"The Outer Limits: Season One, Volume Two" collects the reminder of the first season of the show not included in this set. Fox has repackaged these (they distribute MGM titles now) to collect their licensing fee in new nicely designed packaging. However, the shows themselves are the same transfers from a couple of years back. Instead of getting the booklet that had cast/credits and a brief synopsis as the original set had, we get these discs put into slimline cases two to a case. This is a classic series well worth owning but the two volume first season cost more than picking up the entire first season. The only difference is packaging and a booklet with episode information that is included with the original release distributed by MGM. I was critical of MGM's original release because it had no extras whatsoever but I'm even more critical of this pointless double dip that does nothing for fans of the series. ***

The second half of the first season was nearly as strong as the first half. ABC began dictating that they wanted to see more monsters in the show so writer/producer Joseph Stefano and producer/creator Leslie Stevens met the demand creating a series of memorable aliens for the show. Stefano's approach to science fiction and fantasy which combined gothic/horror elements to the show made it unique and distinct from Rod Serling's similarly themed "The Twilight Zone". Stefano and his stable of writers avoided the O. Henry style twists that fueled Serling's series giving "The Outer Limits" its own unique voice. Combined with the stylized cinematography that dominated the first season (the second season was noticeably weaker with Stefano and Stevens gone, less imaginative scripts and less imaginative cinematography with the notable exception of Harlan Ellison's two classic episodes "Soldier" and "Demon with a Glass Hand". Likewise the two part "The Inheritors" with Robert Duvall captured much of the best elements that made the first season so memorable). ---

Image & Sound:

The same transfers from Fox as the previous set, "The Outer Limits" looks decent but could stand to be cleaned up a bit with some digital restoration and with a new high definition transfer. Blacks are solid for the most part. Audio reflects the limitations of the time with dialogue front and center in the mono mix. Still, these sound much better than some other shows from the time and the stirring theme by Dominic Frontiere sounds nice. A pity that they haven't considered going back and using the stereo mix for the recordings released on CD a couple of years back. ---

None beyond previews and this, truly, is the biggest crime with this reissue. The first season is actually more expensive buying it this way than the original set and fans get nothing new beyond packaging. ***

If Fox and MGM had done this RIGHT they would have licensed the brief featurettes that were produced for the show when it was broadcast on TNT (they're all over Youtube by the way). Those featurettes had cast interviews including Cliff Robertson and Robert Culp discussing the series, their thoughts when they made it and in retrospect as well as the impact of the series. If you're going to reissue a show, get it right the second time. Given that these were already produced all Fox (and MGM) had to do was license them for this set, add a "Play All" feature for these 1-2 minute segments and they would have given fans extra value. ***

Commentary tracks from Culp, Duvall and other surviving production crew (including Robert Towne who pens the brilliant episode "Chameleon" which appears as part of this set) would have been a nice extra as well. Sure it would cost money but it would also broaden the market for this classic series by luring back customers who might have purchased the first set. ---

Final Words: