The Outer Limits (1963) 1.22

Specimen: Unknown

starring Stephen McNally, Richard Jaeckel

written by Stephen Lord

directed by Gerd Oswald

Four astronauts return by shuttlecraft from a space station in orbit around Earth. A strange spore (found attached to the space station) killed one of the other crewmen. They bring with them specimens of the spores. The spores turn into flower like objects and spray the men with pellets and gas. Once by one the men succumb to the plants.

Captain Mike Doweling (Richard Jaeckel), the last man still conscious, talks to Colonel MacWilliams (Stephen McNally), his superior officer on Earth. Doweling suggests that McWilliams have the shuttle blown out of the sky but MacWilliams ultimately decides to let him land the shuttle.

The flowers get out of the shuttle and start spreading like crazy. MacWillliams, Mike's wife Janet, and an ambulance get there before anyone else does. The plants attack them. P,imous storm clouds gather as Colonel MacWilliams and Janet Doweling fight for their lives against the plants from outer space. 

Thoughts

This episode could and should have been better. Maybe a little more back and forth between Captain and Mrs. Doweling would have given it the touch that I feel like it was missing.

Notes

This is the only episode of this show in which Stephen McNally appeared. He appeared in episodes of Kraft Suspense Theatre, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. I've also seen him in Johnny Belinda (1948).

This is the only episode of this show in which Richard Jaeckel appeared. He also appeared in episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. I've seen him in at least three films including 3:10 to Yuma (1957).

Gail Kobe played the part of Janet. This is the first of two episodes of this show in which she appeared. I saw fairly recently in an episode of The Twilight Zone (1959), 1.23 A World of Difference.

Russell Johnson, John Kellogg, and Dabney Coleman were also in this episode.

This is the first of two episodes of this show that Stephen Lord had a hand in writing. This is the sixth of 14 episodes of this show that Gerd Oswald directed. The fifth one he directed was 1.19 The Invisibles.