Doomwatch (1970)

[Hawkman]

This is an absolute must see show! Created by Cybermen writers Kit Pedlar and Gerry Davis. Doomwatch is a government funded team of investigators looking into scientific discoveries and their impact on society.
The plots for the show take the form of some new drug or new technique in science and Doomwatch probing into it deeper, usually with vested commercial interests against them. Or some phenomena is brought to Doomwatch attention and they launch an investigation themselves.
Examples; a certain town showing increased juvenile violence, Doomwatch discover local candy factory using prohibited process in making of candy. Or mortality rates at a hospital show increased occurrences , Doomwatch discover a dangerous malpractice instigated by head doctor. In the first episode a new plastic used in aircraft design shows severe flaws , resulting in the interior melting under flight conditions.
It's a great show that actually had a profound influence in real life. Several governments introduced real life Doomwatch agencies to monitor commercial / scientific crossover and conflicting interests that may result. The series is on DVD only, not on youtube but may be elsewhere I don't know.

 

[Hawkman]

A few clips are on YouTube, recently some episodes were uploaded but didn't stay on there long.

Doomwatch review series 1

 

[Hawkman]

Review of series 2 and a documentary about the series.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Examples; a certain town showing increased juvenile violence, Doomwatch discover local candy factory using prohibited process in making of candy

Mad kids are fun. I'd love to see that episode.

 

[Hawkman]

Some episodes on dailymotion The Devil's Sweets is on there. Hope the link below works.

 

[Hawkman]

Hmm, Tomorrow The Rat is on dailymotion. Super intelligent killer rats on the loose.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Some episodes on dailymotion The Devil's Sweets is on there. Hope the link below works.

Thanks!
To be perfectly honest, I had expected more chaos and weirdness. This episode looks rather stuffy and moralizing.

 

[Hawkman]

Thanks!
To be perfectly honest, I had expected more chaos and weirdness. This episode looks rather stuffy and moralizing.

Tomorrow The Rat has a bit of gore in it and is an interesting story. Doomwatch though is not an action weirdo series, it's drama and quite a mainstream " play for today " show.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Mai...mainstream?? Have you been secretly replaced with a doppelganger?

 

[Hawkman]

Mai...mainstream?? Have you been secretly replaced with a doppelganger?

Ha! What I meant was it's not an action quick tempo sirens blazing as the doomwatch squad race to the trouble ready to punch baddies. It's dialogue orientated and the writers wanted the stories to be taken seriously. To avoid disappointment a la U.FO., if you watch Tomorrow The Rat and don't like it , forget it. Btw, still think UFO episode A Question of Priorities could be a gamechanger for you, as does JR's Piece.

 

[Hawkman]

First episode available on dailymotion

Series 1 Episode 1 -The Plastic Eaters.
While on a flight to San Pedro in South America, a passenger airliner crashes after all the plastic on board inexplicably melts. Later, scientist Tobias 'Toby' Wren applies for a job at Doomwatch, the governmental watchdog group run by Doctor Spencer Quist; he is immediately given the job, and promptly sent off to investigate the crash. Meanwhile, Quist's colleague Doctor John Ridge investigates at a laboratory in Beeston, and uncovers events surrounding a new experimental chemical. However, Toby soon finds himself on board another airliner, which has somehow become infected with the same plastic-eating virus—it seems his time at Doomwatch may be briefer than he first expected...

 

[Willie Oleson]

Btw, still think UFO episode A Question of Priorities could be a gamechanger for you

Then I'm going to watch it. I hope it proves me wrong and triggers a renewed interest in the show.
THE PRISONER has set the bar very high in terms of cultness, maybe I should have watched UFO first.