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8.4

The Defenders•Season 1•Episode 2

Killer Instinct

8.4/10 · 53 votesSep 23, 196151 min

Ranked #7 of 32 in Season 1•+0.4 vs season avg

When mild-mannered Jim McLeery kills an abusive stranger, it seems a clear-cut case of self-defense. But the prosecution reveals that, in his army days, McCleery was trained to kill.

Directed byFranklin J. Schaffner

Written byJohn Vlahos

Previous episodeE1 · Quality of Mercy Next episodeE3 · Death Across the Counter

Seasons4

Season 1 Episodes32

Quality of Mercy still

Quality of Mercy

E2 8.4Now viewing

Killer Instinct

Death Across the Counter

The Riot

The Young Lovers

The Boy Between

The Hundred Lives of Harry Simms

The Accident

The Trial of Jenny Scott

The Man with the Concrete Thumb

The Treadmill

Perjury

The Attack

The Prowler

Gideon's Follies

The Best Defense

The Bedside Murder

The Search

Storm at Birch Glen

The Point Shaver

The Locked Room

The Empty Chute

The Crusader

The Hickory Indian

The Iron Man

The Tarnished Cross

The Last Six Months

The Naked Heiress

Reunion with Death still

Reunion with Death

The Benefactor

Along Came a Spider

The Broken Barrelhead

Cast2

E.G. Marshall

E.G. Marshall

Lawrence Preston

Robert Reed

Robert Reed

Kenneth Preston

Crew4

Franklin J. Schaffner

Franklin J. Schaffner

Director

J

John Vlahos

Writer

M

Morris Hartzband

Cinematography

H

Herbert Brodkin

Producer

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Episode Summary

"Killer Instinct" is episode 2 of The Defenders season 1. It scored 8.4/10 from 53 votes, ranking #7 of 32 episodes this season (season average 8.0). Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and written by John Vlahos, it aired on September 23, 1961.

Next: E3 · Death Across the Counter Best of Season 1