PBS sci-fi mini series with big aliens

Question

In the late 80s early 90s, PBS aired a sci-fi miniseries that I never got to finish.  It seemed to be about a group of initiates being chosen for something.  The only scene I distinctly remember is: the group of young men walk into a big dark room and there were two huge alien beings. They had no legs, just torsos and long gangly arms.  For whatever reason, the men had on spacesuits but the skin on their legs was not covered. The aliens would grab the bare skin and indicate that that individual was not worthy.  The aliens indicated two men that were to go on to the next level.  The scene cuts to the two chosen guys in their new living arrangements.  That's all I remember.

skyjack · Answer

Based on your description of a spacesuit with bare legs I believe you are looking for BBC serialisation of The Tripods by John Christopher. I also believe it was broadcast on PBS as I notice one or two references to PBS in my google search for the show. As the show was made by the BBC in the mid 1980s your time frame is correct for this show too.
The aliens were depicted as three legged torsos with a single eye. The scene you describe is with the aliens inspecting candidate humans who will be their servants. They do indeed grab at the exposed legs and flesh of the humans. This scene is in episode 5 of season two.
You can watch the entire season on youtube but the scene you are describing appears at 9 minutes into the episode.

PBS sci-fi mini series with big aliens

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