Plot Summary
The Protectors was UFO creator Gerry Anderson's first and only thriller series,
and featured an elite group of international undercover agents led by American Harry
Rule (Robert Vaughn), the Contessa, a beautiful British aristocrat, and Paul Buchet,
a frenchman, (played by Space 1999’s Tony Anholt.) The series featured many ex-UFO
actors in guest rules, including recurring appearances by Anthony Chinn, Subsmash's
Lieutenant Chin and Square Triangle's alien. The First Circle is often
hailed to be the best episode to come out of the series, and Ed plays a major role,
appearing in almost every scene. His character, John Hunter, is a veteran of the
Vietnam War suffering from flashbacks from his time in captivity there. He drives
into a deserted airfield, believing it to be the base he commanded in Vietnam. When
challenged by a security guard, Hunter believes he is being attacked by a Vietnamese
soldier and shoots. The police are then called, as is Harry Rule.
While the police want to post snipers to try and wing the Colonel, Rule insists,
since Hunter has a large supply of grenades about him, on trying to talk him down
first, especially after Hunter's wife asks him to bring her husband home. Rule dresses
in a USAF uniform and goes into the base to make contact, convincing the delusional
Hunter that he is an officer under his command.
After playing along with the charade and a few unsuccessful attempts to disarm Hunter,
Rule tries to convince the Colonel to come back to reality. They fight, and Hunter,
desperate to protect the base as he was ordered to do back in Vietnam, drives off
in his jeep with a bag full of grenades. The police give chase along a rain-soaked
runway, until finally Hunter loses control and crashes, blowing himself and the jeep
sky-high.
Notes
This is an incredibly powerful piece of television, which was quite groundbreaking
when first released, as the Vietnam War was still in progress at the time. Of the
regular cast, only Robert Vaughn appears in this episode, and most of the scenes
are between him and Ed, including an incredibly emotive dialogue where Hunter describes
his torture at the hands of the Vietnamese. This is a must for any Ed Bishop fans
out there.
DVDs of the complete series have recently been released in the United Kingdom by
Carlton (see www.carltonvisual.com) and
should be readily available on the Internet. The First Circle is on the second volume
of the first series set.
Information on The Protectors is available from www.fanderson.org.uk
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This page by Jessica Ramage