Recently, during a meeting with my Bible study group, we veered off the topic of Romans and somehow managed to strike up a conversation about the Twilight Zone. No idea how we got on the subject, but it brought up pleasant memories and even a few scary ones.
I wanted to share the episodes that stand out the most in my brain and I hope you will share some of your favorites as well!
1. It’s a Good Life (November 3, 1961)
There is just something about the creepy kid in this episode that has stuck with me for years.
Children are supposed to symbolize innocence and goodness, but little Anthony Fremont
represents neither. His power to make his imaginations come to pass holds an isolated farming
community hostage with fear. He can read their thoughts, and when someone is unhappy with
him, or they say or think anything that he doesn’t like, he punishes them in odd, child-centric
ways before wishing them into a cornfield. They must pretend to be happy, even when they’re
anything but, to keep from being turned into a jack-in-the-box or whatever suits Anthony’s fancy
at any given moment.
Children are supposed to symbolize innocence and goodness, but little Anthony Fremont
represents neither. His power to make his imaginations come to pass holds an isolated farming
community hostage with fear. He can read their thoughts, and when someone is unhappy with
him, or they say or think anything that he doesn’t like, he punishes them in odd, child-centric
ways before wishing them into a cornfield. They must pretend to be happy, even when they’re
anything but, to keep from being turned into a jack-in-the-box or whatever suits Anthony’s fancy
at any given moment.
2. Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (October 11, 1963)
After a stint at a psychiatric facility, Bob Wilson boards a flight home with his wife. Last time he
was on an airplane, he had a mental breakdown, and this trip proves no different. He struggles
to understand why no one believes him when he sees a giant furry gremlin tampering with the
plane’s engine. The face of that gremlin haunted my dreams for longer than I’m proud to admit.
Also, turns out William Shatner who played Bob Wilson has always over-acted—it’s not a new
development for him.
was on an airplane, he had a mental breakdown, and this trip proves no different. He struggles
to understand why no one believes him when he sees a giant furry gremlin tampering with the
plane’s engine. The face of that gremlin haunted my dreams for longer than I’m proud to admit.
Also, turns out William Shatner who played Bob Wilson has always over-acted—it’s not a new
development for him.
3. To Serve Man (March 2, 1962)
An alien race comes to earth with the promise of peace. They bring their citizens to Earth and
begin sending ships to transport humans to their planet in attempt for all to learn from one
another. A linguist and his team work to translate a book the aliens brought with them. At the
beginning of the episode, all they’ve been able to translate is the book’s title, To Serve Man.
Only at the end of the episode, when one of the main characters is getting on a spacecraft to visit the alien planet, do we learn that the book the aliens had … it was a cookbook. They were going to serve man all right.
begin sending ships to transport humans to their planet in attempt for all to learn from one
another. A linguist and his team work to translate a book the aliens brought with them. At the
beginning of the episode, all they’ve been able to translate is the book’s title, To Serve Man.
Only at the end of the episode, when one of the main characters is getting on a spacecraft to visit the alien planet, do we learn that the book the aliens had … it was a cookbook. They were going to serve man all right.
Did you ever watch The Twilight Zone? What was your favorite episode? Comment below for a chance
to win an ebook copy of The Purple Nightgown!
to win an ebook copy of The Purple Nightgown!
didn't watch
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
I watched it, but goodness! You have a fantastic memory. :-) After I read your post I remembered the William Shatner episode.
ReplyDeleteIt’s been an incredibly long time since I’ve watched The Twilight Zone! I can’t say that I remember much more than the creepy vibe. These days I rarely watch TV because there are too many awesome CF books to read and I’m stumbling through learning to make quilts.
ReplyDeleteperrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
I never did watch it! I wasn’t into those. My brothers watched them though.
ReplyDeleteOnlysis06
The Midnight Sun ... When the Earth falls out of orbit, two women try to cope with increasingly oppressive heat in a nearly abandoned city. I remember even the oil paintings melted!
ReplyDeleteBarbara Diggs englishathome01@gmail.com
I grew up watching Twilight zone with my dad. I remember the one with William Shatner on the airplane and another I think about a monster under the bed.
ReplyDeleteConfession: I just spewed coffee as I read about deviating from Romans to the Twilight Zone! :) It was popular when I was a teenager, but I never really watched it. I remember it being on one night and my friend and I looking at it for a few minutes and thinking, "This is stupid!" and going back to something very important, like giggling over boys. (big eye roll!)
ReplyDeletecarrottopfromtexas2@gmail.com
My husband is a sci-fy fan, so I’ve watched many shows with him. Several of them come to mind. One of them had the greedy children of their dying father arrive at his home to await his death and discover their inheritance. The father demanded that they wear masks he gave them until midnight. Thinking it ridiculous they reluctantly agreed to do so. At the stroke of midnight they began removing masks only to discover that their faces were deformed in the shape of the horrendous masks. I was shocked but couldn’t help thinking they got what they deserved. char loves mark at g mail dot com
ReplyDeleteLoved, To Serve Man, but two of my faves have very deep messages. The Howling: a man releases the devil after being "fooled" by him, and The Hunt: a man dodges a bullet after he dies by passing on what he "thinks" is heaven because they won't let his hunting dog RIP in, and goes to the "other" place because they love dogs there. And it turns out to be heaven. Well, of course it does! I remember sitting at a writers' conf having this very discussion about God and Twilight Zone. So, yes. I totally see how that bible study segued into this awesome series. LOL
ReplyDelete