Dark Season is a 6 part series that aired in 1991 on the BBC but I never saw it at the time, only finding it recently whilst falling down the YouTube rabbit hole of weird British children's programmes from the 70s to 90s.
The show is about a trio of teenagers in a secondary school who understand something strange is going on within their school. In the first three episodes, the story arc is about an apparent philanthropist who donates computers for each pupil. So far so sweet, but when an EMP wave hits the school the kids get together to thwart a plan to take control of their minds.
In the second three episodes, an apparent archaeological dig on school grounds unearth a tomb of the Behemoth, a monster of lore. Ms. Pendragon and her blonde haired blue eyed crew of Neo-Nazis seek to revive the creature and create a New World Order. But, is the monster real and what are its abilities?
Dark Season is an very watchable series with a strange mix of inspirations: from the Dr. Whoesque opening credit scene, the Lovecraftian plot and a surreal sense of quirkiness in the vein of The Prisoner or Scooby Doo- Dark Season is quite creepy for a kids show.
Considering the limited budget that this show obviously had, it does well by create likable characters in an adventure story you can get behind. This is the first appearance of Kate Winslet and she does a good job of it as Reet, a tom-boyish character with a great sense of gallows humour. However, the standout is Marcie, excellently played by Victoria Lambert, the kooky teen who looks at life a little askew but is prescient in her thoughts. She carries a paddle in case, things go a bit ‘up creek.’ She doesn't always understand the world but does her bit to save it, making her a sympathetic individual who isn't all clean cut heroine material. The teacher, played by Brigit Forsyth is marvellous in her role as the unwitting supporter of the trio. She plays the role of Scully to Marie's Mulder well but becomes game each time when the truth is revealed.
I have no nostalgia for the show as I never saw it on release but I really enjoyed my time with it. It reminded me of early the revival of Dr. Who and it was upob looking further that I saw Russell T. Davis was the writer.
Also, whilst not an influence (as it came out several years later) Eldritch looks like Wesker from Resident Evil, with his sharply flat shock of blonde hair, black sunglasses and long trench coat. Grant Parsons does a great job of making Eldritch sinister and an almost anime-like villain. I wonder if Shinji Mikami was a fan of the series…
Recently, a 13 part radio show was created and the original crew returned, including Kate Winslet. It's an extraordinary victory lap for a cult show that not many people watched but those who did loved it intensely.