Ep 1. Prometheus, Part 1

David Banner (played by Bill Bixby) is on the run again in season 4, episode 1 of The Incredible Hulk, entitled Prometheus, Part 1. We find him working as a janitor in a research facility, hoping to keep a low profile. However, as always seems to be the case, trouble finds him.

The episode begins with a group of scientists discussing the development of a new technology that can harvest and synthesize energy directly from the sun. One of the lead researchers, Dr. Cassandra Rubicon (played by Linda Blair), is giving a presentation on the technology when there's an unexpected power surge. The team's leader, Dr. Ronald Pratt (played by Gregory Sierra), believes it was a fluke, but Cassandra is convinced it was something more. She can't shake the feeling that the experiment awakened something dormant in the sun's energy.

David Banner is introduced shortly thereafter, working as a janitor under an assumed name. He keeps his head down and does his job, but he can't help but be intrigued by the new technology he sees around the facility. It reminds him of his own work in gamma radiation and the potential dangers it poses.

As he listens in on the scientists discussing the experiment, a sudden surge of energy causes the entire facility to shut down. Everyone is ordered to evacuate and David is separated from the scientists. When he tries to leave, the security guards mistake him for a saboteur and arrest him. Despite his insistence that he's innocent, they throw him in a holding cell.

Cassandra is suspicious and believes that the energy surge was caused by something or someone beyond their control. She decides to investigate on her own and breaks into the facility to look for answers. She stumbles upon David's cell and recognizes him from his work in the field of gamma radiation. She convinces the guards to release him into her custody, believing that his expertise could help solve the mystery.

As they investigate further, they discover that the energy surge was the result of a signal sent by an unknown source. They begin to suspect that it's a signal from an alien civilization, and that the technology they've developed has caught their attention. David realizes that the energy from the signal is what caused him to transform into the Hulk earlier, when he was caught in the blast.

Cassandra develops a theory that the alien race is trying to use the energy from the experiment to power their ship, and that they'll eventually come to Earth to take it by force. The team races against the clock to build a device that can interpret the alien signal and create a defense against it. Meanwhile, David struggles to contain the transformation and keep the Hulk at bay.

As the episode ends, the device is finally completed and activated, just in time to intercept a new signal being sent by the aliens. However, the second episode of the two-parter is needed to see whether their efforts are enough to save Earth from the alien threat.

Prometheus, Part 1 is an action-packed episode with a compelling storyline that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. The introduction of an alien threat adds an exciting new dimension to the show, and David Banner's struggle to keep the Hulk under control adds an emotional element to the story. Featuring strong performances from the entire cast, this episode leaves viewers eager to see how the story will unfold in the next installment.