'Scenes' viz.

The opening and closing scenes witnessed

weekly had more of a lasting

impact than the episodes of course

Which is why I had to look up the name of

The One Where the soldier gets his

uniform and medals cut off in public *

aka "cashiering (public degradation and drumming out of the military)"

before roaming the unforgiving land

trying to find some peace of mind

- the unjustly accused individual v The Machine -

And The One Where the debonair

dudes gallop through the fields **

to that thrilling soundtrack

fighting for what they wanted, which

was gleefully unclear to me at the time

although of course I was on their side, which

means in retrospect I supported

France v Spain during the War of the Mantuan Succession (1628–1631)

for what it's worth at this late stage. And

Naturally, we have to mention Captain Scarlet

Earth v Mars, 2068

'he won't speak to you while this is on'

who was <indestructible/> key point

with piercing eyes and fearless chin

- see also: "its inclusion of a multinational, multiethnic

puppet cast and its depiction of a utopian future Earth"

powerful undercurrent, plus consider if you will

the Angels - of mercy and death - and

the Captain undeterred by sharks and dynamite and

devilish peril on a daily basis

resolute in the face of vipers, quicksand

and spiky walls

A fierce but unknowingly terrified six-

year-old will be lit up by such visions

themes of adventure, fraternity

violence and disgrace

A churning bowl of shame and courage

that you could claim toxic,

transformative or both

* Branded, USA 1965-66

** The Flashing Blade, France 1967

*** Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, UK 1967-68

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(TV_series)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flashing_Blade

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Scarlet_and_the_Mysterons