Three astronauts land on an asteroid that's identical to Earth with the exception that everything and everyone are frozen in time. Jolly caretaker Jeremy Wickwire (delightfully played with charm and aplomb to spare by Cecil Kellaway) springs to life to explain the peculiar situation to the confused astronauts.
Director Douglas Hayes relates the compelling atmosphere at a steady pace and adroitly crafts an intriguing enigmatic atmosphere. Charles Beaumont's ingenious script makes a bold and provocative central point about the bitter price that must be paid in order to achieve eternal peace and how mankind's self-destructive nature always finds a way to upset said peace. While Jeff Morrow as the sensible Kurt Meyers, Dan Dubbins as the excitable Peter Kirby, and Kevin Hagen as the stalwart Captain James Webber all do fine work in their roles, nonetheless it's Kellaway's sly twinkle and abundant verve evident in his spirited portrayal of Wickwire that totally steals the show. Moreover, the stiff and immobile figures that populate the asteroid are genuinely eerie. A very clever and haunting episode.
Director Douglas Hayes relates the compelling atmosphere at a steady pace and adroitly crafts an intriguing enigmatic atmosphere. Charles Beaumont's ingenious script makes a bold and provocative central point about the bitter price that must be paid in order to achieve eternal peace and how mankind's self-destructive nature always finds a way to upset said peace. While Jeff Morrow as the sensible Kurt Meyers, Dan Dubbins as the excitable Peter Kirby, and Kevin Hagen as the stalwart Captain James Webber all do fine work in their roles, nonetheless it's Kellaway's sly twinkle and abundant verve evident in his spirited portrayal of Wickwire that totally steals the show. Moreover, the stiff and immobile figures that populate the asteroid are genuinely eerie. A very clever and haunting episode.