The Hunt (The Outer Limits)
| "The Hunt" | |
|---|---|
| The Outer Limits episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Mario Azzopardi |
| Written by | Sam Egan |
| Production code | 64 |
| Original air date | 30 January 1998 |
| Guest actors | |
|
Doug Savant as Kel-54 |
|
"The Hunt" is an episode of The Outer Limits television show. It was first broadcast on January 23, 1998, during the fourth season.
Introduction
In near future, the hunting of animals has been banned by environmentalists, and black market hunting of obsolete androids takes its place.
Opening narration
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Humankind has proven to be unique among lifeforms, distinguished not only by its lofty intelligence, morality and self-awareness, but also by a baser side...it is the only creature that kills for sport.
Plot
A group of obsolete androids (a doctor, a miner, and two others) attempt to escape from the hunters during the beginning of the hunt. They find a way to remove their inhibitors (chips that keep them from confronting and/or attacking the humans), allowing them to set traps instead of merely running away. However, the doctor is killed, leading to the kidnapping of one of the hunter's son and their guide. The androids (two at that point, including the miner) release the son, as he had refused to hunt with the other hunters. The guide, however, is revealed to be another android and is kept captive, though the guide almost seems to prefer going with them than staying with the hunters. In the meantime, the hunter's son is accidentally killed by his father, having been thought to have been another android. The hunter's brother then pursues the androids, killing another. Enraged, the miner (who had up until then refused to have his inhibitor removed) kills the hunter's brother. Eventually, the miner and the guide make it to the limits of the forest, meeting a ranger. The ranger explains to the androids that, since they survived an illegal hunt, they are allowed to live freely among humans, something the miner had frequently dreamed of. However, the miner, disgusted and weary from his experience, refuses this freedom and reveals his murder of the hunter's brother. As a result, he is reprogrammed and turned into a guide for another android hunt.
Closing narration
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As machines grow more human, we must be wary that we do not become...less so.
