Ep 2. Memory

Mission: Impossible Season 1 Episode 2 "Memory" follows the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) as they go undercover to expose a dangerous villain, Alexander Vanin, an international smuggler and assassin who is selling state secrets to the highest bidder. The episode focuses on the mission of the IMF team as they try to retrieve a stolen chemical formula which is key to stopping Vanin from causing a global disaster.

The episode begins with the IMF team discussing the mission and their plan of action. Jim Phelps, the leader of the team, assigns different roles to each of the members. Rollin Hand and Cinnamon Carter are to impersonate a wealthy couple, Max Harte is to be a lab technician, and Barney Collier is to be a safecracker. The team also brings in a new member, Willy Armitage, who is an expert on the chemical formula.

As the team discusses the details of the plan, they realize that the success of the mission depends on Willy's knowledge of the formula. However, Willy is suffering from memory loss due to an injury sustained during an earlier mission. Therefore, the team must find a way to help Willy recover his memory in order to complete the mission.

The team decides to use hypnosis to retrieve Willy's memory. They contact Dr. Gordon, a renowned hypnotherapist, to help Willy recover his memory. Dr. Gordon puts Willy under hypnosis, and the team is able to retrieve some of the crucial pieces of information. Armed with the knowledge of the formula, the team prepares to launch their mission.

The IMF team poses as the wealthy couple, Rollin and Cinnamon, and use their charm to convince Vanin to sell them the chemical formula. Meanwhile, Max Harte intercepts Vanin's shipment of the formula and manages to get away with it. But the team soon realizes that they have been discovered. Vanin sets his men after the team, determined to retrieve the stolen formula.

The episode then takes us on a thrilling chase through the streets of Paris as the IMF team tries to evade Vanin's men and make their way to safety. The team splits up, with Rollin and Cinnamon taking the formula to safety, while Max and Willy distract Vanin's men. Barney is left behind to destroy the evidence.

The final scenes of the episode show the IMF team successfully completing their mission. Alexander Vanin is exposed for the criminal that he is, and the stolen chemical formula is returned to its rightful owners. Willy's memory is also restored, and he is welcomed back to the IMF team.

"Memory" is a superbly crafted episode of Mission Impossible, with an intricate plot that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The performances of the actors are brilliant, with standout performances from Peter Graves as Jim Phelps, Martin Landau as Rollin Hand, and Barbara Bain as Cinnamon Carter. The episode also explores the theme of memory loss and how it can affect an individual's life, making for a thought-provoking watch.

Overall, "Memory" is a must-watch episode for fans of the Mission Impossible franchise. It showcases the best of the show's elements – the high stakes missions, the intricate plotlines, and the talented cast.