Into the Twilight: Word Play

The Twilight Zone   1985 Series 

  

         Words. We seemingly have agreed in someway that all words have a standardized meaning. We see the word "cat" and mostly agree what the concept of cat is, even if we see a different breed or type, we all understand that cat is cat.

        

Horse 

 

            This episode of 1985 version of "The Twilight Zone" takes us to the idea of what if.. words just sandwich faced ham pickled glued.  I apologize in advance, I'm going to make this post very weird. 

            Our  look comes from segment "a" of the very second episode of the series called "Word Play". Word Play was written by Wes Craven.   He also did the both segments of the first episode, he was busy here.  

             This episode delves in to the idea  of what if you just ended up not being understand anyone anymore. (When you become 40 and can't understand anyone 20 years old anymore) Since this is also from the 1985 series it's not a long segment either.  I actually did think, as I watched it, that it was either the main character's dream , or something that had to do with his son being sick. It was not. 

          Our main character is named Bill Lowery (played by Robert Klein) he's a salesman. His company has ended up switching to selling medical supply products.  He's been learning the words, and hasn't been sleeping well.  His wife (played by Annie Potts) at least seems understanding, there's also their son who seems to be a little sick.  

Uh oh, he's sick on a TV show? That's bad / Copyright Paramount 

                   A great touch in this episode is how it throws in details that aren't right and you have catch them or are more noticeable in rewatch. When Bill is shaving you  hear the radio announcer go "Friday, Saturday, Sun Flower". Bill doesn't notice since he was concentrating on his shaving and learning the medical supply terms.  It's a great touch because the viewer might not notice easily too, since Sun Flower and Sunday sound close.  Also when the  wife says "Dr. Bumper" and he goes "Is that really his name?" it actually doesn't stand out that much until watching the episode and going hmm maybe that was a sign? Then Bill goes outside and there's his neighbor whose dog is an encyclopedia breed had puppies. 

             Then at bacon ranch [work].  Bill does start to notice things getting weirder.   I like how the word "dinosaur" is what throws him into a spiral. He's like what is dinosaur? --Lunch--.  At some point, the viewer will end up like Bill and start to not understand anything that's being said either, we will soon join the madness. That sets him off even more when his wife says dinosaur too.  "What does lunch have to do with anything?" is my favorite Tina Turner song cover. 

            The episode ends up just being a man slowly losing his mind at what's going on, and the viewers probably being very cucumber too.   This must have been a fun episode to write, though. It doesn't feel like random words were being used, there's an order and structure here that makes it feel like language but words changed, instead of just random nonsense.  

No, I'm voting for Finkle Mc Lunchman. 

             Bill's son is now sick.  Will Bill's worry about Donnie, his frustration is high while this is happening at the same time.  This episode really is kind of horrifying in a way it's not like a monster or a scary person, it's just the fact that the simplest thing people do is talk to each other and Bill can't even talk to people and they can't understand him.  It also might be like what English sounds like to non-English speakers.  It's unsettling, especially when Donnie is really sick.  This is something, in a way, that could happen for real in different ways, including medical. It's an uncomfortable episode. I feel for poor Bill. 

            Donnie will live!  We can't have an episode cause a man to lose all sense of understand and then kill his kid, that'd be too much.  The part where he prays and thanks God again is really human moment and well acted. I like Bill's character in this episode. He's not bad guy, he wasn't even the kind of workaholic character, he was just over spending his time trying to learn the new medical stuff, but he comes for lunch to see his wife and son. He's not a bad guy, it makes it more impactful.  

         At home, he goes to his son's room and decides to use one of the picture books to figure out some of these words and how they work now. It ends with him learning about many people's favorite pet, the Wednesday, cute furry creatures that go woof. 

             I've seen some different thoughts on this episode on what it could be about.  Like it could be about an guy in a changing world not understanding the world anymore. The ending does make it feel like that could be a very clue to that being what the episode was going for.  It might be like our current time and generations before not really understanding each other in the world.   It also fits a little better than the idea of it being like a medical condition, but I don't dislike that idea either. 

             I think it's a strong episode, it does a good job at making the viewer feel confused and unsettled, while being a bit funny. The idea of everything being the same but then you can't understand anything is really a scary concept even more than a present danger. It's good episode, very strong.  

             

                            

                

Into the Twilight: How Much Do You Love Your Kid? (Twilight Zone 2002)

Twilight Zone

      Reality TV shows aren't they fun? (Wait come back!)  Today we head back into the 2002 "Twilight Zone" to look at episode 33, "How Much Do You Love Your Kid?". This episode seems to point to early 2000's TV culture of reality shows really getting over the top and weird with their premises.  Though, I'm sure we've never had a kidnapping reality show. 

    "How Much Do You Love Your Kid?" stars Bonnie Somerville who starred on "Grosse Pointe" (hey!)  and later ended up on "Friends" and also on The OC and more. Steve Bacic als is in this episode, if you've watched "Andromeda" you know who he is. Wayne Knight shows up but more on him soon. 

