Grifter (The Observer Effect)

Grifter was a temporary occupant of Poplar Glen. After investigators from the Office of Scientific Investigation and Research arrived to investigate a reported UFO, Grifter gave cryptic clues to Case Manager Matt Praeger about the true nature of Poplar Glen. 
==Biography==
===The OSIR investigation===
====Prelude====
As Peter Axon and Matt Praeger discussed their support in the investigation, Grifter watched from the bushes. (TV: The Observer Effect)
====Meeting of the Association====
After Gavin Richter had called together the residents of Poplar Glen, Grifter attended the meeting. He listened silently as Richter and Randall Clarke argued over whether Praeger and the others ought to be allowed to remain. Grifter interjected, saying Clarke's words weren't neighbourly and that they ought to be proud they had attracted the esteemed OSIR. Clarke agreed to go along with it, so long as the OSIR investigators weren't allowed to interfere too greatly. Grifter questioned in what way Clarke would carry out his threat, prompting Clarke to state he didn't know whether Grifter or the OSIR were worse. Grifter feigned offence as Clarke walked out of the meeting. (TV: The Observer Effect)
====Meeting Praeger====
The next day, Praeger met Grifter on a morning walk. The case manager thanked Grifter for having given his team a vote of confidence. Praeger asked why Grifter had chosen to live in Poplar Glen, but Grifter deflected the question. Grifter made the prediction that gated communities isolated from each other was the future of the human race. Praeger referred to it as a flaky prediction, prompting Grifter to comment once more on the nature of humanity. Praeger continued to try and get answers out of Grifter, leading into a mutually sarcastic conversation about alien life, before Grifter revealed that Praeger and his team had been specifically chosen, and walked into his home. (TV: The Observer Effect)
Praeger and Axon later walked in front of his home, prompting him to wave at them. (TV: The Observer Effect)
====Conclusion====
After the extraterrestrial beings that had been testing the OSIR had departed, and the OSIR had packed up and left, Grifter looked at the now deserted community one last time, before chuckling and walking away. (TV: The Observer Effect)
==Notes==
===Behind the Scenes===
*Grifter was portrayed by American author Harlan Ellison.The Observer Effect - IMDB - Retrieved 29 March 2021Harlan Ellison - IMDB - Retrieved 29 March 2021 Ellison announced in an interview that he was going appear in an episode that was filming outside Toronto.The Onion's A.V. Club - John Krewson - 17 September 1999 - Retrieved 29 March 2021
=== Trivia===
*By the end of the episode, it was unclear whether or not Grifter was human or of the same extraterrestrial race that had occupied Poplar Glen.
*The back of Grifter's jacket appeared to have the flag of Myanmar, which had been in use in Burma from 1974, until the country's renaming in 1989, and then until 2010. What significance this had on the bearing of the character is unknown to this wiki.
==Appearances==
*Psi Factor
**The Observer Effect (first and final appearance)
==References==
Category:Anomalous entities
Category:Television characters
Category:Characters played by Harlan Ellison
Category:Subjects of investigation by the OSIR