The Last Objective
Author: Paul Carter
Originally aired: 3 June 1951
Plot synopsis: In a future in which the Earth's surface has become uninhabitable following a nuclear war, heavily-armed tunnelling 'cruisers' continue the conflict underground. Based on a short story first published in Astounding Science Fiction magazine, in August 1946.
Favourite line: None.
Review: This is essentially a World War II naval/submarine story dressed up in science-fiction garb. It is also one of the very dullest Dimension X episodes. Everything about it feels underdeveloped and under explained: the point of the story remains largely opaque throughout. The plot, such as it is, is quite tedious - some nonsense about an ongoing war being fought in a post-apocalyptic world beneath the planet's surface - and both the characters and dialogue are dreary and lifeless. Indeed, the script feels quite amateurish in places. The one vaguely interesting idea is the role of psychiatric monitoring in the episode's imagined society, with the characters under the constant threat of psychological evaluation; but even this idea never really goes anywhere. There is also a not very effective plot thread about a character who may or may not be human, though the truth of his identity is obvious as soon as he is introduced, thanks to his stilted mode of speech. Finally, the ending - which in theory, given the events it describes, should be very dramatic - fails to produce any real emotional impact, and comes across as not a little silly. All in all, a dud. (What may also be of interest is that two other episodes centre on the idea of humanity living underground in the aftermath of nuclear war, the X Minus One episode The Defenders and Hello, Tomorrow.)
Rating: *
A Logic Named Joe
Author: Murray Leinster
Originally aired: 1 July 1950
This story was remade by X Minus One, and I have reviewed this version here.
Rating: * * * *
The Lost Race
Author: Murray Leinster
Originally aired: 20 May 1950
Plot synopsis: A spaceship from Earth is shipwrecked on an alien world, where its crew uncover the secret of why an ancient 'lost race' mysteriously disappeared from the galaxy. Based on a short story first published in Thrilling Wonder Stories magazine, in April 1949.
Favourite line: 'When man first crossed the vast distances of outer space, to land on strange worlds, he found that someone had been there before him. The ruined canals of Mars, the smashed cities of Titan and Centaurus II and III - all these were evidence that one hundred thousand years ago, a race of intelligent beings built their cities across the galaxy.'
Review: Much about this story reminded me of the classic SF film Forbidden Planet (released a few years later, in 1956), in that it similarly focuses on a spaceship from Earth landing on an another planet, whose crew discovers the truth behind the demise of an ancient alien civilization and the nature of the advanced technology it left behind. Also like Forbidden Planet (and the best Star Trek stories as well) the episode works both as an exciting adventure story and as an exploration of a number of interesting, thought-provoking themes. In particular, ideas about progress, the uses and misuses of technology, and even evolution are all touched upon. These aspects make the episode a good example of intelligent, yet fun science fiction.
Rating: * * * *
