The Human Factor (2002 The Outer Limits)

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“The Human Factor”

The Outer Limits episode

Episode no.

Season 7
Episode 21

Written by

Grady Hall
A.E. van Vogt (story)

Directed by

Steve Aspis
Robert Habros

Guest stars

Robert Duncan McNeill
Zack Ward
Stephen Spender
Kevan Ohtsji

Original airdate

11 January 2002

Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Dark Child"	"Human Trials"

List of The Outer Limits episodes

"The Human Factor" is an episode of the television show The Outer Limits. It first aired January 11, 2002, in the show's seventh season.

[edit] Opening Narration

"We believe ourselves to be an essentially noble race. But would that same assessment be made from a truly objective view?"

[edit] Plot

Jupiter's moon Ganymede is now the only hope for the human race in 2084 as overpopulation and constant warring has left much of earth uninhabitable. Space Commander Ellis Grover (Robert Duncan McNeill) must convince android assistant Link (Zack Ward) that humanity is worthy of existence over a game of chess. As Link activates the station's self-destruct sequence, Grover's officers attempt to reach the manual override at the same time as trying to get over bitter distrust. Link tries to convince Grover that the world's governments do not care about peace but only want to extend power. In the end, after shutting down Link and the countdown, Grover is informed by the United States President that the US launched a pre-emptive strike against the "Eastern Coalition", starting a nuclear war, which along with the underestimated retaliation killed almost all of the human race (including Grover's wife and daughter). The US President's spaceship, with the few remaining people, will arrive in several months. At this point Grover, having lost faith in life and his humanity, reactivates both Link and the self-destruct sequence and starts his last game of chess. Link asks about what had happened to which Grover replies: "Oh, just a human error."