Quatermass (TV serial)

Quatermass is a British science fiction television serial, originally broadcast by BBC Television in four installments in 1953. It was written by Nigel Kneale, and starred Reginald Tate as Professor Bernard Quatermass of the British Experimental Rocket Group.

The serial is a significant work in the history of British television and science fiction. It established many tropes of the genre, including the alien invasion story, and is notable for its gritty, realistic presentation, particularly for the time. It eschewed elaborate special effects in favor of atmosphere and suspense.

The story concerns the return of a rocket from space with only one surviving crew member, Victor Carroon. Carroon is exhibiting strange and disturbing symptoms, including unpredictable behavior and physical transformation. Professor Quatermass investigates the rocket's journey and Carroon's condition, eventually uncovering a terrifying extraterrestrial life form that is manipulating and altering its human victims.

The success of Quatermass led to three sequels, Quatermass II (1955), Quatermass and the Pit (1958-59), and Quatermass (1979), each exploring different themes and threats. These sequels, along with the original, cemented Quatermass's legacy as a seminal figure in British science fiction. The serials also spawned several film adaptations.

The central themes often involve anxieties about scientific progress, the unknown dangers lurking beyond human comprehension, and the potential for extraterrestrial forces to manipulate and control humanity. The character of Quatermass himself is often portrayed as a rational and determined scientist, but also one haunted by the potential consequences of his work.