Lithia

It's 2055. Only women have survived the final, and biggest, war. We see a small farming community which also has teachers, and into this comes the other gender's extreme, thus contrasting and exploring their differences, strengths, weaknesses: a military man, Major Mercer(Keith, charming, determined) with working knowledge of engines and such awakens from 40 years of cryo-freeze. Different villagers react to him in distinct ways: one falls in love and wants to know more, one is completely against him, an elder one is reminded of her past, etc. But what will become of him? Can it even work, having such a group suddenly take in an outsider, simultaneously demonized and the subject of many imagined, distant scenarios?

This hits just the right balance. The conflict is neither cheesy nor vague. No one is purely the ideal they might be expected to be, every character has depth and is well-acted. And this doesn't off-handedly choose either side, rather, we see that a middle-ground may be the best solution, when this Bechdel-test-winner-by-design easily could have preached. Is more will-power needed in trade? Can his suggestions aid, or break, their ways... peaceful, yet marred by hardship? The storytelling and pace are swift: within mere minutes, the high concept(which could have come off as silly and contrived) is set up, then explained well without the exposition bogging things down(yes, sperm-banks). I was left to wonder why the pronunciation of only certain words had changed somewhat. There is tension, even some action in this. This is one of only episodes I've watched of either version of The Outer Limits, but, like the others, it fosters a desire to seek out more.

There is some disturbing content, sensuality and sexuality, as well as a little female nudity from behind(in the totally necessary and not gratuitous co-ed shower scene). I recommend this to any fan of science- and speculative, fiction. 8/10

Half of the reviews think this is full of misogyny and the other half think it's misandry. Maybe not half and half, since possibly more men have reviewed it crying misandry. Personally I think the entire episode is just full of awful gender stereotypes all around. It's definitely got a fair amount of male fantasy (re: lesbian relationships in an all-male society, the pining of women for a man the second they see him, the need for a man to take charge of things). And the claim of some reviews that this represents some sort of utopian female society are bizarre, because clearly there are all sorts of problems with the society, which according to the writers clearly need a man to fix -- it's just that he goes about it wrong. But yes, it is also full of stereotypes about men being inherently violent and causing violence. And in the end it has a lot of anti-man rhetoric. So in my opinion this is just unfair to both men and women.

The biggest problem is that it's a silly story and the acting is mostly really bad. And the end is just more silliness.

My oh my! Ignoring the major plot hole of the reproduction process, if there's a worse episode of this run of The Outer Limits, please let me know as I need to avoid. The intent to showcase the evil of man; the result; pettiness of woman on display. My initial thought; only man, let me get out of here: end of the episode, proven correct. The writers do not understand the difference between submission and cooperation.

I laugh and laugh at how bent out of shape and angry men get if a movie or scifi tv show happens to imagine a world without men or with women in power. Why does it anger them so?? Men are still in power and the world is a mess, why can't a few fictional programs imagine a world where men aren't in power? David Keith is likable and you understand his motives, he is not a caricature like so many depictions of ditsy, dumb women. I thought it was an interesting and even humorous episode. Lighten up guys, 99% of media is for the male gaze, but your power must be illusory or slipping if a little fictional television show episode gets you so hot and bothered. I'm not talking about just the reviews here, on youtube when movie reviewers occasionally discuss women ruling over men movies the comments are filled with guys freaking out, calling misandry (while they insult women in a very ugly way). Learn to laugh and not be defensive jerks.

A community of women has survived a major world war. During that time, the remarkable result is that something has happened to all the men. They have died off. Because of medical technology, the women have been able to produce without mates. There are several of these sects that are governed by a woman who is a kind of overseer to them. Lo and behold a man who has been a cryonic cell wakes up to this world. He finds his way to the commune and is taken care of by them. They are, however, suspicious of his motives, and are constantly on the alert. As time goes on, he begins to aid them in their efforts to produce food. He also begins to have relationships with a couple of the women who welcome it. Problems begin to occur when he suggests that they begin to stand up to the other sects, who have much more than they do. There are some lessons to be learned here about equality and about what a society should be. An interesting, though far fetched effort.