S1.E4

The Discarded

Episode aired Aug 25, 2007
TV-14
43m

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Donny Lucas and Alex Zahara in Masters of Science Fiction (2007)

Drama Fantasy Horror Mystery Sci-Fi Thriller

Based on a short story by seven-time Hugo Award winner, three-time Nebula Award winner and Science Fiction Grand Master Laureate Harlan Ellison ("A Boy and His Dog," "Star Trek"). Story of d... Read allBased on a short story by seven-time Hugo Award winner, three-time Nebula Award winner and Science Fiction Grand Master Laureate Harlan Ellison ("A Boy and His Dog," "Star Trek"). Story of despised minorities forever adrift in the darkness of outer space. As a last resort born ou... Read allBased on a short story by seven-time Hugo Award winner, three-time Nebula Award winner and Science Fiction Grand Master Laureate Harlan Ellison ("A Boy and His Dog," "Star Trek"). Story of despised minorities forever adrift in the darkness of outer space. As a last resort born out of their loneliness and despair they are forced to make an ominous pact with those respo... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

356

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Trivia
When Bedzyk asks Annie whether she ever wondered why she was 'discarded,' she answers in a few pregnant lines. At first, Annie says, "It's that thing about Malthus." Here she refers to Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834), whose famous Malthusian equation argues that an exponentially increasing human population on Earth will preclude any possibility of a state of happiness or utopia for humans.

Quotes
Samswope: I am extremely whipped. Rilla never manifested herself for the KP shift. Lowly as though it may be, I worked both. Do I make myself pellucid? Eight detestable hours. I may have to kill that woman.
Bedzyk: You're too late.
Samswope: [Sam looks out the window, where body parts are floating] Rilla? I was perturbed she didn't wish to do her garbage shift.
[to his murmuring second head]
Samswope: Would you kindly be quiet! - Now, it seems, she *is* the garbage shift.
[Sam looks down to the plant on the ground, whose trailing leaves had tripped him]
Samswope: Fortuitous I didn't knock over the plant.
Bedzyk: Well, if you had, there'd have been two all-meat pizzas floating out there.

User reviews6

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Featured review

10/10

Excellent, gripping science fiction

Challenging piece of science fiction in the truest sense of the word. This episode takes us years to the future with the chilling effects of genetics, diseases and politics run amok. Both John Hurt and Brian Denehy play their roles with a passion and verve that may seem theatrical but do the job in propelling the story forward. (I'd like to take a minute out to praise the make-up artists on this episode. Genius. They serve to disgust and humanize. Is that craft, writing or both?) Excellent science fiction takes fantastic situations and places characters living lives that ring true to contemporary readers/viewers. This episode serves testament to that quality.