Television Review—
"Controlled Experiment" (1963): The Outer Limits

Life can radically change in a matter of seconds. Consequences ripple beyond our wildest anticipation.

What if you could stop that moment and study it?

That's the premise of this exceptional episode of The Outer Limits. Earth is being monitored by subtly placed operatives from a highly intelligent, advanced race of Martians. It's been a quiet job for our man in the field, Diemos, who's blended in among us by passing himself off as a nondescript pawn shop proprietor.

But now he's been ordered to give complete cooperation to a superior from Mars, Inspector Phobos. A "controlled experiment" has been authorized to help Mars understand the motives, nature, and consequences of murder.

Not a big deal in and of itself. But what if it led to something more serious?

So we're going to take a close look. Martian Computer Control Probability Division has projected with 99% certainty that one of these will occur just four blocks from Diemos' storefront.

The setup for "Controlled Experiment" is at once creative, charming, and straightforward. The science fiction fan will be appeased, yet those who might otherwise avoid the genre are at no risk of getting lost or board with the gadgetry of it. A suitcase-sized "Miniaturized Temporal Condenser" serves as the touchstone device for capturing real-life events a'la present day VCR. No antennae or silly makeup for these alien visitors here either, respecting the audience's ability to accept the setup without going over the top.

The motive is jealousy, and the fatal shot is fired by a drop-dead gorgeous blond staked out in a hotel lobby awaiting arrival of her philandering boyfriend via elevator.

He steps out. Words. Bang. Dead.

Can that be all there is to it?

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