Star Maidens is a British-German science-fiction television series created and written by Eric Paice. Jointly produced by Portman Productions, Scottish Television, and Werbung im Rundfunk for ITV, filming took place at Bray Studios and on location in Windsor and Bracknell, Berkshire, and Black Park, Buckinghamshire. The series ran for 13 episodes from 1 September to 1 December 1976. Utilising a 'battle of the sexes' and role reversal scenario, the planet Medusa, home to a highly evolved and technologically advanced humanoid race, was already ruled by its women when a rogue comet (as seen in the opening credits) knocked it out of its orbit around Proxima Centauri. Drifting through space, the orphan planet's surface became uninhabitable, with the inhabitants surviving in huge underground cities.
Star Maidens (Season 1)
Escape to Paradise (Episode 1)
Writer: Eric Paice
Air date: 1976-09-08
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: Medusa, torn from orbit around Proxima Centauri by a comet, was sent careering through space. Ages later, with Medusa now in orbit between Uranus and Neptune, Adam and Shem escape the autocratic all-female Medusan society and head to Earth.
Nemesis (Episode 2)
Writer: Eric Paice
Air date: 1976-09-15
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: Surviving the crash, Adam and Shem steal a police car and go on the run. Supreme Councillors Octavia — head of security — and Fulvia — Adam's mistress — follow them to Earth to retrieve them. Many misunderstandings with the humans ensue.
The Nightmare Cannon (Episode 3)
Writer: Eric Paice
Air date: 1976-09-22
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: Adam and Shem shut themselves inside an ancient defensive manor and take the curator hostage. Octavia activates the nightmare cannon, bringing their fears to life to drive them into the open, where they are taken into custody by the police.
The Proton Storm (Episode 4)
Writer: Eric Paice
Air date: 1976-09-29
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: The proton storm forces the Nemesis to return to Medusa, with Liz and Rudi held hostage aboard. Fulvia tries to return to earth to find Adam, but the storm throws the ship off course. Will Adam help?
Kidnap (Episode 5)
Writer: John Lucarotti
Air date: 1976-10-06
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: While Shem repairs her ship, Fulvia allows herself to be used as a test subject for a human thought-transference machine similar to the ones on Medusa — but not similar enough, as it causes pain and distress. Who will save her?
The Trial (Episode 6)
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Air date: 1976-10-13
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: Earth hostage Dr Rudi Schmidt is forced to perform menial work, on the surface and in the city, but rebels—and other Medusan men join him. He's caught and handed over to Liz to supervise.
Test for Love (Episode 7)
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Air date: 1976-10-20
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: Although Liz is ideally suited to captain a Medusan spacecraft, her attitude to men isn't appreciated. Octavia has her tested to find out why she doesn't find Medusan men attractive.
The Perfect Couple (Episode 8)
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Air date: 1976-10-27
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: Adam and Shem hatch a plot to convince Fulvia to release the human hostages while still allowing the refugee Medusans to remain on earth. It involves Fulvia and Adam setting up home as a couple. What could possibly go wrong?
What Have They Done to the Rain? (Episode 9)
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Air date: 1976-11-03
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: Rudi labours on the surface when rain starts reacting catastrophically with toxic waste in the soil, threatening the whole civilisation. Rudi knows why, but will the Council listen to a man?
The End of Time (Episode 10)
Writer: Eric Paice
Air date: 1976-11-10
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: Prof Evans visits Medusa to discuss the return of the hostages with the President — who they find apparently dead. Liz is accused of causing her death and sentenced to die on the surface. Can the professor save her?
Hideout (Episode 11)
Writer: Otto Strang
Air date: 1976-11-16
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: On the run, Adam and Shem find shelter in an apartment, but are seen and reported. Adam is arrested, but Shem is rescued by Rose, whose fiancé has left. The two start to grow close — but the authorities are closing in.
The Creatures of the Mind (Episode 12)
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Air date: 1976-11-24
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: At Octavia's request, Liz — with Rudi — investigates the abandoned records section. Rudi's searching for a way off Medusa: what Liz finds is far more sinister and distressing, an ancient experiment to create artificial life.
The Enemy (Episode 13)
Writer: Otto Strang
Air date: 1976-12-01
Runtime: 25 min
Overview: Agreement now reached on the exchange of hostages, the two ships head off from Earth and Medusa. But a deadly ancient enemy of the Medusans has found them. The ships have no weapons: can Rudi come up with a plan to save them all?
Seasons
Episodes 13