The Twilight Zone Review: The Original TV Anthology
9/10 — The Twilight Zone (1959)
Pros
- Clever twists and ideas
- Social commentary
- Classic episodes
Cons
- Variable quality
- Dated effects
Each half-hour or hour-long episode of The Twilight Zone tells a self-contained story with a twist, hosted by creator Rod Serling. It ran for five seasons and influenced generations of writers.
What works
The ideas are inventive and often pointed, using science fiction to examine racism, paranoia and conformity. Episodes like ‘Time Enough at Last’, ‘To Serve Man’ and ‘Eye of the Beholder’ are classics, and the cast includes Burgess Meredith and William Shatner.
Where it falters
The effects look old, and the quality varies from episode to episode. A few episodes feel dated in their attitudes.
Verdict
A foundational series, with the best episodes still sharp and surprising.
