Of interest is that this is the second excursion to Mars for Adam West in 1964. He also starred in 'Robinson Crusoe On Mars' which is worth a look and may even be underrated since I know so few people who have actually seen it. Give that one a try! Originally I had given up on Outer Limits during the second limp season after the 4th episode thus I never did see this episode until I bought the DVD set a few years ago. As with all previous second season episodes I had not originally seen, this one again demonstrates that my decision to find other things to do than watch this in 1964 was not necessarily an erroneous decision. It, too, takes what could have been a good concept and becomes botched in the hands of a production crew who seem to have no concept of what constitutes 'awe and mystery' or no deep down passion for producing thought-provoking science fiction. Anyway, we have a crew going to Mars for exploration. The first crew is massacred by something unknown so a second crew is sent. The first fatal flaw is that as the first crew's rocket is landing, the Earth is clearly seen in the background. This could be another example of the OL team cutting budgetary corners since this very same background is used in other previous episodes (Cold Hands Warm Heart, for example). I'm not sure how much money it would have taken to remove the Earth from the background, but even at 7 years old I would have known that you cannot see the Earth nearly this well from Mars. Yet as with ALL prior OL episodes there are jarring scientific flaws that one tends to overlook if the story is well written and conveyed with distracting thought provoking concepts. This episode is not one of them. The flaws are all too hard to get around. As with 'Robinson Crusoe On Mars', the planet has an atmosphere (which, I suppose cuts down on having to come up with helmets and oxygen tanks from the practically non-existent budget). In this case, the atmosphere is quite adequate for strenuous activity. It is also an obvious sound stage since you are able to see creases in the drywall background. Still, with OL if the story shines, who cares? We are provided with a slight glimpse of the creature that kills the first crew. The creature is actually worthy of the first season's efforts. It does induce uneasy fear. That's why we watch this show! The second crew is sent up with the strict order that safety strategies and protocols should be followed. It starts out well enough but soon it all goes to Hell in a hand-basket. Other reviewers have rightfully pointed out the sheer stupidity of some of the decisions and behaviors. They aren't written into the script effectively as much as it suddenly occurs to the individual, 'What can I do right now that disobeys orders and is entirely lame-brain'? Meanwhile, the ground crew does their best to look stressed and haggard (loosened ties, five o'clock shadows, and rumpled uniforms). So, after two of the four member team are eliminated by the creature - which, again, turns out to really not be such a bad effect, the member with the all-too cliché loose attitude (Rudy Solari) decides not so much to go have a look for them as much as go look for more Mars gems like the ones he found earlier. He also makes the most astonishing revelation about the nature of the creature and the environment as he day dreams while looking from the porthole. He is astonished! He has it all figured out but the commander (West) conveniently falls asleep and can't be roused(!?). Of course, the idiot decides to go out anyway and leaves his 'walkie-talkie' <== yes, it IS called that. Then when Adam wakes up he has to go look for Solari despite a strict command that he NOT go but if he must, the rocket will have to take off at a precise time. Absolutely anyone who would go through all of the training to be an astronaut would know the importance of this. Adam knows this but thinks he can round up the idiot in time. Solari seems completely oblivious to this fact as he scouts for more Mars gems. What follows is what seems like a forced situation to put the astronauts at peril. The creature special effects are, in fact, effective. The astronauts attempting to run across the sandy terrain is not so good. The plan to extract themselves from the situation seems entirely too obvious and ultimately seems misguided when it is discovered that more than one creature exists. Of course then comes the questions wondering how such large creatures manage to exist when there seems to be no consistent other life for them to eat regularly, and why only one ever chose to be active when multiple targets are available, etc? Eventually, they get back to the rocket and go home. Like much of the previous season 2 episodes, there is nothing you walk away with to think about. The adventure simply ends. The only reason to see this is perhaps to see the special creature effects because they aren't half bad, and to see an early Adam West.
Review of The Invisible Enemy