 

   Yes this post contains spoilers. (For a 20 year old show) 

         It starts with a wife and husband, and they seem to be going through money troubles you can tell by them talking about bills. The husband ,Ted, is going for a new job and hopefully this will fix the problem.  This is the Twilight Zone, so this might not go to plan. (That's my line!)  They also have a son named Wiley, who needs braces (dental plan, Wiley needs braces). That's to show they really need money.  That comes important for this so far very sitcom like episode. Also the wife, Donna, does have seem to have money for a facial. (That's explains alot)  

Running out of money stresses me out, I wish I knew where it goes / Copyright Paramount

    While Donna was getting a facial, she gets a phone call that Wiley didn't show up to school. she goes to the police station. Then Wayne Knight shows up. (He has come to Pimp Her Ride, wait no, everything is wrong about this statement, I'm sorry)  He's there to tell her that she's been chosen for the new show "How Much Do You Love Your Kid?" (roll credits) Wayne Knight tells her that she has 60 minutes (also wrong show) to find her kid or... bad things happen. (Bold this can be said in a police station) 

I'm here to take you to the set of "Third Rock from the Sun" / Copyright Paramount 

     

   They show her a video of her son being kidnapped. (Roll Twilight Zone 2002 intro) The woman acts logically and asks the police officer to police office, but he can't help because the show has their child kidnapping loicense. (What the heck?)  The officer is there to give clues instead. (Her reactions are me watching this episode) 

      Also Wayne Knight plays the role of the host too well.  Donna calls her husband  and cellphones don't work well (should have gotten Sprint).  This game show is weird and she mentions "Lord of the Rings". (Who is this reality show for?)  If  the people around aren't working with the show, then they are of no help. Wayne Knight doesn't tell her what happens if she doesn't find Wiley because drama reasons.  

What the heck am I watching? / Copyright Paramount 

        She's able to find her kid, being in a red car, and there's a car chase, because sure. (this show is weird) Wiley has been found, but not fully safe, he has to go the hospital. I believe Wayne Knight's character is way too good at this reality show host. He gives her the option to play for 1 million dollars. He even offers her a gun. (Does she get a I get to kill someone loisence?) The son even says he should go after the guy. (I wonder if he was in this or something) She agrees and goes to find a kidnapper.  (Round 3 will be weirder) 

He's alright , he won't be but for now.../ Copyright Paramount 

        She borrows a Jeep and chases some guy, while the TV show people follow her. She finds out the kidnapper is her husband. Apparently, Ted is an idiot, and he agreed to "kidnap" their son to win money, because "they needed the money"  Donna is unhappy, he makes a pitch  that they have a million dollars.  Then she shoots him dead, then she's arrested. (Oh now the cops arrest somebody) 

She wants a divorce and decided to go the death they shall part version/ Copyright Paramount

        

          Like I said this came out in a time when Reality Shows were pretty a new concept and having some off weird concepts.  "Fear Factor" a reality show where people will do almost anything for money maybe could accelerate to a reality show where people try to win money at any cost. This episode sets up things in the beginning well. The family was having money troubles and it sets up the motives well. Ted wanted money quick and when the reality show people found him , he thought it would help. You can understand why he would have done such a thing, but it also shows that people might do anything for money even something stupid.  

    Donna's role at first wasn't about the money, she  was rightly angry and bothered by this stupid realty show and felt she had play by their rules in the insanity to get her son back. I think her role after getting her son was an interesting turn as well. Wayne Knight plays a role of trying to get manipulate her into going further using her human urge for revenge. I'm sure she could have stopped after getting her son and won some money, but something about the idea of getting the kidnapper and maybe getting a million dollars was tempting. 

   

       Wayne Knight is a star in this episode, he pays the role of the host very well and it's good how he feels genuinely disturbing, yet you aren't sure if he is truly wanting to help her at times or just trying to get the show to move along and make her fall into his reality show pitfalls.  

       

        I like that the reality show sprung up on them, and they didn't have the intention of being on one, showing how people can fall into things for reasons like greed on the husband's part and revenge on the wife's part.   Simple episode but interesting to see and makes one wonder how far someone would go for money even in our times. 

   That's it for now, tune in next time when we wonder would you eat your phone for $12,311,214.22?  

Into the Twilight: I Have a vast collection too (The Collection) (2002)

The Twilight Zone 

       We're back to 2002's version of The Twilight Zone for the reason of why not? Which is half this blog.  

 This time I've chosen episode 37 (or if you get the hour long versions where it's two segments episode 19b) and this one fits well with one of original series favorite things dolls and or things that have to do with dolls. Dolls!   This episode is called "The Collection" .  

            Jessica Simpson (that's how you know this episode aired in 2003) plays Miranda who has come to a home to baby sit a girl named Danielle (that's how you know this episode aired in 2003)  who is wearing a lot of pink. The parents are going somewhere and they have a whole book for Miranda about Danielle which has sections for things like her allergies, acceptable foods, approved TV programs (ironically not this one) , and phobias which have a section and well that's something. she has more than one.  

Did I forget anything else in the book, like where you like to go at 4pm ? 

           Danielle takes Miranda to her room which is also very pink, and the girl seems to like horses and dolls. [Show is really is stretching the belief here]. Miranda looks at the dolls in a case and Danielle says they aren't for playing with. Doesn't say why because reasons, I'm sure that won't come up later. 

