Outer Limits "Controlled Experiment" (3 of 3) 
by Dell Deaton
 

 

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

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Passionate one moment, dead the next? This makes no sense to the inspector.

"The only scientific law that applies to kissing and shooting is the principle of uncertainty," muses Diemos.

As special effects go, the Miniaturized Temporal Condenser can be a bit over the top with its screeching, bright lights, and acting that's a bit over the top. But if your criticism can be quelled, I would argue that the impact fundamentally shows the effort and seriousness involved in manipulating time under any circumstances. So it's not Rod Taylor in The Time Machine or Doc Brown in his DeLorean.

It doesn't have to be.

The bigger risk in a plot like this is getting to the final act through such sound and fury -- only to fail the "now what?" test. We studied murder, motive, and means, but something's gotta pay us off for having invested the time in this.

This is where The Outer Limits shines throughout its "Controlled Experiment." Twice. I won't spoil the ending, but I will leave you with one of the two questions that sets it up.

What is you could make it so the murder never happened?

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Overall grade: A

Engaging look at motives, assumptions, and actions — with a strong and clever "What if?" finish.
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Production

The Outer Limits, "Controlled Experiment (1963), Leslie Stevens. Written and directed by Leslie Stevens. Starring Barry Morse (Inspector Phobos), Carroll O'Connor (Diemos), and Grace Lee Whitney.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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