By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Calling sci-fi a genre is doing a disservice to the wide array of stories that fit under the heading that’s home to stories that range from the fantasy of Star Wars, to the philosophical bent of Arrival, or the camp of Ice Pirates. There’s one show though, that created so many of the tropes sci-fi stories rely on, that it can be considered the ur-text of the genre and single-handedly responsible for generations of fans using shorthand to describe plots and characters. The Twilight Zone, which debuted in 1959, is one of the most influential shows of all time, and even today, nearly 70 years later, no show has come close to matching the standard set by the black and white series.
The Twilight Zone Is Timeless
Rod Serling, the host of each episode, was also the creator of The Twilight Zone, and wrote an astounding 92 episodes of the series, including “The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street,” “The Eye Of The Beholder,” and “Masks,” but it’s a testament to the enduring appeal of the anthology series that every episode could be someone’s favorite. After Serling’s introduction, viewers are dropped into the world of the episode, usually in the middle of the story, and typically, there’s a final twist in the closing moments that reframes the entire episode. “Five Characters In Search Of An Exit” from Season 3 is a great example, as there’s five characters, a clown, a ballerina, hobo, army major, and a bagpipe player, stuck in a single location for the entire episode, but the way Serling could write dialogue makes the final twist hit with more weight than you’d expect from the sparse episode.
The Twilight Zone is filled with episodes that have become staples of pop culture, and that was before they were parodied on The Simpsons. “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” featuring William Shatner being haunted by a gremlin during a flight, is recognizable by people that have never seen the original. “Time Enough At Last” tells the tale of Henry Bemis who wants nothing more than to sit and read his books, with a final twist that has become an iconic moment, and a closing moral still relevant today.
Trying To Recapture The Magic
Though The Twilight Zone was a critical success and today it’s considered a classic, the series had to defy cancellation multiple times, and even changed formats, from 30-minute episodes to 60-minutes in Season 4, then back down to 30 for the fifth, and final, season. Years after Rod Serling’s passing in 1975, the series was revived for The Twilight Zone: The Movie, which featured updated reimagingins of classic episodes directed by Steven Speilberg (“Kick the Can”), Joe Dante (“It’s a Good Life”), George Miller (“Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”), and an original segment, directed by John Landis. The film’s success resulted in CBS re-launching the franchise in 1985, to strong ratings at first, but soon, thanks in part to behind-the-scenes corporate tinkering, the show fell apart.
The third attempt at capturing the magic of Rod Serling was less successful, airing on UPN and hosted by Forrest Whitaker, updated classic episodes with guest stars that include Bill Mumy and Cloris Leachman reprising their roles in “It’s Still a Good Life,” and then a long list of recognizable stars from sci-fi and procedurals, including Titus Welliver, Michael Shanks, Wallace Langham, James Remar, Hill Harper, Robin Tunney, and Amber Tamblyn, among many, many others. Though it’s considered a cult classic today, Whitaker’s version lasted only one season.
Jordan Peele was the latest, in 2019, to try and bring back The Twilight Zone, but even his episodes failed to meet the high bar set by the 1959 original. Every revival is still, at the minimum, a good series, but when compared to the show that has defined anthologies and is still shorthand for dozens of sci-fi episodes every year, it’s easy to fall short. Yet, the first episode, “The Comedian” starring Kumail Nanjinai, hits all the beats of a classic, original series story about a stand-up that realizes he has the power to wipe people from existence with his jokes.
The Twilight Zone has endured for decades thanks to its simple, but effective premise of using the trappings of sci-fi mixed with horror, fantasy, drama, and sometimes even comedy, without the need for flashy special effects or a connected universe. Good storytelling, sharp dialogue, and twist endings that amplify the plot and don’t exist simply to shock the audience are timeless pillars of great tales, but modern writers tend to toss them aside for big setpieces. The original is in black and white, and nearly 70 years old, but it’s a classic for a reason, and if you watch the series today, you’ll find how many of your favorite shows owe a debt to the creative genius of Rod Serling.
The Twilight Zone is streaming for free on Amazon Freevee and Pluto TV.
