Thunderbirds Are Go sees Kayo departs on the newly upgraded Fireflash plane, but soon discovers that there is a saboteur on board. Meanwhile Virgil, Allan and Gordon must help save the passengers from harm.

In a slight departure from the last few episodes, this one doesn’t have a deeper meaning to it, which actually kind of surprised me. The episode, and its villain, is just a straight up hijacking form the mysterious villain. And then figuring out what to do with the plane to save everyone aboard. Yes, it’s that simple and a plot we’ve seen quite a few times before in lots of films and television shows. But, even having seen the plot, the story is a solid one.

What I think Thunderbirds Are Go does really well is the mix of action, animation, and the music, to create a package that’s fun an takes some of the best of the various things it draws from. The music feels like it’s out a Bond film and the action is fun and could be in a big budget film with lots of tense action. And as usual, the mix of CGI and miniatures is amazing. The look is fantastic in so many ways.

Episode after episode, this series is delivering in every way.

Overall Rating: 8.05

The first season of Thunderbirds Are Go will be available for Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already a Prime member can sign up for a free trial.

Thunderbirds Are Go in the fourth episode sees Scott rushing in with Thunderbird 1 to check out an unusual radiation spike from a remote corner of Africa – and discovers the source to be a leak of unstable uranium.

This show is interesting to me in that it mixes some lessons about politics and the world in the form of entertainment and does so in a way that’s rather subtle. Previous episodes have focused on space junk and the resulting impacts of war, and this episode has a bit of a different focus instead with a message about nuclear power.

It’s not lost on me that the episode a few times mentions how the world has moved beyond nuclear power and that as an energy source it’s dangerous. The “enemy” here (who interestingly seems to have a South African accent) can easily be a stand-in for the nuclear lobby fighting against the change of focus when it comes to energy. While these are actual discussions when it comes to nuclear power, it could easily also have coal or fracking substituted in for nuclear power.

The episode also has a focus on nuclear proliferation and “loose nukes.” While this is much more subtle, it’s interesting that this too comes up a few times. The writers clearly have a viewpoint for the show when it comes to its politics an where the world stands at this moment in history.

But, even through that preaching and the lessons, the episode is full of excitement and action that kept me entertained. The series does an excellent job of keeping the main focus on that and seems to realize that no matter your message it doesn’t matter if the delivery isn’t entertaining.

That entertainment is helped by the shows fantastic mix of CGI and miniatures. It has a fantastic look about it all that has me glued watching it.

I wasn’t a fan of the original Thunderbirds series, but I am absolutely one now.

Overall Rating: 8.1

The first season of Thunderbirds Are Go will be available for Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already a Prime member can sign up for a free trial.

Thunderbirds Are Go keeps up the fun with a third episode that’s as much action as it is a message.

The episode has the team in space where the remnants of war remain, including space mines that threaten passing ships. So many questions I have after seeing this episode, but, that’s not what really matters here.

The episode is still a lot of action as the team figures out how to disarm the mine with a code that’s been lost due to time. As part of the team attempts to complete the code, other members do what they can to get the mine out of the way and keep it distracted so it doesn’t go off and kill someone.

The show continues to combine a tense feel and action in good amounts for kids and more than enough to keep adults entertained.

The episode also does a good job with a message too. In some ways it tackles the remnants of war, mines are a very real issue in quite a few places around the world. It also shows off the increasing amount of junk that exists in space that is a threat too. While the show doesn’t dive too deep discussing either, it’s still great to see pretty weighty topics discussed in a kids show.

The show isn’t too deep, but it’s fun and even as an adult I’m finding myself enjoying it so far.

Overall Rating: 8.1

The first season of Thunderbirds Are Go will be available for Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already a Prime member can sign up for a free trial.

Thunderbirds Are Go catapults the five brave Tracy brothers back onto television screens, where they’ll pilot their remarkable, cutting-edge Thunderbird vehicles from the depths of the oceans to the highest reaches of space, performing impossible rescues across the globe.

The new Amazon Prime series launches with all 13 episodes on April 22, but today sees the release of the one-hour special Ring of Fire Parts 1 and 2. Geared towards kids, there’s more than enough to keep adults entertained as the series gives us an updated vibe to the classic series. I know individuals might wince with my use of the word “updated,” but it works really well here as the show uses CGI while blending it with live-action model sets, new while paying homage to the classic Thunderbirds show. It’s not just the use of live-action models though, the show as pays tribute to the characters and locations of the original series.

From the first segment, the series is an action packed start will of intense situations and scenes where there’s actual tension for the viewers. It’s James Bond’s best action and stunts, but geared towards kids instead. International Rescue feels exactly that, an organization whose role is to save individuals around the world. Not much is explained as far as the specifics, but like a lot of solid adventures we’re just thrown into the action and accept what’s before us.

The story itself is fun, but it’s that updating of the imagery where I’m really impressed. While I watched some episodes of the classic show, the puppetry was a bit too outdated for me, but this blend of CGI and live-action models has a fantastic look about it. There’s just something that’s fun, not sure how else to put it.

But beyond the look, the score of these first episodes really stands out to me as well. There’s something epic about it all and helps create the tension and excitement on the screen.

With that updated look, lots of action, and a decent blend of humor the Thunderbirds Are Go is a perfect show for both kids and adults. I’m looking forward to diving in and checking out the rest of this first season.

Overall Rating: 8.4

The first season of Thunderbirds Are Go will be available for Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already a Prime member can sign up for a free trial.