End of the World

It's rather amazing that, in all of the infinite corridors of time, scientists Tony and Doug always wind up somewhere catastrophic. In End of the World, the temporal travelers arrive in 1910, only to find Halley's Comet looming large in the sky, seemingly on a collision course for Earth; since our planet has never been in any real danger from Halley's Comet, one might assume that Doug and Tony have landed in an alternate universe; more likely, the writer of this episode opted to take huge liberties with historical facts to add extra suspense, tension and urgency to his story.

Without the sense of impending cataclysmic doom, this would certainly be a rather forgettable episode, as Tony and Doug meddle with history once again by trying to save two hundred men trapped in a collapsing mine. That said, WITH the added danger of the comet, it all becomes quite laughable, partly because of the huge factual inaccuracies regarding the comet (an orange fireball!), and partly because the comet's arrival in 1910 somehow affects the Tic Toc technicians in 1968 -- not sure how that works, but watching the frightened scientists recoil in terror as the comet approaches is hilarious. Hasn't the tunnel got an off switch?

While the 1968 scientists look on helplessly, Tony and Doug attempt to rustle up volunteers to help at the mine, but having been told that the world is about to end by local scientist Professor Ainsley (Gregory Morton), the townsfolk really can't be arsed. Doug visits Ainsley and convinces him that his calculations are flawed; when the professor admits to the locals that he was wrong, they pick up tools and get to work rescuing the miners. Jobs a good 'un!

Having happily altered history once again, the time travelers disappear, and after a brief visit for Tony to the desert location of the Tic Toc HQ circa 1958, the pair wind up in the Japanese consulate at Pearl Harbour, one day before the infamous attack. Not having much luck are they?

Doug and Tony find themselves in league with some miners and end up trapped in a cave in. No help. That's because people in 1910 think that Halley's comet is going to blast into the earth, destroying it. Mostly, the boys have to face off against a naysayer who refuses to help. The problem with the comet is that it is a fireball moving slowly toward our dear planet.

One the most weak episode on entire series, the bad script and also special effects almost ruins the episode, firstly when the Comet is coming straight to the Earth, totally inaccurate, second the Comet didn't appears as should be with a tail, a strong fails of Special effects, when the Halley's comet passing through nearby the Earth in 1910 in an incredible 5 millions kilometres, but in the episodes just few thousand or so, Irwin Allen should be known that, Doug trying to convincing the scientist was the outrage, how explain such fault, moreover the series fall into disreput, as entertainment works but the lack of credibility charge his price soon or later!!!

Resume:

First watch: 1971 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7

The writing and acting for this episode were good, but I noticed that a few times they decided to show the actors in extreme close-up.

This might be OK for inside the mine, as it lends to the claustrophobic feel, but in the Time Tunnel lab, it makes everyone look strange. They even found a way to make Lee Meriwether look odd! Not cool!

Bad idea. Bad, bad idea. I only wish we could go back in time and prevent the director from doing this.

Tony and Doug see Halley's comet in 1910.

They don't come much better than this!

This is one of my three favourite episodes of The Time Tunnel.

The teaser sees a surprisingly pumped up Robert Colbert grab Paul Fix ("Oh come now") and Colbert walking outside to see an ugly planet-like ball in the sky. Then the teaser ends, the viewer knows they are in for a ride!

I am not sure why it is, but there is something really special about the spoken words in the hour. The thing that defines End Of The World is a general feeling of gusto in the acting, gusto in the direction and a clever use of stock music. This is Whit Bissell's finest hour. I first viewed this episode in February 1978 and have made an estimated 150 viewings of it over the years. Yes, it really is that good.