It was great to see this episode at long last (I may have seen it on its first run in the 70s, but I can't honestly remember).
The title 'The Rules of Luton' adds an unintentionally humorous aside for British viewers - especially those who have ever visited (or lived in) this slightly non-descript Bedfordshie town (the story of how this title came to be is of course legend in the Anderson universe).
But, going back to the episode itself, it's great to see one with a huge amount of location filming - and the teaming of Koenig and Maya in a tense life or death situation where they need to outwit three random alien opponents is very watchable.
It all starts when the ill-fated duo arrive on what they see as a suitable Earth-like planet for the Alphans to populate to do a recce. But, thr pair soon run into trouble when they eat some berries off a tree - it seems that vegetation is the primary conscious life on this planet, and what they have done is tantamount to cannabalism... thr rules of Luton.
From here, their invisible tormentors set them to a battle to the death with the three aforementioned aliens in a story that's reminiscent of the Hunger Games - as they all regroup and escape into thr wilderness to plan each other's next move.
The aliens themselves aren't the best-realized in the show's history - as if they're three cast-offs that have been given a story to at least appear in perhaps!
But what saves it for me is the location filming (mainly around Black Park, which we've of course seen before in UFO), and a disused quarry which evokes images of 70s Dr Who.
The other good thing is the very likeable Maya, who's certainly one of the best things about this often shaky second season.
Her whole shape-shifting gimmick is a very good one, and it's used here to good effect - and at one point, even to Maya's disadvantage.
It does have the feel of a 'second unit' story (where I'm guessing filming was simultaneously taking place on the Alpha sets on a story featuring little of Koenig and Maya) but, if you're prepared to suspend disbelief and go along with it, it's a tense and fun episode that really showcases Mayas abilities - and how resourceful she and John can be when they're backed into a corner.
As for Luton - well, it can keep its crazy rules!