This is what outstanding science fiction is all about. I compare this episode in quality to Star Trek's 'Amok Time' and The Twilight Zone's 'The Fugitive'. Part II of 'The Inheritors' includes a brief recap of Part I, so even if you missed that one, you'll still get the full context of the story with this installment. It reaches its emotional zenith when Assistant Secretary of Science Adam Ballard (Robert Duvall) is confronted with an almost impossible choice - does he save six disabled children from an alien 'kidnapping', or allow Lieutenant Philip Minns (Steve Ihnat) to follow through on his mission to bring them all to a better place, cured of their afflictions and placed in a loving and nurturing environment. I can't say I'd be comfortable with having to make that kind of decision, given the conflicting demands of conscience versus responsibility. In his role as Minns, Ihnat reminded me of Michael Rennie in 1951's "The Day The Earth Stood Still". Rennie's Klaatu and Lieutenant Minns both demonstrated a thoughtful, methodical understanding of their mission and were capable of explaining it in a confident, non-threatening way. And all the while, as you expect something sinister to develop by the intrusion of alien forces at work, the outcomes provide for the betterment of those affected if allowed to play out undisturbed. Though I tend to be dismissive of a number of the Outer Limits episodes for their goofy looking monsters and seemingly inconclusive endings, I thought this one to be the finest of the series and certainly my favorite, along with Part I. Exceptional story telling with fine acting make it a memorable experience and one that merits repeat viewing.
Review of The Inheritors: Part II
