The Immortal (TV series)

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The Immortal was an American television series which aired on ABC from September 1970 to January 1971. The series was based on a pilot movie of the same name which aired the year before. The pilot was based on the science fiction novel The Immortals, by James Gunn. Although the series was cancelled at midseason, episodes were rerun by ABC in the summer of 1971.

[edit] Series overview

Ben Richards is a young test car driver whose life changes when he donates a pint of blood. Upon further examination, it is determined that his O negative blood contains all known antibodies and immunities, which essentially makes him "immortal", unlikely ever to die of natural causes. When a dying billionaire is given a transfusion of his donated blood, and is brought back from the brink of death, the billionaire decides that he has to control Richards' life so he can access his life-saving blood.

When Richards rejects all of the billionaire's offers to remain with him, the billionaire has him imprisoned, but ultimately escapes. Richards is now on the run because although the billionaire dies, he is now being pursued by one of the billionaire's former employees, Fletcher, who is now employed by another billionaire, Arthur Maitland, who also wants access to Richards' blood.

The series' dramatic tension is based on the idea that Richards would probably never lose his life if he were to live quietly as he would never succumb to any known diseases, but his flight from Fletcher puts his life at great risk, as he constantly engages in dangerous efforts to avoid capture, and his "immortal" blood did not make him immune from losing his life from trauma.

The series primarily focuses on Richards' journeys and the people he meets while trying to avoid Fletcher.