Barbie Movie 2 based on her  

            When one of the dolls falls, Miranda wants to fix it up right, but Danielle insists that she does it, then she opens the door the doll bit her?  In my list of phobias being bitten by a doll is there. Miranda doesn't believe that the doll bit her. Then Danielle says that she thinks Shelly is mad at her, that's the doll that bit her. (That or Shelly is hungry for human flesh, feed her!) The reason is the she thinks Shelly is mad because she wants to play with Miranda instead. (Alright, I'm going to head out now) 

        Miranda is not just any baby sitter [she's Jessica Simpson] she's also studying child development and make child care her career.  (or care-eer)  She thinks that Shelly is "Shelly" a made up name the girl is using to express her own feelings. Danielle says she had a friend but she moved away, and she spends time with Shelly and the other girls. Girls= dolls.  

            Danielle mentions another doll named Katie who is a afraid of the dark [Which one is Goosbumps?] also Buffy mentioned! (That's how you know this was aired in 2003) Whilst Danielle is plot away, Miranda looks in her book from child development schooling to find a chapter about lonely children who make up imaginary friends and stuff.  Shelly is gone. Now the two of them go on Shelly hunting. 

                  Miranda doesn't believe that a doll can break glasses and really do other things living things do. Danielle says that she is like all the doll's mom or something. Danielle figures out that Miranda thinks that she's not talking about the dolls and thinks that she did something.  They do find Shelly. (I'm glad that's over) 

Shelly seems like she wants to finish the job 

      

                I think I would believe a kid when she repeatedly says a doll has to be put back, now the other dolls are gone. Miranda somehow thinks there was a long moment where she wasn't inches away from Danielle for her to move the dolls? Ok then.  Does look her patience ran out too.  (What was your job today, crew guy, oh I had to put random dolls all over the set, and pose them, oh)  

Hey! We're having a meeting here, go away! 

             We do get a creepy shot of dolls kind of hanging around like crows. Shelly knocked over a vas, and now Miranda did see a doll move. Oh we got a classic horror movie phone line has been cut, then even her cell phone battery is gone. She finds the fridge magnets now say Leave and a page torn from her college book, (rude don't they know those books are expensive!) The episode "Living Doll" Miranda but she's not dead.  She wakes to the dolls dragging her, she gets up and it's more funny than scary here she yells at the dolls calls them "Stupid Bitches" and starts beating them with a stuffed unicorn. (Where's her Emmy?) 

Playtime is over! 

  

             She finds Danielle who is being un helpful and freaks out over the fact Miranda has her stuffed unicorn. We find out that Shelly was a real human person and all the dolls were real human people. Was the unicorn a real unicorn? I have questions now. I wouldn't ask questions I'd leave, there's no reasoning, I'm out. (oddly this a new meaning to kidnapping) Miranda finds out the dolls were trying to help her. (and she called them stupid, mean)  Why she realizes this she should have just ran.  

            Well Miranda is over. It cuts to Danielle's father yelling on the phone at an agency that provides child care and he's mad that the sitter ran out , and that's the third one. (not a very observantly questioning man is he?)   The mom puts the dolls back and says her daughter is a wild child and that's why the sitters keeping running off. (Ok then)  Danielle get sup and walks over to her dolls and she says they are grounded forever and wonders why they all hate her.( I can think of 1 reason)  Also Miranda's been added, love her face there it's perfection. 

Miranda's revenge is this horrifying face 

         This episode isn't great.  I think it drags a bit at the start where kind of get the point that Miranda thinks Danielle is making up stuff and doesn't obviously believe in living dolls or ones that are able to move.  The part where the episode gets interesting is right when Miranda sees the dolls perched on the couch and rest of the living room giving this eeriness and creepy vibe. You can also tell she kind of changed her mind about thinking about the dolls and maybe they are somewhat able to move on their own.  There's also some parts that probably weren't supposed to be funny, but I found to be like the part where she beats up the dolls with the unicorn and before that the idea of these dolls pulling her was something. 

        When something says leave, run!  I do find it an interesting detail that the parents seem to have all these details and regiments on their daughter but don't notice how she keeps losing baby sitters and adds extra dolls?    I think the episode does a good job at feeling unsettling though, the awkwardness of Danielle shows through. You can also see her thinking, she automatically wants to call Miranda a friend and how she talks about the dolls like they are real people. 

            It's fun a twist, not an overall impressive episode, but there's still some fun to watch and it's not boring , at least.   

         That's it for now , tune in next time when we turn this guy into an action figure, or I mean in-action figure heh. 

Into the Twilight: It's a Good Episode, A Very Good Episode ( It's A Good Life)

The Twilight Zone 

Previously on Joshuaonline: We've proven ourselves to be a in the grip of time as eight-years ago was when I wrote about the "It's Still a Good Life" which was the 2002 "Twilight Zone" episode that was a made as a sequel of "It's a Good Life" from the OG series.  Also, it strangely is the only post on this site that is written in a different font, and I don't know why.  You can read that here, if you'd like. 

         Now I'm writing about the original. This is also a very well known episode it's been parodied including "The Simpsons"  and "Johnny Bravo" and it's also one without a big famous twist ending or something that I think would be hard to explain to a first time watcher. I will say if you are a first time watcher to "The Twilight Zone" watch this episode first before reading this post, it will be more fun to watch the episode then come in and read this, probably, I think. But  I don't think this post really has a spoiler of the episode that ruins the experience of it before watching though. 

