10 Times Thunderbirds Was Way Too Dark For Kids TV

While a lot of the themes in Thunderbirds were often extremely dark, they usually resulted in people being saved at the last second with no apparent injuries. However there was one moment (in just the second episode of the series) which scarred a generation of viewers.

The Sidewinder, a giant walking vehicle (seventeen years before the AT-AT in Star Wars) falls into a huge pit and the ensuing fire threatens to engulf the crew. International Rescue make their way to the scene.

It seems that the Thunderbirds writers had no interest in portraying the military as infallible - something a lot of TV of the time was wont to do - as the Tracy brothers are constantly berated by the trapped mens’ pompous superior officer. Watching from a helicopter and unwilling to risk himself.

They are able to rescue the trapped crew but not before one of the them suffers hideous burns. Rather than imply that, they show his heavily bandaged face, hands raised, eyes flashing with agony (as much as a puppet’s can) as he is carried away to the ambulance like that bit in Backdraft.

Nightmares all round then?