Thunderbirds Are Go (series)

Thunderbirds Are Go is a 2015 Continuity Reboot of Gerry Anderson's classic Thunderbirds TV show, by ITV and WETA. Where the original was made using puppets ("in SUPERMARIONATION", as the title sequence declared), Are Go uses computer-generated characters, although they still use physical models for the vehicles and locations.

The year is 2060. International Rescue is a secretive organization who rescue people in danger, consisting of the Tracy brothers and making use of five (plus one) powerful vehicles, known as the Thunderbirds. In addition to the usual dangers that come with being a rescue organization, they are also in conflict with a mysterious individual known as The Hood, who seems to be responsible for the loss of their father.


 * Action Girl: Tanusha "Kayo" Kyrano, Chief of Security for Tracy Island. She's based on the original Tin-tin.
 * Bald of Evil: The Hood's got a chrome-dome that rivals Lex Luthor's.
 * Big Bad: The Hood. He doesn't just mess with International Rescue, either -- he's caused enough trouble that the Global Defense Force is after him.
 * Bluff the Impostor/Something They Would Never Say: When suspicious that John is being impersonated, Scott teases "him" about missing out on Grandma's cooking. He responds that he regrets missing it it, they know "he"'s a fake.  (For more on Grandma's cooking, see Lethal Chef.)
 * Bollywood Nerd: Brains, in a quite substantial change from his original character.
 * Continuity Nod: The original Thunderbird 1 launch bay used a lemon squeezer as part of its structure details (visible on the wall facing Thunderbird 1); the remake has kept its shape.
 * When Kayo meets Captain Taylor in "Colony", he tries to remember her name and guesses "Tina" and "Tiny". Presumably, he's thinking of "Tin-tin".
 * Cool Plane: Thunderbirds 1, 2, and S. They're all fast and capable of vertical takeoff and landing; Thunderbird 1 is the fastest, capable of achieving hypersonic speeds, while Thunderbird 2 is a carrier and support vehicle, often carrying the vehicle of the week to the danger zone.  Thunderbird S has improved maneuverability and stealth capability.
 * Danger Deadpan: Most of International Rescue, most of the time.
 * Darker and Edgier: Not by much, but Jeff Tracy, the boys' father, is missing and presumed dead, and The Hood is somehow involved. That International Rescue needs a Head of Security also says something.  Kayo's Thunderbird, "Thunderbird S" for "Shadow", is literally darker and edgier than the other brightly-colored and rounded Thunderbirds, resembling a stealth fighter jet.
 * Disappeared Dad: Jeff. Not confirmed dead, but nobody expects him to be otherwise -- the Tracy brothers are mostly interested in finding his vessel so they can figure out what happened to him.
 * Not quite the same kind of disappeared, but Kyrano (Kayo's father) hasn't been so much as mentioned.
 * Evil Brit: The Hood. Not usually notable for British TV shows, but it is a change from the original Hood (who was from somewhere in Southeast Asia) and also a contrast to the American-accented International Rescue.
 * Evil Uncle: The Hood is this to Kayo.
 * Fake American: The Tracy family, as the voice actors are all British.
 * Fighter Launching Sequence: Well, they're not fighters, but it wouldn't be a (remake of a) Gerry Anderson show without a stock launching sequence for each vehicle. To up the ante even more (as if the music didn't do enough already), they use the opening countdown at the end.
 * Kill Me Now or Forever Stay Your Hand: John places himself at the mercy of EOS, to attempt to convince her that they can work together.
 * Lethal Chef: Grandma Tracy. She is aware of her reputation (and not happy when she hears Brains unfavorably compare her cooking to hazardous radiation), but persists anyway.
 * Meaningful Name: EOS is the name adopted by Thunderbird 5's computer when she becomes sentient. It means "Dawn" (and she refers to herself as such).
 * Mission Control: John Tracy serves as this from the Thunderbird 5 space station. He takes up this role more than he did the original with Jeff out of the picture.
 * NGO: International Rescue. They seem to operate under some kind of government regulation (it is implied that they can be forced to give up the Thunderbirds), but they clearly have a great deal of leeway in their rescue missions.
 * NGO Superpower: The Hood wants to get his hands on the Thunderbirds and make use of their technology so that he can be one of these.
 * No OSHA Compliance: You'd think a rescue organization would pay more attention to workplace safety, but getting into the Thunderbirds involves zipping down chutes and rail lines with no safety rails or straps. On the original show, the Tracy boys at least stayed seated as they were conveyed to the cockpit, but now that they aren't on strings, Virgil actually grabs a handbar at the end of the rail and swings himself into Thunderbird 2.  What if he misses?
 * The London Archive is even worse, since it's supposed to be a government facility, and yet its catwalks and elevators haven't a single handrail anywhere.
 * Honestly, there wouldn't be much need for International Rescue (and thus not much of a show) if not for flagrant violations of safety protocols.
 * One World Order: It's not clear to what extent, but International Rescue is in contact with a "Global Defense Force".
 * Remake Cameo: Sylvia Anderson, the original voice of Lady Penelope, voices Penelope's Great Aunt Sylvia.
 * Required Secondary Powers: Thunderbird 4 is built to withstand crushing underwater pressures, which makes it just the vehicle for the job of operating in an artificial gravity well.
 * Role Reprisal: David Graham returns to voice Parker.
 * Sapient Ship: Thunderbird 5 becomes this in "EOS".
 * Secret Keeper: Jeff knew and Grandma Tracy knows that Kayo is The Hood's niece.
 * Shout Out:
 * Shout Outs to other Gerry Anderson works:
 * John Tracy's favorite TV show is Stingray.
 * The "head" of the underwater lab from Episode 1 resembles the cockpit of the Eagle transporters from Space: 1999.
 * In "Relic" (episode 15), the moonbase Shadow Alpha One resembles Moonbase Alpha from Space: 1999.
 * In "Breakdown" (episode 16), Dr. Peck's daughter's favorite book (and Virgil's) is Torchy.
 * In "EOS", John gets tricked into leaving Thunderbird 5 when the station's computer (which has turned against him) indicates that there is a failure in the AE-35 communication module. Once outside, he realizes that the ruse is up and attempts to manually activate the hatch, and EOS says "I'm afraid I can't let you do that, John." (2001: A Space Odyssey)
 * Ship Tease: Alan is attracted to Kayo, though he tries (poorly) to hide it. Gordon and Lady Penelope also feel something for each other.
 * Tagalong Kid: Part of Alan's motivation is that he's trying to grow out of feeling like this.
 * Talking to Himself: Rasmus Hardiker voices both Scott and Alan, and David Menkin voices both Virgil and Gordon.
 * This Looks Like a Job For Aquaman: Averted with Gordon (pilot of the underwater-only Thunderbird 4). Even if Thunderbird 4 isn't needed to save the day, he often helps out as a pilot of a "pod vehicle" carried by Thunderbird 2.