User Reviews

After Galen (Roddy McDowall, excellent as usual) gets injured, Virdon (amiable Ron Harper), Burke (the equally likable James Naughton), and Galen are all forced to take refuge at a farm owned by a peasant ape family. However, suspicious teenage boy Anto (a fine and lively performance by Geoffrey Deuel) believes that the humans have put a curse on their precious pregnant cow. Director Don Weis relates the absorbing story at a steady pace and builds a good deal of tension. Robert W. Lenski's engrossing script not only goes into fascinating detail about the grueling hardships of running a farm, but also nicely explores the lack of trust and communication between apes and humans. The sound acting by the capable cast helps a whole lot: Lonny Chapman as gruff family patriarch Polar, Jacqueline Scott as the compassionate Zantes, Mark Lenard as the fanatical Urko, and Eileen Dietz as the sweet Jillia. Virdon has a touching moment in which he talks about his son and the ape family learns that humans have feelings just like they do. Lalo Schifrin's rousing score does the stirring trick. A very good show.

Astronauts Alan Virdon and Pete Burke, along with their ape friend Galen are fleeing from the ape authorities; they manage to give them the slip but Galen falls and badly hurts his leg. Unable to carry on the trio go to a nearby farm where they are given a relatively friendly welcome. While Galen is healing the two men are put to work and are soon advising the farmers on how they can make their farm more efficient. They soon win over most of the family but Anto, the eldest son, is suspicious; the family cow is due to give birth and he believes human presence is a bad omen; he expects a bull calf and he will blame them if one isn't produced… to make matters worse it appears the calf is the wrong way round and both mother and calf could die as there are no vets in this world.

As the TV Channel broadcasting this channel started with this episode I didn't get the expected introduction to the characters; this didn't really matter as it is easy to figure out what is going on; especially if you've seen the original film. The story is self-contained with the protagonists' situation little changed at the end of the episode… although their actions have affected the farmers they helped. There is some tension as their pursuers close in on them and when Anto believes they are the cause of the cow's problems. There are also some humorous moments; most notably the farmers' method of persuading the pursuing ape's attempts to find the protagonists. The scenes where the astronauts, one of whom grew up on a farm, help the farmers by teaching them better techniques even prove to be somewhat educational without feeling lecturing. Overall an enjoyable episode which fans of the franchise, both young and old, can enjoy.