Mission: Impossible (TV Series) The Carriers (1966) User Reviews

Good episode, but a seeming plot hole

[cwaters-3 · 8/10 · 25 January 2008]

Just watched this episode tonight. Very well done. Could easily have been a two-parter.

Once they discover the enemy's intent--that the enemy's operatives will be infected with the plague and then unknowingly infect the U.S., the IMF team goes about neutralizing the specimens. The premise is that the people who organized the plot will not discover that the specimens have actually been neutralized, that they will think they are still infecting their operatives, and that they will still send them to infect the U.S. The enemy, however, will never know why the plot failed; i.e., why their operatives never infect anyone. Clever!

Before the IMF team neutralizes the specimens, however, Rollin Hand gets infected with the virus. Later, he struggles with the compound's leader, inadvertently infecting *him* with the plague! Rollin is given an antidote at the end of the episode; however, wouldn't the compound leader soon thereafter come down with the plague and end up infecting his operatives anyway--with the result being that the operatives will still infect the U.S.? It seems like the writers' attempts to add to the suspense ended up creating a plot hole.

One of the best.

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 28 December 2013]

"Colony Three" "The Carriers" is one of the best episodes of "Mission: Impossible"--with a great plot and a nice guest appearance by George Takei. Takei's appearance isn't surprising, as the same studio was producing both "Star Trek" and "Mission: Impossible" and William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy also appeared in both of the shows.

The Impossible Mission Force is sent to infiltrate a Soviet city that was built to be inhabited by spies preparing to be sent to blend in with Americans. To do this, the town is an exact replica of a town in the US and everyone is ordered to speak English and act as if they are really living in the States. However, although the stated purpose of this town is to train agents to blend in seamlessly, there is a much more nefarious reason for the compound--and the team must find that reason and neutralize it.

The idea of a Russian town made to look EXACTLY like an American town and inhabited by spies in training is very intriguing. It also is a very tense episode and kept my interest throughout. I noticed some complaints in other reviews about plot holes, but this didn't bother me. After all, it isn't like "Mission: Impossible" is an ultra-realistic series!! It's just escapist fun.

By the way, this show was probably inspired by the British series "Secret Agent". In "Colony Three" agent Drake infiltrates a similar town, though it's an exact match for a British town instead. However, the way the show plays out and ends is quite different.

Cold Blooded

[jalbert1 · 10/10 · 22 January 2013]

In response to the "plot hole" pointed out by cwaters; I think the ending is supposed to imply that leader will become sick and die, which doesn't seem to bother the IMF at all. What's really brutal about that is that almost certainly some of his unwitting followers will die as well. Hell, the whole country might get wiped out. As far as them getting infected and then coming to the U.S., I think we're supposed to believe that once it's been spread and the symptoms become apparent, there won't be time to get them on a plane. Remember, they didn't sign up to be carriers. So once they feel sick and start keeling over, they're probably gonna be pretty upset.