History Recap / TheOuterLimits1963S1E4TheManWithThePower

* AnAesop: Violent thoughts and deadly wishes have consequences when enabled by technology, even beneath the, "kindest, gentlest soul". In other words, BewareTheNiceOnes.

** DisproportionateRetribution: However, none of them deserve to die. Harold himself certainly doesn't think so.
* CriticalResearchFailure: In the opening, the Control Voice says, "The Atomic Age has plundered the rare elements — uranium, cobalt, plutonium — leaving behind worthless deposits of lead and ashes." But plutonium is a synthetic element: It is not naturally occurring, can't be mined (only created by transmuting other elements), and therefore can't be mined-out / "plundered." Also, cobalt is a relatively common naturally-occurring element (the 31st most-common element in the Earth's crust; e.g., lead is the 36th most-common), and its only naturally-occurring isotope (Co-59) is not radioactive. It is not of particular use in the field of atomic energy.

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* AmbitionIsEvil: Dr Keenan and Steve Crandon.

* CriticalResearchFailure: In the opening, the Control Voice says, "The Atomic Age has plundered the rare elements — uranium, cobalt, plutonium — leaving behind worthless deposits of lead and ashes." But plutonium is a synthetic element: It is not naturally occurring, can't be mined (only created by transmuting other elements), and therefore can't be mined-out. Also, cobalt is a relatively common naturally-found element, and its only naturally-occurring isotope (Co-59) is not radioactive. It is not of particular use in the field of atomic energy.

* Critical Research Failure: In the opening, the Control Voice says, "The Atomic Age has plundered the rare elements — uranium, cobalt, plutonium — leaving behind worthless deposits of lead and ashes." But plutonium is a synthetic element: It is not naturally occurring, can't be mined (only created by transmuting other elements), and therefore can't be mined-out. Also, cobalt is a relatively common naturally-found element, and its only naturally-occurring isotope (Co-59) is not radioactive. It is not of particular use in the field of atomic energy.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: When Harold realises the effect his subconscious mind has on people, he starts calling himself a "murderer" and resolves to stop Steve's operation by any means necessary.

* HeroicSacrifice: When Harold summons the cloud on himself, it's a combination of this trope, DespairEventHorizon and DrivenToSuicide.

Harold J. Finley (Creator/DonaldPleasence) is a mild-mannered college professor on the surface, but after having a brain operation, every time he's angry a stormy cloud emerges and zaps his enemies whether he wants it or not.

* ExtremeDoormat: Harold J. Finley. Deconstructed when being put down triggers an Electric Cloud to appear.
* HenpeckedHusband: Harold J. Finley cant catch a break.

* AnAesop: Violent thoughts and deadly wishes have consequences when enabled by technology, even beneath the, "kindest, gentlest soul".

* HeroicSacrifice: When Harold summons the cloud on himself, it's a combination of this trope, DespairEventHorizon and DrivenToSuicde.

Harold J. Finley (Creator/DonaldPleasence) is a mild-mannered college professor on the surface, but after having a brain operation every time he's angry a stormy cloud emerges and zaps his enemies whether he wants it or not.

!!Tropes featured in this episode:

* AssholeVictim: The people attacked and killed by the cloud are all rude, dismissive {{Jerkass}}es in their dealings with Harold.

* HeroicSacrifice: When Harold summons the cloud on himself.

* AnAesop: Violent thoughts and deadly wishes have consequences when enabled by technology.

* {{Homage}}: The concept of the energy cloud (a destructive entity created by a character's suppressed negative emotions) is similar to the Id monster from ''Film/ForbiddenPlanet''.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: When Harold realises the effect his subconscious mind has on people.

Harold J. Finley (Creator/DonaldPleasance) is a mild-mannered college professor on the surface, but after having a brain operation every time he's angry a stormy cloud emerges and zaps his enemies whether he wants it or not.

Harold J. Finley is a mild-mannered college professor on the surface, but after having a brain operation every time he's angry a stormy cloud emerges and zaps his enemies whether he wants it or not.



Tropes featured in this episode:

* PowerIncontinence: The premise of the episode.