The Third Eye (TV series)

"The Third Eye" was an obscure mini-series anthology that aired on Nickelodeon that consisted of serials from the UK and New Zealand.

When Nickelodeon premiered, "The Third Eye" was one of its first programs. It was a live action sci-fi/supernatural anthology that included the first season of "Into the Labyrinth" (1981), "The Haunting of Cassie Palmer" (1982), "Children of the Stones" (1976), and "Under the Mountain" (1982). A fifth serial, "The Witches and the Grinnygog" (1983), was added shortly before "The Third Eye" was discontinued.

The series depicted in the anthology were formerly released in the UK and New Zealand. However, many were produced only shortly before being added to the Third Eye line-up.

The unifying theme of the show (and hence the title, and opening montage) was that of children with psychic powers.

Before every episode, an on-screen announcement declared, "The following is a science-fiction program, and may contain some startling scenes. This show is intended for older children." Whoever was responsible for developing the series for Nickelodeon is unknown, as the anthology itself went completely uncredited. The voice-over used during the opening titles, however, is reminiscent of the work of Don LaFontaine:

"Somewhere in the crowd... sometimes you find someone very special. Someone who sees light in the dark. Someone who hears the unheard. Someone who understands the mystery. Sometimes, there's someone who sees with a third eye!"

In "The Haunting of Cassie Palmer", the title protagonist, the daughter of a medium, decides to see if she has inherited her mother's powers. She tries to conjure up a spirit, with unexpected results. By the end of the series, her powers have burned out.

Twins Rachel and Theo Matheson have limited telepathic abilities and can wield light as a weapon. Aided by the mysterious alien Mr. Jones, they must defeat an evil alien who lives "Under the Mountain" of Rangitoto. Their main power, though, is a psychic bond with two stones from another world which are used as weapons, and (it is strongly implied) may be sentient life forms.

Matthew Brake demonstrates native psychometric abilities on "Children of the Stones", although it is implied that his father Adam may have them too, though in denial of them as a scientist. Matthew can experience the thoughts and experiences of other people by holding items belonging to them. Matthew's powers do not manifest themselves until the fourth episode of the series. It is also strongly suggested that Matthew first learned of his powers after his mother died, and Matthew had handled some of her possessions. Matthew is the only one in "The Third Eye" who maintains his powers at the end of the series.

Phil Church and siblings Terry and Helen (no surname given) are bestowed borrowed power by the sorcerer Rothgo and they are sent "Into the Labyrinth". They are able to communicate with Rothgo telepathically throughout time. They are also given individual powers: Phil channels Rothgo's powers in challenging the tyrant Cynon; Helen is able to release all prisoners of Masrur (Belor in disguise); and Terry is given command of a genie in the same episode "Masrur." At the end of the series, Rothgo alters time so that Terry, Helen and Phil never go on their journey, but they are given souvenirs (presumably nidus fragments). Two more seasons of "Into the Labyrinth" aired in the UK, but not on Nickelodeon.

When an ancient English church is moved to a new site in "The Witches and the Grinnygog", one stone - a strange statue, the Grinnygog of the title - is found to be missing. Its accidental rediscovery (by a woman who, not realising its significance, gives it to her elderly father as a pseudo garden gnome) coincides with the arrival in the same town of three eccentric old women who seem to be looking for something lost or hidden many years before, and a nervous, "other-worldly" child. The townsfolk find themselves looking into their collective past but it takes a group of children to put the pieces of the puzzle together and make amends for an ancient injustice.

Availability

"The Haunting of Cassie Palmer" is a TVS production, and has never been released commercially in any format. "Under the Mountain" is available on DVD in its native New Zealand. The disc is encoded in NTSC, presumably to cater to North American buyers, and has no region encoding.

"Under the Mountain," the movie, has been confirmed and starts filming in New Zealand in 2008.

"Children of the Stones", made by HTV, has been released on DVD in the UK. It is in PAL format, and also has no region encoding. The disc includes interviews with director Peter Graham Scott and actor Gareth Thomas as extra features.

"Into the Labyrinth", also made by HTV, was released commercially on Video Gems, a UK VHS label, but it is out of print. A three-disc DVD edition, containing all 21 episodes, is due on July 14 in the UK from Network DVD. This will be encoded for region 2.

"The Witches and the Grinnygog" is not commercially available. Although a few episodes have surfaced on BitTorrent and video sharing sites.