History YMMV / TheStarlost

* CriticalResearchFailure: The three protagonists don't look much like Amish. Devon and Garth both had 70s hair, Devon adding a 70s pornstache to his mug, mustaches being forbidden in Amish culture. Amish men traditionally have a chinstrap beard which they begin to grow and keep upon reaching the age of manhood, or no facial hair at all if underage. Rachel frequently wears her hair down (which women don't in Amish culture) and she wears trousers throughout, another verboten for Amish women of any age, given the Amish culture's rigid gender roles. That along with large visible belts,which aren't used in Amish attire for either gender (suspenders only). It should also be mentioned that Devon and Garth are both English first names. Amish traditionally choose Hebrew Biblical names as first names and the surnames are usually German in origin. Rachel's name is accurate, however. Finally, their Cypress Corners garments clearly contain buttons, which, along with zippers and velcro, are disliked in Amish culture. The three looked more like refugees from a hippie commune.

** Arguably some of the worst effects in a 1970s SF series. This was caused partially by an innovative motion-tracking GreenScreen system invented by Douglas Trumbull for the show which failed to actually work at all, and partially by an effects budget which probably couldn't have bought a week's groceries for a 4-person family.

* CriticalResearchFailure: The three protagonists don't look much like Amish. Devon and Garth both had 70s hair, Devon adding a 70s pornstache to his mug. Amish men traditionally have a chinstrap beard which they begin to grow and keep upon reaching the age of manhood, or no facial hair at all if underage. Rachel frequently wears her hair down (which women don't in Amish culture) and she wears trousers throughout, another verboten for Amish women of any age, given the Amish culture's rigid gender roles. That along with large visible belts,which aren't used in Amish attire for either gender (suspenders only). It should also be mentioned that Devon and Garth are both English first names. Amish traditionally choose Hebrew Biblical names as first names and the surnames are usually German in origin. Rachel's name is accurate, however. Finally, their Cypress Corners garments clearly contain buttons, which, along with zippers and velcro, are disliked in Amish culture. The three looked more like refugees from a hippie commune.

* OnlyOneName: When pitching the series, Harlan Ellison explained that for such a small community as is this Amish community, last names were needless as there need not be more than one line of Devon or Garth. Men would have the same name as their fathers and their fathers before them. To distinguish, the youth would be "Young Devon" or "Young Garth", with his father being "Old Devon" or "Old Garth" till the father's passing when "Young" becomes the "Old". In the instance that the grandfather was still around, he would be "Old (insert name here)" and the man in between would be "Elder". But given a culture that eschews technology or advanced medicine, three generations of a line were rarely around simultaneously for long. The convention for women (not to be named after their mother, as this is also forbidden) was based on whom their father or husband was. For instance, Rachel, daughter of (insert father's name here) before marriage or Rachel, wife of (insert husband's name here) as a married woman. Ellison explained all of this in the preface of the novel ''Phoenix Without Ashes (a novel of the Starlost)'' where he tells all about this perceived train-wreck of a television production.
* SpecialEffectFailure: Arguably some of the worst effects in a 1970s SF series. This was caused partially by an innovative motion-tracking GreenScreen system invented by Douglas Trumbull for the show which failed to actually work at all, and partially by an effects budget which probably couldn't have bought a week's groceries for a 4-person family.

* OnlyOneName: When pitching the series, Harlan Ellison explained that for such a small community as is this Amish community, last names were needless as there need not be more than one line of Devon or Garth. Men would have the same name as their fathers and their fathers before them. To distinguish, the youth would be "Young Devon" or "Young Garth", with his father being "Old Devon" or "Old Garth" till the father's passing when "Young" becomes the "Old". In the instance that the grandfather was still around, he would be "Old (insert name here)" and the man in between would be "Elder". But given a culture that eschews technology or advanced medicine, three generations of a line were rarely around simultaneously for long. The convention for women (not to be the same as their mother as this is also forbidden) was based on whom their father or husband was. For instance, Rachel, daughter of (insert father's name here) before marriage or Rachel, wife of (insert husband's name here) as a married woman. Ellison explained all of this in the preface of the novel ''Phoenix Without Ashes (a novel of the Starlost)'' where he tells all about this perceived train-wreck of a television production.

