Twilight zone....

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Mary_Gail_36

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I’m not sure if there is already a Twilight Zone thread.

All the episodes are on Netflix streaming now!

I was wondering if anyone remembers the one where Burgess Meridith plays the bank teller who likes to read? The ending has him as the last survivor of the world, he has an entire library at his disposal…and breaks his glasses and cannot see to read the books.

What I found interesting, is that often the ending twist seems deserved by the protagonist in some way…in Living Doll, mean Telly Savalas is killed by the doll…but Burgess Meredith’s character didn’t seem to deserve his punishment.

He seemed meek and mild, and had a terribly mean wife. Wonder why he was punished as he was?
 
Mary_Gail_36 said:
I’m not sure if there is already a Twilight Zone thread.

All the episodes are on Netflix streaming now!

I was wondering if anyone remembers the one where Burgess Meridith plays the bank teller who likes to read? The ending has him as the last survivor of the world, he has an entire library at his disposal…and breaks his glasses and cannot see to read the books.

What I found interesting, is that often the ending twist seems deserved by the protagonist in some way…in Living Doll, mean Telly Savalas is killed by the doll…but Burgess Meredith’s character didn’t seem to deserve his punishment.

He seemed meek and mild, and had a terribly mean wife. Wonder why he was punished as he was?
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Mary, whatever your views are on religion, politics, science, the arts, or anything else, if you’re a Twilight Zone fan, you’re my friend! I have The Twilight Zone Companion book next to my bed at all times. I most certainly remember the Burgess Meredith episode, and I think you’re right that he didn’t deserve that kind of punishment. The “Living Doll” episode was creepy, wasn’t it? Do you watch the TZ marathons? No longer on July 4th, but still on New York’s Eve. There’s something about seeing them aired on television that can’t be replaced. But thanks for the Netflix info.
 
It’s funny Mary, my friend was a huge Twilight Zone fan, but I think I only saw maybe 3 episodes in my life. One was Burgess Meridith one you mentioned below. And really all I remember of it was like the last 30seconds - 1minute where he’s in the library and breaks his glasses.

The second one I vaguely remember is the airplane one where there’s a beast on the wing. I note that because the Simpsons did a small spoof or reference to it once.

The third one I’m not 100% was TZ. It could’ve been Alfred Hitchcock, but it’s an episode where some alcoholic is convinced by some stranger to swallow this worm that will cure him of his alcoholism. Turns out the worm feeds on alcohol so it lies dormant in his belly and only grows if alcohol is consumed. So the guy will die if he continues to drink.

Now that I think of it, another possible TZ episode (although I always thought it was Hitchcock) involved a guy who likes to place bets and bets a couple that the guy can’t light a new lighter 10 times in a row. TZ or H?
 
Do I remember also seeing Leonard Nimoy in the Twilight Zone? Or maybe I’m remembering some other old show.

Also From the realm of Twilight Zone-Star Trek-Simpsons overlap, isn’t the early Star Trek episode “Charlie X”, where they pick up an orphan teenager who has amazing powers to make whatever he wants, happen, also based on a Twilight Zone episode?

And then one of the Simpsons Halloween specials had Bart in that role, and he changes Homer into a Jack-in-the-Box…
 
One of my favorite TZ episodes - don’t remember the exact title - was about that harried businessman who took the train home, and the train would stop and out of the window he’d see a peaceful 1890’s community called “Willoughby.” Work kept getting worse for him, mean boss, and Willoughby became his idea of escape to a more peaceful life - and one day he got off the train at what he thought was Willoughby, was welcomed by all the friendly people there - only the conclusion of the program showed that he’d basically jumped from the train, and the last shot was of his body being put into a hearse from the Willoughby Funeral Home. I always hoped that the character truly found peace in his Willoughby.
 
