Premise

Set in the year 2060, Thunderbirds Are Go follows the exploits of the Tracy Brothers: Scott , John , Virgil , Gordon and Alan , who are the front-line members of the International Rescue (IR) From industrial disasters using technologically advanced vehicles for land, sea, air and space rescues. The most important of these are the five named machines of the Thunderbirds ,

• Thunderbird 1 – first response rocket plane , piloted by First Responder and Team Leader Scott Tracy
• Thunderbird 2 – auxiliary equipment transport, piloted by Demolition , Heavy Lifting and Logistics Expert Virgil Tracy
• Thunderbird 3 – space rescue rocket , piloted by Astronaut Alan Tracy
• Thunderbird 4 – underwater search and rescue mini-submarine , piloted by Aquanaut Gordon Tracy
• Thunderbird 5 – communications and logistics satellite hub, manned by Space Command Communicator and Dispatcher John Tracy

Aided by Head of Security Tanusha “Kayo” Kyrano (also the pilot of Thunderbird Shadow , a stealth jet used for covert operations), engineer Hiram “Brains” , His robot MAX assistant, and the brothers’ Grandma , the Tracy family resides is Tracy Island, their hidden base in the South Pacific Ocean from where they operate International Rescue. They also enlist the help of English aristocrat Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward with her driver Aloysius Parker as their London field agents when a mission requires criminal investigation. Penelope and Parker’s primary mode of transportation is FAB 1 ,

The organization’s main adversary is the Hood , a crime of lord bent on stealing others’ technology and seeking control over IR and the Thunderbirds. He is later arrested and imprisoned by the Global Defense Force (GDF). Secretly the uncle of Kayo Kyrano, the Hood is also responsible for the assumed death of the Tracy brothers’ father, ex-astronaut and IR founder Jeff Tracy , after his ship supposedly crashed. Later, IR faces a new adversary called the Mechanic, a mysterious villain who possesses highly advanced machinery and is in league with the Hood, going as far as to breaking him out of prison.

Cast

Notes

• David Graham, the actor who performed the voice of Parker in the original Thunderbirds, returned to the role for this series, almost 50 years later.
• Rosamund Pike, Teresa Gallagher and Kayvan Novak also perform the various guest characters.
• The famous Thunderbirds countdown, from the opening credits of the original series, is used in the remake in the same manner and also during the various Thunderbird launch sequences. This is original, archived audio of the voice of Jeff Tracy, performed by Peter Dyneley .

Production

The series is Produced using a combination of scale model miniature effects and CGI created by Weta Workshop . In comparison to the original series, the reboot features the character, vehicle, and set designs while retaining their original features and plot purposes. ^[1]

The production crew for the show includes the following members:

• Series director – David Scott
• Episode director – Theo Baynton ^[2]
• Writer – Rob Hoegee
• Executive Producers – Estelle Hughes, Giles Ridge, Richard Taylor, and Andrew Smith ^[3]
• Production designer – Ben Milsom.
• Head of miniatures dept. – Steven Saunders.
• Music Composers – Ben and Nick Foster ^[4]
• Film editor – Anthony Cox ^[5] [6]

Production of each episode for the revamp differs somewhat from that of the original 1960s series. Extensive hand-made live action model sets are still used. Since the show uses computer-generated characters rather than puppets for the character creating each episode required a different approach. Production begins with the sets, in which the film crew have to devise the camera setups for the scenes to match with the movement and positions of the CGI characters and craft that would be later imposed upon the filmed footage. This includes any manipulation of the scene to match movements made by CGI characters or craft, such as a character opening a door, or objects being displaced by a thruster, and any special effects used on the set, such as smoke and wind.

The sets were created using methods similar to those employed in the original series, including the use of household objects as components. For example, the Thunderbird 1 bay of the original series included an orange hand juicer, and the revamp did the same thing with its version of the bay. The characters and the titled Thunderbird craft themselves have been created using CGI owing to the understandable budget constraints typical of modern children’s programming.

All of the CGI sequences to be superimposed onto live footage of the miniature sets are first sketched on paper to work out and detail the sequences. The actual shooting miniatures are individually ‘3D scanned’ to provide the necessary information for the CGI elements to later be accurately registered within the environments. Computers are then used to roughly model the layout of the CGI elements needed for the sequence. Details are then introduced, such as characters costumes, craft setup, atmospheric particles and flying debris etc. and are made to follow the camera layout and movement of set props very closely (such as when Thunderbird 2 is raised into launch position).

