The Outer Limits was an incredible science fiction series. A lot of people compare it unfavorably to The Twilight Zone (and I mean the original Twilight Zone from the same era as this show, not the movie or remake series that are quite honestly very inferior to the original). But this show is in my opinion as good (or at least almost as good, so much so that it's practically equally) to Rod Serling's classic. Definitely check this show out, it's on DVD now. And the remake of The Outer Limits is also fantastic (not as good as the original but much better than say the remake of Twilight Zone). Check them both out if you like dark TV sci-fi.

"There is nothing wrong with your television set...". One of the most famous opening lines to one of the greatest sc-fi series of all times, "The Outer Limits"(1963-65 - 49 episodes). I've been re visiting this ground breaking, awesome anthology series. I have fond memories of watching this late at night, as a 12 year old...Under the covers of my bed and peering out...And having my mind blown by some of the head-y sci-fi concepts and story lines. In the pilot, "The Galaxy being", scientist Cliff Riobertson converses with an alien from the andromeda galaxy about such things as what death is and the concept of God! A great show, with great writers (Like Harlan Ellison), actors (Like Robert Culp. David McCallum, Bruce Dern, Martin Sheen and Cliff Robinson) and veteran sci-fi directors like Byron Haskin. The show was years ahead of it's time and featured some truly memorable creatures and aliens. The influence of the show also spread later on to shows like "Star Trek" and "The terminator"(based loosely on two famous episodes, "Soldier" and "Demon With A Glass Hand"). If you have never seen it, THIS is must see sci fi TV. Here are my 10 favorite episodes, which I also highly recommend, but you really can't go wrong watching any of them!1 - "The Sixth Finger" 2 - "Demon With A Glass Hand" 3 - "The Galaxy Being" 4 - "Soldier" 5 - "Nightmare" 6 - "The Zanti Misfits" 7 - "It Crawled Out Of The Woodwork" 8 - "A Feasibikity Study" 9 - "Archetects Of Fear" 10 - "Corpus Earthling"

The Outer Limits was (and is) a total rarity in the crowded halls of Science fiction. Produced on a very low budget by Daystar Productions (the production company owned by the series creator Leslie Stevens) and broadcast in America by ABC as a contender to the hugely successful Rod Serling fantasy anthology series The Twilight Zone, the series explored some fascinating concepts (usually deep routed in a science fiction context) and was admirably non conformist in its execution. Far more intelligent and thought provoking than other enjoyable mainstream science fiction fare such as Lost in Space or even Star Trek, The Outer Limits challenged dominant ideologies beautifully in a number of episodes - 'Nightmare' being the finest example. The first season's production team of Leslie Stevens, Joseph Stefano (the man behind the screenplay for 'Psycho', and largely responsible for the series Gothic style) and Dominic Frontiere (whose chilling music characterised the Gothic nature of the series) the show was extremely well made. This was largely helped by a fantastic line up of directors, such as Byron Haskin, James Goldstone, Gerd Oswald and Laslo Benedek, and also Leslie Stevens himself who was responsible for the iconic opening, which has been parodied in so many series (even The Simpsons) featuring the Control Voice. Due to the flexible format of the series it could be almost anything, from a typical science fiction plot line to one of a Gothic horror (like the deservedly celebrated The Forms of Things Unknown). Like most series, however, there were some poor episodes along the way - the very poor and confusing 'Production and Decay of Strange Particles', 'The Hundred Days of the Dragon' and 'Specimen: Unknown' but all in all the first season of The Outer Limits was breathtakingly new and exciting, well written and well made. It is very hard to achieve this level of quality in any television series, but Leslie Stevens and his team had succeeded with relative ease. The most notable episodes from the first season include 'A Feasilibility Study', 'Fun and Games', 'Nightmare', 'The Galaxy Being', 'The Man Who Was Never Born', 'The Chameleon', 'Corpus Earthling' and 'The Guests'. Unfortunately like most things that are bold, new and most importantly non - conformist the first season failed to live up to the expectations of the ABC executives and when a Second Season was commissioned the budget was drastically cut and the programme makers were ordered to make the show a more generic/mainstream fare. Joseph Stefano (who had worked extremely hard on achieving the look and quality of the first season) was understandably outraged by these suggestions and left immediately. He was followed by Dominic Frontiere and a number of the original production team that had all been crucial in the originality and success of the first season. This had a very negative effect on the following season. Bizarrely, ABC chose Ben Brady (producer of Perry Mason) to replace Joseph Stefano for the new season and implement the desired changes. Brady turned the series into an unusual combination of Science fiction and Perry Mason, with the episodes 'The Expanding Human' and 'I. Robot' being the most blatant examples. The one excellent choice Brady did make was hiring Seeleg Lester as Story Consultant for the second series. Lester was an extremely talented television writer, and had a notable understanding of what The Outer Limits was all about. Perhaps because of him a number of the episodes are of fantastic quality. Some other benefits of the second season was that Brady was able to keep many of the original directors, including Byron Haskin and Gerd Oswald and a number of new writers were drafted in to provide scripts. The most notable of these is of course Harlan Ellison who provided two top notch stories 'Soldier' and 'Demon With A Glass Hand', the latter of which won two prestigious awards including 'Best Script for an Anthology Series'. Lester himself would also provide the excellent 'Wolf 359' and other classic episodes include 'The Dupicate Man', 'Cold Hands, Warm Heart', 'The Inheritors' and 'Keeper of the Purple Twilight'. Also, composer Harry Lubin produced some excellent, mysterious and moody music for the new season, and a memorable new theme (incorporating the eerie vibrations of the theremin (the ultimate electronic instrument) - even if a certain percentage of the music was recycled from his scores for the earlier anthology series 'One Step Beyond'. However, despite these successes the series had lost its visual intensity and moral drive. Put in competition with the hugely successful 'Jackie Gleason Show' (in another attempt by ABC officials to kill the programme) the second season was axed after 17 episodes, ending on the mediocre episode 'The Probe'. Thus, one of the finest science fiction series ever produced had come and gone in a very short space of time. Maybe if the impatient ABC officials had waited a little longer when the programme was under the control of Stevens and Stefano the show would have lasted, but like so many television series, this was never allowed to be. Thankfully though, once the show entered syndication it picked up many new fans and gathered a cult status. Due to this, today the series has a considerable fan following, and a 1990's revival to keep its spirit alive. This is all thanks to the creative talent and genius of Leslie Stevens, Joseph Stefano and later Seeleg Lester for making a totally different series, one with many moral messages and one that was beautifully told - from the Gothic Art House film feel of 'Forms of Things Unknown', the fairytale like execution of 'The Guests' to the claustrophobic and shadowy 'Demon With A Glass Hand' each episode has something to offer. Television at its very best. Truly exceptional. The Outer Limits is a fine example of an era in television we may never see again.

I love both series of 'The Twilight Zone' I enjoyed 'Star Trek' the 60s series & many of the ITC series. But this series to one who has never seen it on TV before (under 40) is a real dull clunker! Very dry sci-fi with no personality. Tedious stories that you find yourself doing something else (reach for a book to read etc) instead of watching as it does not catch the imagination.I tried the highest IMDb rated episodes too: also really dull & interest was never found in any of them. The first episode is so ordinary in style & pace & so lacking in anything to inspire the viewer, even with what could have been a good story if used in other shows.The very annoying & patronising start 'We are taking over your TV' appears to mindlessly brainwash viewers into thinking this junk is worthy. It amazingly gets compared to the brilliant 'The Twilight Zone' too by many, who obviously can't see the boring directing & pacing of this series for what it really is.No wonder it was very cheap on Amazon! 2/10