MovieChat Forums > The Martian Chronicles (1980) Discussion > Was Spender a Martian?

Was Spender a Martian?

posted 20 years ago by cheitman23
36 replies | jump to latest

Or more specifically, was he taken over by one? It seems like Matheson may not want us to have a definitive answer, and it is strongly hinted during the "shape-shifting" scenes in episodes 2 &3 that he was taken over. But when he is killed at the end of episode one, Spender's body does not disappear. I took this as "proof" he was not Martian himself, but strongly influenced by the Martian culture. The counter-point to this is that when Spender approached the canal he introduces himself as "the last Martian", and he tells a strange anecdote of giving his boots and uniform to a Martian he met in the city, but it sounds allegorical. Any other thoughts on this are welcomed.

[–] tubbs831 20 years ago

I believe he was just strongly influenced by the Martian Culture. Perhaps he gave the anecdote to explain how he through learning about Martian culture had felt that he had indeed become a Martian himself. I really enjoyed his character, and found myself siding with him in his arguments. I had seen parts of the series on the Sci-fi channel before and have just recently purchased the dvd set. I have only watched part one, and I am really looking forward to parts 2 and 3.

[–] cheitman23 20 years ago

Thanks for the reply, and enjoy the DVD set. I saw it a five year old and although the effects are now far from "special" I think the story is still excellent. Although it kind of peaks at the end of episode one, there are still interesting parts. It's clever how some characters die early on and "return" later on in different forms. The only thing that really bugs me is the Darrin McGavin character, who should have been roasted by the Martians.

[–] omega2064 19 years ago

Good question. Even in the book I believe its totally up for grabs wether he was or was not a Martian at the end. Did he just "go a little crazy" or was he a Martian totally influenced by spender's personality so as to become him even in death? Pitty the jerk who touched the whole thing off didn't get blasted too.
Ah well.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] rarema 19 years ago

Yeah, the disappearing body speaks on the behalf of your theory.

[–] marcus-jazz-motel 19 years ago

(deleted post)

[–] rarema 19 years ago

How did he get to Earth?

[–] Polaris01313-1 19 years ago

I think Jeff Spender was really influenced by the Martian culture and he didn't want to see Mars suffer the same fate as Earth was about to. I can't say that I blame him for his methods, before confronting John Wilder and Sam Parkhill. He definately had the right idea.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Polaris01313-1 19 years ago

Briggs got what he deserved. His character represented the ignorant and bad qualities of humanity. I wouldn't qualify him as the best character in the mini-series. Spender did not suck at all. If anything, he was one of the best characters in the entire production. He also made some serious points about the state of humanity and how the human race has a talent for ruining beautiful things.

Like I said, I don't blame him for using those methods of his, in regards to protecting what was left of the Martian Civilization. If it meant killing off his fellow human comrades, then so be it.

[–] A_Minor_Blip 19 years ago

Briggs rocked socks.

I love when he laughed at the Martian's fate, how he laughed. I agree with Visine.

Yes, he got what he deserved (and boy did the movie overdo it showing us this) but you wouldn't be sitting on your computer right now if we didn't do the same thing once a couple hundred years ago...

the only difference between you and i -- spender and briggs -- is that you carry around a heavy FEELING for what happened...

either way, it's done, and nothing will change that.

in other words:

Me and you on our neat little computers are more Briggs than Spender.

OUT!

[–] Polaris01313-1 19 years ago

There is absolutely no trace of Briggs in me, whatsoever. If anything, there is more Spender in me than that inept, fatous, and inane astronaut who had no respect for the Martian culture whatsoever.

Even Sam Parkhill had hit it on the nail with Briggs when he made the following remark to one of Briggs's rather borish stories:

"Like I've always said about you, Briggs. You wouldn't know your armpit from that hole under your nose!"

[–] jamie-mccarthy 19 years ago

I haven't seen the mini series in many, many years but I've read the book at least a dozen times and It's clear to me that he's not actually supposed to be "taken over" or "posessed" but he's just sympathetic to their cause. He sees mans invasion of Mars as the impending destruction of what little remained of their culture.

[–] A_Minor_Blip 19 years ago

BRIGGS BLESS AMARSACA

BRIGGS BLESS AMARSACA
LAND OF THE FREE
STAND BESIDE HIM
AND GUIDE HIM
EVEN THOUGH
SPENDOR SHOOTS HIM
OFF HIS KNEES
HE'S THE BEST ONE
IN THE MOVIE
WHEN HE SCOFFS
AT
ROMAN'S
FEEEEEET
BRIIIIIIIIIIIGS
BLESS
AMARSACA
MY HOME SWEET HOOOOOOOOOME
BRIIIIIIIIIIIIGS BLESS AMARSACA
MYY HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIGGS PLEDGE

I PLEDGE ALLIGENCE
TO THE BRIGGS
AND THE CANAL
IN WHICH
HE DIED
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH HE FLOATS
WINE BOTTLES
FLOATING NEAR
INDIVISIBLE
WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE
FOR BRIGGS

-----------------------------------------------------
STAR SPANGLED BRIGGS

OH SAY CAN
BRIGGS SEEEEE
BY THE MARS EARLY LIGHT
HOW SO PROUDLY BRIGGS HAILED
ABOUT EGYPTIAN MUMPS
AND ALTHOUGH HE SO STANK
ALL THAT COFFEE HE DRANK
GAVE PROOF THAT HE RULED
EVEN THOUGH HE THEN SANK
I LOVE THAT GREAT BRIGGS
HE RULES, AND
NOBODY CAN DENY THIS
FOR THE WATER IN THAT
CANAL
IS FOREVER
NAMED AFTER
BRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGS

---------------------------------------------------

THIS LAND IS BRIGGS LAND
THIS LAND IS...

