The Omega Factor

Koch Visions, 488 minutes, PG-13

DVD: $39.98

I ran across this show when I lived overseas and was delighted to find it on DVD from Britain. As of May 2 of this year it is also available on this side of the Atlantic. My first interest in watching the show was the casting of Louise Jameson (Leela on Doctor Who) but the show caught my interest all on its own.

The Omega Factor is the story of reporter Tom Crane, a reporter who often covers the supernatural or at least odd ball. While in Edinburgh on a stor,y he is involved in an accident that leaves his wife dead. After her death he finds out the she worked for a secret government agency, Department 7, that investigates all types of psychic phenomena, along with a mutual friend, Dr Anne Reynolds (Louise Jameson). Recruited by Department 7 because of his own psychic powers, Tom begins an investigation into his wife’s death that leads him to a vast conspiracy - the Omega group.

Like much British televison, this show was written for thinking adults. The paranormal situations were interesting in and of themselves and as the show went on they were shown to be part of an overall conspiracy of possibly international proportions. In many ways, it is the precursor of such shows as The X-Files or Millennium though much more satisfying than either series.

British television bowed to pressure from a conservative group which objected to the paranormal content and there was never a second series which is truly a shame. It remained in my memory for 25 years and I was quite pleased to stumble across the DVD on Amazon.co.uk, so pleased I snatched it up immediately. The show measures up to my memories of it; we watched all ten episodes in one sitting. It has just been released in the US and I urge you to go out right now and buy this set if you like intelligent, spooky thrillers. Very highly recommended. - Stephanie L Bannon