User Reviews

Evil minds (we want to start a war and emerge the rulers of the world) have devised a way of turning a human being into a walking bomb if they come into contact with radiation.

Nelson been asked to undertake a spying mission in the black sea to ascertain if the Russians have devised a huge new nuclear bomb which could make all other weapons useless (like they do)

The briefing at the beginning feels more like James Bond with Nelson being given secret breathing devices and guns hidden in pocket watches. He also meets a beautiful female Russian which seems to have him grinning.

Things quickly turn sour when Nelson is secretly injected with the explosive substance.

After a tense scene avoiding a destroyer the Seaview launches the flying sub and Nelson suited in a blue jump suit prepares to parachute into Russia. Once down Nelson then changes his appearance to the most unconvincing Russian sailor ever and oddly keeps running into people who speak perfect English.

Soon Nelson is grinning again as he frolics and romps about with the Female Russian spy unaware she's out to finish him.

Back on Seaview Crane has been informed that Nelson has been turned into a walking bomb and before long he's been packed off to Russia with a load of gadgets too. He has orders to save Nelson or kill him if goes near the Nuclear power station to complete his spying mission, which will set off the bomb.

Using speed boat races as a cover Nelson swims underwater to the Nuclear research base, with Crane and a female assistant hot his heels. By this time Crane has discovered the Russian female is a double agent and he is forcing her to help him stop Nelson. Crane gains entry through the main gate after rather a clumsy way of distracting and knocking out the two guards. He then changes into their uniform.

Nelson emerges from the water after a near miss with a blow torch and nearly kills Crane but his little pocket watch gun is broken otherwise a beautiful friendship would of ended there!

Crane explains all and gives Nelson the antidote which happens to work immediately (so handy). Nelson still wants to look at the reactor and heads in. The base is alerted when Russian guards find one of the main gate guards unconscious spread eagle in full view without his uniform. (No wonder they selected Nelson for the original mission) what was Crane thinking not hiding the guards body?

The group head off and make for the sea not before abandoning the female double agent. Soon they meet up with the flying sub and are back aboard Seaview where Nelson explains there was never any super weapon, the whole thing was an attempt to start a war.

Nothing too exciting here I'm afraid and very little time is spent aboard Seaview. Its odd seeing Nelson enjoying the company of the Russian female and kissing her. I keep the thinking of the Nelson which would end series four grumpy at times and having to save the world every week from a rubber monster. Fun to watch an early episode simply because it was early and things were different.

The Red Chinese are up to their old tricks again. They inject 'Admiral Nelson' ( Richard Basehart ) with a chemical called caesium. When he next goes near an atomic reactor, he will become a living bomb! The timing is unfortunate as Washington then sends the Admiral on a mission to the town of Gorov in the Soviet Union. Nelson must find out whether the Communists are plotting to seize control of the world by putting sub-surface nuclear devices on the beds of the world's oceans. Each has a potential excess of 20 megatons. Disguised as a sailor, he makes contact with a U.S. agent, a beautiful artist named 'Litchka' ( the late Ina Balin ). Unbeknowest to him, however, she is really a double agent.

For my money, this William Read Woodfield and Allen Balter scripted episode ranks as the best of the 'Voyage' spy shows. It is good to see much of the action taking place away from the Seaview - later episodes were set entirely on the sub - and Nelson behaving in true James Bond fashion, armed with gadgets such as an underwater breathing device and a timepiece that doubles as a gun. He even gets to bed a woman spy! Balin is beautiful as Litchka, but given strong competition by Susan Flannery's 'Katie' ( originally to have been called 'Tiffany Loveland' ) who is both sexy and funny. Her attempt to distract a guard outside the research centre by pretending her car has broken down is hilarious! It is a pity she did not figure in more episodes. According to Jon Abbott in his superb book 'Irwin Allen Television Productions 1964 - 70', female characters were dropped from 'Voyage' the following season as part of a drastic cost-cutting measure triggered by an overspend on 'The Time Tunnel'.

There is an exciting hydro-boat sequence in which Crane almost shoots Nelson with a camera/gun. John Zaremba, seen as 'Vice-Admiral Johnson' of Naval Intelligence, was 'Dr.Ray Swain' in 'The Time Tunnel'. Richard Loo, who plays one of the Red Chinese, was in the 'Outer Limits' episode 'The Hundred Days Of The Dragon'.