OH OKAY I'LL STOP!!!

[–] A_Minor_Blip 19 years ago

THE BEST LOOKING MAN ON THE PLANET EARTH, AND MARS, IS:

http://thelin.net/laurent/cinema/photos/highlander/john_cassady.jpg

[–] Polaris01313-1 19 years ago

I suggest that if you have to use humor to support your arguments regarding Spender vs. Briggs, that you refrain from 'slandering' the National Anthem and any other song about the United States Of America. I, like some of my friends, who read that one post, don't find that kind of humor funny whatsoever. Especially some years after 9/11!

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] A_Minor_Blip 19 years ago

i can do anything, or say anything, i want.

this is a free country.

and it's funny... you wrote that Spendor was right in killing Briggs... so you defend, and like, a character who murders for a belief, and I defend, and like, a character who was simply doing his job... and i am the unpatriotic one?

too funny.

ps

BRIGGS IS THE BEST HUMAN EVER, EVER ON EARTH, EVER!

[–] Polaris01313-1 19 years ago

When you are slandering the National Anthem, even in humorous remarks, you are being unpatriotic!

[–] artis-nyc 9 years ago

*beep* america

[–] dbrockskk1 10 years ago

Don't tell me let me guess. Youre in jr high. I can tell by the way you write. Also you'e disrespecting my flag and my country.

suzycreamcheese RIP Heath Ledger 1979-2008

[–] A_Minor_Blip 19 years ago

i think even you'll agree, bluethunder, that the entire reason they were on mars is because of wilder... briggs was a mere pawn... wilder should have been killed by spender, not the working-class astronauts... and that, my friend, is a fact... i mean, just because wilder "felt" for the dead martians, that don't mean *beep* he still caused their death by being the main person on earth to get those expeditions going... briggs was totally innocent... the poor guy was just relaxing, washing his feet... and he rules....!

[–] idverser 18 years ago

I agree partially with enik: Briggs was a jerk, but that doesn't mean he deserved to be murdered. However, neither does Wilder. When the first three expeditions launched under his leadership, he didn't even know there were Martians. But he was really naive about what was going to happen to the Martians' culture and legacy, telling Spender, "We're not going to ruin it." Captain Wilder, I'd like to introduce you to the human race. But by then, there wasn't a whole lot he could have done anyway. The die was cast...unless, of course, he didn't return to Earth and just stayed on Mars. That might not have helped, either, though.

[–] kolchak-thenightstalker 15 years ago

Minor Blip,

we (the viewers) are not like Briggs (and you don't even know me so how do you know who i am like?) because we care about what happens to Mars and the Martian culture.

Briggs wouldn't even be part of the exploration team to begin with. Any scientist or astronaut has a certain level of intelligence and integrity, and respect for other cultures and worlds. Otherwise why would they want to be an astronaut and go to new worlds if they don't even care about the worlds that they explore?

The respectable astronauts and scientists didn't want to repeat the mistakes that were made on Earth such as polluting, littering, and showing no respect for the environment.

I say good riddance to Briggs, he was a pitiful representative of the human race.

Someone like Briggs deserves to stay on Earth and die in World War Three.

[–] okalars 18 years ago

First of all the question remains was Spender a Martian? We still dont know! Remember Spender found bodies of Martains when he went to the Matitian cities the first time to see they had died of the chicken pox. We did not see the Maritains die and disappear til later. I think the question is why did the ones before not disappear and the ones after the settlement of Mars did?

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] colinvespa125 15 years ago

I think the martians died of an Earth disease and was unable to dissipate because of that.

Perhaps Spender(martian) was also carrying the same disease and was unable to dissipate, possibly by altering the body chemistry.

I don't know if the martian soul would be able to escape the death of the body or it requires dissipation to do so.

[–] agsilva 17 years ago

Seems to me that the Spender who killed the astronauts was a Martian transformed/telepathizing, while the real Spender watched from somewhere, and the Spender who talked with Wilder was the real Spender. Of course he (Martian Spender) says he is the last Martian but he probably doesn't realize that some other Martians are still alive, which the real Spender later discovers and mentions. It is just that his language and tone are very odd compared to later so I wonder if maybe he is really two beings, the human and the Martian.

[–] gc123517 17 years ago

After colonizing Mars, the humans become martians.

[–] b9robot 17 years ago

That's a really interesting theory. I'd always concluded that Spender was just overwhelmed by the situation and did 'go a little crazy' but the ease with which he killed the crew always jarred me a bit, as he is so philosophical the rest of the time. The two attitudes do lend credence to Spender and a Martian imitating him, although it is definitely the real Spender who is shot and killed as there was a tangible corpse for Wilder to hold.

I guess only Richard Matheson and Ray Bradbury really know...

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] richard.fuller1 12 years ago

He was liberal, the way you have white musicians emulate the African-American music sound and see the language imitated on shows like Maury Povich and Jerry Springer.

Spender thought because he walked 'as one' with the Martians, he now 'understood' them.