CBSRMT Episode Information Next Episode

Title

The Land of Dreams

Plot

After rebelling against a perfect society controlled by a computer, a young couple are forced to go into hiding in order to save their lives.

Episode

1243

Air Dates

  • First Run - September 18, 1981
  • Repeat - December 3, 1981

Actors

Writer

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Rating

65
53     12


9 Responses to Episode 1243

Takes me back to my youth when I would stay up late just to listen to the CBSRMT. Like so many I would hid my transistor radio under my pillow and fall asleep just after, or before, the end of the show. It fills me with a sense of nostalgia and longing to her these old shows. I don't remember this one but, I found it very prophetic... as we move into the next age of our Human development. Synthetic life doesn't seem so far fetched now does it, What with Nano technology and computerized prosthetics. Perhaps we should look less to being politicly correct as we move forward and more toward being Truly concerned with each other's circumstances as fellow human beings. But that wouldn't make for good ratings would it! God Bless

Boppa

Agreed!

Cindy

In a future society where super computers control every aspect of human life and forbid reproduction, a young couple decides they will secretly have a baby. A somewhat moralistic tale of what might happen to a society that relies to much on faceless technology. Genre: Science-Fiction

Carlitos Way

I really loved this episode. Machines have taken over and humans are on the run. Trust and love are in question and in rare supply. This episode is set 2,000 years in the future. I was interested from the very beginning. At the end of its run, CBSMT pulled out another great story.

Vinny Viola

The "Wedding March" is from Wendy Carlos' "By Request" album.

Spaceman Spiff

I think this may be the fourth (at the very least) RMT episode about a hyper-rational future dystopia, with the same-old, same-old theme of "human emotions are superior to coldly efficient reason." The "twist ending" is also straight out of an old Twilight Zone episode.

Thomas

A very good Sci fi Episode, with what was the usual theme of Sci fi in the Seventies- the Computer takeover of the world- but with a bonus- the dreamy voice of Kristoffer Tabori!

Melanie

I rate this episode ★★★★☆ for GOOD. Sam Dann wrote a thought-provoking Sci-Fi episode, mixing a dose of romance in this Dystopian tale about Man vs. Machine, but the finale was the downfall. It had a surprising ending, but it was equivalent to the ending of the 7th Episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE entitled “The Lonely” (1959). A better surprising ending would be if the main character found out that everyone on the farm, including the animals, were machines and the Talking Computer was actually a human with a God-Complex. Another way to title this episode would be “The Dream To Love.” Sound effects of battlefield noises, birds chirping, wedding march tune, scanning procedures, slow groovy music, force field, farm animals, biting into the Apple, cutting the loaf of bread, workshop operation, glass shattering, and revolver firing were helpful in this story. However, the music that CBSRMT used was repeated many times over. But now, onto the good stuff. In our Host’s Prologue, E.G. Marshall starts the show off with Bible verse of Genesis 3:19. In ACT-1, a look back on the History of Power, followed by setting the story up 2,000 years in the future. And in this story, “Duty” is an operative word. In ACT-2, a brief history of work, but this tale shows industrial work is frowned upon and being joblessness is okay. More importantly, seeing that the main character yearns for a peaceful world where things are simpler, E.G. Marshall sees this as the "Eternal Cry" of the Human Race: The Gold Days. In ACT-3, mankind yearns for Paradise, but not clear on what Paradise is like or what to do there. As the story ends, seeing that some have forgotten how to love, E.G. Marshall points out what happens if we can’t find a way to live with progress, security and the easy things that baffle us. In his Epilogue, questions what is a dream, but more importantly, states that a man is hopeless if he can’t dream and a man is helpless if he dreams all the time. E.G. Marshall’s narrations took a serious approach on how we should view this tale. Perhaps it’s a cautionary tale, but our Host was superb in his contribution. And finally, our superb cast: Kristoffer Tabori (as Joe), Marian Haley (as Priss), and Earl Hammond (as the Computer and Mel). Both Earl Hammond & Kristoffer Tabori were excellent in their roles, but I think Marian Haley stole the show. Her performance in this was terrific as her performance in Ep. #1221-A.L.I.C.E. Other than the letdown ending, the storyline, the Host, and the Cast were exceptional. Sci-Fi fans of Dystopian stories may enjoy this one. Until next time…pleasant dreams.

Russell

With all due respect to the others leaving comments, I find sci-fi to be CBSRMT’s weakest genre, as far as the writing is concerned. There are so many awkward, implausible, eye-roll-inducing lines. Of course a lot of it is down to the typical ‘70s sci-fi obsession with bad-mouthing science and engineering.

Andrew


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