I, Robot

PERHAPS WE ARE just a little overly enthusiastic about this episode. We come about this definitely slanted and decidedly prejudiced attitude honestly. Ours is a tradition of story reading and appreciation that has its roots in the genres of Science Fiction and the Super Hero; which were mainly featured in the pages of the Pulp Magazines and their visual counterpart, the Comic Book.

ANOTHER REASON WHY we have developed this devotion to the episode is that the author Eando Binder is a legendary writer in both the fields of the written narrative and the illustrated comics.

WHILE THIS IS just conjecture on our part, it would appear that this episode (as well as the I. ROBOT episode of the revival OUTER LIMITS Series of 19095-2002) was probably intended to be a pilot episode for a spin-off series of ADAM LINK.

WITHOUT THE AUTHOR'S being heavy handed, over dramatic or sanctimonious, the general tone of the stories are a sort of reminder to we of the Human Race to check our moral compass and never forget those basic foundational items such as the Golden Rule. In this Age of fanatical terrorism, questionable moral equivalences and total disrespect for Human Life, we need Adam Link more than ever.

INCIDENTALLY, THIS WRITER'S name of "Eando" was a nom-de-plume of two brothers. Earl and Otto Binder combined their first initials and thus E and O became "Eando."

WHEN WE TOLD Schultz about this his comment was: "Clever, these Americans!"

This episode is rather surprising because unlike a typical episode of "The Outer Limits", the special effects appear very good--as if the budget was rather large--which it was not. It's about a robot--and for a 1960s show, the robot is quite effective. Had the robot been cheesy looking, the episode would have been a lot less effective.

The show begins with the police chasing a robot across the countryside. Apparently 'Mr. Link' is assumed to have killed its creator. But the robot gives up without a fight and the Sheriff plans on having the mechanical man disassembled. An opportunistic newspaper reporter (Leonard Nimoy) wants to exploit this as a story and convinces the dead professor's niece to get the creation a lawyer (Howard De Silva). And much of the rest of the show consists of a court hearing to determine what to do next.

All in all, an effective and interesting show. It also helped having De Silva, as he was a gifted actor. It also helped that it was written well--with a real sense of heart. My only question is how did they do this show without driving Isaac Asimov crazy?! After all, he wrote the book "I, Robot" over a decade earlier and the show had an awful lot of similarities--yet Asimov isn't credited at all. Hmmmmm.

By the way, if you see the show don't you think that the character of the little girl was amazingly stupid?! One of the only weaknesses I saw in the story, actually.

This is a nice episode. The problem is too much familiarity. The idea of proving an artificial intelligence is sentient is one of those staples of science fiction. Perhaps Asimov did it first, but the arguments are always the same. There is no question of the power of these things (in this case a really cheap looking robot) is at issue. It has to do with the protections we have from these man-made creatures. Could they have acted violently, given these safeguards? Everything is in how nuanced the trial works, how aggressive the negative forces are, and what the motivations of the bad guys are. Commander Data went through a couple of these on Next Generation an ultimately it seems to be an overzealous soldier type who sees an android or robot as one who does the wishes of others. I've always wondered if we would be so callous if such beings existed, at least in such an advanced state as this. Of course, emotions are frequently an issue to be debated as they seem to be at the separation point. Anyway, the trial is a lot of fun and the episode is quite satisfying.

A robot is suspected of murder.

I wish I could like this hour like others obviously like it. The Outer Limits is mostly good but this 49 episode series had six stinkers and this is indeed one of them...to me.

The moment we see the Wizard Of Oz-type "Tin Man" I knew we were in trouble. Perhaps they should have rented out MGM's Robby The Robot as he did the rounds in retro sci-fi TV (Twilight Zone, Lost In Space, Ark 11, etc).

Act one then moves to Leonard Nimoy just before doing Star Trek. Sorry, but I have spent my whole lifetime watching Star Trek episodes/movies so it is just too much of a struggle to see Nimoy as anyone other than Mr Spock. Maybe if he spoke in a different accent and had a beard I could let my imagination go with him.

The hour is not helped by the courtroom scenes and the story as a whole. Sorry, I hate it, but most others like it.

I, Robot is directed by Leon Benson and adapted to screenplay by Robert C. Dennis from the story written by Eando Binder. It stars Howard da Silva, Ford Rainey, Marianna Hill and Leonard Nimoy. Music is by Harry Lubin and cinematography by Kenneth Peach.

Season 2 - Episode 9

Originally a very short story in Amazing Stories, it would influence Isaac Asimov and in turn see a big screen blockbuster released in 2004. Plot sees a robot named Adam Link on trial for the murder of his creator. Defence attorney Thurman Cutler (da Silva) comes out of retirement to not only try and prove Link is innocent, but to put on trial the workings of a machine in a human world, and that of the human condition of acceptance, growing and learning one self.

A super episode, one of the better entries in series 2, the messages it gives remain pertinent as ever, the court case with its legal wrangling's holds strong interest, and the finale is socko - with the closing narration striking a mighty chord. 9/10