Over the years, many critics have written off THE TIME TUNNEL as ‘chewing-gum for the eyes’, enjoyable action adventure with no intellectual content. However, far from being a mere ‘running and jumping show’, THE TIME TUNNEL is in fact quite deep and multi-layered with hidden meaning...

DIGGING DEEP
by Roo
Time travellers Doug Phillips and Tony Newman clearly represent pessimism and optimism. Throughout the series Doug is continually whining: "We’re dead men, Tony," while Tony strives to save the day. When the lads arrive on the MEM spacecraft in One Way To The Moon, Doug automatically assumes the worst and tells Tony: "If this is one of those old Cape Canaveral jobs we could be blown up right here on the pad!"

In the now legendary opening to Night of the Long Knives, Doug and Tony find themselves in the burning desert where they will (as Doug balefully tells Tony) die in a very short space of time. Tony immediately comes up with several ways of saving their lives only to have them pooh-poohed by Doug. Finally, in desperation, Tony asks Doug what he thinks they should do. The answer? Doug suggests that they should dig a couple of pits and lie in them - obviously he has a graveyard fixation!

It can be no coincidence that in every episode Tony (optimism) is the do-er, the achiever, while Doug (pessimism) is the harbinger of doom. Irwin Allen was clearly trying to tell us that we all have a Doug - in his drab grey Norfolk suit of despair - inside us but we have to pull on Tony’s bright green turtle-neck of courage if we are to find light at the end of the time tunnel of life.

SEEING THE LIGHT - WOBBLE
by A. N. Theroux
During a particular fight scene in the episode Reign of Terror, Doug and Tony are furiously scrapping with some French soldiers when one of them crashes into a lamp-post causing it to wobble. Far from being a poor prop on a cheap set we are seeing clear evidence of the deep philosophical content of THE TIME TUNNEL. The lamp-post is a representation of Life. Doug and Tony’s fight with the soldiers is all the violence and chaos in our world.

In the same episode, Whit Bissell appeared in the dual role of General Kirk and his evil ancestor double, Querque. This can only mean that Man’s greatest enemy is himself which further reinforces the lamp-post metaphor. The message is clear: ‘Don’t rock the lamp-post of Life!’

THE FEMINIST ANGLE
by Jill Rooney
The Time Tunnel is obviously meant to represent a giant womb. When Senator Clarke threatens to cut funding for the project (Rendezvous With Yesterday) stating that he will "cut the umbilical cord," Tony, fearing for the safe birth of his baby, the project, falls prey to despair. Unable to cope with the realities of life, he retreats into the safety of the womb of the Tunnel.

He is followed there by Doug. Meanwhile Ann, mature enough to stay in adulthood, in the control room, weeps, as she watches Doug’s retreat. Later Doug illustrates how he wishes to escape from reality, when, in Night of the Long Knives, he suggests to Tony: "Let’s dig a couple of pits and lie in them until the sun goes down." The pits are another womb substitute.

The adventures within the Time Tunnel can be seen as childhood fantasies. Having retreated from the real world, Doug and Tony play cowboys and Indians, Alien invasions, Civil War soldiers, Bible stories and Greeks and Trojans. They are, finally, incapable of leaving the womb and are doomed to play there forever.

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This article © the authors 1999. This article is presented purely for the enjoyment of 'Time Tunnel' fans and not for any commercial profit. No attempt has been made to infringe any rights held by Irwin Allen, 20th Century Fox, or any other holders of copyrights to The Time Tunnel.
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