* OnlyOneName: When pitching the series, Harlan Ellison explained that for such a small community as is this Amish community, last names were needless as there need not be more than one line of Devon or Garth. Men would have the same name as their fathers and their fathers before them. To distinguish, the youth would be "Young Devon" or "Young Garth", with his father being "Old Devon" or "Old Garth" till the father's passing when "Young" becomes the "Old". In the rarity that the grandfather was still around, he would be "Elder (insert name here)". But given a culture that eschews technology or advanced medicine, three generations of a line were rarely around simultaneously for long. Women would be indentified by their names (not to be the same as their mother as this is also forbidden), wife of whomever as being wives was to be their primary role. For instance, Rachel, daughter of (insert father's name here) before marriage or Rachel, wife of (insert husband's name here) as a married woman. Ellison explained all of this in the preface of the novel ''Phoenix Without Ashes (a novel of the Starlost)'' where he tells all about this perceived train-wreck of a television production.

* CriticalResearchFailure: The three protagonists don't look a like Amish. Devon and Garth both had 70s hair, Devon adding a 70s pornstache to his mug. Amish men traditionally have a chinstrap beard which they begin to grow and keep upon reaching the age of manhood, or no facial hair at all if underage. Rachel frequently wears her hair down (which women don't in Amish culture) and she wears trousers throughout, another verboten for Amish women of any age, given the Amish culture's rigid gender roles. That along with large visible belts,which aren't used in Amish attire for either gender (suspenders only). Finally, their Cypress Corners garments clearly contain buttons, which, along with zippers and velcro, are disliked in Amish culture. The three looked more like refugees from a hippie commune.

* DidNotDoTheResearch: The three protagonists don't look a like Amish. Devon and Garth both had 70s hair, Devon adding a 70s pornstache to his mug. Amish traditionally have a chinstrap beard or no facial hair if underage. Rachel frequently wears her hair down (a no no in Amish culture) and she wears trousers throughout, another no no for Amish women of any age. That along with large visible belts,which aren't used in Amish attire for either gender (suspenders only). Finally, their Cypress Corners garments clearly contain buttons, which, along with zippers and velcro, are disliked in Amish culture. The three looked more like refugees from a hippie commune.

* DidntDoTheResearch: The three protagonists don't look a like Amish. Devon and Garth both had 70s hair, Devon adding a 70s pornstache to his mug. Amish traditionally have a chinstrap beard or no facial hair if underage. Rachel frequently wears her hair down (a no no in Amish culture) and she wears trousers throughout, another no no for Amish women of any age. That along with large visible belts,which aren't used in Amish attire for either gender (suspenders only). Finally, their Cypress Corners garments clearly contain buttons, which, along with zippers and velcro, are disliked in Amish culture.

* CultClassic: Despite the troubled background issues and problems with special effects, the show still has a following, some of whom are genuine fans who think that the producers were able to salvage something despite the limited budget, and some who enjoy it as an example of campy sci-fi TV and see the special effect issues as part of the experience.

* CultClassic: Despite the troubled production, the show still has a following, some of whom are genuine fans, and some who enjoy it as an example of SoBadItsGood sci-fi TV.

* UnfortunateImplications: Although there are at least 53 cultures preserved aboard the ship -- presumably selected evenly from all around the Earth -- the vast majority of people encountered are white and Western in flavor and appearance. Similarly, the "backup bridge crew" of immortal children in the episode "Children of Methuselah" has no non-white members.

** From inside, the curvature of the biodome roofs is clearly visible. The exterior shots of the ship indicate that the domes must be at least hundreds of miles across, far to large for the curvature of the domes to be so clearly visible. In fact, all interior shots of the domes make it look like they're much less than ten miles across.

* SpecialEffectFailure: Arguably some of the worst effects in a 1970s SF series. This was caused partially by an innovative motion-tracking GreenScreen system invented by DouglasTrumbull for the show which failed to actually work at all, and partially by an effects budget which probably couldn't have bought a week's groceries for a 4-person family.

* SpecialEffectFailure (Arguably some of the worst effects in a 1970s SF series. This was caused partially by an innovative motion-tracking GreenScreen system invented by DouglasTrumbull for the show which failed to actually work at all, and partially by an effects budget which probably couldn't have bought a week's groceries for a 4-person family.)

* [[{{DarthWiki/Ptitlew9bltta3dv6n}} So Bad It's Horrible]]: Considered this by many; the ExecutiveMeddling does not help at all.

* UnfortunateImplications: Although there are at least 53 cultures preserved aboard the ship -- presumably selected evenly from all around the Earth -- the vast majority of people encountered are white and Western in flavor and appearance. Similarly, the "backup bridge crew" of immortal children in the episode "Children of Methuselah" has no non-white members.

* AdaptationDecay
* SoBadItsHorrible
* UnfortunateImplications (Although there are at least 53 cultures preserved aboard the ship -- presumably selected evenly from all around the Earth -- the vast majority of people encountered are white and Western in flavor and appearance. Similarly, the "backup bridge crew" of immortal children in the episode "Children of Methuselah" has no non-white members.)