Original Airdate: January 6, 1964
Another great episode and another great bear. The Chromoite is a truly yucky lookin thing, but extremely well done with realistic detail. The 2 legged, jelly-fish, crab-clawed menace is a monstrous conglomeration, and he gets plenty of on-screen time. The opening teaser sets an eerie mood, seeing him stalk the lady doctor and clicking those nasty claws.
This episode has a lot going for it. An interesting idea of sending foreign exchange representatives (of sorts) between Earth and the planet Chromo, devolves into a matter of broken trust. The initial transfer is accomplished through transporter-like equipment ala THE FLY & STAR TREK, splattering atoms and sending them hurling to their destination. Henry Silva (Tourist Attraction) is given a fine role here as Chino Rivera, the inmate serving a life sentence who’s given a chance for redemption by volunteering to be a guinea pig, or in this case, mouse. His performance is superb, evoking much sympathy and delivering humorous, memorable lines. Henry’s real-life parents were Puerto Rican, and his ethnicity is worth noting as he’s given the lead role. Diana Sands, an African-American actress, also appears in a major role as Dr. Julia Harrison. The fact that two minorities had main roles in this episode was somewhat uncommon for the days when it first aired. It's true that STAR TREK did much to help break racial barriers on TV, but shows like OUTER LIMITS [and a handful of others] were doing it even earlier.
There are many affecting moments, and the music and photography again help propel them. An example is the tranquil moment of Julia’s walk in the woods taking a nauseating and terrifying turn, by stumbling upon the Chromoite which is gorging itself on slime. The creature’s sounds are really scary and creative. Chino’s escape attempt is another good sequence, featuring smart camera angles and tension. The monster stalking victims also offers lots of scares and neat effects. Seeing that thing hiking through the woods makes a leisurely stroll almost unthinkable after watching this ep.
Great entry. Kudos to the grand series! Long live OL!!
“I’ve been out with some dogs in my time, but...” ~ Chino Rivera