Mission: Impossible is an American television series that was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicles the missions of a team of secret government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force. In the first season, the team is led by Dan Briggs, played by Steven Hill; Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, takes charge for the remaining seasons. A hallmark of the series shows Briggs or Phelps receiving his instructions on a recording that then self-destructs, followed by the theme music composed by Lalo Schifrin. The series aired on the CBS network from September 1966 to March 1973, then returned to television for two seasons on ABC, from 1988 to 1990, retaining only Graves in the cast. It later inspired a popular series of theatrical motion pictures starring Tom Cruise, beginning in 1996.
The peaks and the valleys. Find the essential episodes — and the ones to skip.
Jim Phelps is held captive by townsfolk after learning they're part of an assassination network. The clock is ticking as a pair of assassins head out to perform a hit in LA. The IMF must first rescue Jim and then prevent the hit.
While on a mission Cinnamon is captured by a foreign government. Jim and the others decided to mount their own mission without approval to spring her by using another spy they've kidnapped as bait.
Foreign agent Walter Townsend has been given false information by the US designed to embarrass his home country and discredit him. But a rival agent tries to discredit Townsend by revealing that his info is false. The IMF intervenes.
Rollin and Barney are sent to investigate the case of a scientist who believes her dead husband's ghost is giving her orders on how to complete her important work.
Each point is an episode, plotted in order. Colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for the rise, the plateau, or the decline.
High votes + high rating = beloved classic. High votes + low rating = notorious stinker. Low votes + high rating = hidden gem.
One point per season. Smooths out the episode-to-episode noise to reveal the bigger arc.
Did each season build or fizzle? Green means the finale outscored the premiere. Red means the opposite. Longer arrows, bigger swings.
How steady is each season? Tightly clustered dots mean reliable quality. Scattered dots mean a wild ride.
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