Josh

The title character seems to be a messianic savior type with purely good intentions. He brings a young girl back to life after she has suffered a nasty fall, hiking in the mountains. Unfortunately, a couple of tourists film the thing, bringing in a sleazy news show host, cameras a blazing. Josh is willing to talk with her, but she is so bound by the story that she refuses to back off. He is ultimately taken by government security, a group of fascists that for some reason think he is dangerous. It is primarily because he is given the blame for a couple of satellite malfunctions. The question all along is who is this guy? Is he a god? Is he the Christian God? Is he an alien. There was just enough religious visual symbolism to make me back away. The interesting thing in this episode is what the government is willing to do to a guy who has done nothing to them. He may have had nothing to do with the satellites. Also, his relationship with the attractive female news journalist who carries around a great deal of emotional baggage. While simplistic, it's a decent effort.

"They say seeing is believing... But the true question is.... What do you believe you've seen? Season 4, Episode 7 (JOSH) goes far beyond the opening narration presented by this sci-fi program. In the world of fiction, you are often required to believe a premise which you would never accept in the real world. The fictional premises of sci-fi involve the various possibilities with the unknown, unexplained or the unbelievable. Accordingly, we should remember science fiction is the proposition of thoughts, ideas, art and theories. Science fiction has been used by authors as a device to discuss philosophical ideas such as identity, desire, morality, and social structure. Since sci-fi possibilities are unlimited, it is our suspension of disbelief, which constitutes a poetic faith that I am interested in. Because it has been advanced, materialized or even contemplated as a matter of routine for the most part within the last 60 years.

It is certainly within the power of our imagination that a benevolent "God" could focus our suspension of disbelief, unitize human technologies or connect our scientific innovations to communicate; interact or even intercede with his creation. It is my desire, if not my duty to try to tell you that this television program (Josh) is evidence of the natural order through the Unseen Hand of Providence.

What is Providence? Providence is the means by which God directs all things - animate and inanimate, seen and unseen, good and evil - toward a worthy purpose, which means His will shall finally prevail.

Yes, the Outer Limits is a sci-fi "program" but like any "program" it can have an effect, shape our vision or become a physical reality. Remember... The Outer Limits is the only T.V. program that delivered a distinct warning at the beginning of their programs.

Look at Facebook or its one billion users. Facebook is an innovation using a trusted platform for the devoted purpose of social media, which reaches into the human mind for answers to our problems, positions, plans and common interests. However, everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. Perhaps, Facebook is within the outer limits of our Faith and will become a living narrative of human evolution and a record of our successes or sacrifices to it. Conversely, and without doubt the central paradox of our existence is found in the thoughts, words and actions of two thousand years ago and can live in us today as: "The answers to Mankind's future problems can be found within so long as there are those among us willing to make the sacrifice."

I shall maintain this candid boundless belief in sci-fi possibilities and I certainly believe in the extraordinary truths of this episode's profound thoughts and honest words that were expressed. Simply because... "Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't."

"Throughout history, the search for faith has led man to look to the stars and the heavens for answers. But only by looking into ourselves may we truly find it."

This is a great story and I highly recommend it to anyone who is old enough to comprehend the goings on. Everyone I asked seems to have a different opinion of who the alien being is supposed to be but it seems rather obvious to me given all the things he does. The actors do a good job. Some make you love them and some make you hate them. There's the determined reporter and her goofy sidekick. Josh himself is very likable. I have to wonder,tho, about some of the lies he tells. It doesn't fit the character. It also makes me wonder what our govt. would do in a situation like this. They probably would attempt exactly what happened in the story. Fear the govt. and military!! This story can make you smile, cry and wonder about a lot of the things we've learned all our lives. Watch it with an open mind and, if nothing else, come away feeling very good!