Submitted for your approval, I’ve got a very special Awesome/Not Awesome for you today. In celebration of Halloween, I want to share possibly my favorite TV show of all time with you,
This show is so good, I thought about just writing about its opening theme, but that just doesn’t do it justice.
To put it simply, there’s no other show like it in terms of story, with each episode bringing an entirely new batch of characters and circumstances- sometimes from your hopes, sometimes from your fears. While I still reserve the right to make any Twilight Zone episode a future Awesome selection, for now it’s time for starckie’s Top 10 Most Awesome Twilight Zone Episodes. Being that we are in the “spooky” month of October, most of my selections are going to be on the creepy, scary, or suspenseful side of
Note: I am going to do my best to avoid spoilers, but be warned- I may fuck it up.
Another Note: No episode from the hour-long selections of season 4 made this list.
Final Note, I swear: I could probably do this list once a month for five years, and every list would be different.
10) A World of His Own (Season 1)
“Her name is Mary, she’s 30, 5 feet six inches tall….”
During the final episode of Season 1, Victoria West comes home- and finds her husband Gregory enjoying an evening with another woman. Furious, she enters the room to confront Gregory, who works as a playwright. But she’s surprised when the woman, Mary, is no longer there.
Gregory tells her that he has an interesting dictation machine that will produce whatever he describes – a feature he discovered when a previous character came to life and thanked him for creating him.
Victoria, obviously, is skeptic, but Gregory is determined to prove it to her.
This episode makes the list for a variety of reasons, perhaps most notably that it is the first episode to feature Rod Serling appear on screen. The twist ending is, of course, awesome, but this episode really isn’t scary or suspenseful. Relying mostly on fantasy elements, it has a surprisingly comedic finale. For making you think while entertaining you, “A World of His Own” grabs the #10 spot.
9) Eye of the Beholder (Season 2)
“…The very first thing I can remember is another little child screaming when she looked at me…”
This is one of the more famous episodes that will appear on my list, and probably the one I can say the least about.
Janet Tyler has had surgery after surgery to fix her disfigurement. Doctors discuss her current treatment-the latest in a long list- and are very hopeful that this one is finally the cure. To make matters worse, the state has ruled that the ugly along with any others who do not conform to be removed from society. With so much on the line, Janet is desperate to know whether her treatment has worked, but the only way they will find out if it has succeeded is to remove her bandages….
I know I haven’t really said much about the episode, but I would be so pissed off (if I were you) to have the rest of the episode ruined via Awesome spoiler.
“Eye of the Beholder” isn’t the best in dialogue, story, or even ending, but it’s told so remarkably well and paced with a kind of anxiety that will draw any viewer’s attention. It is comparable in many ways to the “1984” Apple commercial, aired during the Super Bowl in Jan. 1984.
Even the doctors sympathize with the plight of this girl in this State, and we all want for this poor girl to succeed in having a normal appearance- don’t we?
8) Five Characters in Search of an Exit (Season 3)
“A couple of very important items seem to have eluded me…. Like who I am!”
The title says it all.
A major, a clown, a bagpiper, a ballerina, and a hobo are all gathered together in some strange place.
The only distinguishing feature of this place is that it seems to have no roof, but instead has a view of what seems to be the sky.
None of them remember who they are or how they got there, and they seem to have no need for sustenance in any way.
So, where the fuck are they?! Who the fuck are they?!
When in the fuck are they?!
As with some other episodes on this list, there really isn’t a whole lot of terms of story. It’s just attempt after attempt to answer the basic questions of identity and location. And the ending is insane- one that caught me completely off-guard. I really can’t say much more about this episode, or it’s ruined. For blindsiding the viewer from the start to finish, “Five Characters in Search of an Exit” lands at 8.
7) Shadow Play (Season 2)
“You can’t make me die again!”
Adam Grant has been convicted of murder. On the day of his execution, he tries to convince everyone else he comes into contact with that they are all people he knows- in his waking life.
That’s right, Adam believes that this particular situation is one in a long list of recurring nightmares- where his continually convicted for murder and executed.
Adam, “knowing” how his “dream” plays out, is able to predict what is going to happen next that day- causing some in his “dream” to believe that it really is a dream, while others question his sanity.
Now, some of you may be asking- if it’s dream, who cares if he dies? Well, Adam sure does- because every time he “dies”, he wakes up screaming- and thus can never sleep.
So, what would you do if you had control over this man’s execution?
Unlike the previous entries, this episode is loaded with plot- and every detail matters. Is this man crazy, did he ever kill anybody, or is he really dreaming? Shadow Play is 7- or at least it was in my dreams.
6) Walking Distance (Season 1)
“Martin, I only wanted to tell you that this is a wonderful time of life for you…”
This episode is notable in that it is Rod Serling’s most personal entry in the series. Serling, of course, was the mastermind behind many, many episodes, and his name will always be synonymous with
Martin Sloan is in the middle of driving cross-country, when he stops to get gas. He realizes that Homewood, the town where he grew up, is close by- the attendant assures him it is within “walking distance.” So, Martin leaves his car at the station and begins to walk towards Homewood.
But when he arrives, something is different. Homewood appears as exactly as Martin remembers- in fact, it IS as he remembers, because he has traveled back in time. Exploring the town, he reminisces about how great it was to grow up there.
But, he soon finds someone he could not have ever imagined he would- himself. Following himself home, he talks to his parents from his own past, trying to convince them that he is their son from the future. Predictably, it doesn’t go as well as he had hoped.
This episode is one of many to discuss time travel- but this one has a slightly different context. It warns us not to live in our past- both literally and figuratively- because we may endanger our present. It is hardest for us to progress into our futures when he keep trying to go back into our pasts.
For a great plot and a great message, Walking Distance arrives at 6.
5) The Howling Man (Season 2)
“The Devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape. I had seen him before, in all parts of the world. In all forms and guises. Wherever there was sin…”
We hear David Ellington describe an encounter he had while lost somewhere in Europe after WWI. He finds a castle, and seeking shelter goes inside, where he finds a strange, well-spoken man in a prison cell. The man claims he has been wrongfully imprisoned by a religious order.
Just then, the leader of the order finds David there, and tells him who this man is- the devil himself. The leader, Brother Jerome, tells David that the devil has been imprisoned since the end of WWI, and as a result the world has enjoyed peace. David is very skeptical of the story, and plans to release the old prisoner, but Jerome is aware of David’s intentions. It becomes a contest between David and the order over who will control the old man’s fate- with disastrous consequences.
This episode is unique is that it is told via flashback throughout almost the entire half-hour. While somewhat predictable for a devil story, the real entertainment comes from the conversations between the “howling man”, David, and the brothers- each one trying to convince the others of the prisoner’s real identity, while questioning the others’ sanity. Unfortunately, that’s about all I can say without giving away anything. But trust me, this episode is worth your time- you never know when you might encounter a howling man.
4) The Obsolete Man (Season 2)
“You have no function, Mr. Wordsworth. You're an anachronism, like a ghost from another time.”
“The Obsolete Man” is the second episode on my list to be set in a dystopian totalitarian state (after Eye of the Beholder), in which we find Romney Wordsworth. He is our titular “obsolete” man, his offense being his occupation as a librarian and his belief in God- the State has outlawed literacy and the possibility of God existing. Thus, Wordsworth is obsolete.
He is tried and convicted by the chancellor; and, not being totally without conscience, he offers Wordsworth a number of choices surrounding his death- the spiritual librarian requests that he is may have his own personal assassin who will be the only person to know how Wordsworth is to be executed. Further, he requests that his death be televised.
The genius of this episode comes here: Wordsworth study is being broadcast to the entire State, when the chancellor shows up at 11:15 P.M. Little does the chancellor know, but he is Wordsworth’s “assassin” of sorts- setting up the events that led to Wordsworth’s decisions. They are both locked in the study by Wordsworth, who tells the chancellor that a bomb has been hidden somewhere in the room and will go off at midnight. From here on out, it is a battle of will for the chancellor and the state as to how to handle this bizarre situation. The chancellor of course fears for his life, but the state will lose credibility if they attempt to save him.
The set-up is intense, the story well thought-out, and the contrast between the “obsolete man” and the state officials is so strikingly clear as they face death that we can’t help but recognize the irony in all of it.
It’s also worth mentioning that Burgess Meredith plays Wordsworth. Meredith is tied for the most Twilight Zone appearances, and his most famous appearance was in “Time Enough at Last”, where he is the last man alive in a post-nuclear apocalypse world. I feel, however, that this was his best performance, as “the Obsolete Man”.
3) In Praise of Pip (Season 5)
“That's the way of the world, Georgy. The rich get richer and the long shots lose so what's to do?”
The opening episode of Season 5, “In Praise of Pip” shares some similarities with “Walking Distance” while striking a more emotional, loving cord.
Max Phillips is a bookie, spending most of his life working his undignified profession. He begins to think about his son, Pip, who is serving a tour of duty in Vietnam. Max is clearly disappointed in himself, having wasted the entirety of his son’s childhood doing his dirty work. Looking for some redemption, he returns some money to an unlucky gambler. As a result, he incurs the wrath of his boss, and is shot by his boss’s hitman.
Clearly in immense pain, he stumbles around while thinking about his past actions. He finds himself in an amusement park, and more surprisingly he finds his son Pip, as a child, there as well. Max wastes no time in having some fun with his son, with his work no longer an issue. They both enjoy their quality time immensely- Max will not waste his second chance with his son. But not all is well, as Pip suddenly runs away, and Max must find him again…
This is the most uplifting episode of my list, with a good deal of morality infused. Everyone can be redeemed, even when you’ve wasted your life on petty gambling prospects, even in the Twilight Zone.