       This good episode, a wonderfully good episode is based off a short story as some episodes of the show were, with the same name written by Jerome Bixby. It was published in 1953 in Star Science Fiction Stories No.2.  The short story is about 3-year-old Anthony  Freemont,  a good boy, a very good boy, with the very good powers. The story presents the idea of a 3-year-old boy and 3-year-olds are well 3, and then he was born with very powerful powers and the process of him connecting with that seems to go as well as one would expect. He's not presented as evil, but more 3-years-old with ultimate power. [It's a good read] 

    The episode does changes some changes, very good changes, the best changes.  The teleplay version was written by Mr. Serling, himself.  He did some changes like Anthony who was changed to six-years-old, played by a 7-year-old.  He didn't go wild and change too much of it.   He didn't use the part where Anthony forces a rat to eat itself, which I guess was very disturbing, they didn't want to try or couldn't do that effect in 1961, or CBS would have said no anyway because they would have been disturbing. (especially for the rat viewers)  Somethings he was able to kind of fill in the gaps himself if they weren't described like the TV show Anthony makes. Like how Anthony looks so he was free to just find anyone and why not use  Billy Mumy who appears in the "Twilight Zone" a few times, by few I mean three. Three very good times.  

        Serling also changed some aspects of the character where in the story, Anthony, again  age 3, does most of his stuff in the sheer will of trying to help and slightly more playful in the same sense.   

   He apparently, and why would he not? it's a good story, a real good story, wanted to make it a feature film idea too, but didn't get the chance to do so.   

            This, because of course, is one my favorite episodes of the series too.  Yeah, it's a popular episode, but it is because it's good, very well good.   This episode is the eighth  episode of season 3, which first aired on November 3, 1961 on CBS- a real fine network, the best network.

Into the Twilight: Careful Who You Call (The Call- 1985)

The Twilight Zone 

    

            We dip back into the 1985 The Twilight Zone with a featured episode that makes you maybe want to double check a phone number.   "The Call" is the 9th episode of the third season of the series. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski , who would later create  Babylon 5 .  

 

         The episode's main character is a man named Norman Blane who apparently worries that if he were to disappear nobody would notice.  I'm here wondering if they picked this name because it works like Normal and Bland. Blane is played by William Sanderson, whom you might know as Larry from the great TV series Newhart.   He lives by himself, minus a bird, and lives in a normal apartment and does things by himself. He sleeps on a pull out bed from a couch. 

        Anyway, he hears an ad on TV for public domain safe music, direct to consumer ad and writes down the phone number, now this very important even the camera cuts to a shot of the number being written on paper, so it's important. We hear the number and it looks like he wrote a 7 instead of the 1.  He calls in and a woman's voice picks up and it says hello and not something more business-y business. He realizes he might have dialed the wrong number.  (Oops he must have called one those numbers)  

        The caller doesn't seem to mind and she asks him his name, and he asks her name which is Mary-Anne. Mary-Anne is voiced by Julie Khaner and maybe more a voicing than being seen. Norman seemed to talk to Mary-Anne for hour  and he seems to get along.  

         The next day he told this to his co-worker, Richard (Dan Redican) and he seems to prefer Norman to not talk very much. Norman also mentions that the woman says he call her again, but after 7 PM.  Richard suggests he should ask her out.  Then wants some peace and quiet because he has five kids. 

I have five kids, none of them are even mine 

            Norman calls Mary-Anne again and they seem to have  3+ hour conversation. (Good thing it was after 7PM or that would be a high bill) He asks her out, but she says no  and prefers just talking on the phone and wants to keep it that way. He promises to call her the next day.  Now Richard is annoyed that Norman is being quiet, make up your mind.  He suggests that he calls the operator and asks what the address for the number is, that was a thing.  (The 80's were easier for stalkers) 

                

      We find out that is the Art Gallery. He goes to ask a woman for Mary-Anne and they don't know who that could be either and he waits for the director to come.  He finds a phone and dials the number and follows the ringing to a phone in spot right by a sculpture. A museum person shows up and talks about it and the artist who made it did a self sculpture and that was last thing she did before committing suicide.  [scary word] 

She looks like someone who calls taverns and makes bar tenders say See More Butts 

           He hears the name of the artist a woman named Mary-Anne. Well that's a funny coincidence  isn't it?  Then later he calls her and she says she saw him talking to the woman, he can't believe it and he hangs up. Then he calls again.  She feels bad. Then hangs up after saying it's been a long time since she talked to anyone and had been lonely. He seems to understand that and longs for her by sketching her.  

 

            He tries to make a call and she doesn't seem to pick up or something. Then he goes to the art gallery and tries talking to her face to face.  (She's kind of stone faced talking to him)  He talks to her and expresses how he feels and she made him feel worth something again and that's was in love.

         Later there's another call and it's her. She talks to him and he says that he loves her but she doesn't want him to. She says come to her that night and hurry. This is going in some direction, oh that's right this is the Twilight Zone.   A security goes on his rounds to check the place while she tells him she wants him to stay with her and guess what he's become a statue too. 

I'll melt...uh bronze with you... 

        Let's start with the first twist.  The episode does a good job at throwing in things that make you wonder. Why does the woman not want calls before 7pm? Why does she not want to see him in person. There's a whole lot it does to make a viewer curious and want to see where it goes.  I think the idea of her being statue could have been a great end, where he finds outs that. 