The music for the show was in a modern style, but was based on Barry Gray’s score for the original series and was written to emulate the memorable feel of that music. UK-based Milk VFX was responsible for final composition.^[7][8][9]

Production history

The production of the remake series was originally approved by Gerry Anderson when Sir Richard Taylor of ITV visited Pinewood Studios, where Gerry Anderson was working on New Captain Scarlet at the time.^[10]

On 4 February 2013, ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Pukeko Pictures announced the production of the television series by ITV Studios, Pukeko Pictures and Weta Workshop, under the title Thunderbirds are Go!.^[11][12]

Production at Pukeko Pictures began at June 2013.^[13]

On September 30, 2014, the voice cast was announced.^[14][15] On 18 December 2014, a second series was announced^[16][17] On May 5, 2016, a third series was announced.^[18][19]

Broadcasts

The world television channel premiere was in spring 2015 on ITV and UK’s CITV Channel.^[11][20]

On 16 June 2014, ITV Studios Global Entertainment announced it has signed its first international TV broadcast deal with Australia’s free-to-air Nine Network (9Go!).^[21][22] Second series premiered on 2016-11-13 on 9Go!.^[23]

On 28 April 2015, ITV Studios Global Entertainment announced Tohokushinsha Film Corporation has acquired the television and licensing rights for Thunderbirds Are Go. The Japan broadcast for the first series was premiered in NHK (NHK General TV) on 2016-08-05 (as サンダーバード ARE GO).^[24] France broadcasts were premiered in September 2015 on Canal J (as Thunderbirds^[25]), followed by Gulli later this year (as Thunderbirds^[26]), with Nelvanaas French licensing agent.^[27]

On 10 February 2016, ITV Studios Global Entertainment announced 13 episodes of Thunderbirds Are Go (series 1 split up) would premiere in the United States on Amazon Video on 22 April 2016.^[28][29][30] Second series of Thunderbirds Are Go premiere at Prime Video was also announced.^[31]

Canadian broadcasts premiered on CHRGD and Family Channel in April 2016.^[18] Taiwan broadcast was premiered in PTS Taiwan on 14 September 2016 (as 新雷鳥神機隊^[32]).^[33] In Brazil, the show has broadcast on Gloob since 4 July 2016. In Latin America, the show broadcasts on Disney XD. The Nordic broadcasts were premiered in SVT (SVT Barnkanalen) in Sweden (as Thunderbirds^[34]), NRK Super in Norway (as Thunderbirds^[35]), DR (Ramasjang and Ultra) in Denmark (as Thunderbirds^[36]), MTV Juniori in Finland, with Alicom appointed as the Nordic licensing agent.^[27][37]

The series was also premiered in TVNZ (TVNZ 2) in New Zealand, Noga in Israel (with LDI as the agent), MBC (MBC3) in pan-Arab (as ثندربيردز انطلق),^[16][38] NPO Zapp in Netherlands, Télé-Québec in Canada (as Thunderbirds : Les sentinelles de l’air^[39]),^[18] ABC in Australia,^[28] Ketnet in Flemish Belgium (with License Connection appointed as the agent for Benelux) (as Thunderbirds^[40]), Minika TV in Turkey, Gloob in Brazil.^[27] The Noga premiere began in summer 2015 on Kids Channel.^[41] The TVNZ premiere began on 12 April 2015 on TV2.^[42][43]

The second series world premiere took place at BAFTA in London on 1 October 2016.^[44]

The second series world television channel premiere began 22 October 2016 on ITV, beginning with episode Earthbreaker.^[45] CITV premiere began on 2016-10-23.^[46]

China’s broadcast was premiered on CCTV-14, starting with the first series on the 15th of May 2017.^[31][31][47]

Episodes

Series		Episodes		Originally aired
				First aired	Last aired
1	26	13	4 April 2015	20 June 2015
		13	31 October 2015	23 January 2016
2	26 [48]	13	22 October 2016	7 January 2017
		13	TBC	TBC

Series 1 (2015-16)

