Bits of Love (The Outer Limits)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Bits of Love
Series = The Outer Limits


Caption =
Season = 3
Episode = 1
Airdate = 19 January, 1997
Production = 45
Writer = James Crocker
Director = Neil Fearnley
Photographer =
Guests = Jon Tenney as Aidan Hunter, Natasha Henstridge as Emma, Steve Bacic as Griff
Episode list = List of "The Outer Limits" episodes
Prev = The Sentence
Next = Second Thoughts

"Bits of Love" is an episode of "The Outer Limits" television show. It first aired on 19 January, 1997, during the third season.

Introduction

The last survivor of a nuclear war relies on computer generated holograms for companionship.

Opening narration

"We are now able to create devices that can project themselves in our image -- that can not only look like a human, but talk like one, express pure emotion and... even make mistakes in true human form."

Plot

After a nuclear holocaust, Aiden Hunter is possibly the last human being alive. Despite this, for the last seven months he has lived a hedonistic life deep below ground in a comfortable hi-tech bunker, with only computer-generated holograms of his friends and family for company. He even has a machine capable of creating physical stimulation for more intimate encounters with simulated women.

The controlling artificial intelligence personality of the computer system is Emma, who appears as an attractive female. Eventually, Aiden tires of creating ideal women and decides to seduce Emma. Afterwards he treats her like the many other disposable simulated females he created. However, it seems Emma is more than a simple computer program and begins to make life difficult for him. She alters her appearance to seem pregnant and begins to control the other holograms to create her own world. When Aiden attempts to reset the system, Emma retaliates by creating a holographic Aiden, along with his family and friends. Aiden finds himself completely alone and, in effect, a ghost unable to interact with the new "real world."

Closing narration

"Man and machine. We are reaching the point where it is harder to tell which is which, and to guess which one... will ultimately survive."

Trivia

* Other episodes in which human characters fail to recognize the feelings of intelligent machines include Valerie 23 and Family Values.

External links

*
* [http://www.scifi.com/outerlimits/episodes/season3/301bitsoflove.html "Bits of Love"] at Sci Fi