Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Episode Guide Year 3

UFO crashes into the ocean.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

Production information and notes by Mark Phillips
Story synopses, Mike Bailey

Day of Evil Original Airdate: October 23, 1966

Nelson and company are on patrol when a UFO crashes into the ocean and Seaview's reactor runs wild. While attempting to dampen the rods, Patterson encounters an alien figure who looks remarkably like Admiral Nelson.

Radiation from the alien ship floods seaview.

Attempting to shut down the reactor, Patterson is attacked.

His attacker, it seems, is Admiral Nelson.

The alien puts a searing hand to Patterson's head, incapacitating him. Patterson is exposed to a fatal dose of radiation and the reactor remains just plain out of control. Seaview's on emergency power which Crane reveals will last only an hour or so. Meanwhile, the alien, in Nelson's form, shows up in the control room and orders nuclear missiles prepared for firing.

Crane gives the order, in spite of the fact that he knows no missile can be fired without the release of the Failsafe system. The Captain looks back to find Nelson mysteriously vanished. Soon, an awakened but dying Patterson reveals to Crane that it was Nelson who attacked him in the reactor room. Crane gives Patterson's claim credence given that he's close to death, and becomes more suspicious of Nelson, who, rightly, denies everything.

Crane finds Patterson out cold.

Despite his misgivings, Crane concludes with Nelson that only one man can save the day by going into the highly contaminated reactor room to finally shut it down -- Patterson, who is in effect, already a dead man. But when they go to sick bay to broach the issue, the alien has already been there--Patterson is out cold. Unannounced, Crane dons protective gear and performs the shutdown himself, and likewise suffers a fatal dose of radiation. Nelson is finally confronted by his look-alike, who offers to save the two dying men for a "favor." Although suspicious, Nelson agrees, much to his eventual consternation.

Alien, disguised as Nelson takes perverse delight in demanding the Admiral fire nuclear missile at the Pacific Fleet.
Evil alien Nelson takes pleasure in his plan.

Admiral Nelson about to see what the alien has in mind.
The real Nelson aghast with indignation.

Alien's evil plans revealed.
This is what you must do....

Nelson ultimately refuses to push the button.

Even as Crane and Patterson are returned to health, Nelson is informed about his end of the deal: fire a nuke into the Pacific Fleet, thus triggering a chain reaction of retaliation that will destroy the world. Ultimately, Nelson refuses, but Crane, in a weakened state from his recent experiences, pushes the button.

The missiles fire, but Nelson is able to activate the self-destruct before the missiles can hit their mark. The alien is called back to his home planet in the face of defeat, but leaves with a warning: "We'll be back!"

Evil alien Nelson takes a powder.

Even in death, the bastard from space laughs.

Written: William Welch
Directed: Jerry Hopper
Guest Cast: None

Mark Says: This episode has nothing in the way of budget and as a kid I was dismayed that the alien economically assumes the shape of Nelson or Crane ("What, no monster makeup?"). But the episode once again proves just how good the Voyage regulars were. There’s an intense scene between Nelson and Crane that plays really well and you feel sorry for Patterson’s impending doom. Good acting but alas, a predictable story.

Mike Says: My original review started like this: A convoluted walkabout that in the end has no point other than to save budget.
Upon re-viewing this episode, I've change my opinion. Yes, it's a budge saver, but Day of Evil is very well done. This episode benefits from having no rubber-suit monster running around commanding "Destroy, Destroy!" and therefore plays much better than many later season-three episodes. And William Welch's script plays out remarkably intelligently, despite the fact that the aliens want all us humans dead. Absolutely, as Mark points out, the acting is good. Very good. It's interesting to see Nelson posed against himself as a laughing, sneering bastard who just wants to destroy the whole planet. The ship that crashes into the ocean at the beginning of the episode is Klaatu's vehicle from The Day The Earth Stood Still. Somehow, I can't help but think Klaatu might not have approved.

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