No. overall	No. in series	title	Directed by	Written by	Original UK air date	Original Aus. Air date	Production code
1	1	“Ring of Fire – Part 1”	David Scott	Rob Hoegee	4 April 2015	12 April 2015	2-2131-6
A powerful underwater seaquake turns into a busy day for international rescue into a perilous one, when it causes a research team to be trapped in an undersea lab. As soon as you get to the bottom of the quake, you’ll be able to find out what you’re looking for. In danger, triggering more Pacific Ocean, “The Ring of Fire.” This episode features elements adapted from the original Thunderbirds episode “Pit of Peril”.
2	2	“Ring of Fire – Part 2”	David Scott	Rob Hoegee	4 April 2015	12 April 2015	2-2131-7
With more quakes being made, John and Brains must go down the control source for the seismic de-stabilizers, in order to give up the Thunderbirds. Meanwhile, Scott and Virgil race to Taiwan when one of the undersea quakes destabilizes a solar collector dish in Taipei , causing the dish to be positioned in such a way that when the sun rises, it will reflect on the city and burn it to the ground . Thunderbirds episode ” Lord Parker’s Oliday “.
3	3	“Space Race”	Theo Baynton	Ian Carney	11 April 2015	19 April 2015	2-2131-8
Alan is on “space junk duty” but things happen to a turn for the dangerous when one of the parts of debris he attempts to clear away, turns out to be a heat-seeking SAT-MINE that activates and locks onto Thunderbird 3’s heat signature. When Alan is forced to keep the mine locked on his craft to safeguard another ships in orbit, Lady Penelope and Parker attempt to sneak into a top-secret storage facility and find the final digit to the mine’s deactivating code, having only thirty minutes until the Mine’s nuclear charge detonates. Guest Star: Reggie Yates as Ellis the Security Guard.
4	4	“Crosscut”	David Scott	Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler	18 April 2015	26 April 2015	2-2131-3
When Thunderbird 5 picks up an unusual radiation spike from a remote corner of Africa, John discovers to form uranium mine has reopened, leading to Scott rushing there in Thunderbird to investigate, with Virgil following. When Scott arrives and enters the mine, he discovers a source of unstable uranium, and is attacked by a mysterious woman, who claims that the mine belongs to her family. During their confrontation the mine soon begins to crumble, and she and Scott must work together to escape and resemble the mine, before a storm spreads the leaking radiation to the nearest city with serious consequences. Thunderbirds episode ” The Mighty Atom “.
5	5	“Fireflash”	David Scott	Andrew Robinson	25 April 2015	3 May 2015	2-2131-4
Kayo is riding aboard Fireflash , which has been improved by Brains, unaware that the Hood is planning to hijack it in mid-flight. While International Rescue notices the plane has suddenly vanished from their monitors and attempt to locate it, Kayo manages to avoid a powerful gas attack that has knocked out both the passengers and the crew, and is forced to not only confront the Hood, but also safely Land the airliner when the craft is accidentally damaged and the landing gear fails to deploy. This episode is an adaptation of the original Thunderbirds episodes ” Trapped in the Sky ” and “Alias ​​Mr. Hackenbacker”, along with music from the original series.
6	6	“Unplugged”	Theo Baynton	Scott Sonneborn	2 May 2015	10 May 2015	2-2131-10
An anti-technology group calling themselves The Luddites power up an electromagnetic pulse device underneath London, crippling everything that uses electricity, including Thunderbird 2, which is forced to make an emergency landing. Both Virgil and Grandma Tracy, along with Lady Penelope and Parker, must stop the Luddites’ plan to cause a worldwide blackout, while at the same time rescuing a construction worker from a damaged crane.
7	7	“Runaway”	David Scott	Stan Berkowitz	9 May 2015	17 May 2015	2-2131-1
A high-speed train test on a Japanese Maglev line suddenly goes out of control, and is in danger of running into the back of a passenger train. Only Brains can stop it, so he sets out with Scott on Thunderbird 1 to board the train. Artificial Intelligence program, which determines how to play a game. Scott and Brains must find a way of stopping it before it crashes into a terminal station. This episode features elements adapted from the original Thunderbirds episode ” Brink of Disaster “.
8	8	“EOS”	Theo Baynton	Ken Pontac	16 May 2015	24 May 2015	2-2131-5
The childlike AI encountered in Japan suddenly takes control of Thunderbird 5, trapping John outside of it. The program, created by John as a game, believes it is defending itself from being shut down and is sending false monitor images to Tracy Island to deceive the others. Running out of air, John finds a way to reach Lady Penelope, who warns his brothers. Alan and Thunderbird 3 are now sent to rescue John, with instructions to destroy Thunderbird 5 if the AI ​​can not be stopped.
9	9	“Slingshot”	David Scott	Rob Hoegee	23 May 2015	31 May 2015	2-2131-2
A broad solar flare causes a malfunction at a mining operation on an asteroid, sending it to the sun and endangering its only crewman, Ned Tedford. Alan and Kayo deploy Thunderbird 3, but another solar flare knocks out their sensors and communications. Although they land in the mine, using the asteroid (now too close to the sun) as a shield, they soon have a way to alter the asteroid’s trajectory so that it slingshots around the sun instead of crashing into it Complicated by the discovery that Thunderbird 3’s low fuel supply from the second flare, could make it impossible to return to Earth. This episode is a loose adaptation of the original Thunderbirds episode ” Sun Probe “.
