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The Outer Limits - The Original Series, Season 2

The Outer Limits - The Original Series, Season 2

List Price: $69.96
Your Price: $62.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: I review the shows, not nostalgia
Review: --Episodes--Season 2--

(I consider 3 and above good, 2 or below poor.)

Soldier: 5/5 Off and running in Season 2. Despite how cheesy the outfit looks, this episode has a sort of undefined magic. Micheal Ansara should have won something for his portrayal of the soldier, I honestly believed he was a soldier from the future. Although, I never have understood the effect of "the enemy" being trapped, it looks odd even today. I often wished this script could have been reworked in which the Soldier never comes home with Kagen, I think it loses some of its believeability once he does. However, even here it has brightspots like Quarlo's interest in the cat Mcbeth, and the reason for the interest. Think-speak? Odd.

Cold Hands, Warm Heart: 2.5/5 This ep. has elements that make it watchable, particularly, Shats insistance on the keeping warm. I think this is a decent ep. that could have been better, barring better effects. I always laugh at the term "Project Vulcan"... a precursor of things to come? This ep. is a great example of why Shat refers to himself as the Ham-o-saurus.

Behold Eck!: 1/5 Despite Eck! being a memorable character, well outside the usual gloom and doom of sci-fi, I find the story to be proposterous (um, a spectacle), yes, even for sci-fi. The "building effect" on the news looked neat-o though:) A glaring problem with this ep. stems from Season One's "Galaxy Being", that is similar to this but much, much better. Just watch that instead.

Expanding Human: 2.5/5 Not a bad ep. but considering the cast it should have probably been better. It's nice to see James Doohans suspicious wit and sarcasm formulating in this. I think this ep. was fair but not one I'd watch over and over, middle of the road. I wish James had a larger role, he is quite good.

Cry of Silence: 3.5/5 I really like this one. It has a forboding quality to it that still is effective today. And oddly enough this ep. opens with city-boy Eddie Albert wanting to give it all up to become a farmer... sound familiar? His wife in this gives a fine performance as a frightened woman just wishing it would all end, convincing but not overdone.

Demon With a Glass Hand: 3/5 I like Robert Culp in this quite a bit, unfortunately, the story, even though it's Ellison isn't very good. I am probably in the minority here, but I think this ep. is average at best. This always seems to come off like a "pilot" for a new series, similar to how Assignment Earth for Star Trek does, probably because Culp is so darn good. Tell it to the hand!

Wolf 359: 4/5 Great Sci-fi. This is a finely balanced episode that is interesting and yet doesn't try too hard. The effects are of coarse primitive, but the point is made. I like the cast, they are also well balanced and believeable. The subject matter is interesting but this show loses a point for slow pacing. Looking through the scope at the created world was quite effective.

I, Robot: 4/5 Even though I give this show a pretty high rating, I think the cast is primarily strained and wooden. The high rating is given in large part to the character Adam Link. The odd tone in his voice and the look of sentimentality may be all robot, but to me Adam is more human than most of the actors. Nimoy is fair in this, but nothing terribly memorable, a bit overzelous.

The Invisible Enemy: 1/5 There are few Outer Limits with no redeeming qualities, IMO, this is close to being one of them. Typical, predictable, and stale are words that come to mind. Adam West heads a cast of astronaughts that refer to women as "dames and broads". The rocket effects appear to be 50's quality and even though there is some tension near the end, it's far too little, too late.

The Inheritors 1&2: 5/5 I struggle with this dual episode despite the score. I think it is superbly acted, wonderfully directed, but what worries me is the conclusion one draws from the ending. Are we to understand that people can only truly be happy if they are "normal"? Even though I ponder the conclusion, I marvel at the great acting along the way, probably the best. Great story, also. MGM should have seen fit to put these on the same side of a disc however!

Keeper of the Purple Twilight: 3.5/5 In terms of dialogue, there's quite a bit to like here. Some meaningful exchanges about the meaning of love and life seem heartfelt. The acting is more than adequate although I must say the rubber suit costumes are again, just not very good. Even in '65 they were probably barely passable, and now they seem silly and are a bit distracting. Certainly, not the worst ever, but the immobile eyes and mouth take away from the reality of fantasy greatly.

Counterweight: 2/5 A show of this nature lives and dies depending on how well defined the individual characters are drawn up ( as in 5 Characters in Search of an Exit 5/5), in this case, it's a true failure. I think a redeeming factor is the soaring "vocal" score that gives it a dreamy essence, the odd ending of the reintroducing of characters, and a few other small factors, but this show just lacks any insight or punch.

The Brain of Col. Barham: 1.5/5 Some of the Outer Limits fail because of one simple reason; they are attempting to perform concepts 40 years ago that couldn't even be attempted now, when that unravels, the jig is up. They should have at least draped the set in a futuristic aura in hopes of pulling this off. On top of that the actors never seem to deliver lines with any sort of spontenaity. The sets aren't even half bad, but the concept is ridiculous, and the characters are hollow and vague.

The Premonition: 2.5/5 Ahhh... the obligatory "freeze frame" episode, which actually exceeds expectations in so far as the effect. Some really clever uses of the technique actually one ups the mighty TZ uses (not the picture stills though). However, having said that, this story has many, many holes. Far more than I could expound on here. And I never have understood why the title was used. The term "premonition" really doesn't apply in this case. Fair acting abounds, but doesn't cover the huge plot holes. Ok, I can't resist, why not tie the childs feet around the bike? Tying the bike in some way would have been far easier. Too easy? :)

The Duplicate Man: 3.5/5 There's quite a bit to like about this one. The sets, props, and feel are just right for the subject matter. The acting is quite good, the plot is interesting, and the payoff is rewarding. Had this been a typical monster hunt it wouldn't have worked. The Megasoid is as amusing as it is menacing and for a creature that is so "evolved" it isn't very bright. I would have liked to see this ep. as a two parter like The Inheritors, but as it stands, it's well crafted. For a series that had to cut corners on costumes, I'm surprised an attempt wasn't made to show the creatures as little as possible, it would have helped.

The Probe: 2.5/5 Not really out with a whimper or a bang. Nice cast, nice acting jobs all around, but the mood is quite sterile and ineffective. The concept of this last episode is interesting but the direction never rises above ordinary The "germs" design seems to be a pre-Horta from Star Trek.

Wrap-up:
Still, in spite of all the hokey props, there lurks delicious camera angles, glorious sound, odd lighting, and most importantly, a fun sense of adventure that has all but since evaporated from the airwaves. In spite of the 3 stars, I cannot reccommend this set enough. Not because I'm caught like "the enemy" in the never-never, but because I'm trapped in a time period that uses "effects" to convey awe and mystery instead of imagination. The Outer Limits is a welcome look back at a future gone by.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Inner Mind of DVD - Outer Limits Season 2
Review: After having reviewed a few of the more notable episodes of this inconsistently good, but almost always entertaining second season on dvd, it is safe to say that the audio-visual quality is premium. The series never looked better. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be one scintilla of extra material included in this MGM box set. As a collector, season 2 is a must-have for such stimulating episodes as Demon with a Glass Hand and The Inheritors, but some of the later episodes show the series' age and poor writing due to budget crunches and deadline pressures by the network. Each disc has a similar animated menu created for the first box set, with the droll, modern robotic reread of the opening narration that had been once immortalized by announcer, Vic Perrin. They should have kept his voice for the DVD menus, IMHO. Besides, not having any interesting extras that dvd and laser disc consumers have grown to enjoy, I find the way they laid out the actual episodes on each disc annoying. The Inheritors, possibly one of the best OL stories, has been split onto 2 sides of a dvd. You have to flip the disc over to see Part 2, a minor complaint. There do not appear to be any disc skips on this set that were remarked regarding box set 1, probably because there are less episodes in this collection, therefore less compression is needed to cram them on. Either way, if you are an avid fan of this 1960's scifi classic anthology series, this will be a fond recap down memory lane and a benchmark in your collection. Now if only the Night Gallery would be released. When Sanford and Son and the Beverly Hillbillies can be released on dvd, I don't see why not.

Cheers!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A rip off DVD from a great series
Review: After the release of the first seasons episodes on DVD, like many fans, I was anxiously awaiting the release of the second season. Well here it is. What a value! Just over half the number of episodes (17 vs. 32) for about 95 percent of the price! I assumed there would at least be some extras to make up for the fact that the second season was so short (and frankly contained so many stinkers) but there were not. Nothing. Zip. Nada. Just the unadorned episodes themselves. Another review here makes a confusing reference to a comment made about including the original pilot "Please Stand By" so let's set the record straight. YES that WOULD have been nice, but NO they didn't do it. There is nothing on these disks but the seventeen second season episodes - period. This was clearly NOT a labor of love. To give you an idea just how little they gave a dam about the material, some idiot split "The Inheritors Part 1" and "The Inheritors Part 2" so that it ended up on two sides of a 'flipy' disk. Now that was really stupid. If they cared at all, they would have given this special two-part episode the special treatment it deserved with a "play part 1", "play part 2", "play both parts" special sub-menu. Ok, let's take it as a given that MGM was too greedy and/or lazy to spend even the miniscule amount of time and money on the project that this minor change would have required. But, how much would it have cost to rearrange the ordering so that, at least, these two episodes ended up on the same side of a disk? THERE ARE FOUR EPISODES ON THE SIDE OF THE DISK WHICH CONTAINS "The Inheritors Part 1", SO PLACING PART 2 THERE AS WELL WOULD HAVE COST THEM NOTHING. It would have only required that the individual laying out the disks have the tinniest shred of consideration for the material and the intelligence that god gave dirt. The only two episodes I cared about in this set was "the Inheritors" (ruined for me by this totally unnecessary stupidity) and "Demon with a Glass Hand" which sadly ends up being the episode with just about the worst video quality in the set. Thanks a lot MGM I'll think about this next time I see you logo on a DVD. My advise is, if you MUST have this material, wait a while, my guess is that it'll be on clearance for 29 bucks (or less) real soon.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Exceptional Series, Lousy Studio
Review: As a child I watched this series and was mesmerized. It and Twilight Zone were the key reasons I became a fan of Science Fiction. Like the original Star Trek series that came a few years later, in it's last season it was weak. Both series however had good episodes in their last season. This set is not worth the same as the first season if for no other reason than it has half the episodes.

