20 Best Sci-Fi TV Episodes Ever
A rundown of the finest reasons to strap on a spacesuit this side of TV...
In the 1950s, as the medium exploded, producers realized there was a market for taking science fiction, long relegated to pulp magazines and Saturday morning movie series and transferring it to television. In making that move, the TV viewing experience was changed forever and sci-fi has maintained a broadcast presence ever since. Science fiction is one of the few genres that crosses national, religious, and ethnic lines with ease. For some its the hope of a better tomorrow, that human need to push boundaries, that makes sci-fi so compelling. For others its the visceral thrill of aliens and spaceships that pulls them in. And there are those who are hooked by the ability for sci-fi to speak to us as a species, commenting on the human condition and the emotions that drive us all. While there are literally thousands of examples to chose from, the following twenty offer a broad view of what makes science fiction the greatest genre in television history. And yes, spoilers will follow. 20. The Architects Of Fear (The Outer Limits , Season 1)
While similar in design to The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits generally focused more on straight science fiction as opposed to stories dealing with fantasy or the supernatural. The anthology format allowed for the series to present in-and-out stories, never falling prey to staleness, and so it wasnt opposed to telling tales that were designed to get under the viewers skin. The Architects of Fear concerns a group of scientists who look at the declining state of the Cold War-era Earth and deduce that nuclear annihilation is imminent. Concluding that the only way to pull back from the brink is for there to be a common enemy the planet can unite against, the scientists concoct a plan to fake an alien invasion. They chose one of their own to surgically alter into the appearance of an alien, who will then arrive at the United Nations to announce the aliens plans for world domination. The plot may seem familiar to those who have read Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons Watchmen, but the true power of the story lies in the emotional and psychological transformation the altered scientist goes through. To what degree are people defined by their appearance? How can the best qualities everyone keeps deep within come to light when people live in fear of each other? These remain classic questions of the genre to this day.