The planet Medusa, home to a highly evolved and technologically advanced humanoid race, was already ruled by its women when a rogue comet (as seen in the opening titles of each episode) knocked it out of its orbit around Proxima Centauri.

Following the initial four episodes, which deal with the arrival of Adam and Shem on Earth and their various attempts to evade capture and seek asylum from the pursuing Medusan authorities, subsequent episodes present largely self-contained storylines set either on Medusa or Earth, showing the two pairs' various attempts to adapt to life on these alien worlds while officials broker an exchange, led by Rudi and Liz's boss, Professor Evans (Derek Farr).

Regarded as something of a camp novelty, Star Maidens features some female dominance elements, and touches on gender-based role models in western society.

However, according to the notes included in the series’ 2005 DVD release, “the German producers intended for the series to be a sex comedy, where the British producers intended the show to be intelligent science fiction.” This clear disparity in creative vision likely contributed to Star Maidens lasting only one season, despite reasonable international sales.

Also, the series failed to become a significant “hit” in the UK, though this was at least in part due to Star Maidens not being given a consistent place in the schedules across the whole ITV network.

Several other commercial broadcasters chose to delay transmission until the new year, with London Weekend Television opting for a rare “adult” 9.30pm slot on Saturdays from 1 January 1977.

The series was (by UK standards) expensive – the special effects were superior to the script – and audience figures did not justify the cost of a second season.” [5] Nevertheless, in an article published by Nostalgia Central, the series – although described as “basically a space-bound soap opera” – apparently attracted healthy global sales “to over 40 territories included Austria, Australia, numerous Arab states, Hungary, Switzerland and, contentiously, South Africa.

In the space episodes, the aspirations of the design and effects are greater than the budget.”[7] Willey added: “It's clearly a reaction to 1970s ‘women's lib’, a hot topic at the time.

The later episodes become more serious (‘What Have They Done To The Rain’ is quite good ecological science fiction; ‘Creatures of the Mind’ introduces mild horror with lonely robots).” The complete series of Star Maidens was released on Region 2 DVD from Delta Entertainment in 2005.

A novelisation of the series, written by Ian Evans (a pseudonym of the sci-fi author Angus Wells), was published in the United Kingdom by Corgi Books in 1977.