"Night of the Howling Light"
***1/2
(Dec. 17, 1965)
The fourteenth episode of The Wild Wild West was no doubt inspired by the film The Manchurian Candidate, which had come out just a few years prior. In the story, James and Artemus are sent by the President to bring a message of peace to Chief Ho-Tami of
the Osage Indians. But an unhappy tribesman employs Dr. Arcularis to capture West in and brainwash him into assassinating the chief instead.
The episode is mostly carried by the amusing premise (even if it had already been done one the big screen), though it is worth mentioning that it was nominated for a Best Cinematography Emmy. Otherwise, it is absent most of the tropes that the Wild Wild West is known and loved for - gadgets, Artemus' disguises, attractive love interests, etc.
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