episode #17, segment 2: Quarantine

#17b: QUARANTINE written by Alan Brennert; Directed by Martha Coolidge
OK, this takes us back strictly into the realm of science fiction concepts. This involves cryogenics, the far future, bio-enhanced humans, post-holocaust scenarios, outer space vehicles and even organic computers. And, probably a couple of other things I haven't recalled. The main character (Scott Wilson) is from around our time; he was frozen around the year 2020 due to an inoperable tumor and is awoken 300 years later (think the TV-movies Genesis II-1973 and Planet Earth-1974).
The future is not what he expects. A high-tech engineer in his own time, he's dismayed to find himself in a small village, as if he were back in the 19th century. He's told (by Tess Harper, playing a leading resident) that cities are gone; a nuclear war took care of most of the populace and there are about 200,000 humans left as the Earth only now is clear of the nuclear winter and is hospitable again. However, he soon learns that things aren't as backward as they seem; these new humans all possess varied mental powers such as telepathy and controlling molecular density. They're able to remove his tumor without any problem.

They later show him their organic computer, like in a cave, where various animals, like chimps, are hanging in organic sacks; oh, it's all voluntary - this is all a gestalt now, like a group mind. So, where does the 21st century man fit in? They tell him that an asteroid is heading for Earth, soon to hit and cause much damage. They need him to operate a computer and direct an orbiting satellite to blow up the rock.  As the moment approaches, however,

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As indicated above, a lot of wild sci-fi concepts, but the execution is a little on the dull side. The tone of this episode is as if you're watching a daytime soap opera. The denouement also betrays a simplistic fantasy -

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No mess, no fuss. Utopia proceeds. BoG's Score: 6 out of 10