10	10	“Tunnels of Time”	Theo Baynton	Dan Berlinka	24 May 2015	7 June 2015	2-2131-12
A few months after International Rescue uncovered an ancient temple in South America, Lady Penelope, as a representative of World Heritage, visits it along with Parker, Gordon, and Professor Harold, an archaeologist of a dubious reputation with Penelope suspects of stealing artefacts. On entering the temple, everyone becomes trapped inside except for Harold, who waits for escape but refuses to call for help, not wishing the temple to be destroyed. Suspecting is wrong, Scott and Virgil, Gordon, Penelope and Parker. Guest Star: Matt Zimmerman as Professor Harold.
11	11	“Skyhook”	David Scott	Paul Giacoppo	6 June 2015	14 June 2015	2-2131-11
CIRRUS (Climate Research of the Upper Stratosphere), a weather station built with a lack of safety features, has a sudden failure in its stabilizing fans, causing its balloons to lift the station higher into the atmosphere. Attempts at rescuing the crew by Thunderbirds 1 and 2 are thwarted by both the station’s lack of protective equipment and it rising above the limits of the Thunderbirds’ working altitude. Thunderbird 3 also feels when it is damaged by the station’s fans breaking away, leaving John in Thunderbird 5, using the space elevator as a fishing hook, as the weather station’s last hope. Guest Star: Rhys Darby as Langstrom Fischler.
12	12	“Under Pressure”	David Scott	Danny Stack	13 June 2015	21 June 2015	2-2131-9
A giant heavy metal extraction plant, moving along the Pacific seabed and collecting toxic waste, has a sudden compartment fire, leaving it out of control and heading for a undersea chasm. Thunderbird 2 is dispatched with Thunderbird 4 to effect the rescue of the only crewman, Ned Tedford once again, and safeguard the toxic waste it is carrying. Meanwhile, Lady Penelope investigates the company that owns the extraction plant, when both John and Gordon suspect the owner was more concerned about the cargo than the crew. Thunderbirds episode ” Path of Destruction “.
13	13	“Heavy Metal”	Theo Baynton	Benjamin Townsend	20 June 2015	28 June 2015	2-2131-14
Brains and Alan visit the Quantum Research Center, adjacent to New Geneva in Switzerland, to visit Brains’ old friend Professor Moffat and the Supreme Hadron Collider. Disaster soon strikes when the collider suddenly creates a gravity well of extreme power which soon pulls a satellite down towards New Geneva. International Rescue quickly mobilized when both an aircraft and the World Wide Space Station are also drawn into the gravity well, threatening the city. Thunderbird 4, which Gordon must drive out of its normal undersea environment.
14	14	“Falling Skies”	Theo Baynton	Rob Hoegee	31 October 2015	1 November 2015	2-2131-15
Designed by Brains, the Estrella Grand is a self-constructing luxury hotel in orbit. During a visit by Lady Penelope and Parker, the hotel suffers a mysterious hull breach that will not repair itself, sending the hotel plummeting to Earth. Thunderbirds 2 and 3 are now launched to rescue the guests, while Kayo boards the hotel in search of a saboteur. Thunderbirds episode “Ricochet”.
15	15	“Relic”	David Scott	Patrick Rieger	7 November 2015	8 November 2015	2-2131-17
When a meteor shower is projected to hit the decommissioned Shadow Alpha One moon base, concern arises with the discovery the base is still inhabited by a lone crew member – Captain Lee Taylor, an old friend of Jeff Tracy. Scott and Alan take Thunderbird 3 on a rescue mission after attempts to warn him fail, but when scott boards the base, he’s surprised to find Taylor attempting to maintain his defense system against meteors. After all, Scott and Taylor have been forced to leave the base to meet the thunderbirds. The name of the base alludes to two previous Elements of Gerry Anderson productions from SHADO UFO and Moonbase Alpha from Space: 1999 . Guest star star star star star: Rich Hall as Captain Lee Taylor.
16	16	“Breakdown”	David Scott	Benjamin Townsend	14 November 2015	15 November 2015	2-2131-13
While everyone is organizing a surprise birthday party for Virgil, John direct his brother in Thunderbird 2 to a glacial ice shelf to investigate a ‘breakdown’ emergency call. Virgil quickly discovers that the lone figure he finds on arrival is part of a larger expedition trapped in a cavern beneath the ice. The expedition’s leader, a scientist seeking a rare bacterium he desperately needs to cure his daughter of a serious disease, refuse to leave the glacier begins to crumble, leaving Virgil no choice but to assist before time runs out. Guest Star: Ramon Tikaram as Doctor Peck.
17	17	“Heist Society”	Theo Baynton	Peter Briggs	21 November 2015	22 November 2015	2-2131-16
On an underwater hyper loop train, Lady Penelope and Parker are escorting to a meeting with the Global Defense Force in Iceland in order to safely deliver a particle from the Supreme Hadron Collider disaster – Centurium 21. However, the Hood is keen to Get his hands on the particle and plots an elaborate robbery in order to steal it for himself. Thunderbirds 1, 2, and 4 are now available to the Hood’s plan. Thunderbirds episode “The Perils of Penelope”.
