One of the hard things about this series is that there is very little sunshine. In this episode a couple of leftover humans are in a dungeon-like environment, trapped by impersonal, warrior aliens who treat them as trash. These people are introduced as soldiers. The man is himself a combatant who has fought the good fight with a marine-like affirmation. The young woman (about 20 years old) says that she has been drafted and taught to fly fighter jets. She is just a child and is routinely removed from the prison cell and operated on. It appears that the aliens are in the process of turning her into an alien. She starts with skin lesions and eventually grows spikes on her back. He spends his days trying to get through an vent opening above the cell. He doesn't know what's out there, but it behooves him to try. A relationship develops between them and he begins to feel protective of her. They talk about their humanity and their connection to earth and resisting being changed. This would be a relatively simple plot, but because this is one of the harshest episodes the writers/producers had something else in mind. Stay with this to the end and count your blessings.
11 Reviews
Unbelievably good
Bored_Dragon11 January 2019
I really did not expect something like this. The ratings I give to episodes of series of this type do not belong to the same scale at which I estimate movies. Simply, you have to give some slack to a low-budget SF TV series. But when this episode is concerned, there really is no need. This 45 minutes SF drama takes place in one room and with only two actors, but it was enough for authors to build a powerful atmosphere, quality characterization, and excellent development of a quite tense and emotional story. Some say that the final twist was obvious from the start, but I really did not expect it.
8/10
8/10
Real characters, good plot
habren2 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I loved this episode. The best I've seen so far. The main characters, named "John" (Patrick) and "Bree" (De Boer), come across as full personalities.
Bree is a trainee fighter pilot that got caught by aliens together with her boss. The episode starts as John is thrown in the same cell with her. She is a very feminine (she actually mentions her period cycles), submissive and scared person, that you would not have imagined as a fighter pilot. As she puts it herself "They've assured me I've got everything it takes to be a fighter pilot". I loved her from the start.
John on the other hand, is a little loud, dominant, very optimistic, masculine and has too much confidence. Together they seem to fit perfectly and the chemistry splashes of the screen. I used to hate Patrick in the X-Files because I thought he was a poor replacement for charismatic Duchovny, but here he's perfect. That blonde hair becomes him and this is the first time I noticed his sexy voice.
The relationship between Bree and John got very intimate, where they would share hopes and fears with each other that I could relate to if I imagined the situation that they were in (SPOILER: virginity, rejection, loss of beauty, suicide). It helped me as viewer to sympathize with them.
Care was placed into the design of the alien lifeforms. Both the creatures that were the food and the creature habituating the ventilation channel looked convincing. I was not too fond of the alien race that had captured them, but since they were not that visible and exposed, and much was left to the viewers imagination, that didn't bother me. Also the dirty water, the orange fungus and the rocks looked likely to me.
The "wait...what?" moment is a little predictable, but still I was surprised how and when it happened and what the reasoning behind it was.
I hope you will enjoy or have enjoyed this episode as much as I did!
Bree is a trainee fighter pilot that got caught by aliens together with her boss. The episode starts as John is thrown in the same cell with her. She is a very feminine (she actually mentions her period cycles), submissive and scared person, that you would not have imagined as a fighter pilot. As she puts it herself "They've assured me I've got everything it takes to be a fighter pilot". I loved her from the start.
John on the other hand, is a little loud, dominant, very optimistic, masculine and has too much confidence. Together they seem to fit perfectly and the chemistry splashes of the screen. I used to hate Patrick in the X-Files because I thought he was a poor replacement for charismatic Duchovny, but here he's perfect. That blonde hair becomes him and this is the first time I noticed his sexy voice.
The relationship between Bree and John got very intimate, where they would share hopes and fears with each other that I could relate to if I imagined the situation that they were in (SPOILER: virginity, rejection, loss of beauty, suicide). It helped me as viewer to sympathize with them.
Care was placed into the design of the alien lifeforms. Both the creatures that were the food and the creature habituating the ventilation channel looked convincing. I was not too fond of the alien race that had captured them, but since they were not that visible and exposed, and much was left to the viewers imagination, that didn't bother me. Also the dirty water, the orange fungus and the rocks looked likely to me.
The "wait...what?" moment is a little predictable, but still I was surprised how and when it happened and what the reasoning behind it was.
I hope you will enjoy or have enjoyed this episode as much as I did!
What an Episode!!
the_it12 November 2006
I am old enough to remember the original Twilight Zone and Outher Limits series on TV. The newer Twilight Zone series was disappointing at times, but the New Outer Limits was always thought-provoking and adult sci-fi at its best. Quality of Mercy is perhaps the best episode EVER of The new Outer Limits, and that's saying something! And this is the best thing Robert Patrick's ever done!! What a shock, depressing, sickening ending!! It was a real shame that this series came to the end of its run, and when are we going to get the complete collection here in the UK on DVD? We're always the last to get the cool stuff. Anyway, regardless of that, this particular story gets full marks on every count!
Haunting, disturbing, quite brilliant episode!
paul-clarke679 February 2010
Yes, an outstanding, and very disturbing episode.