2) It’s a Good Life (Season 2)
“...but it's a real good thing you did. A real good thing. And tomorrow....tomorrow's gonna be a-- real good day!”
Anthony Fremont is a very special little 6-year-old boy. Born with amazing mental capabilities, he can seemingly create or destroy anything as he pleases. He lives in the town of Peaksville, Ohio- or he did, but he decided to isolate it from the rest of the world, making the location of the town a moot point. It’s not even clear if the rest of the world even exists anymore- such is his power.
The people of Peaksville live in Anthony’s own world, where opposition to his will results in Anthony taking away your very existence. But if that wasn’t bad enough, you just can’t fake happiness to avoid his judgment. He can read minds as well- you must honestly believe that everything Anthony does is good to preserve your own existence.
This is one of the most famous Twilight Zone episodes, and with good reason. The suspense in this episode is ridiculous, as all the adults cater to Anthony’s every whim. It’s difficult to describe its awesomeness without giving away the ending, but the best way to go about it (I guess) is to sum it up like this:
If an opportunity arises to change an oppressive environment, do you take it and possibly die, hesitate and possibly die, or preserve your miserable life, be taken with fear, fail to take action, smile, and fool yourself into thinking, “It’s a Good Life”?
1) The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street (Season 1)
“No! No it's nothing of the sort! It isn't me I swear it isn't! Someone's pulling a gag or something!”
When I was in 6th grade, we read the script to this episode in Lit class. To my knowledge, this was my first trip to the Twilight Zone- and I keep going back.
To be completely honest, this episode scares the living fuck out of me. This could really happen.
Notice Maple Street, a suburban street with friendly, good people living together. It is a fairly tight-knit street. But when a strange object is spotted over Maple Street, the neighbors collectively wonder what it could be: nothing at all, a Russian satellite (remember this was 1959), a UFO?
All seems well until nightfall, when the residents realize their electricity is out- but that’s not all. No machine will work. Even their cars are useless. Pete Van Horn decides he is going to walk to the next town to see if the same thing is happening there- and maybe he can find some help.
Suddenly, Les Goodman’s- a resident of Maple Street- car starts all by itself- and the other people of Maple Street begin to be taken by fear. The shit is about to hit the fan, as panic comes over Maple Street.
The dialogue, progression, and suspense in this story makes for one hell of a ride. You thought “It’s a Good Life” was suspenseful? Not even close to “the Monsters are Due on Maple Street”. The neighbors increasing paranoia and fear is directly proportional to the viewer’s- you are just as confused as they as to what is going on. You just want some answers, and you want to feel safe. But with the possibility of a mole among you, who do you trust, when the people you’ve lived next to for years could be out to destroy you?
This episode offers a tremendous amount of introspection to the viewer as well. How would you handle
the situation? As prejudice and pandemonium takes over Maple Street, you’ve got to ask yourself who you are. The answer might not be as pleasant as you had hoped. You don’t have to figure out if the man in the prison before you is the devil; you don’t need to know your own personal history as you are trapped with four other strangers; all you need to know is that when the lights go out on your street, who do you think you’re going to see- the same person you see when the lights are on, or a monster?
Alright, well that concludes my list. I hope you’ve enjoyed it- the top ten most awesome Twilight Zone episodes. The Twilight Zone premiered 50 years ago this month, on Oct. 2, 1959. As a result, many people are making their own top episodes lists, and I couldn’t resist comparing my list to theirs:
Time Magazine’s top ten includes “The Eye of the Beholder” (10) and “Walking Distance” (8), and also has “It’s a Good Life” and “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” in the same spots as I do (2 and 1, respectively).
Movielegends.com includes “The Eye of the Beholder” (19 out of top 25), “Walking Distance” (15), “A World of His Own” (8), and “It’s a Good Life” in the same spot as I have it, #2.
The-top-tens.com includes “It’s a Good Life” (9), “The Obsolete Man” (7), “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” (6), “The Howling Man” (5), and “The Eye of the Beholder” (4). That’s half of my list!
Associated Content.com includes “Walking Distance” (same spot as me- 6) and “The Eye of the Beholder” (4).
Finally, I have some honorable mentions. The list was insanely difficult to make, and here’s a view that didn’t make the cut (although if I did the list again in a year, they might- they’re all that good):
“People are Alike All Over” (Season 1); “The After-Hours” (Season 1); “A Thing About Machines” (Season 2); “Nick of Time” (Season 2); “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?” (Season 2); “The Shelter” (Season 3); “The Hunt” (Season 3); “The Trade-Ins” (Season 3); “The Gift” (Season 3); “Probe 7, Over and Out” (Season 5); “The Masks” (Season 5); and “Stopover in a Quiet Town” (Season 5).
Alright, so you’ve taken 20 minutes to read this, I guess I better wrap it up. Thanks a lot for reading, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it. This is actually the last post to be on facebook- all full posts of Awesome/Not Awesome goodness are now only found at www.awesomestarck.blogspot
See you later, maybe in the deepest, darkest corner of the Twilight Zone.
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