I find it appalling the studio got everyone into buying the first season with a reasonable price, then figured they will all pay just to finish their set. Well at least in my case guess again. As much as I would like to have the complete series I refuse to pay any studio a price that is unjustified for what they are giving us. I too would have given four or five stars if this had a price comparable to the product.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I'm glad they released it but ,......
Review: First off,I am very happy any of The Outer Limits original series saw the light of day on DVD.I still to this day have fond memories of coming home from JR. High,making something to eat and catching The Outer Limits on channel 9 on a rainy afternoon.I will state my praises first.These second season episodes look very snazzy as far as the video quality goes.My fave episode "Demon With A Glass Hand" is very sharp and clear on my TV.I can now give away my VHS copy.I haven't watched every episode yet but I am figuring they all are pretty good visually.That being said,what kept this review from getting a five star rating is the price and lack of ANYTHING extra.I paid $52.99 for this set and for only 3 DVDs that is alittle steep to me.Another reviewer mentioned the inclusion of the original unused pilot episode of "Please Stand By" (the series original name before it changed it's name to The Outer Limits) as an extra treat and I totally agree.Or even a few episodes with running commentaries would have been awesome.But as I stated earlier just to own these oldies but goodies on DVD is well worth it to me.

Cheers,
Steve

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: The packaging makes me afraid to buy this!
Review: I am qualified to write this review because I recently owned the entire series on VHS, and just a few weeks ago I gave them to the public library so that many can be "turned on" to this great classic sci-fi series for free. I thought I would just order these neat DVD's and replace my VHS collection.

Now I read about people having trouble with the packaging and the double-sided DVDs.

So, why is it that someone can make a profit selling a recent series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer with 22 episodes on six single-sided discs for well under $50.00, but the people who put this set out are selling 17 episodes of an almost 40 year old series on three double-sided discs, which is just a set-up for damage even if handled carefully?

So here's what I want...
The ENTIRE series on SINGLE sided discs in ONE box, and I would happily pay at least $120.00 for that. After all, collecting all those VHS tapes cost be about $400.00, but they sure take up space!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Episodes reviewed, not nostalgia
Review: I grew up with this show, as many of you have I suspect. It would be easy to review this in a nostalgic haze and give it 5 stars "just because". However, I have taken a step back and have reviewed each episode rationally, based on budget, cast, writers, etc. Along the way, it may appear as though I am overly concerned with the "not-so-special-effects" of the series but trust me, it is a point of minor contension. Still, since great effect based movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Planet of the Apes are barely three years away, I can't shake the notion that if the purse-strings were relaxed a little and it would have paid off big for a show that seemed doomed from the start. Often, the show could rise above it all, with superb acting, like in the first seasons "The Mutant", but why make a show work harder than necessary and potentially leave an accomplished actor looking foolish and silly?

Picture/sound/packaging: 4/5 Dissappointing yet predictable lack of 5.1 DD remastered sound. Original Star Trek seems to have proven to be the exception and not the rule in so far as sound. The picture is often nice, but varies from scene to scene on certain eps. I have no problem with the way the packaging is put together. So many complaints about the two sided discs? None here. And I think the packaging color scheme is an excellant compliment to Season One. My only real complaint is the cancellation of this series in the middle of season two, gosh, at least let the season finish!

--Episodes--Season 2--

(I consider 3 and above good, 2 or below poor.)

