O.B.I.T.

While operating the Outer Band Individuated Teletracer, or O.B.I.T.machine, in a military base, Captain Harris is strangled. U.S. Senator Peter Breck arrives at the base to investigate his murder and learns that there are several bases with the O.B.I.T.machine, which is capable to monitor in a video display the privacy of any person anywhere. Along his investigation, Senator Breck asks for information about the OBIT, such as who is the manufacturer, price, who bought, but no user has any information about the mysterious machine.

"O.B.I.T." is a boring episode based on a machine inspired on the dystopian novel by George Orwell Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984), published in 1949. The idea of an omnipresent government surveillance of people is scary; but this episode shows aliens monitoring the Earthling population without any control of government, which is scarier. But the narrative of a court room drama is tiresome and waste an interesting storyline. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O.B.I.T."

This episode takes place mostly in a hearing room at a secret government installation where the OBIT machine was created. It seems that an investigator has been sent there but he keeps getting stonewalled when he tries to talk to the man in charge. Eventually, he is able to see this 'sick man'--but learns he isn't sick at all but afraid. You see, OBIT is an amazing spy machine that can be used to track anyone anywhere--and he's afraid of the repercussions. Plus, the machine is addictive and has ruined his life. What exactly is OBIT? How did they create it? And, most importantly, who is behind all this? OBIT is not a great episode until late in the show. Because of this, I have to strongly admonish you to stick with this one--there is an amazingly good payoff at the end. But, until then, expect a rather claustrophobic episode that is mostly played out in one dull room. A sleeper!

Senator Orville arrives at a Military base, to investigate the murder of an operator of The OBIT device, Aka the Outer Band Individuated Teletracer, a device with remarkable capabilities.

Very different, very good, it's yet another very successful, original early episode. It's a good mix of science fiction and horror, and although it was set in the present (as was) day, it has a very futuristic vibe. It's very imaginative, and does a great job of throwing the political ramifications into the story.

It definitely has an odd vibe, the courtroom like setup was very strange, but allowed for some intense scenes. Once again I'll applaud the production team, for making great use of the limited special effects technologies that were available at the time.

Made way back in 1962, some of the themes explored and imagined here must have seemed so out of reach, so far beyond, skip forward sixty years, and they weren't too far off with some of their progressive ideas, some things truly haven't changed for the better.

It's put me in mind somewhat of a Dr Who episode that would come some years later, The War Machines, where powerful computer WOTAN was set to take over.

Very good, once again, 8/10.

The sad thing about this circa 1962 episode is that there are things in place these days that aren't much less invasive. Granted, aliens aren't running them, but equally dangerous people are. In this episode, a U. S. Senator is investigating a murder and the reasons behind an incredible number of depression cases, suicides, and other morale related issues. He gets stonewalled all along the way. The murdered man, who spends his days watching people and recording every bit of communications and activity in their lives, is just the tip of the iceberg. People are being sent to mental institutions and their privacy invaded on a daily basis. It turns out that there is an amorphous white figure that is in contact with him. He is viewed in a circular monitor and seems to be in charge. Apparently, if one becomes contrary, they will pay the price. Most of the activity takes place in an ersatz courtroom. The proceedings are top secret. This shows the original Outer Limits starting to gain some legs. This is certainly one of the better episodes.

Except for two scenes of aliens murdering people, this episode would be a boring court room drama. All we get is people talking for an hour about something that could be summed up in one sentence: "There is a device that lets you see what other people are doing, and aliens built it. They want to destroy us with paranoia." There, done! We didn't need to hear different testimonies on that fact. Except for the very end, where you have the alien's true appearance on the screen combined with his human appearance, and the two aforementioned scenes of aliens murdering people, this is episode is probably the most boring thing ever put on screen; certainly one of dullest things I've seen in my life.