Episode 3: The Architects of Fear

This is the third and is one of the best episodes in the series, because while keeping the strange atmosphere of the series, it also managed to incorporate a love story into it.

A group of people in a secret organization decide that mankind is on the verge of another World War. They feel that a good way of uniting everyone would be to introduce a common enemy that all of mankind will fear. In this way, they feel that men will work together when they are scared and will get used to it even after they destroy the enemy. So the group members select a volunteer, Allen Leighton (played by Robert Culp), to transform him into the alien creature. Leighton agrees, putting his life and his family values aside. Even though he loves his wife Yvette (Geraldine Brooks), he does not speak to her about the matter. One day she hears about his `death', and is heartbroken with the news, but she still feels that he is alive. Meanwhile, the members of the organization perform tests on Allen to transform him into the creature, which is successful. However, their plans go amiss when the alien is transported to the wrong destination.

Even though this episode starts off in an eerie way, you can't help but feel sorry for Allen and Yvette in the end. It just goes to show you that you cannot make something better by doing something worse. Robert Culp and the gorgeous Geraldine Brooks acted flawlessly and stole the show in this episode.

To quote Vic Perrin (The Control Voice): "Scarecrows and magic and other fatal fears do not bring people closer together. There is no magic substitute for soft caring and hard work, for self respect and mutual love."

Outer Limits Episode #3: The Architects Of Fear

Where do I start?

This has got to be one of the strangest, creepiest TV episodes I have ever seen. Robert Culp is the lead actor. He plays a government scientist that has been chosen by lot to be transformed surgically into an alien. Why? Well, the goodguys decide that a nuclear war is eminent and believe that if an alien would land from space at the UN, the world's nations would come together to fight a common cause and put their animosity against each other on the back burner, thus saying everyone from war. The process of being turned into an alien and all types of operations procedures take up more then half of the episode. The 1st half is the strongest part of the 52 minutes. The plot actually kept your interest (even though it was moronic) and just the concept of going through an operation to become an alien is very bizarre/creepy. Then...it all falls apart, or shall I say, "it all unravels" at the end. Alien Culp (after being shot up into space) does not land at the UN, but at the same place he started!!! Then his annoying wife (a Joan Crawford wannabe) gets a hot flash and runs back to the "top secret" base because she just has that premonition that her hubby is still alive and is there. The end is a big letdown. What started out as possibly the best Outer Limits episode ends with a THUD. The show would get 1 star from me if it wasn't for the 1st half hour.The plot is moronic and the plot holes are MASSIVE (such as, why not use the real alien that Culp was made of a copy of or where the [heck] did they get the alien?).

thank you for your time, David