I love the basic premise of this story. A newly elected president is faced with a global crisis, when an extraterrestrial presence enters our solar system, headed for Earth. The discussion and conjecture among the President's advisors is well written and performed, but the actions of the aliens juxtaposed with the story's resolution makes no sense. Before arriving, the aliens strike the moon with enough force to alter its orbit and render the surface molten. Then the aliens 'accidentally' destroy our satellites, in an attempt to communicate with us. The aliens are either the clumsiest ambassadors ever conceived, or they are here to conquer Earth. The story concludes with the premise that the human race is destroyed, because we tried to defend ourselves when we felt threatened. Any 'moral' that the story is trying to convey, is overshadowed by the apparent stupidity of both the humans and the aliens. The humans cannot possibly hope to fight against such advanced technology and the aliens would not destroy us, if they came to communicate and make friends. The episode is great, right up to the conclusion, which is seriously flawed and illogical. The ending narration should have posed a question, rather than making a definitive judgement against the human race.
9 Reviews
A compelling commentary on the state of human affairs and trust
SansMerci321 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Newly appointed President Halsey is just getting acclimated to his position, when word comes down that an unidentified flying object is on a direct path with Earth. Fresh from his inauguration dinner, he and his wife, First Lady Halsey, are escorted to an underground bunker where an ensemble of military, scientific, and philanthropic experts have been assembled to assess the situation and offer the new Commander-in-Chief their two cents. WIth each passing moment, they second guess one another with their differing points of view. The military adviser suggest that the blow up the travelers, no questions asked, as they are uninvited guests. Scientists in the bunker are slow to act, because they want more information. Philanthropic experts question the hostility of the beings, since they are picking up a visual transmission from space in which the creatures appear to be trying to communicate. As zero hour approaches, and the invading craft grows closer to the surface, President Halsey is bombarded from all sides, and feels pressure to decide on a course of action in a situation for which there is no precedent. All eyes on him, neighboring nations ponder what there response should be. Some want to act more quickly than others, feeling threatened by the aliens' presence in general. Still, the one lone voice of reason, Janet Preston, insists that they take the time to decode the message from the alien race before acting rashly and provoking a violent response. After all, she precludes, they could be peaceful. Suddenly, a flash in the sky appears, and an object plummets to the surface, disappearing into the ocean depths. Now people begin to panic. In the bunker, the President sits on a corner stair with his head in his hands, contemplating the world outside. His wife, the only calming force in the room, sits next to him and advises him to go with his instincts. This situation and how he handles it will be his legacy, and will usher in a new era for the human race. In the end, Halsey makes the only decision he can justify given the information available - he gives the command to fire at the craft. We strike. The craft comes down. Around the world, other nations do the same to similar crafts in there respective spaces. Suddenly, another message begins transmitting. An arguably more angry message from the sound of the alien's voice. Janet Preston, whose task all along was the decode the message, is able to translate a portion... "We wanted to be your friends." Suddenly, another flash in the sky..a bigger flash. Radar shows its target, Russia. Suddenly, Russia disappears from Radar. Then Australia. Then China. Other flash. Radar shows the target. Closing in 10000 miles..3000 miles..500 miles..100 miles..20 miles. President Halsey stands up from his stair, crosses to his wife, and embraces her for the last time.
Needed a better ending
boogieknightrises8 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Every time I watch this episode I'm disappointed not in the outcome but in the ending itself. Instead of just a last minute revelation of the translation of the message, would've rather the whole thing been a staged scenario to teach new presidents about the responsibilities of the office they now hold.
Independence Day (1996) For Smart People
StuOz26 November 2021
Bunker drama where the president of the USA and a general deal with an alien invasion.
The moment I saw Robert Foxworth (as the president) on the screen I knew we were in for something special - I was right! This is Independence Day (1996) for smart people, meaning it is all intelligent talk and almost no effects!
Trial by Fire is generally regarded as one of the best episodes of 1995 Outer Limits and with good reason - you can't take your eyes off it!
I like 1963 OL much more than 1995 OL but there is no question that this 45 minute drama captures the magic of the old series! Granted, the same can't be said for a good part of 1995 OL but trust me on Trial by Fire.
The acting and dialogue from the whole cast is outstanding and the ending is one of the saddest, best written moments of 90s television. Even the closing narration is classic stuff.
The moment I saw Robert Foxworth (as the president) on the screen I knew we were in for something special - I was right! This is Independence Day (1996) for smart people, meaning it is all intelligent talk and almost no effects!
Trial by Fire is generally regarded as one of the best episodes of 1995 Outer Limits and with good reason - you can't take your eyes off it!
I like 1963 OL much more than 1995 OL but there is no question that this 45 minute drama captures the magic of the old series! Granted, the same can't be said for a good part of 1995 OL but trust me on Trial by Fire.
