Fireball XL5
1962 · 25m · TMDB 6.4/10 (14 votes)
Streaming in the United States
- Amazon Prime Video
- Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
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About Fireball XL5
Fireball XL5 is a science fiction-themed children's television show following the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol.
The show was produced in 1962 by husband and wife team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson through their company APF, in association with ATV for ITC Entertainment.
While developing his new show, Anderson thought a brand of motor oil—Castrol XL—had an interesting sound.
A phonetic change created the name "Fireball XL", with the "-5" added as the title seemed a bit flat without the numeral.
The show featured the Andersons' Supermarionation, a form of puppetry first introduced in Four Feather Falls and Supercar and used again in their subsequent productions such as Stingray and Captain Scarlet.
Thirty-nine black and white half-hour episodes of Fireball XL5 were made on 35mm film: all future Anderson series were produced in colour.
Several Anderson series have been shown in syndication in the US, but Fireball XL5 is the only Anderson series to have run on a US network.
NBC ran the series in its Saturday morning children's block from 1963 through to September 1965.
A similar programme often confused with Fireball XL5 is Space Patrol, produced by Gerry Anderson's ex business partner and co-founder of AP Films, Arthur Provis due to a number of similarities and settings.
- Status
- Ended
- TMDB rating
- 6.4/10 from 14 votes
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 39
Seasons and episodes
The latest season with aired episodes is shown first. Specials are kept separate.
Latest aired season
Season 1
Planet 46
After intercepting a missile on course for earth, Steve Zodiac and the crew of the XL5 travel to Planet 46 and discover the Subterrains who launch another missile at the earth with Venus trapped inside.
TMDB 7.0/10 from 1 votes
The Doomed Planet
The Fireball XL5 narrowly misses a planet that bas broken out of it's orbit and realize the planet is on a collision course for the planet Membrono. After concluding the planets are uninhabited, Steve realizes he saw a flying saucer and after the ship lands at Venus' house, the XL5 is lured back to save the planet Membrono from destruction.
TMDB 6.5/10 from 2 votes
Space Immigrants
Venus and Prof. Matic are about to set off in the Mayflower 3 to colonise the nearby planet, New Earth. But the Advance Scout has been kidnapped by two evil midgets who plan to hold the new immigrants captive.
TMDB 6.0/10 from 1 votes
Plant Man From Space
After a blackout at Space City, a missile gets through the radar blackout, and is heading towards Space City with a dangerous cargo...
TMDB 7.0/10 from 1 votes
Spy in Space
The crew of XL5 encounter Boris and Griselda the space pirates on the Companion 12 space station.
The Sun Temple
When experimenting with a new warhead in space, Steve Zodiac is forced to save Venus from the clutches from the sinister Cult of Miras before she can be sacrificed to their sun-god...
XL5 to H2O
Everyone on planet Zolpheid is killed in an Aquaphibian attack, except for Rald and Jerek. Receiving an SOS, Space City sends Fireball XL5 to rescue the two from Zolpheid's oceans.
Space Pirates
While babysitting Commander Zero's son, Jonathan, Venus tells him story about when Fireball XL5 encountered a group of space pirates.
Flying Zodiac
As Steve celebrates the anniversary of his family's circus act, Venus falls asleep and dreams of a plot devised by Mr and Mrs Space Spy and the nomadic Monadians to take over the Earth…
Space Pen
To capture a group on criminals, Steve, Matt and Venus pretend to steal XL5.
Space Monster
Fireball XL2 has crashed on Planet Monotane, and Fireball XL5 is sent to investigate, only to run into a sort of space dinosaur...
The Last of the Zanadus
Major Jim Ireland returns to Earth after 10 years in space, but unknown to everyone, he has become an agent for Kudos, the only survivor from the planet Zanadu, who wants revenge on all Lazoones for destroying his people.
Planet of Platonia
The Fireball XL5 foils an attempted bombing while transporting the King of Platonia and is caught in the middle of the plot to assassinate the King and sent two planets into war.
The Triads
After detecting a series of massive explosions in space, Steve and the crew of XL5 find a planet three times bigger than Earth, but they soon crash land...
Wings of Danger
On Planet 46, the Subterraineans plan revenge on Zodiac and send a robot bird to infect him with radium.
Convict in Space
After top secret plans are stolen from Earth, XL5 enocunters Boris and Griselda, but Matt is captured.
Space Vacation
Kernak, ruler of Kemple plots the resettlement of his people to Planet Olympus by poisoning Olympus' ruler's son. Venus and Matt are captured and must be rescued by Steve.
Flight to Danger
Lt. 90 qualifies for his astronauts wings by landing XL5 in one piece and then piloting XL1 off the launch rail, but on his return to Earth in a capsule, he finds it has caught fire!
Prisoner on The Lost Planet
Fireball XL5 recieves a distress call on a distant planet, and Steve Zodiac journeys to investigate.
The Forbidden Planet
At Space Observatory 1, Matt and Dr. Stamp work on a new Ultrascope space probe. However, the people of the planet the probe is sent to observe don't take too kindly to being watched and kidnap the scientists.
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