First Anniversary (The Outer Limits)
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
- First Anniversary can also refer to 1st Anniversary, a Japanese Pop music album.
| "First Anniversary (The Outer Limits)" |
|---|
"First Anniversary" is an episode of The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 16 February 1996, during the second season.
Introduction
A man and beautiful blonde woman are in a car. The woman is pleading with the man, who is clearly afraid of the woman. The car crashes and explodes but the blonde woman walks away unscathed. The blonde woman is next seen in an office and transforms herself into a beautiful brunette after seeing a picture of one on Norman Glass' desk.
Opening narration
When we look in a mirror we see a reflection of ourselves. But how much more powerful than this is the reflection we see in the eyes of another? Especially in the eyes of one we hold to be more beautiful than ourselves.
Plot
Norman Glass celebrates his first wedding anniversary with his beautiful and talented wife, Ady. Norman's best friend, Dennis, also has a beautiful wife, Barbara. However, over the next few days, both relationships unravel rather quickly. First, Dennis walks out on Barbara; Norman goes to talk to Dennis in a city park and is frightened by what he finds. Dennis, clearly unhinged and paranoid, claims that Barbara is not what she seems, and that she is an alien creature who can change appearance (through influencing people's thoughts). A strange woman approaches Dennis and claims to be Barbara, begging him to take her back. Norman doesn't recognize her, but Dennis does - whereupon he runs into traffic and is killed.
Later, after Dennis' funeral, Norman experiences the same effects: he begins to feel repulsed whenever he touches, smells or tastes his lovely wife. Ady attempts to bluff her way out of the situation but is forced to admit the truth: she and Barbara are aliens whose ship crash-landed on Earth some time ago. They are repulsive creatures in their natural form (apparently, of aquatic origin), but since they are stranded on Earth with no way to leave, they decided to try to blend in and live out the rest of their lives as human women. Unfortunately, their ability to trick someone's senses wears off, as the victim grows a resistance, after a year or so. Norman becomes unhinged at this knowledge and ultimately suffers a mental breakdown when he finally sees Ady's true form. He is taken away by paramedics. Later, Ady is standing in a park where she changes her appearance and starts a flirtatious conversation with a passing jogger.
Closing narration
We all wear masks, illusions of what we want the world to see. But when we hide our true selves from those we love... what price do we pay for that deception?