This episode has Rollin Hand working by himself except for the help of a psychiatrist agent. Dan Briggs excuses himself from the mission because of his closeness to the suspect agent's family. The mission involves a female agent who appears to be going insane and acting with erratic behavior. The agent is scheduled to be terminated (killed) in order to prevent her from exposing her country's state secrets. Rollin has to determine if she is, in fact, going insane or is being manipulated by someone. This episode is very much different from the others in how the mission's series of events is not controlled by the IMF team and instead is a reaction to the agent's behavior and what course of action to take at that point. A "hit man" is given a scheduled time to kill the agent and Rollin has to work as fast as he can to find out the answers about the erratic agent before the time is up. A gripping episode with an uncertain end.
5 Reviews
Mentally ill or just over-acting?
planktonrules4 February 2014
Dr. Carlos Enero (Barry Atwater) and Rollin Hand (Martin Landau) are the only two members of the team on this mission when it begins at Brigg's apartment. Sure, you see Briggs (Steven Hill) at the beginning and the psychiatrist, but otherwise it's mostly just Rollin behind enemy lines (though the psychiatrist meets him later to examine the suspect). It seems that Elena Maria Del Barra (BarBara Luna) has been working for the US--sending important data for some time from her South American country*. However, lately she's been behaving irrationally--so much so that Rollin's mission is to infiltrate and meet Elena to see if she's lost her mind. Not surprisingly, once he meets her, it's obvious something more is going on in this one. Under the influence of a so-called truth serum, they see that some sort of mind control has been exerted on her. However, they have to sort it out quickly, as another agent has been sent to assassinate Elena if they don't get answers fast!
This episode is different than most because there isn't a lot to the mission. Rollin enters the country and looks to see if Elena is bonkers. There are no gadgets, not a lot of trickery and it's all very straight forward. It's all about determining her competence as well as determining if someone has brainwashed her--all before the assassin does his job. Despite the simplicity of the show, it works well. Not a great episode but a very good one--even with some rather crazy acting!
*While the names of the countries in this series are rarely real nations, this one seems to indicate they are in Peru, as their national drink is called 'Chicha'--a popular beer-like drink that's made in a most unusual fashion (people chew and spit corn into a vessel and then let it ferment--yuck!). I've had Chicha but a more modern version made (thankfully) without spit!
This episode is different than most because there isn't a lot to the mission. Rollin enters the country and looks to see if Elena is bonkers. There are no gadgets, not a lot of trickery and it's all very straight forward. It's all about determining her competence as well as determining if someone has brainwashed her--all before the assassin does his job. Despite the simplicity of the show, it works well. Not a great episode but a very good one--even with some rather crazy acting!
*While the names of the countries in this series are rarely real nations, this one seems to indicate they are in Peru, as their national drink is called 'Chicha'--a popular beer-like drink that's made in a most unusual fashion (people chew and spit corn into a vessel and then let it ferment--yuck!). I've had Chicha but a more modern version made (thankfully) without spit!
One extra star for Barbara
hmoika28 May 2022
I am in agreement with the other two reviewers, who gave this episode 7 stars. At times it had my rapt attention; at others, I was almost yawning.
But bless Barbara Luna.... I always came back to her! Though she's done better work elsewhere, I still could not resist giving this episode one extra star for the leading lady.
But bless Barbara Luna.... I always came back to her! Though she's done better work elsewhere, I still could not resist giving this episode one extra star for the leading lady.
Boring Stuff
aramis-112-80488026 September 2022
Not being a fan of Stephen Hill, I don't mind missions where he has minimal involvement.
Still, this episode employs only two agents of the M:I force, played by Martin Landau (always welcome) and Barry Atwater. Barry Atwater? They're supposed to find out why a deeply embedded spy (Barbara Luna) seems to have gone rogue. The complication: if they don't crack her quick a professional assassin will knock her off.
