Episode Critics
Compiled by Martin Willey

15. A Matter of Balance

...Vindrus...with his bald head and yellow underpants, resembles some fourth member of Right Said Fred... Lynne Frederick makes a believably gullible Shermeen, and there's some exotic location filming and sharp work from Space 1999's finest director, Charles Crichton. However, there's yet another plastic monster, which makes one wonder how a programme with such a large budget could turn out such shoddy creations. The lightweight script by Pip and Jane Baker. who provided some of the more notable turkeys for latter-day Doctor Who, contains their usual potpourri of innovative ideas and absurd claptrap. (Richard Houldsworth, TV Zone, 1994)

It has to be said that A Matter Of Balance is not one of Pip and Jane Baker's better scripts as they seem to have written a story on the theme of anti-matter without any fixed notion as to what anti-matter is. Weak plot devices such as the use of the names Thaed for the monster and Sunim for the planet, death and minus spelt backwards, are a little childish for a series supposedly aimed at an adult audience. (Anthony McKay, DWB, 1994)

The late Lynn Frederick is painful and Stuart Wilson's costume is hilarious. Not quite as bad as 'The Taybor', but still rubbish. D- (Chris Bentley, SFX 20, 1996)

On first viewing, A Matter Of Balance is an enormously entertaining story well performed and effectively presented. By the second or third viewing, however, it raises a plethora of questions about the events and people in the story. (John Kenneth Muir, Exploring Space: 1999, p133)

The direction of this episode is average, and clearly one of Charles Crichton's lesser efforts. The script itself is fine - no more or less than that- and the episode is sufficiently entertaining and enjoyable. There are moments of grand stupidity. However, if the viewer goes into this without expecting much more than some simplistic sci-fi fun, A Matter Of Balance is a pleasing show. 6.5/10 (Bob Wood, The Future Is Fantastic, 2001)