        The episode continues and we get that twist pretty much half way through. There's an point where yeah maybe it would have felt too dragged out if the whole 22 minutes were that story, but yeah. Then the episode continues with the next part.  Norman finds out and seems to process that fact pretty well after a minor eek moment.  The episode starts and mentions that he's a lonely man and establishes that and he finds connection to Mary-Anne because she was lonely too. Then he falls in love with her.

          Now there's the 2nd twist of what's going to happen in the episode with these two.  There are many potential ways it could have gone and chose the strangest one, [with that, I can also mention her turning alive - more alive?- would be strange too] to just have him join her as a statue. The narration introducing Norman at the start says would anybody miss him if he's gone?  Maybe his bird would.

      This episode is about loneliness and how that is with people how people feel about it. Richard, for his annoyance, has something Norman wished he had. Richard has a wife , I'm assuming, and the mentioned 5 kids, Norman would wish to have such a thing, whilst maybe Richard wouldn't mind at times having Norman's quiet existence. Though, that's a guess not a mentioned thing. 

      There is a tense uncertainty to this episode which is good for a "Twilight Zone" episode in any form of the show.  It's hard to guess where it's fully going and Norman really takes a leap of faith here , correction: he takes many leaps of faith here. He wanted to get away from his loneliness that badly. I like how it does leave things open in thought, like how did he become a statue was he one before and didn't realize it?  That's a different Twilight Zone episode.  

            It's a good episode , doesn't feel like it's dragging and presents an interesting story and twists.  

    Well, that's it for now, tune in next time when we call a doll and she sticks us with the charges, rude! 

        

            

Into the Twilight: Eye of the Beholder

The Twilight Zone 

           It can be difficult to write about certain episodes of "The Twilight Zone" for various reasons, particularly those of the original series. Many of these episodes are already well-known or contain a major twist, which can spoil the experience for those who haven't seen them yet. While it may seem odd to worry about spoilers for something that aired in the 1960s, part of the fun of watching "The Twilight Zone" is not knowing what to expect. There are even some episodes that I wish I could experience for the first time again, which would make for an interesting plot in itself. 

         I'm going to break away from the traditional mold of a "Into the Twilight" post here to write about the 1960 episode "Eye of the Beholder".  This is from season 2 of the series, the 6th episode. One of the episodes written by Rod Serling himself.   This is a well known episode of the show and it's twist might be very well known. For this post, I'm going to keep that under wraps (that wasn't intended but it works)  and do something a little different. 

This is the future make up/ copyright Paramount 

        As most episodes of the series starts there's a scene to set the stage before we get Rod's narration. This one has a person, a woman, with a face wrapped in bandages, in a hospital bed.  Then a nurse shows up to tend to her.  A benefit of being in black and white is that it can use shadows and not look too off.   One will notice that the they don't show much of the nurse's face, opting for shots and fun ways to hide her face. The woman in bandages doesn't know if it's night or day until she's told, she wonders when the bandages will come off, and the other typical things you'd expect from someone in this condition. The dialogue gives details that her face might be grotesque and seems to have had this problem for her entire life.   

Hey! Get a room ! / Copyright Paramount 

        The words like "I never wanted to be beautiful.  I never wanted to look like a painting. I never even wanted to be loved. I just wanted people to not scream at me when they looked at me."  gives that this isn't some vanity thing, but that woman has lived in misery because of how people viewed her.   What this is also doing is giving the viewer an expectation of what of she could look like under those bandages. It is playing off our, the viewers, thoughts of what could make children scream at a face and cause people to look away?  It's a well done way to make the viewer think and to hook them in.  When the episode reaches the conclusion and the face is reveled, the viewer is then made to think about their own perceptions of what an is a beauty standard.    

Why are we watching from above? help! Copyright Paramount 

            The story follows the nurse as she goes to tell the doctor about the patient's condition, Then she talks to another nurse, again making sure to know show any faces of these woman and the other nurse gives a slight clue by mentioning if she had the face of the patient she'd bury herself in a grave.  Also 1960's smoking.  

         Then finally, Rod Serling shows up to tell us her name is Janet Tyler and we are going to see her face and we shouldn't be surprised. Which I like as a line because it's playing with our perceptions, but it should also make one wonder what does he have in store for us, because why would he say that?  That's kind of fun. 

         As I mentioned before, If there was a way to just erase knowing how an episode or anything media goes in my mind just to have the same first time experience of it, this would be an episode on that list. Though again, that'd probably make a good plot of something about how that would be bad.  I do have to point out that the episode has good rewatch value  when one knows the twist, you can look back at see the hints or the styling or the episode it stays entertaining and thoughtful  without just being an episode that lives on its twist. 

        Directed by Douglas Heyes, the episode goes out of the way to hide faces, a whole theme of the episode. It gives it a detached other world feeling.  It makes you wonder why aren't they being shown?  The episode gives our characters  a sound of sympathy, he casted people by not looking at them, just to hear their voices.  It gives a sense that they care about Miss Tyler and want to help her. 

           There's a doctor he mentions how hard it's been trying to fix the problem. This is her 11th visit and apparently this is her last one. Not sure why 11 was the limit, but alright. There are alternatives- still keeping those under wraps. [sorry]  Which is a good way to phrase these parts of the episode things are under wraps.  Like there are rules that apparently say that people have to look normal. 

