Most Twilight Zone episodes have a 'twist' of some sort at the ending, but it is not always blatant or abrupt. Some have serious moral lessons or commentaries, while others are simpler fare.

Episodes can also vary in tone from the dramatic, to the frightful, to the comedic. There is always some element of the eerie or unusual, but it is not always supernatural as such. Some episodes of The Twilight Zone were 'hard' science-fiction, while others are fantasy or horror. And The Twilight Zone is probably unique amongst anthology shows in that it didn't just present a different story every week, but a different genre. Each episode had a different cast of characters, as well as different sets and direction. There are some episodes of The Twilight Zone that still, fifty years later, seem fresh.Ī great deal of the appeal of The Twilight Zone was that it was an anthology series. Removing myself from what I had learned by pop culture osmosis, I saw that The Twilight Zone was made with skill and originality, and that even though some of the production values are dated, the drama and messages are not. It is rather dated, but still charming in an early television type of way.Īt least, that was what I knew about The Twilight Zone, until I started watching it, and started paying attention.

Its usually a little scary, but just the type of scary you can chuckle at while eating cookies at 1 AM. Every episode is introduced and concluded with a staccato description by Rod Serling, and it always has a twist ending. It looks and sounds like something from the early 60's, with men in suits, rocket ships, and cheap special effects. Everyone knows what The Twilight Zone is: a venerable old television show, shown in reruns late at night.

Time Enough at Last by Lyn Venable