18	18	“Recharge”	David Scott	Amy Wolfram	28 November 2015	29 November 2015	2-2131-19
High in the Arctic, a machine designed to harness the energy of the Aurora Borealis has gone haywire, and could permanently disrupt the Earth’s protective field if not repaired. Despite Virgil’s insistence that they both need a break, Scott answers the call with Virgil and MAX in tow. Complicating Matters in the Thunderbirds of the Thunderbirds and Their Impacts on the Implementation of the Third and Fourth Centuries of Flight .
19	19	“Extraction”	Karl Essex	Matt Wayne	5 December 2015	6 December 2015	2-2131-20
Seismologist Robert Williams and his son Aidan alert the authorities to the presence of a rogue hydromethane mining vehicle, only for the machinery to trigger an earthquake that swallows both them and the equipment. Gordon must attempt a daring underground rescue of the boy and his injured father while Virgil must find a way to shut down the out-of-control rig. Guest Star: William Wright-Neblett as Aidan Williams and Paterson Joseph as Robert Williams. Thunderbirds episodes ” Cry Wolf ” and “Terror in New York City”.
20	20	“The Hexpert”	Andrew McCully	Kevin Rubio and Charlotte Fullerton	12 December 2015	13 December 2015	2-2131-23
A scientist accidentally locks a destabilizing anti-matter reactor. There is only one person who has successfully broken into a vault like this before – Parker. Colonel Casey of the GDF recruits Parker for the job, but moments after getting through the outer vault door, both he and Penelope become trapped as well. Virgil and Scott must travel to an isolated area on Thunderbird 2, while Parker and Penelope must try and free themselves and the scientist before the anti-matter explodes. Thunderbirds episode “Vault of Death”.
21	21	” Comet Chasers “	David Scott	Randolph Heard	19 December 2015	20 December 2015	2-2131-22
Halley’s Comet is passing close to Earth, and businessman Francois Lemaire goes on an ego trip with his unimpressed wife Melanie aboard his space yacht Solar Wind , so as to send live pictures back to Earth. Disaster strikes when Francois flies into the comet’s tail, damaging his ship and causing it to lose contact with Earth. Thunderbird 3 Alan and Scott on board, Alan is glad to see you soon. Guest Stars: Jack Whitehall as Francois Lemaire This episode features references to the original Thunderbirds episode “Alias ​​Mr. Hackenbacker”.
22	22	“Designated Driver”	David Scott	David Baddiel	26 December 2015	27 December 2015	2-2131-21
Parker gives Alan driving lessons at the Creighton-Ward estate in FAB 0, the car in which Parker had taught the other brothers, while Lady Penelope has her tea with her Great Aunt Sylvia. Progress is slow until a pair of bumbling intruders attempt to kidnap the ladies in FAB 1. A chaotic chase involving the two cars in the Alan’s the lesson. When the vehicles take to the air, Alan has the advantage until FAB 0 runs out of petrol, and a teapot is needed to save the situation. Guest Star: Sylvia Anderson as Great Aunt Sylvia.
23	23	“Chain of Command”	David Scott	Joe Kuhr	2 January 2016	3 January 2016	2-2131-24
During a joint operation between International Rescue and the Global Defense Force, a series of mishaps nearly end in disaster. In the wake of the botched mission, Colonel Martin Janus takes over the GDF, imposing a strict set of restrictions on International Rescue. As the Tracys become increasingly frustrated with being kept from rescuing innocents, Lady Penelope and Parker attempt to reason with the colonel, and begin to realize that he is not quite what he seems. Thunderbirds episode “The Imposters”.
24	24	“Touch and Go”	David Scott	Jim Krieg	9 January 2016	10 January 2016	2-2131-25
A facility known as CATCH, responsible for controlling all air traffic in the USA, is sabotaged. Kayo infiltrates CATCH using Thunderbird Shadow. Scott and Virgil launch a rescue mission to thwart a mid-air plane. Kayo soon discovers that the crisis is a diversion from a larger plan by the Hood and endangered by dissobaying Scott and John’s instructions regarding International Rescue’s mission to save people and not act as policemen.
25	25	“Undercover”	Tim Gaul	Benjamin Townsend	16 January 2016	17 January 2016	2-2131-18
An undercover operation involving Lady Penelope and Parker to recover a stolen Repulsion Magnetic Array for the Global Defense Force gets blown prematurely. Parker is taken prisoner by the thief aboard a stolen GDF flyer, with Kayo in pursuit in Thunderbird Shadow. The flyer crash lands on a factory roof and International Rescue must intervene to help save Parker and a factory worker. Kayo confronts the thief to find her knows her secret relationship with the Hood, and must weigh her escape against her secret coming out in the open.
26	26	“Legacy”	David Scott	Rob Hoegee	23 January 2016	24 January 2016	2-2131-26
A range of equally timed disasters involve everyone at International Rescue. Kayo deduces that the Hood is behind these acts in an attempt to capture the Thunderbird Crafts and Tracy Island. As the Hood and Brains and Grandma tracy retreat to a bunker, Kayo arranges with Lady Penelope the activation of WASP (Wide Area Safety Protocol) from Creighton Ward Manor, before going to confront the Hood. As her plan unravels the Hood, she has a relationship with Kayo and proclaims that she is working for him, in an attempt to undermine the Tracy’s trust in her. Century 21 comic story “Brains is Dead” and the 2004 film Thunderbirds .

