THE OUTER LIMITS
(1963-65)
It has monsters and aliens and time travel and a witty opening monologue from a Control Voice that isn't above begging and brainwashing to keep you tuned in. But what makes The Outer Limits special are the ethical dilemmas it poses. The flawed hero of the week often ends up in the same boat as the audience — feeling uneasy, alienated, or maybe just plain terrified. The series never quite recaptured the magic of its first season in 1963, but its mid-'90s revival addressed biochemical warfare, genetic mutation, artificial intelligence, and overpopulation. A collection of fantastic scenarios that seemed not entirely outside the realm of possibility, The Outer Limits is scary because it doesn't seem so ''out there.''
