Outer Limits: New Series Season One

One of the best science fiction oriented anthology series ever to grace television was the Outer Limits. After its cancellation in 1965 there was nothing that even came close to providing the thought provoking morality plays up to the quality of this series. Then, after a thirty year absence the premium cable network, Showtime, revived the series and presented new episodes. The original series explored social issues against the backdrop of a science fiction story, always keeping the human and moral dilemmas as the heart of the series. Now, with Showtime taking over the normal restrictions regarding language, themes and sexuality would be far less than imposed in the sixties and after a thirty year silence the control voice once again was heard. As DVD became the media of choice of serious collectors of television series fans of the Outer Limits wanted to see season sets. Instead, MGM/Showtime offered only a few teasing discs, six theme oriented releases gathered from the seven year run of the new series. Now, all of us fans can rejoice a little, those that make such decisions have heard us and based on the success of the theme sets the entire first season of the new Outer Limits is now on DVD. Now just a little note here, if you have the previous sets there is some repetition, episodes previously released are here in original broadcast order.

As with the original series in sixties this reincarnation which started in 1995 set stories of morality and humanity against the incredible background of science fiction. This anthology series takes the viewer from the depths of outer space, through the expanse of time and within the motivations of the human mind. As done in the sixties series the premise is set up by the control voice (Kevin Conway taking over for the original Vic Perrin) who would also end the episode with a little moral lesson. Now that the series moved to premium cable the writers were granted a greater degree of freedom to take on more mature subject matter while still maintaining the high standards set by Joseph Stefano. This first season contained some of the most memorable episodes in the show’s seven year run.

The Sandkings

In the double episode that restarted the Outer Limits for a new generation, scientist Simon Kress (Beau Bridges) learns that the project he has been working is about to be shut done. They have been examining dormant insect eggs discovered in Martian sole recovered from a probe. He steals some and begins to revive them in his garage. His obsession with the new life form takes over and he soon ignores his family. The insects, dubbed Sandkings, create elaborate structures from the sand they live in and begin to incorporate Kress’ image in their designs. Soon they break into two warring factions that become extremely hostile. This episode features there generations of the Bridges family with Lloyd Bridges playing the father of the scientist and Dylan as his son. Typical of the Outer Limits the man’s obsession is contrasted between his work and home life showing more of the inner workings of his mind.

Valerie 23

Here is the first episode of the new Outer Limits to explore human sexuality. Frank Hellner (William Sadler) is a scientist confined to a wheel chair who is working on a new skin replacement. He is told that helping burn victims is only a small part of what his work will be used for, it is primarily intended for use in an artificial human, a cybernetic creature intended to help people with special needs. Valerie 23 (Sofia Shinas) is the prototype made to look like a beautiful woman. She is sent home with Frank so he can beta test her. She falls in love with him and a fatal attraction scenario soon ensues. While this episode did feature nudity it was not done like most cable late night shows, not to titillate but incorporated naturally into the context of the story.

Quality of Mercy

Major John Skokes (Robert Patrick) is part of the combined Earth Military force fighting an alien foe. He has been captured and placed in a barren holding cell by his powerful enemies. They toss in a young girl, Bree Tristan (Nicole de Boer) a cadet pressed into service by Earth command. It appears that Bree is the subject of horrible experimentation; the aliens are turning her into one of them. They two earthlings emotionally reach out for one another only to discover the terrible truth.

I, Robot

It would become a little tradition for one episode of the new series to be a reexamination of an episode from the sixties. This would not be just redoing the episode but using the same premise to examine they issues in a modern light. Here Adam Link (Jake McKinnon), a robot is accused of killing his creator Dr. Link (Don MacKay). Thurman Cutler (Leonard Nimoy) is a retired brilliant lawyer who is hired to defend the robot on charges of capital murder. There is a little nod to the original here; Nimoy appeared in the sixties as a reporter covering the trial. There is more humanity in the mechanical Adam than almost any living being around him. This use of reflecting man through the looking glass of robots is a staple of the Outer Limits and this is one f the finest examples.

All twenty two episodes in the first season are finally on DVD. Each is real gem representing not just great science fiction but incredibly well crafted tales of what it is to be human, our triumphs and our failures on display. Although on some level I miss the really cheesy creatures and special effects of the original the foundation that made that series a classic is here. It seems to be easier to hold up human nature for such review when it is clothed in science fiction. With the greater freedom that Showtime could offer the series was able to explore some of the darker aspects of humanity without the worries of sponsors and the network’s department of standards and practices. This series was part of several science fiction oriented shows that Showtime had for Friday nights and is greatly missed.

Hopefully, this is only the beginning. If the fans out there can put aside the fact that some episodes were on the theme oriented sets and purchase this one perhaps MGM will continue and release all seven seasons in this format. This was one time when an older classic television series was brought back and actually improved on the original. This is a must have, not only for the legion of fans but for anyone looking for some of the best entertainment cable every provided.

Posted: 10/17/05