It has qualities, as suggested by the above reviewers, that haunt me to this day.
Terrific how, what is essentially a two-handed, and probably relatively low-budget drama in a confined space, manages to be a brilliant piece of TV drama. Robert Patrick is very good - and I found the female lead arrestingly beautiful, even as she was being gradually transformed - and her increasingly pathetic plight is both shocking and very moving.
But drawn in, and caring for them both, as you inevitably are, nothing prepares you for the brilliant and mind-twisting final revelation.
A real humdinger of an episode - and, as I say, one that will probably, as it does for me, and the reviewers above, haunt you forever!
It has qualities, as suggested by the above reviewers, that haunt me to this day.
Terrific how, what is essentially a two-handed, and probably relatively low-budget drama in a confined space, manages to be a brilliant piece of TV drama. Robert Patrick is very good - and I found the female lead arrestingly beautiful, even as she was being gradually transformed - and her increasingly pathetic plight is both shocking and very moving.
But drawn in, and caring for them both, as you inevitably are, nothing prepares you for the brilliant and mind-twisting final revelation.
A real humdinger of an episode - and, as I say, one that will probably, as it does for me, and the reviewers above, haunt you forever!
My favorite episode of the series
kamas7169 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This is easily my favorite episode of the new Outer Limits series. It's also the most memorable, followed by The Sandkings and Think Like a Dinosaur. The performances of Nikki de Boer and Robert Patrick are remarkable. I consider this to be THE exemplar episode of what a show can do with a limited budget, set design, and actors. This was my first experience with Robert Patrick outside of Terminator 2 (later Dogget on The X-Files), and first ever with Nicole de Boer (later Ezri Dax on Deep Space 9 and Sarah on The Dead Zone).
My heart wept for what the characters went through. The emotional journey this episode takes the viewer is on par with such multimillion dollar Hollywood movies as The Passion of the Christ or Schindler's List. The production values aren't super, but the writing and acting is quite good.
Plot synopsis: Contains Spoilers
Two prisoners of war share a cell in an alien prison. One prisoner, de Boer, is subjected to grueling experiments changing her into an alien. As her situation deteriorates, she and Patrick's character bond emotionally. When her situation appears hopeless, he offers her a small piece of knowledge to ease her pain. Only after does he find out the high cost of his little mercy.
My heart wept for what the characters went through. The emotional journey this episode takes the viewer is on par with such multimillion dollar Hollywood movies as The Passion of the Christ or Schindler's List. The production values aren't super, but the writing and acting is quite good.
Plot synopsis: Contains Spoilers
Two prisoners of war share a cell in an alien prison. One prisoner, de Boer, is subjected to grueling experiments changing her into an alien. As her situation deteriorates, she and Patrick's character bond emotionally. When her situation appears hopeless, he offers her a small piece of knowledge to ease her pain. Only after does he find out the high cost of his little mercy.
Excellent and very well-crafted episode with an incredible twist ending
nvasapper16 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This was without a doubt the best episode ever from the new Outer Limits series. I agree wholeheartedly with my esteemed colleague from the initial review. It had an impact on me that has stayed with me since I first saw it on its original release. It's one of those teleplays that haunts you long after you've seen it.
The background plot involves a war of subjugation waged against our planet by a superior race of aliens. This conflict has apparently been going on for a long time and the Earth is barely holding its own against the invaders, with little or no hope for any victory. A U.S. Air Force Space Command Major played by ROBERT PATRICK is captured by the aliens and thrown into a cave-like cell on their planet. He sees that he's not alone, for in the cell with him is a very attractive, young female cadet played by NIKKI DE BOER. Her character displays a vulnerability and sensitivity that the viewer will immediately hook into. She tells him that she was captured on a training mission flight. In spite of their dire straits (or perhaps because of it), they start to bond. It's apparent that PATRICK is quite attracted to her and she to him as well, through her shyness and innocence. Their jailer(MARK McCRACKEN), a hulking alien, periodically opens the cell door to throw their food in, which consists of two crablike crustacean creatures. DE BOER knows the trick of how to open the creatures to drink their slimy insides and shows PATRICK how to do it. The jailer also periodically cracks the door to grab DE BOER and drag her out of the cell. From his vantage point, PATRICK can hear her screams from a nearby chamber. When she's returned, he sees that portions of her body are populated by a reptilian-like, scaly skin. She tells him that when the aliens remove her from the cell, they operate on her with the goal of turning her into one of them. She says that's one of their tactics- to turn people into what they are through grafting and implantation. She's scared that it will only be a matter of time before she's no longer human. Knowing that time is running out for her, she tells PATRICK that she wants to know what it's like to be loved and wanted, but he cannot bring himself to make love to her. During the next operation on her, he climbs through a vent in the ceiling and crawls down a shaft until he's above the operating theater. He tries to grab one of the aliens through the grating and winds up having his hand cut off at the wrist. Back in the cell with DE BOER, who's now at least 50% alien, he sits her down and tells her that any hope they may have had of escape is gone. She mourns for them both and for the people of Earth who now have no hope of overcoming the enemy. She tells him she doesn't want to go on any more. She wants it to end. But PATRICK cannot bring himself to kill her. He tells her to have hope- not for the two of them- but for the Earth. He tells her that a huge armada of Earth's best fighter craft has been marshalled on the far side of the Sun and that in 30 days time from the date he was captured, this force will be unleashed against the aliens' home planet. It'll be enough to turn the tide. So in the end we will have won. DE BOER listens closely as he tells her this and then says "Thank you for telling me, John." I won't give away what happens next. Suffice it to say that this last scene follows the tone of the entire episode. It is dark and downbeat and will leave you with a desolate feeling. A phenomenal production. 10 out of 10.
