The Invaders (TV Series) The Mutation (1967) User Reviews

All "invaders" are not created equal

[garrard · 7/10 · 25 October 2006]

The third episode in Quinn Martin's sci-fi series features Suzanne Pleshette as "Vicki," an alien that has a distinct difference between herself and her fellow "invaders": she was born with the capacity to feel emotion. Though she is supposed to deliver an unsuspecting David Vincent (Roy Thinnes) to the location of an disabled alien ship, she warns David and reveals her alien origins. She is then equally hunted by her compatriots, like Vincent, through the desert. This makes for a tense episode as Vincent must deal with his prejudices about the aliens and his growing feelings for Vicki.

Thinnes and Pleshette make an intriguing couple on the run and veteran character actor Edward Andrews is fine as a seedy reporter with sinister motives of his own.

Also featured is Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr., a Hispanic actor that had a long and varied career in movies and television.

Because of its similar desert location, Dominec Frontiere's score is quite unlike the music that he would provide for "The Rat Patrol." And this installment shows, for the first time, how the aliens "die".

Why??

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 8 August 2021]

This episode features some decent guest stars.... Edward Andrews (so familiar in 1960s TV shows), Lin McCarthy and Suzanne Pleshette. I only give this one a 7 because although it's very watchable and fun, understanding Pleshette's character is impossible, as she was very oddly and inconsistently written.

When the story begins, David is taken into the desert by some Mexican men. They claim to have seen flashing lights...but this is just an excuse to rob him. Later, he manages to find his way back in to town. There a newspaper man (Andrews) insists that he wants David's story AND, more importantly, he knows a woman who ALSO saw the UFO (Pleshette). Later, David and Pleshette head into the desert to look for the ship.

The best thing about this episode is a new innovation. When the aliens are killed, they turn glowy red and then disappear...leaving no trace. This is pretty cool and the special effect, for 1967, is awfully good. But Pleshette's character and her confusing lack of motivation...well, that just left me feeling as if the entire episode wasn't totally worked out before they filmed it. It's still good...but also slightly disappointing.

Should have been better

[cpotato1010 · 6/10 · 19 May 2019]

This seemed a little lackluster.

It wastes the talents of some good actors like Suzanne Pleshette. Edward Andrews, and Roy Jenson. All of the performances seem muted.

Already in only the second regular episode they seem to be departing from canon - none of the aliens have the stiff little finger that is supposed to be the tell that they are an alien.

One thing that is notable, this is the first episode where you see the aliens incinerate/disintegrate when they die.

I like that the weapons appear to have had a view screen, even the hand-held weapons. Today one could easily see them as having a little LCD screen, just like the inspection cameras plumbers and others use.

For comparison, you had the hand-held phasers of Star Trek (1966), and the hand-held lasers of Lost in Space (1965) and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964), all of which were contemporaries to this show.

Speaking of the hand-held weapons, the goof listed is a little wrong - David does not use the canteen to hit the alien in the face, he uses it to knock the weapon out of the alien's hand.

Which lead to another overlooked idea - that weapon could have been recovered, and possibly others at the house where the three (four) aliens are killed.

It may not have been direct evidence of the existence of the aliens, but it would pique government interest in looking for them.

One other thing I noticed - the saucer seemed to be rather small, probably no more than 30-40 feet across. Not much room for passengers and equipment. Maybe it is only the equivalent of a shuttle?