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I'm about two thirds into the first season of the original Twilight Zone now, but I thought I'd start up a thread to post my general thoughts on the episodes as I go through them. So I'm gonna do a couple of bulk posts to catch up, and then I'll try and keep up a habit of posting each time I do a session.
If anyone decides they want to join me, then they are welcome to share reviews of episodes here as well
Episodes 1-10:
Season 1, Episode 1 - Where Is Everybody?
This was a great introduction to The Twilight Zone. Not a lot happens, but the intriguing premise and the way that it's shot kept me engaged. The twist at the end is solid. The tone and some of the direction reminded me of the original Invasion of the Bodysnatchers.
8/10
2 - One for the Angels
Not what I expected. More lighthearted and playful than the last entry, but also with some unexpected darkness. It moved along at a good pace, it involved me emotionally and I wasn't certain how it was going to end. Great stuff.
9/10
3 - Mr. Denton on Doomsday
Not one of the higher-rated episodes, but I thought it was solid. Again, quite playful, without being entirely silly. I liked the old West setting and the arc for our main protagonist.
7.5/10
4 - The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine
This gave off BIG Sunset Boulevard vibes, to the point that I couldn't stop thinking about a fanedit idea: take elements of Sunset Boulevard and try to recreate a similar plot with the footage and then slot it into the Twilight Zone format.
The episode itself is enjoyable but the twist is a bit too obviously foreshadowed.
7/10
5 - Walking Distance
One of the all-time high-rated episodes, but it didn't do a great deal for me. The themes are interesting and it's well presented, but also just a little too meandering. It felt a lot like something Bradbury might write (who I'm admittedly not a fan of).
7/10
6 - Escape Clause
Has some amusing moments, but the potential of the premise is squandered on a pretty poor ending. It's also not too far removed from "One for the Angels", and the similarities between the two make it look all the worse. A bit early in the show to be recycling, isn't it?
6/10
7 - The Lonely
Another very high rated episode that didn't sweep me off my feet. Good concept and more or less solid, just felt like it was over before it could really dig into the meat of what it was getting at.
7/10
8 - Time Enough at Last
And... again... very high rated but really not one of the better episodes for me. The ending is excellent, but everything beforehand feels like it's just kicking its heels and stalling for runtime. Not good for a 30-minute short.
6.5/10
9 - Perchance to Dream
This was just odd, to be honest. It reminded me of two things that it was wholly unrelated to: Cat People, and LeGuin's The Lathe of Heaven. When the protagonist starts explaining his predicament to the doctor, I really thought it was going to go down the direction of "my dreams affect the reality of the world around me" and instead it leans into something much less interesting. The revelation is a decent close to a pretty mediocre episode.
6/10
10 - Judgment Night
A solid and engaging mystery with a dark twist. No complaints.
8/10
This was a great introduction to The Twilight Zone. Not a lot happens, but the intriguing premise and the way that it's shot kept me engaged. The twist at the end is solid. The tone and some of the direction reminded me of the original Invasion of the Bodysnatchers.
8/10
2 - One for the Angels
Not what I expected. More lighthearted and playful than the last entry, but also with some unexpected darkness. It moved along at a good pace, it involved me emotionally and I wasn't certain how it was going to end. Great stuff.
9/10
3 - Mr. Denton on Doomsday
Not one of the higher-rated episodes, but I thought it was solid. Again, quite playful, without being entirely silly. I liked the old West setting and the arc for our main protagonist.
7.5/10
4 - The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine
This gave off BIG Sunset Boulevard vibes, to the point that I couldn't stop thinking about a fanedit idea: take elements of Sunset Boulevard and try to recreate a similar plot with the footage and then slot it into the Twilight Zone format.
The episode itself is enjoyable but the twist is a bit too obviously foreshadowed.
7/10
5 - Walking Distance
One of the all-time high-rated episodes, but it didn't do a great deal for me. The themes are interesting and it's well presented, but also just a little too meandering. It felt a lot like something Bradbury might write (who I'm admittedly not a fan of).
7/10
6 - Escape Clause
Has some amusing moments, but the potential of the premise is squandered on a pretty poor ending. It's also not too far removed from "One for the Angels", and the similarities between the two make it look all the worse. A bit early in the show to be recycling, isn't it?
6/10
7 - The Lonely
Another very high rated episode that didn't sweep me off my feet. Good concept and more or less solid, just felt like it was over before it could really dig into the meat of what it was getting at.
7/10
8 - Time Enough at Last
And... again... very high rated but really not one of the better episodes for me. The ending is excellent, but everything beforehand feels like it's just kicking its heels and stalling for runtime. Not good for a 30-minute short.
6.5/10
9 - Perchance to Dream
This was just odd, to be honest. It reminded me of two things that it was wholly unrelated to: Cat People, and LeGuin's The Lathe of Heaven. When the protagonist starts explaining his predicament to the doctor, I really thought it was going to go down the direction of "my dreams affect the reality of the world around me" and instead it leans into something much less interesting. The revelation is a decent close to a pretty mediocre episode.
6/10
10 - Judgment Night
A solid and engaging mystery with a dark twist. No complaints.
8/10
I have 12 more episodes to jot down before I'm caught up to where I am currently.
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