simonferdinand
I remember watching this series when I was 6 years old, and I found it absolutely terrifying. After the first episode, as soon as the title page appeared I begged my mum to change channel because I really thought the TV was going to explode, or everyone outside in the street was really going to freak out and smash up everything while it was showing. At that age I just couldn't take this sort of programme. I had nightmares about "the noise" and school lock-outs, power blackouts and people rioting in the streets for years after. Actually it was almost an omen for late 70's Britain in many ways.I couldn't remember the name of the series, until one day just idly surfing the net I happened to search for: "disturbing BBC1 children's series 1970s" to see if a well-known search engine could help me find it, and here it was.I don't know what made BBC programmers think this apocalyptic stuff was suitable viewing for kids: young teens maybe, after Top Of The Pops or something similar, but I was still at the Paddington Bear level.But I must admit I'd quite like to see it again now that I'm 38!
Karenjfarrow
I remember watching this as a child during the 1970;s and it scared the livings daylights out of me! It was very ahead of its time when it was made and was completely different to anything else around at that time. I can remember the lead actress walking down the street and everyone has gone crazy and they were bashing their cars, and then wandering around like nomads. can't remember the middle episodes much, just the lead character trying to find her parents I think. I vaguely remember her meeting up with other people. I remember the end episode where everything appears to go back to normal again, and the girl, Nicky I think her name was, emerging from some sort of cave or hiding place and there was a shot of a train running over head which indicated everything had returned to normal. It didn't really explain why everyone rebelled against all things electric etc and why it turned everyone crazy. It would be great if the series could be repeated again, and to see if it still held the power to scare children today. Its a pity that another series was not made at the time as I feel there was scope for another series, to see if the madness returned. What a great children's TV classic!
Steve
I remember this from the 70's. I only saw the middle episodes but still had vivid memories of it years later. UK Gold recently screened the whole series and I finally learned what had happened. They don't make children's drama like this anymore, pity. One other thing I noticed, when a threat was dealt with, it was over. These days unless you see the bad guy die you just know he will be back to plague the hero's due to a lack of imagination by the scriptwriters. This series however fell into three subplots which followed on from each other as we followed Nicky through the often Violen and very menacing Changes caused by the Stone.
petertuziak
I saw this show in the late 70s on the ABC, I was only about 8 or 9 at the time. I remember vividly the scene where everyone goes wild and smashed up everything (notably cars), the comparative kindness of the Indian family compared with the stupid rednecks who seemed to dot the countryside and the big rock at the end. The Changes was very much a product of the environmental push that took place in the 70s. I would be curious to see how the show would be presented today. This show was one of many fine British television dramas for children from the 70s.