FORBIN - Wow,... the episode I watched last night, 'The Mutantion', guest-starred Suzanne Pleshette!
Our hero, David Vincent, travels to investigate the rumor of a crashed space ship way out in the desert.
There is a lot of important information given as to the nature of The Invaders as a species, and a lot of special effects and opticals (provided by the same company who did Star Treks opticals).
In this episode there are some marked differences from the first two episodes:
1) The David Vincent character is played slightly more aggressive, driven, and forceful,... seems more like a private detective with a grudge,... whereas in the first two episodes, he is played more paranoid, confused, and panicked.
I do not know if this is part of the natural character development, as he accepts his new role in life; or was it simply how he actor was asked by deliver by the wishes of the director.
I like the character played both ways, but he is more a sympathetic, character in the first two episodes, and in this episode he seems very secure, confident, and somewhat indignant, acting more HEROIC - being a big switch from the 'panicked VICTIM'.
So I am merely noting the switch, not stating 'good or bad'.
2) While there was plenty of action in the first two episodes, but they were more 'in the head', especially playing up his character being viewed by others as a paranoid guy who cannot get people to believe him,... I personally feel this is very powerful,... This third episode is mostly ACTION,.. lots of running about, ray guns firing off, being chased, that sort of thing - The FUN stuff,... especially when we see him kill his first Invader,... VERY COOL MOMENT!!!
In fact, I think the whole scene when he is picking off Aliens is the best visual scene in the series thus far.
Is a good episode? Well,... it is not as satisfying as the first two, as there is not really any creepy Twilight Zone flavor in this one,... as I said, he acts more like an Investigative Reporter in this one, than a guy who is totally freaked-out and trying to warn a World who will not listen, while being pursued by the The Invaders.
Where it is good: We learn a lot about the villains; what their ship looks like up close, their weapons, and more background on The Invaders as a culture.
Perhaps this was one of those scripts the producers felt they needed to do in order to fill in a lot of exposition quickly for the viewers.
Would I watch this episode again?
Sure, but not for the STORY(which this script was thin on) but to get a better look at the ship, the weapons, and the exposition on the Invaders themselves.
In short, not the best STORY, but a very important and visually exciting EPISODE.
I guess it depends which STYLE of presentation one ultimately prefers.
Let's wee where the writers go with it, shall we?,....
Okay,... tonight's episode,... 'The Leeches',... dum, dum, dum, dah,...
And thanks Captain DEGO,... stay tuned!
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