# Tripods (1984)

> Teenager Will Parker flees his village with his cousin Henry to reach a human resistance movement in a future Earth ruled by alien war machines.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/35771

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 25
- Episode runtime: 30 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: science fiction, adventure
- Created by: John Christopher
- Network: BBC One
- Cast: John Shackley, Jim Baker, Ceri Seel, Pamela Salem, Jeremy Young, Charlotte Long, Robin Hayter, John Woodvine
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086818/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: earnest, suspenseful, wistful, tense

## What critics say

Viewers and critics generally regard The Tripods as an earnest, atmospheric British youth science fiction series with a memorable concept, though its dated effects and modest budget show.

## Synopsis

The Tripods (1984-1985) is a British science fiction series created by John Christopher for BBC One, adapted from his young adult novel. Set in the year 2089, the story follows a teenager, Will Parker (John Shackley), who is desperate to escape the compulsory ritual that implants a mind-controlling device in every adolescent. Alongside his cousin Henry Parker (Jim Baker), Will leaves his village and sets out across a countryside dominated by towering alien war machines, the Tripods, in search of the human resistance movement. The engine of the show is a steady journey of flight, hiding, and close calls, with each episode built from encounters with occupied communities, suspicious adults, and the constant threat of the mechanical sentinels. Its two seasons form one continuing quest, shaped as a serialized adventure in which the boys' bond is tested by danger and uncertainty. The tone is earnest and suspenseful, with a wistful, youthful atmosphere and a sense of a world where ordinary childhood has been taken away. Fans of Survivors, Doctor Who and The Hunger Games will find resonance in its blend of British science fiction, dystopian occupation, and young rebel storytelling.

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