The Lure of Light Experiment

Sci-Fi on TV for the week of February 6 - 12, 1955, is only a single episode of Flash Gordon. I actually have this episode from a set of DVDs called "Classic Sci-Fi TV". It has 14 episodes of Flash Gordon, and 136 episodes of other things you've probably never heard of. On with the review:

The Lure of Light- An interesting story that shows a complete lack of understanding about the principles of space travel. I'm accepting for the moment that everyone travels in rockets with flame shooting out the back. This allows them to travel to the stars in what I have to pretend is a chemical reaction-based FTL Drive. At least Rocky Jones was constantly refueling and he only left the solar system after acquiring new engine technology. The Sky Flash is even said to go to other galaxies without going faster than the speed of light. A scientist has invented a technique for faster-than-light travel. He wants to test it on the Sky Flash with Flash aboard. There is even a hint of Flash being from the 20th century as he talks about the breaking of the sound barrier. No one knows what will happen to a human that surpasses the speed limit. There's a neat animation the scientist shows as a rocket is stretched to infinity then snaps back, mirroring a little of what we'll see of Warp Drive in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The Galactic Bureau of Investigation won't allow Flash to risk his life, but some evil despot queen of planet Diana kidnaps Dale Arden, because she also knows how to use a special ore (I think that's what it is) to modify rockets. Apparently there is a theory that is not well supported that says if you go faster than 186,000 miles per second time will go backwards. The Queen of Diana lost a great war some time ago and wishes the technology to send her back in time and be victorious. Flash also thinks this might happen and knows the queen will kill Dale for the formula. The Sky Flash arrives too late on Diana, with Dale tortured to death. Flash uses his ship, now outfitted with the drive, and breaks the Light Barrier, going back in time far enough to save Dale. Mission accomplished.

I'm still hung up on how the writers never considered how far stars are from each other and that they weren't using the staple of space opera technology, an FTL Drive. But, we are still a couple years from Sputnik so maybe I should give them a break. Nah.