Director of Photography John McPherson
Written by James D Parriot; Produced by Chuck Bowman
Directed by Jeffrey Hayden
David heads into Oregon to meet a doctor conducting ground-breaking research into DNA manipulation that might help with the affliction that he aquired during his tests with gamma raditation. On the way he meets and assists a pregnant woman who is going to stay at the nearby 'Matrix' institute - leaving her to continue about her business he heads to the hospital. Doctor Rhodes performs some tests with David and organises the necessary injections for later that day, but in one of the rooms David overhears a newly admitted patient panicking over her lost baby and muttering something about Matrix.
Written by James D Parriot; Produced by Chuck Bowman
Directed by Jeffrey Hayden
David heads into Oregon to meet a doctor conducting ground-breaking research into DNA manipulation that might help with the affliction that he aquired during his tests with gamma raditation. On the way he meets and assists a pregnant woman who is going to stay at the nearby 'Matrix' institute - leaving her to continue about her business he heads to the hospital. Doctor Rhodes performs some tests with David and organises the necessary injections for later that day, but in one of the rooms David overhears a newly admitted patient panicking over her lost baby and muttering something about Matrix.
Prior to his later appointment David heads back to the building to warn the girl he met earlier but they won't allow him entry, hence, ever persistent he climbs the wall anyway and manages to locate the girl. She explains to him that she is actually giving the baby to them so that it can be purchased, presumably by a couple who can't have their own. There appears to be some ambivalence on her part and, as David is trying to explain the pros and cons of what she is about to do, they are spotted by the owners of the institute, and one of the participants turns out to be Rhodes himself. David quickly departs, unaware of who has just been present, and later attends his own appointment while the girl gives his thoughts some consideration. Rhodes, concerned and persuaded that David and the girl are actually collaborating to either blackmail or incriminate them, appears to proceed with his experiment on David, but actually injects him with a lethal overdoes of morphine-sulfate instead.
What initially looks like it is going to be the sugary tale of David helping a pregnant woman (which he does of course) actually turns out to be one of the best episodes of season one. The plot, aside from being inevitably afflicted with the usual coincidences (without which there would be no series!), is well thought out, tense, and leads to an unusual appearance of the Hulk. This occurs after David is injected by Rhodes - what viewers who missed the pilot may not be aware of is that the beneficial side effect of David's problem is advanced replenishment of cells, so he heals at a far greater rate than normal. Therefore the injection does not kill him, but locked away in the theatre (to die), the Hulk emerges completely delirious. He staggers through the hospital causing mayhem before managing to get out, leaving David in an excessively dreary state but nevertheless intent on getting back to Matrix to alert the girl of his new knowledge (which Rhodes revealed to David as he was strapped down and expected to die). Ironically the very thing that David wants to cure is the thing that saves his life. David also replies early to a statement that he is alone with 'sort of', suggesting that he believes the creature is something that accompanies him rather than simply being an extension of himself. This resonates later when Rhodes is working on David's DNA via extreme magnification - it actually feels like the experiment the doctor is about to perform will 'kill' the Hulk, and there's an unexpected element of sadness evident there.
What initially looks like it is going to be the sugary tale of David helping a pregnant woman (which he does of course) actually turns out to be one of the best episodes of season one. The plot, aside from being inevitably afflicted with the usual coincidences (without which there would be no series!), is well thought out, tense, and leads to an unusual appearance of the Hulk. This occurs after David is injected by Rhodes - what viewers who missed the pilot may not be aware of is that the beneficial side effect of David's problem is advanced replenishment of cells, so he heals at a far greater rate than normal. Therefore the injection does not kill him, but locked away in the theatre (to die), the Hulk emerges completely delirious. He staggers through the hospital causing mayhem before managing to get out, leaving David in an excessively dreary state but nevertheless intent on getting back to Matrix to alert the girl of his new knowledge (which Rhodes revealed to David as he was strapped down and expected to die). Ironically the very thing that David wants to cure is the thing that saves his life. David also replies early to a statement that he is alone with 'sort of', suggesting that he believes the creature is something that accompanies him rather than simply being an extension of himself. This resonates later when Rhodes is working on David's DNA via extreme magnification - it actually feels like the experiment the doctor is about to perform will 'kill' the Hulk, and there's an unexpected element of sadness evident there.
I also think Hayden's direction is less generic than the TV norm, for example with an excellent camera pan during a prolonged dialogue between Rhodes and one of his amoral associates, plus a number of Hulk point-of-view shots that add an element of interest to his trajectory through the hospital. In addition, the second transformation is executed in a novel manner with Banner's hands pulling himself up the stairs as they become progressively greener. This episode is topped off with a funny near-miss with McGee in the hospital as David leaves. Overall, a stand-out moment in season one.
Number of Fists: *****
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