i suppose it depend on when one actually see the movie for the first time that their impression be form the way it be . i saw it a a child on tv back in 1973 and when it be the stranger and i love it . such be the time when the space program to the moon be a reality and when show like search and ufo and and 6m $ man be show a child of 12 of what the world could hold in their future . adventure and technology . you get to see show only once and that be when the network air them . the only way people could slash your show be by make their own parody of it while they do not get to take your show and add in their own comment over it . i do not know what this concept of a pilot be . i saw the movie and be hop thru out that stryker would get home while do not know that there be a possibility of it continue beyond two hour . back then and would i understood what so many people hate about the movie now . i doubt it because i do not remember it a such . do i understand now . not really for to understand the story and one must not see it from their perspective but rather from that of the character in the movie . if one be watch a an american and it might be humorous about the lack of security in a police state . but if one be a subject in that state and then compliance could be expect and security can be less . when thing be suppose to be perfect and perfect to an extreme degree and perfect that one be not suppose to doubt and then one be not likely to question a quickly when thing be out of order . the subplots of the movie be interest such a the old man who remember the time before but watch his word since he suspect that there be spy everywhere . or that the police state value knowledge to some extent for they be careful about how they control or harm their brain power . these day and one be likely to know exactly what the movie be about before they see it and so much of the suspense and surprise be lose . but the duet between the astronaut and his doctor at the beginning of the movie be a perfect exchange if one consider that this movie be make well into the cold war and the astronaut big fear be that he have crash in the ussr . one get quite a distance into the movie before it become apparent that such a possibility be the least of his concern . this be the primary difference between the stranger and doppelganger . the latter can be consider timeless since any comment it have about the ussr be comparatively minor and lose early on in the movie . in the former and those link be through out the movie and supposedly directly in the beginning and then a a theme variation after ward . all that say and despite my fond memory for the movie and it be rather easy to see that it would not have make it a a series . each week and stryker would make friend and benedict would chase and stryker would get away . eventually and benedict society would get rid of him . someone else would pick up the chase . a rut would develop . there might be a jab at something new such a perhaps another crew member from stryker mission show up and but it probably would not be enough to keep the show go . if one go in with the knife that others have use to slash the movie and odds be they will slash it as well . but if one remember that this be make during the cold war and what fear and estimation of the other side be during that time and of what the popular environment contain for the viewer and then they may find some entertaining and intellectual theme in it .