Series 2 (2016-17)

No. overall	No. in series	title	Directed by	Written by	Original UK air date	Original Aus. Air date	Production code
27	1	“Earthbreaker”	Tim Gaul	Rob Hoegee	22 October 2016	13 November 2016	2-2131-34
A geological survey team has become trapped when a large earth-breaking vehicle, controlled by a villain, has only known the Mechanic, causes them to fall into a narrow crevice. International Rescue launches Thunderbirds 1, 2 and Shadow while the Global Defense Force attempts to tackle the Mechanic. When Thunderbird 2 is badly damaged and must return to Tracy Island, and the GDF is neutralized by the Mechanic, Kayo is left to stop him and his drones while Scott must rescue the survey team. Meanwhile Lady Penelope and Parker visit the Hood in solitary confinement in Parkmoor Prison Scrubs, as they believe he is behind the mysterious Mechanic. Guest Star: Jenna Coleman as Baines.
28	2	“Ghost Ship”	Theo Baynton	Joseph Kuhr	22 October 2016	13 November 2016	2-2131-27
A distress call is received from Captain Ridley O’Bannon, a GDF astronaut, on the abandoned interstellar ship Eden orbiting between the Earth and the Moon. John attempts to rescue from Thunderbird 5 wearing an exo-pod, but is trapped with O’Bannon by mysterious spider-like robots. Alan attempts a rescue in Thunderbird 3, and they discover two salvage workers are posing as pirates. Guest Star: Vas Blackwood as Reece The name “Ridley O’Bannon” alludes to the protagonist Ellen Ripley of Alien and that film’s screenwriter, Dan O’Bannon .
29	3	“Deep Search”	David Scott	Rich Fogel	29 October 2016	20 November 2016	2-2131-28
On Jupiter’s Moon Europa, the stars of Gordon’s favorite explorer program (Buddy and Ellie Pendergast) are searching for extra-terrestrial life. When they begin to drill into the ice, pressure from the geysers cause the ice to crack and they plunge into an underground ocean ten miles below. Alan (in command) and Gordon blast off to the rescue in Thunderbird 3, with Thunderbird 4 stored aboard and modified with skis, strong engines and a heat drill to penetrate the ice, which they lose due to strong underwater currents. They find the Pendergasts, who have taken shelter in their rover, but before they leave they detect a life form in the sea. Guest Stars: Adam Hills as Buddy Pendergast This episode uses elements from the original Century 21 comic story “Solar Danger”
thirty	4	“City Under the Sea”	Simon Godsiff	Jim Krieg & Jeremy Adams	5 November 2016	27 November 2016	2-2131-33
At Bay City, a town that was flooded due to global warming, the Mechanic, in a crab-like submarine, searches through the ruins of the Creighton-Ward building for a safe for the Parkmoor Scrubs prison so he can break the Hood out. As he smashes his way through some of the debris collides with the Sullivan family causing it to crash onto the seabed. While Gordon and Kayo work together to rescue the family, Lady Penelope and Parker, using FAB 1’s submarine mode, must reach the safe before the Mechanic gets there first. Guest Star: Sanjeev Bhaskar as Ethan Sullivan
31	5	“Colony”	David Scott	Patrick Rieger	12 November 2016	4 December 2016	2-2131-32
A proton storm causes a system malfunction aboard the Helius, a space vehicle transporting families to a colony base on Mars. The ship overshoots the red planet and heads straight for the asteroid belt. Kayo recruits Captain Lee Taylor to join Alan and Scott aboard Thunderbird 3 to fend off the asteroids. The Helius is an internationally renowned tourist attraction. Guest Stars: Rich Hall as Captain Lee Taylor 1966 film Thunderbirds Are Go
32	6	“Up From the Depths – Part 1”	Andrew McCully	Benjamin Townsend	19 November 2016	11 December 2016	2-2131-29
Deep in the Mariana trench a survey team encounter the TV-21, a prototype Thunderbird designed and flown by Jeff Tracy. Thunderbird 4. Gordon escapes just as his ship is destroyed and must Find another way to rescue the crew. Meanwhile, Lady Penelope and Parker investigate how the Hood is communicating with the Mechanic.
