List of The Outer Limits (1995 TV series) episodes explained
This page is a list of the episodes of The Outer Limits, a 1995 science fiction/dark fantasy television series. The series was broadcast on Showtime from 1995 to 2000, and on the Sci Fi Channel in its final year (2001–2002).
Background
Showtime's head of programming, Jeffrey Offsay, said the show "found a home at Showtime because MGM, which produced the original series, supplies feature films to both Showtime and The Movie Channel. At the time we were making our deal to get into business with them, they were restarting their TV operation as well. They had the idea of wanting to make The Outer Limits and they thought it was the kind of thing that would work very well for us". Executive producer Pen Densham noted how anthologies can be "risky". He explained that "every week no stories are the same, no actors are the same, we don't have an easy path of an ongoing character, we have to make sure the stories are so strong, and not resort to remaking original Outer Limits scripts".[1] All but one of the 43 episodes in season 1 and season 2 are originals, the only remake is 'I Robot', which starred Leonard Nimoy in the original, and he also appears in the new episode.[2] The premiere episode, The Sandkings, featured Lloyd Bridges, his son Beau Bridges, and Beau's son Dylan Bridges.[3]
In 2000, Showtime cancelled the series after 132 episodes. The show was then revived on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2001, with the first episode featuring Tom Arnold, premiering on March 16, 2001. Two of the executive producers at Showtime, Pen Densham and Mark Stern, also returned for the revival of the series.[4] After one season, the Sci-Fi Channel cancelled the show in 2002, primarily due to declining viewership ratings.[5]
Series overview
Episodes
Season 7 (2001–02)
Story arcs and connected episodes
Innobotics Corporation
- s. 1 ep. 2 "Valerie 23"
- s. 4 ep. 15 "Mary 25"
- s. 4 ep. 2 "The Hunt"
- s. 4 ep. 26 "In Our Own Image", which includes footage from s. 3 ep. 1 "Bits of Love", as well as footage from s. 3 ep. 7 "The Camp". These timelines do not match, though this is partially remedied by the android's statement that the footage from The Camp comes from a prison camp during the Second Balkan War.
- s. 2 ep. 2 "Resurrection"
Major John Skokes/Earth Defence
- s. 1 ep. 13 "Quality of Mercy"
- s. 2 ep. 18 "The Light Brigade"
Alien Infiltration
- s. 1 ep. 20 "Birthright"
- s. 1 ep. 21 "The Voice of Reason"
Time Traveler Dr. Theresa Givens
Genetic Rejection Syndrome
- s. 2 ep. 3 "Unnatural Selection"
- s. 4 ep. 1 "Criminal Nature"
The New Masters
- s. 3 ep. 7 "The Camp" – The last humans are kept by the android guards, simply because the guards are following the last orders they received.
- s. 4 ep. 21 "Promised Land" – The remaining humans must interact with aliens still on Earth.
Geneticist Dr. Martin Nodel
- s. 3 ep. 12 "Double Helix"
- s. 4 ep. 23 "Origin of Species"
The Eastern Coalition-Free Alliance Cold War / War
- s. 4 ep. 24 "Phobos Rising"
- s. 7 ep. 22 "Human Trials"
- s. 7 ep. 21 "The Human Factor"
Jack the Ripper
- s. 5 ep. 11 "Ripper"
- s. 5 ep. 22 "Better Luck Next Time"
Time Traveler Nicholas Prentice
- s. 5 ep. 12 "Tribunal"
- s. 7 ep. 15 "Time to Time"
- s. 6 ep. 17 "Gettysburg"
USAS
- s. 4 ep. 13 "The Joining"
- s. 7 ep. 5 "The Vessel"
- s. 7 ep. 11 "In the Blood"
See also
Notes and References
- News: King . Susan . Showtime Reviving The Outer Limits . . . March 26, 1995 . 9C.
- News: Duffy . Mike . Outer Limits Is Creepier Than Ever . . March 24, 1995 . 7C.
- News: Clodfelter . Tim . Beyond The Limits . . March 25, 1995 . 3.
- News: Dawidziak . Mark . Classic Eerie Series Gets Revival On Cable . . March 16, 2001 . 7E.
- Book: Garcia, Frank . Phillips, Mark. Science Fiction Television Series, 1990-2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows. December 10, 2008. McFarland. 978-0-7864-9183-4. 176–177.