Powers (British TV series) explained

Genre:Science fiction
Company:BBC Children's
Runtime:30 minutes
Creator:Jim Eldridge
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Network:BBC One
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:13
Executive Producer:Jesse Cleverly
Producer:Chris Le Grys
Cinematography:Shelley Hirst
Editor:Nigel Parkes

Powers is a British science fiction television series first broadcast in 2004 on BBC One. Produced by Chris Le Grys and directed by Emma Bodger and Brian Farnham for BBC Children's, the series was created by Jim Eldridge, who wrote episodes alongside co-writers Stephen Hallett, Christopher Wicking, Carolyn Sally-Jones, and John Jackson.

Centring around two teens with telepathic, telekinetic, and extrasensory psychic powers, Powers was promoted as a children's version of The X-Files,[1] although many regarded it as a successor to The Tomorrow People.[2] [3] It ran for one 13-episode season, and was also broadcast in Australia. Powers has never been commercially released.

Overview

The series follows the adventures of The Powers Project, a group of researchers led by Professor Henry Powers (portrayed by Rupert Holliday-Evans), who investigate mysteries concerned with the paranormal. The other members of the project are Mark Roberts (Adam Jessop) and Song-Li Harris (Amy Yamazaki), two teenagers with psychic abilities, and Dr Mary Holland (Mandana Jones), who used to have special powers in her own teen years but no longer does.[4]

Mark and Song-Li's powers differ; Mark is telepathic and can move objects with his mind, whereas Song-Li is capable of extrasensory perception in emotions and memories associated with objects. She joins the project during the first episode of the series after the discovery of her powers, and goes on to be involved in most investigations with Mark.

Production and broadcast

Powers spent six years in development. During this time it was reported that Disney were interested in a possible co-production deal, following the success of their previous award-winning collaboration with BBC Children's on Microsoap, but this was abandoned.[5] The series was produced by Chris Le Grys, and episodes were directed by Emma Bodger and Brian Farnham; the three had previously worked on the ITV series Night and Day.

Special effects and computer-generated imagery were created by Darkside Animation using LightWave 3D software.[6] This consisted of 170 shots which were filmed between July and November 2003.[7] Notable amongst these were the title sequence and end credits, and a UFO in episode 4, "We Are Not Alone".[8] Some were initially dropped early on in production due to time and budget constraints, but nonetheless still made later on.

The series was originally due to be broadcast by the BBC in autumn 2004,[9] but was moved forward to instead begin on 7 January 2004. Powers was also shown by the ABC in Australia throughout the 2000s.[10]

Critical response and legacy

Powers generally received positive responses from viewers. The series was most frequently praised as a successor to The Tomorrow People, though some such as Action TV's Kieran Seymour perceived there to be considerable variation between episodes by different writers. Writing for the BFI in the BFI Television Handbook 2005, Doctor Who Magazine contributor and television journalist Alistair McGown commended Powers' "dramatic conviction" for carrying its range of plots well, and favourably compared the series' "slick production style" to "the eccentric Home counties milieu" of The Avengers, noting hopes for it to continue.

According to Simon Percy, co-founder of the series' special effects producers Darkside Animation, its ratings were described as "excellent" by the BBC. However, a second series never materialised. No official reason was ever given for Powers' non-renewal; this and the mirrored fate of similar ITV series Life Force was lamented by McGown in a retrospective on British children's fantasy and science fiction television for the Screenonline project, stating that the BBC had cancelled it after "one excellent run".[11] Though also never commercially released, the series was repeated a number of times on the digital CBBC Channel during the 2000s.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Seymour . Kieran . Action TV - Powers episode guide . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071119133927/http://www.startrader.co.uk/Action%20TV/guide2000/powers.htm . 2007-11-19 . 2023-10-19 . www.startrader.co.uk.
  2. Web site: 2008-06-06 . The UK Sci-Fi TV Book Guide: Time Riders by Jim Eldridge . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080606000305/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.seymour1/ukbookguide/Series/TimeRiders.html . 2008-06-06 . 2023-10-19 . The UK Sci-Fi TV Book Guide.
  3. Book: McGown, Alistair . BFI television handbook 2005 : the essential guide to UK TV . 2004 . London : BFI . Internet Archive . 978-1-84457-027-0.
  4. Web site: BBC - Press Office - CBBC ONE Winter 2004 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20031218001833/https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/12_december/11/cbbc_one.shtml . 2003-12-18 . 2023-10-19 . www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. News: Porter . Hilary . 2003-12-01 . Teenager Adam lands starring role in series . . dead . 2023-10-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716172136/http://www.swishofthecurtain.com/pdfs/pdf_99.pdf . 2011-07-16.
  6. Web site: 2011-07-10 . NewTek Europe - Community . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110710204655/http://www.euronewtek.com/uk/community/lightwave/percy/1.html . 2011-07-10 . 2023-10-19 . NewTek Europe.
  7. Web site: 2011-07-10 . NewTek Europe - Community . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110710204655/http://www.euronewtek.com/uk/community/lightwave/percy/2.html . 2011-07-10 . 2023-10-19 . NewTek Europe.
  8. Web site: 2011-07-10 . NewTek Europe - Community . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110710205053/http://www.euronewtek.com/uk/community/lightwave/percy/3.html . 2011-07-10 . 2023-10-19 . NewTek Europe.
  9. Web site: Eldridge . Jim . Amazon.co.uk: Spy Smuggler . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20080606232131/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spy-Smuggler-Lelaud-France-1942-1944/dp/0439968844 . 2008-06-06 . 2023-10-19 . Amazon.
  10. Web site: 2007-02-02 . Powers - ABC Kids TV guide . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070202164003/http://www.abc.net.au/abckids/shows/prog358.htm . 2007-02-02 . 2023-10-19 . ABC Kids.
  11. Web site: Children's Fantasy and SF . . October 18, 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100309150340/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1383217/index.html . March 9, 2010.

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