As far as I know, this episode has NEVER been shown since it first aired, due to its controversial subject matter. A little like that infamous anti-Goldwater commercial depicting a nuclear holocaust, which was broadcast by backers of Lyndon Johnson during the 1964 US Presidential campaign, which was taken off the air after one broadcast.
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
One of my favorite TZ episodes - don’t remember the exact title - was about that harried businessman who took the train home, and the train would stop and out of the window he’d see a peaceful 1890’s community called “Willoughby.” Work kept getting worse for him, mean boss, and Willoughby became his idea of escape to a more peaceful life - and one day he got off the train at what he thought was Willoughby, was welcomed by all the friendly people there - only the conclusion of the program showed that he’d basically jumped from the train, and the last shot was of his body being put into a hearse from the Willoughby Funeral Home. I always hoped that the character truly found peace in his Willoughby.
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A beautiful episode, and one of Rod Serling’s personal favorites. It’s called “A Stop at Willoughby.”
 
It’s on youtube…I’ll check if it’s on Netflix later. It might have been on, but I actually don’t remember it. It might not be a popular one ratings wise.

Usually “Eye of the Beholder” is on frequently. The one when the actress who played “Endora” is being attacked by little aliens is played frequently.

There is an episode with a brother and sister have neglectful, bickering parents. The children are able to access an alternate reality with lots of happy children and a kindly older women who cares for the children. The girl is named “Sport” the boy is named “Jeb”.

The girl always seemed a bit familiar to me, I looked her up, she was played by Mary Badham, the same girl who played “Scout” in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

It’s very interesting how the names are so similar, but in one story the children have a caring, devoted father. In the other, they have the polar opposite.
 
I think two of my favorites are “The Howling Man”, the one where the guy takes refuge one night at a monastery only after convincing a reluctant monk to let him stay. There’s a horrible howling somewhere in the building, the man gets up from his bunks and finds another man who’s imprisoned and begs to be set free. The man obliges and little does he know he’s just set the devil free upon the world. Check it out, that’s what Youtube is for!

youtube.com/watch?v=xR54n5FxeKs

I also love the “The Hunt” where the old man and his dog die while hunting and come across the path to Heaven only the guy guarding the path says no dogs allowed. The old man figures he doesn’t want to go anywhere his dog isn’t welcomes so he moves on. Later down the road he meets and angel who tells him that was actually hell, of course he can bring his pet with him to Heaven and essentially “A man will walk into hell with his eyes open but even the devil can’t fool a dog!”

youtube.com/watch?v=ViZT00-_lX4
 
“The Dummy” with Cliff ‘Uncle Ben’ Robertson is a real chilling episode… naturally about a faltering Ventriloquist who’s puppet begins having a mind of it’s own. One of the best…

And the other episode he starred in, “a hundred miles over the rim” is also great.
 
ConcernedApathy said:
I also love the “The Hunt” where the old man and his dog die while hunting and come across the path to Heaven only the guy guarding the path says no dogs allowed. The old man figures he doesn’t want to go anywhere his dog isn’t welcomes so he moves on. Later down the road he meets and angel who tells him that was actually hell, of course he can bring his pet with him to Heaven and essentially “A man will walk into hell with his eyes open but even the devil can’t fool a dog!”

youtube.com/watch?v=ViZT00-_lX4
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This is one of my favorite episodes too.

I also like the episode that has a woman in the hospital. She keeps having dreams with the same sequence of events ending with a nurse woman opening a door and saying “room for one more.” The sequence shows up later in the episode once she’s out of the hospital (and is still awake)
 
lol, that episode you mentioned inspired the original Final Destination film…
 
eh, no, that’s not how it ends at all… the ending is far creepier than that, and ultimately left somewhat unexplained, which only makes it creepier.
 
Never seen Blakes 7 But I love red dwarf. And most british comedies in general. And Dr. Who (but not David Tennant…)

British TV is much better on average than american TV at the moment.
 
Do you know if they have it on netflix? Sounds like it would be right up my alley.

And yeah, I like Matt Smith and the relationship he has with Rory and Amy.
 
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