Line #16 Recap/TheOuterLimits1963S2E15TheBrainOfColonelBarham


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/outer_limits_the_brain_of_colonel_barham_5333.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Barham's brain turns its HypnoRay on Dr. Rahm (Creator/WesleyAddy).]]
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4	->'''The Control Voice''': With the world growing more crowded, the great powers strive to conquer other planets. The race is on. The interplanetary sea has been charted; the first caravelle of space is being constructed. Who will get there first? Who will be the new [[UsefulNotes/ChristopherColumbus Columbus]]?
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6	Dying astronaut Colonel Alec Barham (Anthony Eisley) volunteers to become a BrainInAJar in preparation for having his brain transferred into a robot that will explore UsefulNotes/{{Mars}}. At first, all seems well, but soon Barham's brain begins to go mad and gains mental powers.
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8	->'''The Control Voice''': Progress goes on. One experiment fails, but even out of failure valuable lessons are learned. A way will be found, someday, somehow. It always is.
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10	!!The Tropes of Colonel Barham:
11	* AbsentMindedProfessor: {{Invoked}} when the mind-controlled Dr. Rahm walks past Jennifer and Major Locke with a "frozen, glassy stare", ignoring Jennifer when she tries to speak with him.
12	-->'''Jennifer:''' What's the matter with him?
13	-->'''Locke:''' He's a scientist, Mrs. Barham. They walk around in a daze most of the time.
14	* AssholeVictim: The bad-tempered, self-pitying Colonel Barham. Yes, he's terminally ill, but the episode makes it clear that he was a {{Jerkass}} even when he was healthy.
15	* BrainInAJar: Barham is kept alive as a brain in a vat.
16	* DeadpanSnarker: One way that Barham deals with his situation.
17	** SnarkToSnarkCombat: When General Pettit is talking the terminally ill, wheelchair-bound Barham into letting himself be disembodied.
18	--->'''Barham''': Tell me something, General. How would I do with pretty girls?
19	--->'''Pettit''': How you doin' now?
20	* AGodAmI: Barham's brain becomes DrunkWithPower as it develops dangerous new abilities.
21	* HerrDoktor[=/=]MadScientist: Dr. Hausner (played by Martin Kosleck, who fled 1930s Germany to play Nazi villains in several UsefulNotes/WorldWarII films) definitely gives off this vibe. Even after everyone else realizes that Barham's brain has to be destroyed, he still wants it kept alive for the sake of the project.
22	* {{Hypocrite}}: Barham admits that he's cheated on Jennifer, who stayed with him only because of her "old-fashioned ideas about divorce"; as he confesses to her, "You took your marriage vows more seriously than I ever took mine." Still, Barham's brain doesn't react well when it realizes that Jennifer and Major [=McKinnon=] are becoming attracted to each other.
23	* IronicEcho: Early in the episode, Major [=McKinnon=] analyzes Barham in an attempt to help him. Later, Barham's brain sarcastically offers to analyze [=McKinnon=] ("Problems, Major? They’re only for mortals. Would you like to discuss yours?"), which leads the psychologist to have a MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment for his participation in the project.
24	* LastNameBasis: Dr. Rahm's first name is never revealed.
25	* MindControl: Barham's brain gains this power, which is {{Handwaved}} by the explanation that it's growing and becoming more powerful because it's free of its failing body. It shoots {{Hypno Ray}}s at Colonel Nichols and Dr. Rahm, temporarily turning them into BrainwashedAndCrazy mental slaves who attempt to do its bidding.
26	* MisanthropeSupreme: Barham reveals himself to be one while brooding over his impending demise.
27	-->'''Barham:''' Why me? Why do I have to die, with the world full of useless slobs?
28	* OnlySaneMan[=/=]ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Major [=McKinnon=], the project's psychologist, isn't sure that the experiment is a good idea -- and even if it was, he's the only one who realizes that a {{Jerkass}} like Barham may not be the ideal test subject. Also, he's the first to figure out that Barham's brain is behind Nichols and Rahm's attacks.
29	** IgnoredExpert: The other characters are so desperate for the experiment to succeed that they disregard [=McKinnon=]'s warnings until it's almost too late.
30	* RevealShot: In the prologue, Barham's wheelchair is hidden from the audience for the first few minutes.
31	* SniperRifle: General Pettit uses one to destroy Barham's brain.
32	* SpaceIsAnOcean: Invoked in the OpeningNarration.
33	* TheXOfY: The episode title.

Context Recap / TheOuterLimits1963S2E15TheBrainOfColonelBarham