Review of Chocky: The Complete Collection

Introduction

There`ll be people of a certain age who will remember this series first airing with the warm glow of nostalgia. Sadly I`m not amongst them, having grown up too much to be around the house when it aired in 1984, at 16.45 every Monday from January 13th for six weeks.

Chocky was adapted for television in 1984 from the 1968 book by John Wyndham, author of `Day of the Triffids` and `The Midwich Cuckoos` amongst others.

Wyndham passed away in 1969 and it took some ten years for Pamela Lonsdale, an executive producer for Thames Television, to secure the television rights for the book

Anthony Read, known for his Dr. Who scripts, set about adapting the novel into this impressive six part serial.

Pamela Lonsdale recruited Vic Hughes as producer and he personally directed three episodes whilst the other three were handled by Christopher Hodson who is perhaps best known for his work on cult favourite, `The Tomorrow People`.

`Chocky` was funded by Thames Television, who had produced some fine children`s TV dramas in the years before `Chocky`, including Stig of the Dump. Perhaps there was something in the air, or maybe it was as a direct response to the excellent BBC Narnia series, as many first class children`s dramas were produced during a halcyon five-year period. (1982 - 1987). `Chocky` may not rank alongside these but it`s a nicely produced, compelling and enigmatic science-fiction drama nonetheless and it had both myself and my children (13 and 10) glued to the set for the entire three series.


CHOCKY - SERIES 1
`Chocky` is the story of a 12 year old boy, Matthew Gore (played convincingly enough by Andrew Ellams), who is a bright middle-class kid who is chosen by a mysterious alien visitor as a `host`. `Chocky` is an indescribable, asexual, amorphous field of energy who enters Matthews brain and body in order to find out more about life on earth. This is more like having a friend in to play than a possession and it`s not long before Matthew is seen having intense discussions with himself, naturally a cause of concern to his earnest (and almost perfect) parents.

They soon notice a marked change in Matthew`s behaviour as he become more and more interested in the world around him. It`s not long before Chocky`s influence affects Matthew`s schoolwork (for the better), as well as his artistic and sporting abilities. In truth, any child that starts to do their maths homework in binary code should be cause for alarm.
Nostalgia freaks will delight in seeing young Matthew tackle a cassette loaded Atari Space Invaders game with such vigour that the whole computer blows up!

Matthew`s almost perfect foster parents (played ably by James Hazeldine and Carol Drinkwater) recruit family friend to unravel the mystery, and are suitably shocked when he suggests that this is no imaginary friend. He is convinced that Matthew has been `possessed` by some super intelligent alien force.

But he`s only partly right. This is no invasion, but rather a case of friendship. Although Matthew is playing host to the alien, `Chocky` is sensitive to his needs and doesn`t need to be told twice to leave Matthew in peace when he falls ill in order to recover.

When Matthew`s family get a new car, Matthew becomes upset when Chocky laughs derisively at its use of `wheel-based` technology. Chocky knows of a more advanced power source that makes standard fuel sources redundant.

And there lays the hook upon which to rest the remaining plots. Thirsty for the wealth and power that Chocky`s knowledge might bring, it`s not long before ruthless opportunists are on Matthews tail.
When Matthews`s sister looks like drowning on a family holiday, Chocky intervenes and helps non-swimmer Matthew rescue her from almost certain death.

When reports are broadcast on local radio about Chocky`s divine intervention, every UFO crank in the UK starts to harass Matthew and his family.

Ever concerned, his parents book Matthew into a Harley Street consultancy where he undergoes hypnotism. Shortly afterwards he is kidnapped.

Chocky, realising the danger that she is putting Matthew in, decides that she must leave forever.

CHOCKY`S CHILDREN - SERIES 2
Matthew is missing Chocky. But her legacy can still be felt because, even though he has chosen to not get too involved in science, Matthew`s artistic abilities have blossomed incredibly. He is constantly sketching buildings and places from all over the globe in incredibly fine detail - despite the fact that he has never visited them. Most significantly (we later discover) are his drawings of a windmill.
His foster parents, who are off on a business trip to Hong Kong, arrange for his sister to stay with friends whilst Matthew will stay with his Aunt Cissie, who lives in the depths of remote countryside.

It becomes apparent that `the authorities` are still monitoring Matthew. Dr. Deacon (responsible for Chock`s kidnap in the first series) has sent one of his men, Luke, to take up gardening duties at Cissies so that they`ll know if Chocky returns.

When Matthew arrives he sets off to explore his exciting surrounds and is amazed to discover `his windmill` (the one he`s been drawing) nearby.

He goes into this mill to look around but discovers that he not alone. The owner of the mill`s daughter, Albertine, confronts him and asks what he`s dong there.
Albertine and Matthew immediately hit it off, and it becomes apparent that they are able to communicate telepathically.

Albertine is a child prodigy and mathematic genius, having won a scholarship at Oxford at the age of 12. But her father is fiercely protective of her, not liking anyone (including Matthew) to associate with her.

Quite rightly, Aunt Cissie, in a meeting with Albertine`s father insists that she needs more interaction with people her own age and suggest that she joins Matthew in the pottery lessons that she`s to give him as an outlet. Curiously, Albertine sets about making a 3D model that clearly is a representation of Chocky`s home - just like Matthews previous painting. (Veering dangerously towards Close Encounters territory here!)

Matthew is surprised but delighted - although this triggers great interest from `spray on jeans` wearing Luke (yes - this has that early `80`s look to it!) and he reports this finding to Dr. Deacon.
Deacon then visits Albertine and her Father claiming to be a doctor specialising in very clever young people, and that he would like to run some tests. Albertine`s father agrees, and Albertine arranges to meet Dr Deacon to be taken away to a private clinic for her `Treatment`, undoubtedly the same hypnotic interrogation that Matthew got in Series 1.

Matthew tries to tell Albertine about Chocky and she naturally finds his story unbelievable - until he shows her his picture of Chocky`s home. Realising she`s in danger, Albertine runs away to a hideout in nearby woods, but is discovered when Matthew is followed taking food into the woods.

Albertine is then kidnapped (it`s exciting stuff this!) and finally Chocky returns to help Matthew find Albertine and rescue her.


CHOCKY`S CHALLENGE - SERIES 3
The spotlight sadly swings away from Matthew here (we`ve just got used to him!) and settles decisively on Albertine. She`s now a student at Cambridge University who has made a clear enemy of her tutor, Dr, Beatrice Liddle. With some help from Chocky, Albertine hacks into Liddle`s telescope and manages to get a message from Chocky`s home (strands of ET here?). Albertine and her father manage to persuade the University to fund a special project that will be manned exclusively by child prodigies.

They set about (with Chocky`s help) the discovery of new limitless power sources, though this just precipitates the evil interests of Dr. Liddle and her team of conniving cohorts.

It should be said that this series, whilst still engaging (and full of fantasy fun where children are clearly more capable than adults) just doesn`t quite scale the heights of the first two series for mysterious intrigue and charm.

Video

All standard 4:3 and dating from a time when studio work (interiors) was almost exclusively cheesy video, and when external shots were always grainy 16mm - or if the budget allowed 35mm.

Although this was perfectly acceptable then, the differences in the two sources are huge and this dates the programme terribly. That said, the transfer is clean as far as it goes and this is nothing more or less than period television.

Audio

Just bulk-standard mono. It might be worth mentioning the original theme which is evocatively haunting and will almost certainly send a shiver down the spines of those who watched this series first time around.

Features

Nothing much except for a rather nice interview (on disc 1) with script writer Anthony Read who details the production, as well as discussing how Wyndham`s estate came to approve the two sequels despite the fact that they were never included in Wyndham`s original vision.

Conclusion

This set will find two audiences. Primarily it will thrill those late twenty-somethings who will remember being glued to their sets when it originally aired. (For once, here`s a series that will live up to your rose-tinted memories!). But I also hope that it will find a new and younger audience.

Despite the fact that the `Chocky` series has all the hallmarks of early 80`s children`s drama (terribly earnest, very middle-class, cheesy video interior mixed with grainy filmed exteriors etc), it`s a really compelling series that really caught the imagination of my children.
Whilst Series 1 was a fairly faithful adaptation of a very good book, Series 2 was every bit as good. In truth, the series faltered slightly in Series 3, but by then you`ll be thirsting for any kind of `Chocky` fix and be happy to forgive this drop in standards.

If good children`s sci-fi drama appeals, then this set will not disappoint.