33	7	“Up From the Depths – Part 2”	Tim Gaul	Benjamin Townsend	26 November 2016	18 December 2016	2-2131-30
The Mechanic’s remotely operated ship flees the scene with the TV-21. Scott pursues in Thunderbird 1 is unable to capture the enemy ship and suffers damage. The Mechanic then steals a GDF vault contain iridium, with Ned Tedford inside, and sends his ship into space. With two Thunderbirds out of commission Thunderbird 3 is modified with weapons so that Alan, with help from MAX, can fight the ship while scouting to recover the vault and the TV-21. Meanwhile, Kayo, Penelope and Parker head for Scotland to search for the Mechanic.
34	8	“Lost Kingdom”	Theo Baynton	Elly Brewer	3 December 2016	25 December 2016	2-2131-39
After a seaquake near the coast of Greece reveals the lost city of Atlantis, Francois Lemaire ignores International Rescue’s warning about aftershocks and with his wife, Melanie, venture below the depths to explore the area. When their submarine becomes stuck, Virgil and Gordon are called to assist. Brains and MAX with the Solar Kythera, an ancient device used to view the stars. Guest Stars: Jack Whitehall as Francois Lemaire
35	9	“Impact”	Theo Baynton	Len Uhley	10 December 2016	1 January 2017	2-2131-36
Using a remote controlled rocket booster Langstrom Fischler tries to bring a comet into Earth’s orbit so he can mine it. When the rocket does not fire the comet ends up on a collision course with both the Earth and Globe One, a GDF space station with Captain Ridley O’Bannon aboard. While Alan and Virgil take Thunderbird 3 up to the comet and find a way to destroy it John must help O’Bannon to move Globe Guest Star: Rhys Darby as Langstrom Fischler.
36	10	“High Strung”	Andrew McCully	Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler	17 December 2016	8 January 2017	2-2131-37
John Detects a high altitude balloon heading for the Southern Alps in New Zealand and is unable to contact the pilot. At first everyone suspects that Francois Lemaire is at the controls when Scott boards the craft he discovers that the pilot is a teenager call Brandon Berrenger, who works for Lemaire. Brains’ new invention, Rapid All-terrain Descender, to get down. Guest Stars : Jack Whitehall as Francois Lemaire and Tom Rosenthal as Brandon Berrenger.
37	11	“Weather or Not”	Chad Moffitt	Len Uhley	24 December 2016	15 January 2017	2-2131-31
Langstrom Fischler has invented some weather drones, flying robots designed to fire supercharged ions to created storm clouds. During a demonstration the drones malfunction and concentrate the storm around the observation tower, which is in danger of collapse due to getting zapped by the drones. Thunderbirds 2 and Shadow race to the danger zone to rescue Fischler and his guests, while Parker’s flying skills are put to the test as he uses FAB 1’s flight mode to the drones away from the tower. Guest Star: Rhys Darby as Langstrom Fischler. This episode features Elements adapted from the original Thunderbirds episode “Edge of Impact”.
38	12	“Fight or Flight”	Karl Essex	Dan Berlinka	31 December 2016	22 January 2017	2-2131-38
A cargo zeppelin called Baross suffers damage and is on a collision course with a city. To make matters worse two crew members are unable to abandon ship because of the ship’s loading claws has malfunctioned and has started attacking anything that moves in the cargo bay. Scott and Virgil must try and pull the ship up from its crash course while Kayo takes on the claw and rescues the crew.
39	13	“Escape Proof”	Theo Baynton	Rich Fogel	7 January 2017	29 January 2017	2-2131-35
A tunneling vehicle belonging to the Mechanic leaves a plumber trapped in its wake and it is up to Virgil and Gordon to get him out. Lady Penelope and Parker track down the Mechanic’s vehicle and discover that he’s heading straight for Parkmoor’s prison scrubs, where the Hood is being held. Guest Star: Omid Djalili as Horse Williams. This episode uses elements from the original Century 21 comic story “Operation Earthquake”

