The average TZ episode can be done in about 30 seconds. While there are a handful of standout episodes, usually it’s a very simple idea that’s stretched out to 30 minutes. When TZ went to an hour for a season, the weakness really shows and those episodes are notably boring, tedious, and long.
The Outer Limits had much better story ideas and writing, and a more sophisticated approach to the material. TZ is very overrated.
Great, succinct analysis.
TZ was kiddie stuff. Outer Limits was an attempt at more grown-up material, and its combining SF with horror was unique to TV at the time. It was clearly an influence on Alien, The Terminator (remeber the lawsuit Cameron lost over that?), X-FIles...