"The Man Who Came Back" is the sixteenth episode aired of the first series of ''

UFO An unidentified flying object (UFO) is an object or phenomenon seen in the sky but not yet identified or explained. The term was coined when United States Air Force (USAF) investigations into flying saucers found too broad a range of shapes ...

'', a 1970 British television science fiction series about an

alien invasion Alien invasion or space invasion is a common feature in science fiction stories and films, in which extraterrestrial lifeforms invade Earth to exterminate and supplant human life, enslave it, harvest people for food, steal the planet's resource ...

of Earth. The screenplay was written by

Terence Feely Terence John Feely (20 July 1928 – 13 August 2000) was a British screenwriter, playwright and author. His work spanned five decades and included creating the ITV police drama series ''The Gentle Touch'' (1980–84) and its spin-off '' C.A ...

and the director was David Lane. The episode was filmed from 17 to 29 June 1970, and aired on

ATV Midlands ATV Network Limited, originally Associated TeleVision (ATV), was a British broadcaster, part of the ITV (Independent Television) network. It provided a service to London at weekends from 1955 to 1968, to the Midlands on weekdays from 1956 to ...

on 3 February 1971. Though shown as the sixteenth episode, it was actually the twenty-first to have been filmed. The series was created by

Gerry Anderson Gerald Alexander Anderson (; 14 April 1929 – 26 December 2012) was an English television and film producer, director, writer and occasional voice artist, who is known for his futuristic television programmes, especially his 1960s production ...

and

Sylvia Anderson Sylvia Beatrice Anderson (; 25 March 1927 – 15 March 2016) was an English television and film producer, writer, voice actress and costume designer, best known for her collaborations with Gerry Anderson, her husband between 1960 and 1981. In ...

with

Reg Hill Reginald Eric Hill (16 May 1914 – 31 October 1999) was an English model-maker, art director, producer, and freelance storyboard artist. He is most prominently associated with the work of Gerry Anderson. Early life Born on 16 May 1914, Hill ...

, and produced by the Andersons and

Lew Grade Lew Grade, Baron Grade, (born Lev Winogradsky; 25 December 1906 – 13 December 1998) was a Ukrainian-born British media proprietor and impresario. Originally a dancer, and later a talent agent, Grade's interest in television production ...

Century 21 Productions AP Films or APF (renamed Century 21 Productions in 1966) was a British independent film production company of the 1950s until the early 1970s. The company became internationally known for its imaginative children's action-adventure marionette t ...

for Grade's

ITC Entertainment The Incorporated Television Company (ITC), or ITC Entertainment as it was referred to in the United States, was a British company involved in the production and distribution of television programmes. History Incorporated Television Programme C ...

company.

Plot

Captain Craig Collins is presumed killed when his spacecraft, Ship 534, disappears during a successful UFO attack to disable SID (the Space Intruder Detector, the

early warning satellite An early warning satellite is an artificial satellite that detects ballistic missile launches in order to provide rapid early warning of a potential missile attack. Modern examples are often multi-purpose vehicles also supporting other wide-area ...

). However, he is located on an island a few weeks later with very little memory of his craft's splashdown. After S.H.A.D.O.'s medical unit approves his return to active duty, Straker assigns Collins to pilot the

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

SID 2

shuttle The original meaning of the word shuttle is the device used in weaving to carry the weft. By reference to the continual to-and-fro motion associated with that, the term was then applied in transportation and then in other spheres. Thus the word ma ...

and repair SID due to Collins' intimate knowledge of its systems. Meanwhile, Cols. Lake and Grey both notice changes in Collins' behaviour: he displays aggression when he kisses Col. Lake, with whom he had a relationship before his accident; and he wins a chess game against Col. Grey in just a few moves whereas Collins had never been able to defeat Grey before. These observations are not enough to convince Straker that anything is wrong and he suggests that personal tensions may be colouring the perspective of Lake and Grey (while not admitting that his long friendship with Collins may be colouring his own judgement). During a training weightlifting session, Collins seemingly accidentally injures his co-pilot Col. Paul Foster, leaving Straker as the only qualified person available to replace him. Collins, who has been under alien control since before his crash, plans to kill Straker but during a

spacewalk Extravehicular activity (EVA) is any activity done by an astronaut in outer space outside a spacecraft. In the absence of a breathable atmosphere of Earth, Earthlike atmosphere, the astronaut is completely reliant on a space suit for environme ...

Straker is warned by Foster and manages to sever Collins' oxygen supply, killing his friend instead.

Regular cast

Reception

Review website ''AnorakZone.com'' ranks "The Man Who Came Back" the ninth-best episode of ''UFO'', praising Nesbitt's guest role as a "real fun addition to what could otherwise have been a pedestrian 'alien control' plot". However, he criticises Collins and Lake's "curious" romantic relationship as well as the "burgeoning" attraction between Lake and Foster, which is absent in other episodes.

John Kenneth Muir John Kenneth Muir (born December 3, 1969) is an American literary critic. As of 2022, he has written thirty reference books in the fields of film and television, with a particular focus on the horror and science fiction genres. Biography Bor ...

argues that the episode's portrayal of

workplace romance Workplace relationships are unique interpersonal relationships with important implications for the individuals in those relationships, and the organizations in which the relationships exist and develop. Workplace relationships directly affect a ...

is its "most intriguing" part, noting (after mentioning Foster and Lake) that "it's just weird the way the characters go in and out of relationships, and those relationships are not referred to ever again". Calling the episode "tense and successful", Muir praises the special effects shots of the UFO attack on SID as well as the "delightful performance" of Nesbitt. However, he criticises Straker's characterisation, arguing that his inaction over Collins makes him appear a weak leader.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Man Who Came Back (UFO), The 1971 British television episodes Television episodes about interpersonal relationships Television episodes about mind control Television episodes set in outer space Television episodes set on the Moon UFO (British TV series) episodes