episode #8 - Invaders From the 5th Dimension

episode #8 / Air Date: 11/3/65
written by Shimon Wincelberg; Directed by Leonard Horn

Strange aliens arrive! Their ship is even more strange: it looks like a huge eyeball sitting inside a strange art deco structure. Also, it's bigger inside than what it looks like outside - like the TARDIS from Dr. Who - because this is the 5th dimension we're dealing with, right? The interior is minimalist - mostly dark space and some sparkling hanging curtains - see also The Empath episode from Star Trek TOS. The aliens also resemble the aliens of that TOS episode, but with no mouths; and, supposedly, they're like floating heads. The aliens here are after a human brain to charge up one of their computers (now see the TOS episode Spock's Brain).
All this is interesting in a goofy way - the aliens speak as if they are a million years more advanced than Earth but seem ready to destroy other life at the drop of a hat. They freeze Dr. Smith and zap him inside their ship; Smith, of course, wheedles his way out of this by promising them a better, smaller brain - more suitable; he's referring to Will. Unfortunately, the episode then becomes tedious: most of it involves Will's parents looking for him in the Chariot while Smith & Will are walking towards the alien ship; this comes across as repetitive, like a re-use of stock footage over & over; there's also footage of someone flying with that jet pack - it's Don, this time. The ending is pretty sappy. BoG's Score: 4.5 out of 10

NOTE:
the Robot was becoming more conversant around his time, even questioning John's order to halt the aliens since he knew the aliens would deactivate it.


Epilogue Tag: a quake hits! Don & Judy are working on a water conversion unit next to a rock outcropping when a huge boulder drops down on their spot! Freeze frame!