The background plot involves a war of subjugation waged against our planet by a superior race of aliens. This conflict has apparently been going on for a long time and the Earth is barely holding its own against the invaders, with little or no hope for any victory. A U.S. Air Force Space Command Major played by ROBERT PATRICK is captured by the aliens and thrown into a cave-like cell on their planet. He sees that he's not alone, for in the cell with him is a very attractive, young female cadet played by NIKKI DE BOER. Her character displays a vulnerability and sensitivity that the viewer will immediately hook into. She tells him that she was captured on a training mission flight. In spite of their dire straits (or perhaps because of it), they start to bond. It's apparent that PATRICK is quite attracted to her and she to him as well, through her shyness and innocence. Their jailer(MARK McCRACKEN), a hulking alien, periodically opens the cell door to throw their food in, which consists of two crablike crustacean creatures. DE BOER knows the trick of how to open the creatures to drink their slimy insides and shows PATRICK how to do it. The jailer also periodically cracks the door to grab DE BOER and drag her out of the cell. From his vantage point, PATRICK can hear her screams from a nearby chamber. When she's returned, he sees that portions of her body are populated by a reptilian-like, scaly skin. She tells him that when the aliens remove her from the cell, they operate on her with the goal of turning her into one of them. She says that's one of their tactics- to turn people into what they are through grafting and implantation. She's scared that it will only be a matter of time before she's no longer human. Knowing that time is running out for her, she tells PATRICK that she wants to know what it's like to be loved and wanted, but he cannot bring himself to make love to her. During the next operation on her, he climbs through a vent in the ceiling and crawls down a shaft until he's above the operating theater. He tries to grab one of the aliens through the grating and winds up having his hand cut off at the wrist. Back in the cell with DE BOER, who's now at least 50% alien, he sits her down and tells her that any hope they may have had of escape is gone. She mourns for them both and for the people of Earth who now have no hope of overcoming the enemy. She tells him she doesn't want to go on any more. She wants it to end. But PATRICK cannot bring himself to kill her. He tells her to have hope- not for the two of them- but for the Earth. He tells her that a huge armada of Earth's best fighter craft has been marshalled on the far side of the Sun and that in 30 days time from the date he was captured, this force will be unleashed against the aliens' home planet. It'll be enough to turn the tide. So in the end we will have won. DE BOER listens closely as he tells her this and then says "Thank you for telling me, John." I won't give away what happens next. Suffice it to say that this last scene follows the tone of the entire episode. It is dark and downbeat and will leave you with a desolate feeling. A phenomenal production. 10 out of 10.
Best episode so far
californiarecordshop26 September 2020
I'm usually the first one to figure out a twist in a story and I am rarely surprised by 'twists' in movies and films etc. This was a pleasant surprise as I was really caught off guard by the great twist at the end... I totally did not see it coming until the last minute, what a great episode and I'm only up to Season 4 at the time of writing, but this still remains the best episode of the series so far. I love Sci-fi and Robert Patrick and the chick from DS9 were really great in this, its difficult to do much with just a set and two actors (and one alien), but they pulled off a grand slam, very inventive and unique. Unfortunately the 'sequel' (Shut up Wesley!) - wasn't quite up to par, it was okay, but it was the antithesis of this episode, where the twist at the end was so obvious from the start, and Wesley does something so stupid that even Wesley Crusher would not have fallen for it... still a good episode though...
"I don't know how much longer I'll be human."
classicsoncall28 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Having watched literally hundreds of anthology series TV episodes, I've been pretty well conditioned to spot the twist ending well before it occurs, but this one held it so close to the vest that it came across as a complete surprise. The story is worthy enough to be ranked with the best of "Twilight Zone", "Thriller", and even "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" if that show had delved into science fiction. The relationship that developed between Major John Skokes (Robert Patrick) and Cadet Second Class Bree Tristan (Nicole de Boer) gives the viewer a reasonable expectation of a successful outcome where they both make an escape from the alien prison in which they've been placed. Instead, the intimacy between the principal players sets us up for a devastating jolt as the finale reveals Bree to be an alien herself, undergoing a transformation back to her reptilian form after having 'suffered' as a human. And that, right after Skokes told her of Earth's secret battle plan of hiding its best fighters on the far side of the sun, just waiting to make an attack on the alien force. Just brilliant, making it just about the most effective "Outer Limits" episode to date, even considering the original series from the Sixties.
Very poor
stuart-smith7298 June 2018
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