City Of Fire
This episode marks the first appearance of reporter Eddie Kerr, voiced by Matt Zimmerman, who missed out on playing Alan in "Trapped In The Sky." He becomes a mainstay from here on out, voicing many of the supporting characters throughout the series. We'll see Eddie Kerr again in "The Impostors." (Hmmm...wonder if he's a future relative of our live-action "John Tracy," Lex Shrapnel, through his gran...Deborah Kerr)...? Nah!
Oxyhydnite gas, thought at first to be too dangerous for usage, becomes an important part of IR rescue efforts. Jeff states that it cuts through steel doors three times faster than the laser guns the boys had previously used to perform the same task.
Big brothers Scott and Virgil grow realistic-looking "after five" shadows, unlike their blonde brothers, Alan and John, but Gordon gets to look unshaven too while traveling to New York in "Terror In New York City."
Quick-witted and clever, Virgil gained a degree in Engineering at the Denver School Of Advanced Technology.
Making the marionettes "walk" proved to be a difficult task for the puppeteers. After the first few episodes, most movement was shot above the waist of the characters when in transit from one point to another. Later in the series, though, they did successfully create more realistic walking movements.
Virgil's slide entrance into Thunderbird 2 has always been a fan favorite. It was even paid homage in a "Wallace And Gromit" short as well as in their first feature film, "The Curse Of The Were-rabbit. That film also included references to Thunderbird 3's manner of boarding and the famous light-up portraits from the lounge in Tracy Villa. Nick Park is definitely a "Thunderbirds" fan!
Lady Penelope's Rolls Royce, FAB 1, is equipped with a hidden rifle in the grillwork, skis for snow travel, and can glide on water via the use of hydrofoils. However, in the 2004 live-action film...she flew!
In a common 1960s fashion, a woman is portrayed as a maniacally reckless driver. Similarly, Tin-Tin---a woman who possesses a degree in Engineering---is most often relegated to taking dictation and pouring out coffee! This is meant to be a cover to protect her, by having her appear as Jeff's secretary to the outside world....or so it's said in some of the source books! (Yeah...right)...!
Blanche Carter later appears as a by-stander at the scene of another rescue (see "The Impostors").
Small children are key to several Thunderbirds episodes, as in this one. Other such episodes include "Give Or Take A Million," "Cry Wolf" and "Security Hazard." Note: they are always BOYS!
The inadequate safety precautions taken by the builders of Thompson Towers underscore the reason Jeff Tracy dreamed of a rescue organization which could protect and save human lives.
Both this episode and "Brink Of Disaster" highlight the expectations on the reliance on mass transit and monorail services in the 21st Century.
"City Of Fire" introduces the first rotation of Alan and John Tracy as the Space Monitors of Thunderbird 5; the pair switch their base of operation with each other once per month...unless Alan is on holiday or assignment, as in "Thunderbird 6." At times like that, it's a while before John gets a break!
Accommodations aboard Thunderbird 5 feature soothing, rounded contours as relief for the stress of constant confinement, including a porthole window for a spectacular view of space.
The athletic Virgil is often his father's tennis partner, though he also enjoys playing chess against Brains or practicing his aim with Scott and Gordon on the shooting range.
Though Jeff doesn't often show the kindly side his emotions, he does have a major soft spot for his eldest son, Scott. Virgil is said to be his favorite son because of his resemblance to Jeff's deceased wife, Lucille.
The Mole makes its second appearance in "City Of Fire," reinforcing its role as key among the IR auxiliary equipment.
Another of the most often used pod vehicles is the mighty Firefly with its rocket cannons and ability to push away several times its weight in debris.
Virgil again dons his fire-protective gear, as in "Pit Of Peril," but strangely he removes it to enter the fire-heated corridors under Thompson Tower!
Because Alan requires Scott to accompany him in piloting Thunderbird 3 early on, John, at times, must maintain Thunderbird 5 until Scott is available so that he can be relieved of duty in space. We'll see this become a problem in "The Uninvited."
The sleek IR hover jets are first seen in "City Of Fire;" they are used again in "Attack Of The Alligators," "Vault Of Death," "Cry Wolf" and "The Perils Of Penelope."
Gordon does not appear in this episode; he will not participate in a rescue until "The Mighty Atom."
Enhanced by his long stints in space, John appears quiet and solitary even once he's home. He's seen looming far in the background as Scott and Tin-Tin discuss the news after the Thompson Tower rescue.
Despite ample seating in the lounge, Virgil appears to be more comfortable sitting on the coffee table, just as Gordon is often found sitting on the edge of his father's desk.
The Cliff House, seen briefly at the beginning of the episode, hosts living quarters, a patio and emergency facilities nestled above the hangar of Thunderbird 2. The best look at the layout there is in the film "Thunderbird 6."