Reception

Fans and critics reacted very Positively to the new series, DESPITE Some negative reactions from fans of the original version ^{[49] [50] [51] [52] [53]} claiming the show Was Clearly made to Attract a new generation of fans Instead of appealing to nostalgia. However, it seems that this is not the case, but it is not the same as the previous one. The BBC Revival of the Doctor Who in 2005, the BBC Revival of the Doctor Who in 2005. ^[54] Series 2, however,

Thunderbirds Are You currently rating has 7.2 rating on tv.com ^[55] and 6.9 on IMDb . ^[56]

Accolades

Award	Category	Container	result
2015: British Academy Children’s Awards [57]	BAFTA Kids Vote – Television	Thunderbirds Are Go	Nominated
2016: British Academy Television Craft Awards [58]	Original Music	Ben Foster, Nick Foster
2016: British Academy Children’s Awards [59]	BAFTA Kids Vote – Television	Thunderbirds Are Go

Marketing

Since 2016, ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) is launching consumer products programs for Thunderbirds Are Go at France, Benelux and the Nordics. ^[60]

Since 2016, Bernard Matthews has released a range of Thunderbird craft shaped turkey. ^[61]

As part of the second series launch in the UK, a fleet of 5 ThunderCabs taxis with Thunderbirds vehicle themes (including Thunderbirds 1-4, FAB 1) could be booked between 2016-10-22 and 2016-10-23 between 9am and 5pm Via the now-defunct Karhoo app, ^[62] with rides costing a flat rate of £ 1 for any dayney within London. All proceeds would be donated to The Children’s Trust, the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury. ^[46]

Toys

On May 13, 2015, ITV Studios Global Entertainment announced its appointment of Vivid as its partner in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. ^[63] As of Licensing Expo 2014, Vivid Imaginations had master toy license with worldwide rights excluding US & Asia. ^[64]

On April 24, 2015, ITV Studios Global Entertainment announced Global Licensing (NZ) Ltd had been appointed as licensing agent for Thunderbirds Are Go in New Zealand. As part of the New Deal, Global has worked with Vivid Imaginations, the master toy partner for Thunderbirds Are Go, to make the planet fun as the local distributor in New Zealand which will see Thunderbirds Are Go toys roll out across the territory from S / S 2015. ^[43]

The Thunderbirds Are Go to master line from Vivid Imaginations and distributed by HeadStart, was launched in Australia in June 2015. ^[65] Additional toy rights to Vivid France and Vivid Holland in respective regions, Takara Tomy as Japan distributor. ^[27] The toy launches in France, Benelux and the Nordics in September 2016, with TOPTOY as pan-Nordic distributor in late summer 2016. ^[37]

App

There was an official Thunderbirds app launching in October 2015 to accompany the second half of season 1. ^[66]

An official app was also released on 20 May 2015 as an add-on to the features on the website. The app is available on both Google Play and Apple’s App Store for free. Behind the Story developed the app. ^[67]

As of 2015, ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Miniclip planned the release of Thunderbirds Are Go mobile game ^[68] (as Thunderbirds Are Go: Team Rush ^[69] ).

Magazine

An official magazine was published by DC Thomson & Co. on October 15, 2015. It features comics, facts, puzzles and more. Each issue includes a free gift. The Thunderbird: The Thunderbird and the Thunderbirds. Thunderbird: Thunderbird. Thunderbird: Thunderbird. Thunderbird. Thunderbird. Thunderbird. ^[70]

^{[37] [edit] [edit] [} add ^{listing] [edit]} References ^[edit]

Home media

Digital releases

All episodes are available for purchase in full HD 1080p on Amazon Video and iTunes.

Blu-ray release

Only currently available in Japan, ^[71] Series 1 is released in 2 limited edition box sets on Blu Ray.

Published by NBC Universal Entertainment Japan.

Box 1 (Volume 1) Released 11 May 2016

Box 2 (Volume 2) Released 9 Nov 2016

DVD releases

Region 2

DVD title	Episodes	Total running time	Release date
Series 1, Volume 1	1-13	286 mins approx	22 June 2015
Series 1, Volume 2	14-26	286 mins approx	1 February 2016
Complete Series One	1-26	572 mins approx	1 February 2016
Series 2, Volume 1	1-13	286 mins approx	6 February 2017 [72]

Region 4

Series	DVD title	Episodes	Total running time	Release date
1	Volume 1	1-7	162 mins approx	24 June 2015
	Volume 2	8-13	133 mins approx	24 June 2015
	Volume 3	14-20	162 mins approx	20 January 2016
	Volume 4	21-26	132 mins approx	3 February 2016
	Complete Series (Limited Edition)	1-26	574 mins approx	1 June 2016

Soundtrack releases

CD title	Track count	Total running time	Release date
Volume 1 (Original Television Soundtrack)	57	77:20	4 December 2015

References

​