Soldier: 5/5
Cold Hands, Warm Heart: 2.5/5
Behold Eck!: 1/5
Expanding Human: 2.5/5
Cry of Silence: 3.5/5
Demon With a Glass Hand: 3/5
Wolf 359: 4/5
I, Robot: 4/5
The Invisible Enemy: 1/5
The Inheritors 1&2: 5/5
Keeper of the Purple Twilight: 3.5/5
Counterweight: 2/5
The Brain of Col. Barham: 1.5/5
The Premonition: 2.5/5
The Duplicate Man: 3.5/5
The Probe: 2.5/5

Wrap-up:
Still, in spite of all the hokey props, there lurks delicious camera angles, glorious sound, odd lighting, and most importantly, a fun sense of adventure that has all but since evaporated from the airwaves. In spite of the 3 stars, I cannot reccommend this set enough. Not because I'm caught like "the enemy" in the never-never, but because I'm trapped in a time period that uses "effects" to convey awe and mystery instead of imagination. The Outer Limits is a welcome look back at a future gone by.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Episodes reviewed, not nostalgia
Review: I grew up with this show, as many of you have I suspect. It would be easy to review this in a nostalgic haze and give it 5 stars "just because". However, I have taken a step back and have reviewed each episode rationally, based on budget, cast, writers, etc. Along the way, it may appear as though I am overly concerned with the "not-so-special-effects" of the series but trust me, it is a point of minor contension. Still, since great effect based movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Planet of the Apes are barely three years away, I can't shake the notion that if the purse-strings were relaxed a little and it would have paid off big for a show that seemed doomed from the start. Often, the show could rise above it all, with superb acting, like in the first seasons "The Mutant", but why make a show work harder than necessary and potentially leave an accomplished actor looking foolish and silly?

Picture/sound/packaging: 4/5 Dissappointing yet predictable lack of 5.1 DD remastered sound. Original Star Trek seems to have proven to be the exception and not the rule in so far as sound. The picture is often nice, but varies from scene to scene on certain eps. I have no problem with the way the packaging is put together. So many complaints about the two sided discs? None here. And I think the packaging color scheme is an excellant compliment to Season One. My only real complaint is the cancellation of this series in the middle of season two, gosh, at least let the season finish!

--Episodes--Season 2--

(I consider 3 and above good, 2 or below poor.)

Soldier: 5/5
Cold Hands, Warm Heart: 2.5/5
Behold Eck!: 1/5
Expanding Human: 2.5/5
Cry of Silence: 3.5/5
Demon With a Glass Hand: 3/5
Wolf 359: 4/5
I, Robot: 4/5
The Invisible Enemy: 1/5
The Inheritors 1&2: 5/5
Keeper of the Purple Twilight: 3.5/5
Counterweight: 2/5
The Brain of Col. Barham: 1.5/5
The Premonition: 2.5/5
The Duplicate Man: 3.5/5
The Probe: 2.5/5

Wrap-up:
Still, in spite of all the hokey props, there lurks delicious camera angles, glorious sound, odd lighting, and most importantly, a fun sense of adventure that has all but since evaporated from the airwaves. In spite of the 3 stars, I cannot reccommend this set enough. Not because I'm caught like "the enemy" in the never-never, but because I'm trapped in a time period that uses "effects" to convey awe and mystery instead of imagination. The Outer Limits is a welcome look back at a future gone by.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: All Fans pay for what they love!
Review: I have a long obsessive appreciation for this show. My claim that it has been a foundation for all the science fiction tv and films to come has been vindicated by the splendid reviews that both DVD sets have received by other customers. I am sure this is attributed in part to David J. Schow's book "The Outer Limits Companion". There is really nothing I can add to commend this show further but I would like to suggest an idea for Harlan Ellison. Release "Demon with a Glass Hand" as a Computer Game! It has the ideal plot for such a product if you really think about it. Robert Culp could even do the voice of Trent. This show has been ransaked for ideas for the past four decades. It is about time a new product is released in a format that truly represents the show as it was but with the participation by the viewer. Infinately a better idea than the new nineties "Outer Limits". I am sure all dedicated fans of this show feel exploited by the price of the final seventeen shows in comparison to the previous set. Have you considered this spin on the whole matter? MGM/UA had an opportunity to sell an entire old series on a new format. The fans are ecstatic. We buy the first package. Then we are impulsed to write a review. MGM/UA are then ecstatic that the product which they pumped out has such a good response and a big following. They know how to price the next set. Who do you think might have contributed to the promotion? A lack of response and poor sales brings about early deletion, a classic Catch 22 situation. In the end, all Fans pay for what they love!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: It's Great To Have But....
Review: I've been hoping that MGM would release the 2nd season, ever since Season 1 came out in 2002. I was ecstatic when I found out that it was being released. Unfortunately, the package completely turned me off because of the placing of the two episodes of The Inheritors on two different sides of the same disk. What makes this even worse was that there was room on side 2 to keep the two episodes together. I wa shoping to get rid of the VHS copy of the Inheritors that I have, but now that won't happen.


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