         It's a well done emotional episode too, where the viewer can sympathize with Miss Tyler. The offers that there's a space where "people of her kind" can be put together, she uses the word segregated-that's pretty much what it is.  This gives an insight of what's going on and why she's there and that's not a she wants to look good, but that is some mandated thing that has to be done.  It's another Rod Serling/ Twilight Zone episode about a state that wants conformity and has a strong control. (because 1960's) 

           More after the jump

Into the Twilight: Upgrade (2002)

Twilight Zone 

    We're back to the Twilight Zone 2002 series.   The episode I'm looking at this time is called "Upgrade" it's the 13th episode (oooh) of the series. Which again, had one season and ran on UPN (America's favorite network that starts with U, unless that's Univision)   Let's go! 

            It starts with a woman played by Susanna Thompson (Whom you might know from the family drama series Once and Again) named Annie Macintosh as it seems she and her family have acquired and moved into a new home. The episode also wants us to focus on this portrait of the family because  it's trying to make a point here. Then two, I guess teenagers, come in the house and I think the episode wants to us to not  like them or something.  There's also a dog (I'm scared for the dog, this is the Twilight Zone) and a dad/husband  named Phillip, played by Timothy Carhart whom you might know from "Yellowstone".  

Remember this family or don't that's up to you/ Copyright Paramount 

                Annie seems to be annoyed that her family is not perfect or something. She seems annoyed that moving so far hasn't been a smooth thing. (The episode seemingly doesn't want us to like her either) She vents to her husband and wishes that they could turn into a perfect family. (She also asks does that make her a terrible person? eh probably)   I do like how the husband  and wife have matching wear there. Wait, hold on that dog, the dog before was not that dog.  Phillip calls the dog , Czonka, which was the name of their dog, but this dog is a poodle not what it was before. (Czonka? Someone was a Miami Dolphin fan) Annie is confused, like me. She remembers the old dog too. (Good, I'm not going mad) 

Yes, kids, this has always been your dog, he's always looked like this/ Copyright Paramount

            

               You can also surmise this is a "be careful what you wish for" plot, and maybe "what does perfection really mean?" plot.  Annie is confused because whatever witchcraft is going on, didn't affect her.  Hmm, the kids show up and ...checks watch... time to be annoying. The daughter named Tess and boy named Sean, I think that might be the last time we see them in this form. Oh anyway, Annie is still confused about the dog and a friend tells her that maybe she imagined not having that kind of dog because of the stress of moving. (What?) 

In fact, the move was so stressful, you didn't even move, you've always lived here/ Copyright Paramount

               Phillip tries to be romantic with his wife and make her feel better. I'm gonna guess what's going to happen soon, but the episode doesn't make Phillip unlikeable or annoying or anything would actually make him seem to be not a good fit with his wife. He's worried about her because the poodle thing, which also makes sense, This episode is really just going to be mean to him , but not give a reason why he's not already the "perfect husband-dad". 

This is non alcoholic/ Copyright Paramount  

                We see the kids and the daughter is still the same, but wait huh?  She got a new Sean, son. (son sean seen) Since the force that changed the dog also now changed her son she still remembers the old son, so the force really just wants her to be seen as crazy person. (That tricky force) The daughter is freaked out and calls for her dad. 

The perfect son has a pronounced chin/ Copyright Paramount 

        She runs to call Sean, sees the painting has changed again to include New Sean, and just for fun the daughter has changed too, a new Tess shows up.  (The music needs to calm down)  The, she falls down the stairs. She wakes up and still sees new Sean and new Tess, but same Phillip. (I'm going home) 

                        

Cast change number 3/ Copyright Paramount 

            She's not doing to well. (Neither am I)  Phillip again shows his concern and tries to tell her that she's not going to lose him, but then ... oh... there's a new Phillip. Played by Robert Wisden, who played a Dad in an episode of "The Haunting Hour" series I mention that because same type of show. Phillip is the one I feel the most for changing he didn't even seen "un perfect", didn't doubt his wife even if he was confused about why she didn't think the dog or later kids were hers and stuff. I kind of admire the episode for not making up some stupid way he'd be unperfect too. 

our son has my chin/ Copyright Paramount 

        Now she sees new Phillip and is very freaked out. (Same #NotMYPhillip)  Later, her friend shows up again. (What to tell her that moving stress made her envision her entire family in different human form?)  She tells her friend, it's her fault, she made a wish and it's come true. (Which maybe doesn't help people thinking she's not insane)  The friend asks her to come with her downstairs. (Don't do it Annie!) 

the perfect Livingroom apparently /Copyright Paramount 

   

            She notices that her stuff has also changed. (Wait, her couch was her family? Why'd it change?)  Annie tries to have dinner, but it's like eating with random people. Also apparently, the new family has more money and successful kids.  (It's perfect to be rich)  This dinner is awkward. She tries to tell herself this is what she wanted and is trying to live with this, but I don't think she can. 

           She ends up hearing her not family talking about putting her away somewhere to make sure she gets help.  Since that scares her she runs through a door into a black void. (Same)  Then she notices she's in some weird house circle thing where she keeps through the door to end up back in the house.  Then she sees the painting again and sees she's also been re-casted now too.  (If this was a sitcom, it'd be wild in the news)  New Annie and and Phillip kiss and then, what? 

