Future guest actors in included John Saxon, Joan Collins, Cheryl Ladd, Richard Jaeckel, Lew Ayres and other ‘70s’ veteran character actors.
But no Dabbs Greer or Whit Bissel.
However, Don Adams had a voiceover cameo.
McDowell’s casting was a few years after the canceled Planet of the Apes series. While he could have been the series’ scheming foil like Lost in Space’s Dr. Smith, Willoway became roguish ally who grew fond of Scott and always willing to protect the rest of the group. It was a pleasant change of pace for such characters and a nice role for McDowell.
Nearly 50 years later, The Fantastic Journey had the potential of being a fascinating series, given it had survived and given a few 22-episode run. The Triangle and its myriad Time Zones offered a wealth of interesting cultures and equally intriguing storylines. Like many of these '70s' SF series, there was a lot of cheesy fun and wonderful characters that deserved more than one mere season of storytelling. I rewatched the entire 10-episode run on the Sci-Fi Channel—back when the Sci-Fi Channel lived up to its name and was cool to watch—and I loved it. The 28-year-old me loved it as much as the 12-year-old me; the writing was fine and the actors did a good job, despite budgetary limitations. Thanks to the miracle of DVDs, the first season is in my library.
After the series cancellation, most of the writers and production crew would go onto to work on another one season wonder, Logan’s Run.
But that’s a blog for another day.
Be seeing you.
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