An outstanding offering from a show that was ahead of its time!

For a child born in the 50's, the 1960's original "The Outer Limits" was a breath of fresh air in a television sea of westerns, variety shows, and cop dramas. There was nothing else on the tube that offered wondering minds a place where sci-fi and social commentary blended so well. Every week some of the best writers and established, as well as rising, stars would come together and offer audiences thought-provoking fare, mixed with great black and white cinematography and then state-of-the art special effects.

One of the best of the show in the superb first season was "The Man with the Power". Donald Pleasence is characteristically meek as the man that, through a scientific "chip," of sorts, placed in his head, was able to consciously, as well as sub-conciously, summon a malevolent force that could, literally, eradicate anyone or anything on which he directed it. Pleasence's character is saddled with a shrew of a wife, an overbearing boss, and the demands of the scientific community; thus, setting the stage for his "alter ego" to come forth and wreck havoc.

Of course, the effects are crude when compared to today's CGI but "The Outer Limits" was never about the effects.

It was a show that dared to challenge its viewers with glimpses of what could be and how we should react to it.

And "The Man with the Power" does exactly just that.

Episode 4: The Man with the Power

You are tired and bored of your life. Nobody appreciates you. How far would you go if you were suddenly given an extraordinary power that could destroy others? Scary, isn't it? That's what this episode is all about.

Harold Finley (Donald Pleasence) is frustrated with his life. He dislikes his job working as a college professor, his wife Vera (Priscilla Morrill) doesn't appreciate him, and he feels like he hasn't done anything productive his whole life. He feels like he wants to help scientists at the higher level in some way. Even though the scientists at the space agency do not accept him as a research scientist, they accept him as a lab rat to perform experiments on him. They install a link gate in his brain to give him extraordinary telekinetic powers. However, Finley doesn't realize that his power has a mind of its own, for when he is in a fowl mood, his powers destroy the object of his unhappiness without him knowing it. But since the scientists don't know about this, they think it is a breakthrough and decide to install these devices on their astronauts as well. Will Harold realize the side-effects of his powers in time to stop it from happening to others?

I loved this episode in many levels: The acting, the story, and the special effects. Credit for this episode goes entirely to Donald Pleasense on his acting. He did an amazing job in portraying a timid man who is given outstanding powers. The special effects for the dark cloud emerging and destroying everything added well to the episode.

To quote Vic Perrin (The Control Voice): "Deep behind the kindest gentlest soul, may lurk violent thoughts, deadly wishes. Someday men may learn how to cope with the monsters of the mind. Then, and only then, when the human mind is truly in control of itself, can we begin to utilize the great and hidden powers of the universe".