The acting and dialogue from the whole cast is outstanding and the ending is one of the saddest, best written moments of 90s television. Even the closing narration is classic stuff.
A STORY FULL OF TENSION AND OUTSTANDING DIALOGUES
asalerno1031 May 2022
The newly elected President of the United States is suddenly taken the same night of his electoral victory to a bunker where he is informed about an imminent alien invasion and must live with his boss, the head of the Armed Forces, an experienced scientist and the right hand of the outgoing president moments of high tension when having to agree on the steps to follow in the face of this unprecedented event. To begin with, we are facing a superlative episode where adrenaline, tension and anguish have an impeccable record, the entire cast has wonderful performances and the dialogues are intelligent and make clear the different points of view of the protagonists. The ending is moving, distressing and ironic at the same time, a story that takes place in a single setting and maintains interest every second.
The most tension filled episode in history
kurt78252 September 2021
Buck Turgidson Is Back
Hitchcoc31 March 2014
So a collision with Earth is imminent. The newly elected president and the available people are brought to a bunker, possibly to hang out till the world ends. Whatever is coming this way is an advanced weapon of an alien force. Just as the possible lone survivors are about to breath their last, it is revealed that weapon has struck the moon and while it has inflicted damage, they are safe for the moment. Of course, the general wants to nuke the alien riffraff and the president wavers on what to do. Pretty clichéd stuff. The strange thing is that despite the cessation of hostilities, the President seeks no advice from anyone else, even though the rest of the world is alive on the surface. A message is picked up by NASA and they set out to interpret it. The President sends his own message to the aliens, telling them to stay in orbit until they can establish diplomatic ties. Of course, there is no assuredness that they will understand his message. They break ranks and send one of their ships into the Pacific. What to do! What to do! There is a bunch of contentious talk and advice from the First Lady. Things lapse into the ludicrous. Hopefully, if we ever find ourselves in such a situation, these clowns won't be making the decisions.
misc notes
roedyg9 June 2010
The Outer Limits is fun to look back on. You can see so many actors who later went on to bigger roles getting a start. It is a bit like Perry Mason was for an earlier generation of actors.
In this episode you see Ian Tracey looking disturbingly sexy who went on to Da Vinci's Inquest and Jason Gray-Stanford who went on to Monk.
This is one of the more complex Outer Limits episodes. It is not just the usual matter of vainly trying to escape from some science experiment gone awry. A number of people all face the same difficult problem (an alien "invasion"), and react in quite different ways. It is more a character study than an adventure story.
Two things jarred me. The first was the tiny, and apparently random, staff the President took with him to his nuclear bunker. That just does not make sense. He would need a substantial support and advisory contingent, not to mention a cook and cleaning staff. This would all be carefully planned, and would certainly include the president's son.
The second was the several flowery references to God in the supposed messages from the Russian leader. Russian leaders are atheist. It was so jarring it yanked me out of the story trying to figure out what heck. I felt angry that some scriptwriter put in this "ad" for Christianity in a most inappropriate place.
In this episode you see Ian Tracey looking disturbingly sexy who went on to Da Vinci's Inquest and Jason Gray-Stanford who went on to Monk.
This is one of the more complex Outer Limits episodes. It is not just the usual matter of vainly trying to escape from some science experiment gone awry. A number of people all face the same difficult problem (an alien "invasion"), and react in quite different ways. It is more a character study than an adventure story.
Two things jarred me. The first was the tiny, and apparently random, staff the President took with him to his nuclear bunker. That just does not make sense. He would need a substantial support and advisory contingent, not to mention a cook and cleaning staff. This would all be carefully planned, and would certainly include the president's son.
The second was the several flowery references to God in the supposed messages from the Russian leader. Russian leaders are atheist. It was so jarring it yanked me out of the story trying to figure out what heck. I felt angry that some scriptwriter put in this "ad" for Christianity in a most inappropriate place.
As ultimately flawed as the movie it copied
bgaiv28 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is so similar to Without Warning, you would expect acknowledgement. Right down to the eye rolling ending.
This is pretty good up until the very ending. A very new potus has to immediately deal with first the contact with aliens. Good stuff for the most part.
But, like Without Warning, after the aliens take numerous actions that could only be interpreted as hostile-- such as bombing the moon and destroying communications satellites-- we're expected to feel bad because the aliens had sent the message "we want to be friends".
It's ridiculous.
This is pretty good up until the very ending. A very new potus has to immediately deal with first the contact with aliens. Good stuff for the most part.
But, like Without Warning, after the aliens take numerous actions that could only be interpreted as hostile-- such as bombing the moon and destroying communications satellites-- we're expected to feel bad because the aliens had sent the message "we want to be friends".
It's ridiculous.
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