Lost MST3K Episode “K03” – Star Force: Fugitive Alien II – Resurfaces After Decades

A holy grail for fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 has been found: the long-lost episode “K03,” featuring the film Star Force: Fugitive Alien II, has surfaced online. The episode, originally aired in 1988 during the show’s run on KTMA, was discovered by a fan who digitized a VHS copy and uploaded it to YouTube.

The Discovery

Arthur Putie, a Redditor, shared the discovery on r/MST3K, explaining the tape was found at a garage sale in Minneapolis. Paste Magazine and IGN both reported on the find, highlighting its significance to the MST3K community.

A Piece of MST3K History

The KTMA episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 hold a special place in the show’s history. Airing before the series gained wider recognition on Comedy Central, these early episodes were difficult to access and largely unavailable for years. As noted in the 1995 The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide, the creators themselves were hesitant about releasing the KTMA episodes, even stating they “weren’t very excellent.” Legal rights issues also contributed to their scarcity. IGN likened the discovery to the recent restoration of lost Doctor Who episodes.

About “Star Force: Fugitive Alien II”

Star Force: Fugitive Alien II is a compilation film constructed from episodes of the Japanese science fiction series Star Wolf. While the Mads would revisit the film in a later season (season three), this KTMA-era version represents a unique and previously unseen iteration of the riffing. Gizmodo notes that despite potential “rough spots” due to its early production, fans are thrilled to have access to this piece of MST3K lore.

What’s Next for MST3K

For fans eager for more new content, four fully Kickstarted episodes are slated for release later this year courtesy of RiffTrax. Gizmodo reports this news, signaling continued life for the beloved series.