I'm the new Annie, or I'm the Annie / Copyright Paramount 

If you want to know , the spoiler is red and italics, if you want to skip, then find the next black text spot. 

      This episode was all done on a paint like program on  a Macintosh computer?  Get it? Heh? Get it?  Then a little girl Lizzie, it's her computer, is there as her father calls her.  It was a game? What?   I go in to the episodes blind, so I was shocked. I was figuring the ending was going to be where it stopped with new Annie and Phillip kissing and then Forest would come in and give his final message, or something, but nope this one went all yep it was a game! Alright then,  Forest just shows up and gives a message that how do we know we aren't in some game, then the episode shows Forest in a computer screen and it ends.  Good work, I guess, that was a fun ending. 

            

[Spoiler image link] 

             Alright, the episode offers a fun story with a basic plot and the idea of being careful what you wish for, or it might happen. That's something the Twilight Zone (pick a version) does many time with episodes. Poor Phillip though, that was the one character I found it hard to need to be changed for any reason. It's an interesting story, the ending did catch me off guard.  That actually made the episode more interesting. The episode is presentable and not entertaining, does make you feel a bit awkward and uncomfortable like Annie, it's alright. 

            That's it for now, tune in next time when the replacement you comes in and starts laughing, yikes. 

             

Into the Twilight: Evergreen

The Twilight Zone  The Flashback

           We've not looked at an episode of the 2002 Twilight Zone series since 2016, with a look at a sequel episode of the 1959 series "It's a Good Life", we are back with a look at the 2002 series that ran one season on UPN (America's favorite network!.  So anyway, the best way to look at this is why not start from the very first episode? That's right, "Evergreen". 

           The episode starts with a family moving into a new gated community and the episode is focused on  a teenager who has dyed hair, nose ring and stuff that was to scare early 2000's parents. The father, Mr. Winslow, is annoyed with his older daughter and feels that she needs to not act this way.  There's also a noticeable look to the neighborhood where the kids are in uniforms for example.  (It's going to be one of those episodes huh?)     

I don't even know/ Copyright Paramount 

        It's morning and the girl notices that her nose ring is gone, her hairs is not dyed, her tattoos are gone  (Usually those don't go away overnight, ) her CD's are gone too, anyway she's angry and yells at her parents and her sister had to take out her earrings. The head of the homeowners' association is at the house and tells Jenna, the girl, that her parents gave up almost everything for them to be there. (Which I think how most terms of service go for things too) The idea is to have them be in a safe world. 

The true moral is that homeowners'  associations are bad/ Copyright Paramount 

        Jenna thinks about running away, but a boy from the neighborhood, named Logan tells her it's hard to get away. (Maybe it's a trick, it might be a trick, I think it might be a trick)  Later on, she's outside and waiting for Logan and sees that he was taken away and zapped. The next day, they tell her he attacked a security guard with a hunting knife.  Jenna is suspicious about this place when she founds out the military school they threaten kids with doesn't exist.  Logan is seen again being sent on a truck that says ARCADIA on the front. There's also a meeting that was going on at the same time where I think they decide that kids die when they aren't conforming to their system. 

       Jenna runs home and tells her sister, Jules, that what she saw and that's she leaving, and later tells her sister where's going to be and later the sister turns her in and she gets put into an ARCADIA truck. 

The Shot shows that Arcadia is a fertilizer company, meaning they turn bad children into fertilizer. There was a shot at the start where a family was planting a tree and crying, which was a good clue.

 

         This episode is a standard "creepy" and authoritarian  dystopia story. The thing that makes it work a little more here is that it's parents who are willing to sign away everything to have their kids conform to a perfection.  I think the other thing that gets me is the ending because of how close the sisters seemed to be, it makes it more surprising what happens.  The episode leaves good clues of what happens to those don't conform that makes a good thing to see in hindsight. 

    

      Being the first episode of a new "Twilight Zone" series it has a lot to live on and it's an alright episode.  The hard thing it has going for it is that these kind of stories aren't as new as they were in the original series time and it's hard to be really creative with it, but it does work, the twist was still a surprising one, and it works that reveal in well, the episode had some mystery to keep investment.  

      Anyway, that's it for now, tune in next time when we wonder who is our mulch. 

Into the Twilight: A Nice Place to Visit ( From The Original Series)

Twilight Zone  The Flashback 

        Back to the original series for our "Into the Twilight" series, this is an episode coming from season 1 it's episode 28 called "A  Nice Place to Visit".    This happens to be our second look at the something from the original series, and we really should dip into it more.  

         This episode about a man named Henry Francis Valentine but goes by the name Rocky.  He was robbing a pawn shop and when he's running from police he gets cornered and lets out a shot and starts to climb away and gets shot.  Anyway later on, he gets woken up by a man named Pip.  Pip is a man in an all white suit (played by Sebastian Cabot). Now Rocky is a little confused because he does remember getting shot and etc. (Fun thing to remember)  He also wonders how Pip knows his name and stuff about him like his likes.   Pip says his job is to give Rocky anything he wants  and Rocky is of course suspicious because this doesn't happen.  Rocky asks for Pip's wallet and Pip gives him $700 in cash. ( I said wallet!, oh well anyway) 

Money? I wanted your wallet!/Copyright ViacomCBS 

        Pip takes him to a fancy home and says that it's Rocky's house.  Rocky is a little suspicious since people don't normally get free fancy houses with fancy stuff. (Usually) The episode wants to make us invested by also making us wonder what's going on here, when saw this guy get shot and now he's getting these rewards. We can already infer some things that could have happened, but the episode is not showing its hand too much to give us a conclusion yet.   When the food comes Rocky gets suspicious again and wants Pip to eat it, but Pip says that he hasn't eaten in centuries,  Rocky decides to start shooting Pip but nothing happens to the guy  and he figures out that Pip isn't of this Earth.  

