The Outer Limits: The Architects of Fear (1963)
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Although no specific era is indicated within the story, the plot revolves around a Cold War setting in which a nuclear holocaust appears to be imminent. In an attempt to stave off a confrontation between military superpowers through uniting the world against a common enemy, a group of scientists decide to physically transform one of their own members into an alien being and stage a fake invasion of Earth. This transformation is achieved by genetic alteration of scientist Allen Leighton, using genetic material from a rather small and non-threatening alien lifeform which the scientists have in their possession. Complications arise when the physical alteration also affects Leighton’s mind, and is compounded by his strong attachment to his pregnant wife.
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One question left completley unanswered is, where did the scientists get the rather small and non-threatening alien lifeform to begin with? Obviously they plan to use it as a guideline to effect Allen’s transformation, but again, where did it come from in the first place? Is it a real Thetan from the planet Theta? If so, how could the scientists have obtained it? Or, did they just conjure it up somehow, perhaps using a monkey as a test animal? If so, what did they use as a guide, just their own imaginations? Actually, this unanswered question amazingly does not harm the story, because the story is completely insane to begin with, so it follows that it would be based on unanswered questions. Also, how or why does Allen’s ship go off course, totally aborting his mission? This is not explained at all, and seems like simply a way of bringing the show to a conclusion which, of course, had to occur somehow. And, why was “all radio contact lost” when the ship entered Earth’s atmosphere? And what did that mean exactly? Maybe Allen deliberately landed the ship off course, believing that the mission would fail.
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