# Looking for vintage science fiction TV episode, brain implant theme **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672 "2019-01-13T05:04:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_squire_of_gothos/32/4703_2.png) [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Squire_Of_Gothos)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/1 "2019-01-13T05:04:48Z")
Looking for a TV episode of a black and white science fiction series (I believe it was a TV series, not a feature film) involving some US secret agent or pilot recently implanted with some experimental probe by government scientists. This implant in his temple flashed, I think to prepare him for some highly classified mission. He was not allowed to think a certain thought to avoid a consequence of some kind (death perhaps). Later he regrets volunteering for the mission, but is unable to have this implant removed, and warns other volunteers the danger of this procedure. At the end, another operative is revealed to have volunteered for the same mission, implanted with the same probe. Been a long time since watching this episode as a child, and the name of the series has been bugging me for a long time. It’s not from _The Twilight Zone_ or _The Outer Limits_, I’ve seen every episode of both. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/2 "2019-01-13T05:06:20Z")
So roughly what year are you thinking? Early 1960s? Late 1950s? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_squire_of_gothos/32/4703_2.png) [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Squire_Of_Gothos)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/3 "2019-01-13T05:44:14Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > So roughly what year are you thinking? Early 1960s? Late 1950s? I don’t know, I was only about eight years old at the time. It could have been a rerun of a fifties show, or a current release of a sixties episode. Thanks for the reply. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/4 "2019-01-13T06:00:44Z")
**Moderator Action** Welcome to the SDMB, **The Squire Of Gothos**. Since this is about an artistic work (a TV show in this case), it belongs in Cafe Society. I will move this for you. Moving thread from General Questions to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/5 "2019-01-13T07:18:40Z")
What year was it when you were 8? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_squire_of_gothos/32/4703_2.png) [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Squire_Of_Gothos)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/6 "2019-01-13T07:53:09Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > What year was it when you were 8? A black and white episode of a show meaning that it was sometime in the 1950’s or early 1960’s. I was 8 in 1970 if that matters. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/7 "2019-01-13T08:17:47Z")
Well, it puts an upper boundary on our search… ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/8 "2019-01-13T22:25:22Z")
> [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](#): > > A black and white episode of a show meaning that it was sometime in the 1950’s or early 1960’s. I was 8 in 1970 if that matters. In 1970, you might have seen it on a black and white tv even if the show was in color. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_squire_of_gothos/32/4703_2.png) [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Squire_Of_Gothos)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/9 "2019-01-13T22:50:10Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > In 1970, you might have seen it on a black and white tv even if the show was in color. The actors, cinematography, script all pointed to a production dated in my original request that I was sure would have been from _The Outer Limits_ as we watched a lot of those episodes in reruns at that time. But seeing them again on DVD, an episode I’m looking for was not found on that show. Awesome post, tho’ ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/10 "2019-01-13T22:57:27Z")
> [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](#): > > … At the end, another operative is revealed to have volunteered for the same mission, implanted with the same probe. Been a long time since watching this episode as a child, and the name of the series has been bugging me for a long time. It’s not from _The Twilight Zone_ or _The Outer Limits_, I’ve seen every episode of both. Is the other operative a woman? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_squire_of_gothos/32/4703_2.png) [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Squire_Of_Gothos)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/11 "2019-01-13T23:21:49Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Is the other operative a woman? All the leads were men as I recall. TY. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/12 "2019-01-13T23:53:40Z")
How about [Search Control](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068131/)? Those guys had all kinds of implants. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/13 "2019-01-14T00:04:50Z")
