Ep 18. The Trial

Jim Phelps and his Impossible Missions Force (IMF) team face a challenging mission in "The Trial," the 18th episode of the first season of the hit TV series Mission: Impossible. The episode follows the team as they work to free a wrongly accused prisoner from jail and restore his reputation.

The mission begins with a man named Paul Ryan (played by William Windom) being arrested for the murder of a wealthy businessman. The IMF team believes that Ryan is innocent and that he has been set up by the real killer, a man named Howard Lane. The team's goal is to find out the truth and clear Ryan's name.

To accomplish this, Jim Phelps (played by Peter Graves) and his team must create a complex plan to trick Lane into confessing his crime. The team's plan involves creating a fake trial for Ryan, complete with a fake jury, judge, and prosecutor. The goal is to make Lane believe that Ryan is actually on trial and that he has a chance to get away with murder by framing an innocent man.

To carry out this plan, the IMF team recruits a number of actors to play the roles of the judge, prosecutor, and jury. They also bring in Ryan's wife, Alice, to help convince Lane that Ryan is truly innocent. Meanwhile, the IMF team prepares a variety of high-tech gadgets and disguises to help them carry out the elaborate plan.

Once the mock trial begins, Lane becomes increasingly nervous as he realizes that the IMF team's plan is working. As the trial progresses, Jim and his team work to gather evidence and information that will prove Ryan's innocence and Lane's guilt. Along the way, they face a number of challenges and setbacks, but they ultimately succeed in their mission.

The episode features a number of tense and exciting moments, as the IMF team must stay one step ahead of Lane and his henchmen. There are also several twists and turns in the plot, as the team uncovers new information and discovers unexpected connections between the various characters.

Overall, "The Trial" is a thrilling and suspenseful episode of Mission: Impossible that showcases the team's ingenuity, resourcefulness, and bravery. It is a classic example of the show's trademark style, featuring a complex plot, high-tech gadgets, and dramatic action sequences. Whether you are a fan of the original series or new to the world of Mission: Impossible, this episode is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.