UFO-"The Man Who Came Back"
Episode 1.16, aired February 3, 1971-ITV (UK)

This British TV Series, which aired in 1970-1971, was set in 1980 with the premise that the earth at that point is being threatened by an alien race, which is kidnapping humans and using them for body parts. Thus, a secret military organization known as S.H.A.D.O. (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization) has been created to combat this threat by various technological devices, including Interceptors (SID) launched from the Moon base. The head of this organization is Commander Straker (Ed Bishop).

In this episode, an astronaut, Craig Collins, who works for S.H.A.D.O., and is Commander Straker's best friend, is attacked by aliens while returning to earth and thereafter presumed dead when his spaceship crashes as a result. However, weeks later he is found in the jungle of a remote island, having apparently survived the crash of his spaceship. He returns to S.H.A.D.O. Headquarters to run a mission to repair SID since this is his specialty. Although he looks the same, he seems different to several of his colleagues, including Colonel John Gray (Gary Raymond), with whom he has had a contentious relationship in the past. Further, Colonel Virginia Lake (Wanda Ventham), with whom Collins has had a casual romantic relationship in the past, finds him to now be overly aggressive towards her. She rejects him in favor of Colonel Paul Foster (Michael Billington), a situation that does not sit well with Collins.

Foster is assigned to work with Craig on the mission to repair SID. Craig sees to it that Foster is injured so that he cannot participate in the mission. Meanwhile, Colonel Gray is suspicious of Craig when Craig, for the first time ever, defeats him in a chess game. Straker rejects Gray's suspicions, chalking them up to the fact that Gray and Collins dislike each other. Collins, sensing Gray's suspicions, tried to kill Gray by tampering with the air supply in Gray's sleep chamber. Gray cannot prove Collins did it and does not mention his concerns to Straker since Straker had suggested Gray was wrongly criticizing Collins due to his animosity towards him. Foster's injury means that Commander Straker will have to go on the mission with Collins to repair SID.

Following up on his suspicions, Gray speaks to the doctor who evaluated Collins after his return from the jungle and learns that a test where Collins was placed in total isolation resulted in the appearance of no brain activity. He goes to confront Collins, accusing him of having been taken over by the aliens. Collins attacks him and leaves him for dead. He then heads off to accompany the unsuspecting Straker on the mission. Collins' cleaning lady comes to his place and discovers Gray. Gray is taken to the hospital where he tries to warn of the danger to Straker when he comes to but is sedated by the doctor who does not understand what he is trying to say. Straker goes out on the mission with Collins. Once they are out in space, Straker and Collins leave the ship to do the repairs to SID. At this point, Gray reawakes and demands a telephone to speak to mission control. Straker is alerted of the danger just as Collins tries to attack him and is able to push Collins out into space where he floats away into oblivion.

There is something very stylish and engaging about this series. The costumes and special effects are eye catching. Of course, no one ended up dressing like these people and running around in space fighting aliens in 1980. At the same time, the ambulance that takes Gray to the hospital looks like something from the fifties. Ed Bishop could never have been a leading man in America. He looks more androgenous than David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust. It's a pretty cool look, actually. The British were always way ahead of the Americans in the cool department.

There are some ludicrous aspects of this episode, like the fact that Gray has to accuse Collins of being controlled by radio waves transmitted by the aliens. But overall the episode is quite interesting and entertaining. The character interplay is very believable and all the characters are well developed even though several of them appear only in this episode (namely Gary's character and the Craig Collins character). The growing awareness of various people around him that Craig Collins has somehow changed is very well conveyed. Overall I would give the episode top marks in the TV series that Gary has guest starred in. An interesting sidelight is that the show apparently had to be broadcast after 11 PM, at least in part because Gary's character utters the world "bloody" at one point in this episode.

Colonel Gray is not the most lovable character Gary has ever depicted. He is quite believable as a military person who is both prickly and arrogant. His dislike of Craig Collins is wonderfully evident from the way he merely says Collins' first name when they greet each other upon Collins' return. Collins responds to Gray's evident distaste by calling Gray "Master" and "My Lord" in a tone that is laden with mockery. Perhaps the most interesting scene is where Collins challenges Gray to a game of multidimensional chess. Gray comments that Collins is a "glutton for punishment", adding "You've never won a game from me yet". When Collins suggests they place a bet, Gray replies, "Do you really want to throw your money away?" Collins proceeds to beat Gray in three moves. The muted but stunned look on Gary's face is wonderfully subtle. Then there is the great moment at the hospital when the doctor and nurses are trying to calm the agitated Gray and he finally bellows, "Get me a bloody telephone!" It's a beautifully realized portrayal.

It's a few years after The Rat Patrol and Gary looks beautiful all decked out in futuristic couture. The space age outfits really become his lean frame. He wears a baby blue turtleneck sweater in several scenes that is gorgeous on him. We get to see some lovely glimpses of bare chest when he's in the hospital. All in all, he looks fabulous.

Photos from "The Man Who Came Back"

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