The Man Who Was Never Born

This episode explores the notion of killing evil before it has a chance to grow into a menace for mankind--sort of like if you could go back through time to kill Hitler. The show begins with an astronaut from 1961 landing in the future only to find that the planet has been decimated and what people are left are hideous creatures. One named Andro explains that all this was caused by a scientist who accidentally created a plague and wiped out most everyone on the planet. So, using the ship, Andro returns to the 1960s to kill the man who would one day destroy mankind. However, because he's so ugly, he's able to use cool psychic powers to make others think he looks just like Martin Landau! And, it turns out, he's arrived just in time to possibly prevent the scientist's parents from ever marrying! Overall, a very intriguing episode that only has one fault--the ending and the bride's reaction to Andro is just too weird and hard to believe. Still, it's a cool episode and one well worth your time. As usual for this series, it's well written and insightful. See this one.

A guy must go back in time to prevent disaster from happening on earth.

Time travel is a theme that I always like. From The Time Tunnel to Star Trek I just can't get enough of it. I personally know Martin Landau from his two seasons of Space 1999 (1975-77) so it is rather pleasing to know his acting range, seen here, is much wider than that seen in Space 1999.

According to the connection section of this episode, Star Trek episode Miri (1966) lifted the "signal from planet" sound effect from this Limits episode. Nice to see the two shows cross over like that.

The Man Who Was Never Born is a fine hour.

An astronaut unwittingly travels to a future Earth, where he encounters a future Earth dweller, a mutation, The astronaut pleads for The Dweller, Andro the return to Earth's present day, and correct the path.

Wow, this was an incredible episode, incredibly imaginative and thought provoking, The man who was never born delivers on every level, it hits hard, delivering a warning to the future, and poses one huge question, could you take someone's life away, knowing they were going to cause untold misery in the future ahead?

Great mix of sci fi and drama, the characters are so well drawn, so well rounded, that the story somehow has a real meaning.

Martin Landau delivers an outstanding performance, Shirley Knight and Conrad Hall are tremendous in support, credit to the makeup team Herr also, they did an impressive job on Landau.

It is very, very well produced, I loved the contrasting filming styles, especially the soft focused shots.

9/10.

"The Man Who Was Never Born" is a sensitive fantasy about a man named Andro who is caught in a limbo of time and space. In this episode, he traverses through several worlds, searching for a sense of connection, solidity, and resolution, which is frustratingly elusive.

I will not provide more plot details, aside from the fact that the ending is absolutely stunning and unforgettable. Overall, this is one of the greatest Outer Limits episodes. Martin Landau delivers an outstanding performance in the title role with great support by Shirley Knight. Conrad Hall's soft-focus black/white photography and Leonard Horn's incisive direction complement Anthony Lawrence's spare, compact screenplay to create a powerful viewing experience.

It is difficult to imagine that you will not be moved after watching this. 10/10.

When the astronaut Joseph Reardon accidentally travels through a time warp, he lands on a devastated Earth in 2148 A.D. He stumbles upon a mutant called Andro that explains that an ambitious scientist called Bertram Cabot Jr. had developed a bacterium that caused a biological disaster and the mankind became infertile mutants. Reardon decides to bring the Andro to 1963 to warn the authorities and prevent the disaster. However, Reardom feels that is dying after crossing the time warp and asks Andro to kill Cabot; then vanishes and Andro lands alone on Earth. He uses hypnotic suggestion to have normal appearance and goes to a boarding house seeking out Bertram Cabot Jr. But after meeting the young Noelle Anderson, he learns that she is Bertram Cabot´s girlfriend and Bertram Cabot Jr. has not been born yet. What will Andro do to save mankind?

"The Man Who Was Never Born" is so far the best episode of "The Outer Limits". The screenplay is very well-written, with drama and "A Beauty and the Beast" romance. The conclusion with open end is excellent and without time paradox. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "O Homem que Nunca Nasceu" ("The Man Who Was Never Born")