Criminal Nature (The Outer Limits)
| "Criminal Nature" | |
|---|---|
| The Outer Limits episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Steve Anker |
| Written by | Brad Markowitz |
| Production code | 63 |
| Original air date | 23 January 1998 |
| Guest actors | |
|
Gary Cole as Ray Venable |
|
"Criminal Nature" is an episode of The Outer Limits television show. It was first broadcast on 23 January 1998, as the first episode of the fourth season.
Introduction
Genetic engineering of human beings is now commonplace, but not perfect. Detective Ray Venable is in charge of a team responsible for hunting down deformed children suffering from Genetic Rejection Syndrome.
Opening narration
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With every scientific advance we grow closer to unlocking the mysteries of life and creation. But what have we gained if, in the process, we lose our humanity?
Plot
The GRS monster children are now adults who commit murders. Detective Ray Venable has a "secret" son with GRS, Dylan, who is harassing his family. Ray injects himself with a serum to temporarily enhance his sensory abilities (like GRS people) in order to hunt him. He does this successfully - only to find out that it was a plot by his son, who placed the serum so that Ray would find it. His son forcefully injects more of the serum into his dad (and reveals to him that his rage/murderous intentions were not caused by the drug), so that Ray now has irreversible GRS and transforms into a monster. Ray kills Dylan, but his family no longer loves him because he looks like the other GRS monsters.
Closing narration
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The most powerful thing we pass along to our children may not reside in the genes...but in the soul.
Trivia
- The episode is a sequel to season two's "Unnatural Selection".
