Give Or Take A Million
Strangely, while the events of earlier episodes were supposed to have transpired in the year 2065, a calendar on Tracy Island in this episode indicates that it's Christmas of 2026. Gerry Anderson and series writer Alan Fennell have both mentioned that this was a mistake; the series takes place in 2065.
Virgil is meant to be leaving Tracy Island in the dead of night to fly to Coralville, Florida, yet Thunderbird 2 takes off in daylight. (That stock footage gets them every time)!
There is nothing aerodynamic about the forward slanted wings of Thunderbird 2; they're just angled that way because it looks cool!
The dreamy, lush, tropical Tracy Island was actually carved from...Styrofoam!
The Mars Explorer Vehicle seen in "Thunderbirds Are Go" is also seen in the series "Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons."
Like his father, Virgil loves a good cigar, particularly of the Cuban variety. (Not to worry---there's no embargo against Cuba in 2065)!
In the film "Thunderbirds Are Go," the voice of Zero X crewman Brad Newman was played by popular British TV game host Bob Monkhouse.
During its original run, "Thunderbirds" was shown in over 60 countries, including nations throughout Asia, Africa and South America.
A Japanese cartoon show very loosely based on the series called "Thunderbirds 2086" featured new characters and vehicles who continued the mission of the Tracy family beyond the time period of the stories in the classic version.
Alan studied space technology at Colorado University. He also served with the World Space Patrol out of Space City on the shuttle missions to the moon bases built 20 years before by his father's team of engineers.
When Nicky gets his own IR uniform, he gets a sash to match Virgil's. That happened to be the same color chosen for the IR replica uniforms sold for little rescue agents in Britain during the height of popularity of the show.
The Thunderbirds crafts were so named in honor of the flying squadron whose airfield neighbored Falcon Field, the one on which Gerry Anderson's elder brother trained with the R.A.F. during World War II.
Early on, "Thunderbirds" was translated into French and Hindi; it was eventually also translated into Gaelic.
Some publicity photos were once circulated with pictures of a miniature Thunderbird 1 posed as if leaving Tracy Island with the wings spread. Any regular viewer knows that Thunderbird 1's wings only open when in horizontal flight---never on vertical take off. (How would it clear the pool)?
Jeff again flip-flops on the security issue...but at least it's for the sake of charity this time!
Alan's need for speed has helped him to win the Grand Prix several years in a row.
Imai Toys of Japan have created enough models of the various Thunderbirds vehicles over the years to outfit several armies of rescue agents!
Between Tin-Tin and Alan, one rule never fails: The sunglasses get more outrageous as the series goes on!
Writer Alan Pattillo noticeably went with the American "Merry Christmas" and "Santa Claus" versus "Happy Christmas" and "Father Christmas" more common in Britain.
Harman's Store carried the latest in popular TV character toys: on the shelves can be seen a plush toy Donald Duck, a Fred Flintstone play set and a Yogi Bear bank.
Virgil's "angry" face serves a perfect purpose here, to illustrate his determination when it comes to the safety of his family and friends.
Not to throw a damper on a good ol' fashion Christmas story, but the crooks would have more than likely frozen to death on the rocket ride...that is, if they hadn't suffocated first. The rocket was neither pressurized nor insulated for human passengers. But the G-force knocks them out, so all is forgiven...
There's a trail of black smoke from an unknown source floating above the rocket as it overflies Coralville.
While they have everything else going for them, neither Lady Penelope nor the Tracy brothers can SING!
Evidence indicates that Gerry Anderson carries a grudge about the John Tracy puppet to this day because Sylvia requested Mary Turner to model him on her friend, Adam Faith. Adam Faith made it aware that he very much wanted to voice a character in one of the Anderson productions, according to what Sylvia mentioned in her autobiography, "Yes, M'Lady." A recent interview with Gerry Anderson revealed that, should he have a chance to produce another Thunderbirds series, he would "change" the character. He's stated that he detested the character so much that he deliberately banished him to Thunderbird 5 for the duration of the series, despite the writers repeated requests to use him.
Weird science or not---the sight of snow on Tracy Island is COOL! And it's a lovely way to end a great series!
The Tracys lament that they can't have a "white Christmas," but, as they live in the South Pacific, even Brains' super-scientific snow won't last long: it's summer there in December.
"Thunderbirds" episodes initially ran in a completely different order than the one we're more familiar with from the subsequent screenings and video releases, this according to Chris Bentley's book, "The Complete Book Of Thunderbirds." As first seen, they were:
1. Trapped In The Sky
2. Pit Of Peril
3. The Perils Of Penelope
4. Terror In New York City
5. Edge Of Impact
6. Day Of Disaster
7. 30 Minutes After Noon
8. Desperate Intruder
9. End Of The Road
10. The Uninvited
11. Sunprobe
12. Operation: Crashdive
13. The Vault Of Death
14. The Mighty Atom
15. City Of Fire
16. The Impostors
17. The Man From MI-5
18. Cry Wolf
19. Danger At Ocean Deep
20. Move...And You're Dead
21. The Duchess Assignment
22. Brink Of Disaster
23. Attack Of The Alligators!
24. Martian Invasion
25. The Cham-Cham
26. Security Hazard
27. Atlantic Inferno
28. Path Of Destruction
29. Alias Mr. Hackenbacker
30. Lord Parker's 'Oliday
31. Ricochet
32. Give Or Take A Million
Acknowledgements:
The following books were used to research information for "The Ultimate Thunderbirds Online FAQTS":
"Thunderbirds Cross-sections" by Graham Bleathman
"FAB Facts" by Simon Archer
"Yes, M'Lady" by Sylvia Anderson
"21st Century Visions" by Derek Meddings
"The Files Magazine: Thunderbirds" by Gary Files
"Supermarionation Episode Guide" by John Peel
"Thunderbirds Are Go" by John Marriott
"The Gerry Anderson Memorabilia Guide" by Dennis Nicholson
"Gerry Anderson, The Authorized Biography" by Simon Archer & Stan Nicholls
"Lady Penelope's Secrets" by Carlton Books
"The Ultimate Thunderbirds Pop-Up Facts Book" by Boxtree Publishing
"The Gerry Anderson Episode Guide" by John Peel
"What Made Thunderbirds Go" (regarding the John Tracy issue)
"The Complete Book Of Thunderbirds" by Chris Bentley
...and the rest came from watching the series over and over again!!!