It was very good in some ways. The portrayal of a man (Prince Philip) facing a mid-life crisis was very good and well-acted. I liked the scene in the jet as he takes control and soars above the clouds -- very reminiscent of a scene in "The Right Stuff."
However, the portrayal of the US astronauts was an abomination. They were shown as childish technicians, if that. This is utterly unrealistic. The writers of this episode set them up as straw men. They were portrayed as if they were about 25 years old. In reality they were 39. Prince Philip was only 9 years older!
Even worse, the strong implication was that there was really no point in going to the moon, since all we found was a bleak dry barren terrain. What utter nonsense! Of course that is what the moon is like! That had been well understood for at least 100 years, maybe 150.
So having met these "immature" astronauts, Philip decides the cure to his disenchantment is to be found "inside" rather than "outside." This is an incredibly simplistic duality. Let me assure him and everyone else, the people who are motivated by scientific exploration are every bit as inspired and deeply internally motivated as anyone.
However, the portrayal of the US astronauts was an abomination. They were shown as childish technicians, if that. This is utterly unrealistic. The writers of this episode set them up as straw men. They were portrayed as if they were about 25 years old. In reality they were 39. Prince Philip was only 9 years older!
Even worse, the strong implication was that there was really no point in going to the moon, since all we found was a bleak dry barren terrain. What utter nonsense! Of course that is what the moon is like! That had been well understood for at least 100 years, maybe 150.
So having met these "immature" astronauts, Philip decides the cure to his disenchantment is to be found "inside" rather than "outside." This is an incredibly simplistic duality. Let me assure him and everyone else, the people who are motivated by scientific exploration are every bit as inspired and deeply internally motivated as anyone.