> [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](#): > > The actors, cinematography, script all pointed to a production dated in my original request that I was sure would have been from _The Outer Limits_ as we watched a lot of those episodes in reruns at that time. But seeing them again on DVD, an episode I’m looking for was not found on that show. Awesome post, tho’ Sorry I didn’t have anything more useful. > [@BlankSlate](#): > > How about [Search Control](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068131/)? Those guys had all kinds of implants. Here’s a link to the Wiki page which has a brief description of each episode: [Searching - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_(TV_series)) How about “The Invaders” [The Invaders - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invaders) - There was an episode with brain implants called “The Possessed” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/14 "2019-01-14T00:08:10Z")
It sounds like the episode of the original _Outer Limits_ entitled “The Man with the Power”. It starred Donald Pleasance and originally broadcast October 7, 1963. I saw it when it first came out, and now have it on DVD. > **["The Outer Limits" The Man with the Power (TV Episode 1963) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0667843/)** > > The Man with the Power: Directed by Laslo Benedek. With Donald Pleasence, Priscilla Morrill, Fred Beir, Frank Maxwell. A mild, timid, hen-pecked man unknowingly acquires the power to subconsciously vaporize those who aggravate him. > **[The Man with the Power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_with_the_Power_(The_Outer_Limits))** > > "The Man with the Power" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 7 October 1963, during the first season. > An experiment endows a college professor with powerful telekinetic abilities, which his subconscious mind uses to destroy his enemies, including his employer, Dean Radcliffe. > In the course of centuries, Man has devoured the Earth itself. The Machine Age has dried up the seas of oil. Industry has consumed the heartlands of coal. The Atomic Age has pl... IT bears similarity to the 1950s science fiction film **Forbidden Planet** ---
**Author:** ![The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_squire_of_gothos/32/4703_2.png) [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Squire_Of_Gothos)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/15 "2019-01-14T01:16:17Z")
As I said, I recently watched all episodes of _The Outer Limits_ and the scene I’m looking for wasn’t the one you cited. Just a few weeks ago I also watched the first season of _The Invaders_, although the episode “The Possessed” you’ve mentioned is from season two, there are no Internet photos of that episode that ring a bell to me. And _The Invaders_ was likely a little too late (it being in colour) for what I recall as a B&W episode shot no later than the early sixties. The TV adventure _Search_ is worth checking out, but I somehow think it may be too late for what I’m looking for. Although we only had a black-and-white TV at the time, I was watching the episode I’m referring to in the late sixties or early seventies, but the style of the actors was more dated to the fifties or early sixties. Thanks for the replies nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/16 "2019-01-14T03:07:25Z")
There was another program around the same time as TZ and OL called One Step Beyond. Maybe it was an episode from that series. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_squire_of_gothos/32/4703_2.png) [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Squire_Of_Gothos)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/17 "2019-01-14T03:30:11Z")
Yea, someone from IMDB told be about _One Step Beyond_. I’ll be checking that as well, I did browse every episode synopsis, but I couldn’t see one that fit my search. But worth looking into if I can find (and afford) them on DVD. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/18 "2019-01-14T05:44:58Z")
“One Step Beyond” didn’t involve any aliens. It was based on supposedly real accounts of paranormal happenings or predictions, premonitions and dreams that came true. There was also “Science Fiction Theater”, but my memories and impressions of it is that your story isn’t the kind that would be on the series. But who knows? [Science Fiction Theatre (TV Series 1955–1957) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047767/) I have only seen a few episodes of the following series, so I can’t say if your show was in one of them. Tales of Tomorrow [Tales of Tomorrow (TV Series 1951–1953) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043238/) Lights Out [Lights Out (TV Series 1946–1952) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041037/) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_squire_of_gothos/32/4703_2.png) [@The\_Squire\_Of\_Gothos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Squire_Of_Gothos)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-vintage-science-fiction-tv-episode-brain-implant-theme/827672/19 "2019-01-14T09:25:11Z")
It’s not impossible that it could be one of those three TV shows. I read the episode synopsis of all of them and none of them rang a bell. I’ll have to find them on DVD and take the time to watch. But I don’t recall the opening credits when originally watching them when I was a boy in the seventies. Thanks for the help.