According to sources, though the I:M force was to have a nucleus (Rollin, Cinnamon, Barney and Wiily) it would not, originally, have a set cast but plenty of guest stars (like Wally Cox in the pilot). The first season had lots of mix-and-match experimentation. Some worked, some didn't.
Unfortunately, the fewer the agents, the less complex (and less interesting) the missions. It was no doubt harder to write stories of complexity especially when, in later seasons, of the missions shown Phelps selected the same agents (so much so, they eliminated dossier scenes altogether).
All this considered, this is a pretty dull episode. Yes, even with lovely Barbara Luna (who would appear later amongst the good guys and the bad guys) as the target. Beautiful brown eyes aren't enough to make an episode.
This episode is disposable. Everyone in it (apart from Landau) is disavowed.
Still, this episode employs only two agents of the M:I force, played by Martin Landau (always welcome) and Barry Atwater. Barry Atwater? They're supposed to find out why a deeply embedded spy (Barbara Luna) seems to have gone rogue. The complication: if they don't crack her quick a professional assassin will knock her off.
According to sources, though the I:M force was to have a nucleus (Rollin, Cinnamon, Barney and Wiily) it would not, originally, have a set cast but plenty of guest stars (like Wally Cox in the pilot). The first season had lots of mix-and-match experimentation. Some worked, some didn't.
Unfortunately, the fewer the agents, the less complex (and less interesting) the missions. It was no doubt harder to write stories of complexity especially when, in later seasons, of the missions shown Phelps selected the same agents (so much so, they eliminated dossier scenes altogether).
All this considered, this is a pretty dull episode. Yes, even with lovely Barbara Luna (who would appear later amongst the good guys and the bad guys) as the target. Beautiful brown eyes aren't enough to make an episode.
This episode is disposable. Everyone in it (apart from Landau) is disavowed.
BARBARA LUNA IS THE WHOLE SHOW
tcchelsey24 July 2023
The terrific stage and screen actress BarBara Luna (though sometimes spelled Barbara) plays Elena Maria Del Barra who is working behind enemy lines, an essential player in importing top secret data.
It also seems like she's experiencing psychological problems, perhaps because of the stress --or is someone driving her nuts?
This is a very intriguing episode, well written, which will have your full attention, and Luna is very convincing in this type of role. She is working more with Rollin Hand (Martin Landau) in this story from the IMF team. Steven Hill (as Briggs) has a relatively small part here, due to the fact that he refused to work after sunset. This was a religious obligation on his part. His roles were substantially cut at times. Fortunately, you have a top supporting cast as back-up.
Look for veteran Barry Atwater, as a doctor here, though usually cast as mysterious gentlemen, if not vampires! He was well used by Paramount, especially on MANNIX in the 70s. Atwater had the look and was an exception dramatic actor.
BarBara Luna as of 2020 was still working and also singing at various venues, according to Wikipedia.
An early classic entry from SEASON 1, EPISODE 13.
Paramount/CBS released the first MISSION IMPOSSIBLE box set in 2006, containing 4 dvds.
A must for collectors and at a good price.
It also seems like she's experiencing psychological problems, perhaps because of the stress --or is someone driving her nuts?
This is a very intriguing episode, well written, which will have your full attention, and Luna is very convincing in this type of role. She is working more with Rollin Hand (Martin Landau) in this story from the IMF team. Steven Hill (as Briggs) has a relatively small part here, due to the fact that he refused to work after sunset. This was a religious obligation on his part. His roles were substantially cut at times. Fortunately, you have a top supporting cast as back-up.
Look for veteran Barry Atwater, as a doctor here, though usually cast as mysterious gentlemen, if not vampires! He was well used by Paramount, especially on MANNIX in the 70s. Atwater had the look and was an exception dramatic actor.
BarBara Luna as of 2020 was still working and also singing at various venues, according to Wikipedia.
An early classic entry from SEASON 1, EPISODE 13.
Paramount/CBS released the first MISSION IMPOSSIBLE box set in 2006, containing 4 dvds.
A must for collectors and at a good price.
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