The Anorak Zone Forums

[Tone]

When Sapphire and Steel ask to see The Shape's real face, Saphire casts a hand over her face and says "these are ours, the only ones we possess I'm afraid." So I guess our heroes were genuinely humanoid beings.

When Joanna Lumley gave an opinion on them in her biography, she said she thought Sapphire and Steel were friendly ghosts!

In Assignment 5, the guest scriptwriters Read and Houghton, give us the question "aliens?" and the answer "in the extraterrestrial sense, yes."

But there's the matter of that title sequence...which suggests that they are elements! Or as one fan suggested, "elementals".

So what are they? Aliens, ghosts, elemental beings, supernatural characters? The back of my DVD boxset called them "Time Detectives from another dimension." So does this mean they are simply visitors from another dimension rather than another planet? Or another world IN another dimension?

And from what we see on screen, what is their dimension like?

And what are their powers? Telekenesis to control time and matter?

They sure are kept pretty mysterious!

[Camus]

I think that's part of the appeal, we don't know!

[Pex]

I always assumed they were non-material superbeings who could take humanoid form if required - but that form was fixed, hence Sapphire's words.

[Tone]

I remember at first I thought the two pulsating balls of light in space on the title sequence was their true form!

[Knightmare]

My thoughts:

In story one, Sapphire tells Rob: "These aren't real clothes. They're a projection."/"Like the thing in the room upstairs?"/"In a way." Is their whole image a mental projection that allows them to interact more easily with humans by taking on a similar form?

P. J. Hammond was vague in his own assessment. He said something like - I suppose you could see them a bit like angels in a way, or extraterrestrial do-gooders - Not a direct quote, but near enough.

It may be possible that Sapphire was reluctant to submit to playing games with the shape (They don't wish to show their hand and give anything away they don't need to.)

What happens when S&S disappear at the end of story one, or during story three when they move between floors of the apartment by vanishing momentarily, then reappearing at a further point?

It's also interesting that Sapphire states that she's never seen the time corridor, but she has glimpsed it once.

Hmmm...I'm none the wiser after that pondering.

[Tone]

Yes...good, isn't it? Actually, at the end of Assigment 4, Steel tells Sapphire to think of Silver and Mercury and draw from their minds, when they need to make a mirror. This always suggested to me that they were not exactly derived of an element but each agent was trained as a special user of a particular element, and that it was a psychic power. Are they psychic aliens from a world in a different dimension and capable of controlling an element each which they've studied at length?

[Pex]

As sapphire (aluminium oxide) and steel (iron/carbon mixture) aren't elements, we have to be careful about pushing that metaphor too far.

[Knightmare]

Tone - So, what you're saying is that S&S and their kind are conduits rather than being derived of a particular "substance" themselves. I never saw that angle before, but I think you may be right. Taking that scenerio into consideration, much of the wording in the show now makes sense. They are refered to as having been trained, aren't they? "That was part of your training" etc... Sapphire is a newer recruit than Steel...Steel says to Sapphire: "Your supposed to be the diplomatic one."

S&S are refered to as Operators and Silver is refered to as a Specialist. Does that support the suggestion that they were'nt actual "substances" but rather mere conduits/agents? I'm not really sure if that makes any difference tbh.

Is the clue in the title sequence, as you suggest?:

"All irregularities will be handled by the forces controlling each dimension...Medium atomic weights are available...Sapphire and Steel have been assigned." This denounces the conduit theory, doesn't it?


Three facts (I think):

1.) They are not human.
2.) They are inter-dimensional beings.
3.) They are not ghosts. Normally, S&S can only exist in the present. It's the things of the past which come into the present that are refered to as ghosts.

[Knightmare]

Thinking about the quote from the title sequence:

Perhaps they are part of the fabric of forces (both tangible and intangible) that make up the Universe? This would explain how they are telepathic.

[Tone]

Perhaps they are "the forces" who are "controlling" things telepathically and telekinetically. After all Steel can draw on steel-like metallic qualities to prevent a knife going through his hand in Assignment 5 and freezing himself in Assigment 1.

Yet he is clearly made of flesh and seems able to be hurt and pushed around as when he fears Sapphire shooting him in Assignment 5 or when he gets knocked down by one of the transient beings in Assignment 6.

He's also able to conduct electricity to open the green door in Assignment 5.

Sapphire's training and skills include control of time and Steel says in Ass 4, "Time's your specialty, you've things in common." Perhaps time is another dimension she can control to a limited extent?