In heaven, you have guns some how/ Copyright ViacomCBS 

        Rocky figures out that he's dead and figures out the place he is in heaven. He thinks Pip is an angel and this makes him happy and starts asking for stuff.  He starts to have fun and goes to casino (they have guns and casinos in heaven? Interesting)  

More after the jump

A Brief Moment In to the Twilight: Ye Gods

The Flashback 

    

        Previously, we looked at a 1985 "Twilight Zone" episode "If she Dies" since the 1985 series episodes have segments, that means we have the other segment in that episode to cover.  This is from episode 5,the other segment  "Ye Gods" this episode is from October 25,1985.

Not love at First Sight/ Copyright ViacomCBS 

           Our main character is named Todd Ettinger (played by actor David Dukes) and he bumps into a woman and apparently  thinks that these two should be a couple and sprinkles magic love dust on them. (The eighties dust?)   They awkwardly share an exchange  but they don't start just making out and cupid follows him and wonders why they didn't fall in love. He's mad at yuppies. Cupid meets with Todd and wants to know why he doesn't fall in love.  At first, Todd doesn't think this man is cupid but he proves that he his at least magic by melting his phone. (that's a mess) 

No, I guess I don't want to change long distance carriers/ Copyright ViacomCBS 

        Cupid gets mad and shoots three love arrows into Todd and walks away. Todd sees the woman again and starts to give chase to her (that's how love works in the 80's ) but he can't get to her.  Todd wants to talk to her.  Todd talks to his co worker that he feels hollow even with all the nice stuff he has, he wants love. (those arrows have side effects) 

What's the point of wanting a yacht if I can't marry it?/ Copyright Viacom CBS

            Todd can't sleep because he keeps having sexy 80's music dreams about her.  So he decides the next day to find  Bacchus, the god of wine making, because Cupid mentioned him earlier. Thankfully, he finds the god in the phone book.  (You can't do that on Bing)  He finds Bacchus and Cupid at a fancy dinner party.  He finds out that Cupid is depressed because he and a fury named Megaera (because we going Greek here) had split up and decides to help Cupid get back with her. 

I'm the god of business and wine/ Copyright ViacomCBS

             Todd the logical thing of using an incantation to get Megaera to show up. (She's not in the phone book, apparently)  She does (played by Carolyn Seymour)  and she seems angry. Anyway she's mad because she thinks Cupid wants to be with mortals (in the loving way). She was angry enough to turn the woman she thought Cupid wanted into a tree frog.   Anyway, Todd plays fix it by calling Bacchus to help him get Cupid and Megaera together to talk it out. (Inviting two gods into his office might be a bad idea) 

We're going to tear this office down/ Copyright Viacom CBS

         Cupid and Megaera after some yelling seem to make up (The little heart effect graphic helps)   and they stare into each other eyes for a long time then a long kiss.  After leaving them alone for awhile, he finds out they left out the window with the window washers.  Todd is annoyed  that he still has unrequited love.  Todd decides to do some comfort shopping and gets rear ended  and finds out that woman was the lady he met before and the sexy 80's music is back and loving happens.  The episode ends with these two kissing in the middle of the street. 

Here on Chopper5 we are showing you this couple kissing in the road, expect delays/ Copyright ViacomCBS 

            

        It's a pretty quirky and weird episode, but I do like how the main character kind of learned the point Cupid was giving him that he should try to maybe focus on things more than just his working life and fancy stuff that's a nice little touch.  The idea to have the Greek gods be modernized was pretty interesting, this segment had some charm to it and it was pretty entertaining for what it was.  

     That does it for now, tune in next time, when we try match making two strangers only to find out  that we shouldn't use arrows. 

            

Into the Twilight : A World of His Own

Twilight Zone 

         We  look at another episode of original  "The Twilight Zone" this time an episode from the frist season, the season finale called "A World of His Own" that first aired on July 1, 1960. 

            It's about a man named Gregory West who is a playwright. He's  having some safe 1960's  TV time with a woman, his wife sees him and the woman through the window. She comes in the house and the mistress is worried this it seems.  (I'd be worried too) It cuts back to the wife coming in the room and not seeing anybody. (did she escape out the window?) 

That's not his wife/ Copyright CBS 

        

           Victoria, his wife, searches around to see the signs of a mistress in the office. (Not sure  how that works) She eventually says that she saw Gregory with another woman.  He tricked him into saying that were was another woman in the room.   He has an explanation for this ,a perfectly logical one.   The other woman's name is Mary, and his explanation is that sometimes characters come to life. (makes sense?)  He tries to explain that one of his characters walked in right into the room one time, and she does the right response of thinking he's losing it. 

Where's the other woman? Is she in the couch?/Copyright CBS 

more after the jump