The top 25 'Twilight Zone' episodes of all time
One of the most influential early TV shows
'The Twilight Zone,' which aired from 1959 to 1964, was the brainchild of Rod Serling. This groundbreaking series blended science fiction, horror, and fantasy to delve into the complexities of the human experience, offering stories that were as thought-provoking as they were entertaining. At a time when television was dominated by predictable comedies and dramas, 'The Twilight Zone' boldly pushed the boundaries of what the medium could achieve.
The best of the best
Beyond entertainment, ‘The Twilight Zone’ profoundly impacted popular culture and the way we think about the world around us. The show’s exploration of themes like isolation, conformity, and the dangers of unchecked power still resonates today, and many of the episodes remain relevant and thought-provoking decades later. Here are 25 of the best episodes.
‘To Serve Man’
A race of aliens called the Kanamits comes to Earth with a book titled ‘To Serve Man.’ The book seems harmless enough, but is it really what it appears to be? This episode has one of the most famous twist endings in the series.
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‘The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street’
In a small town, strange things start happening when the power goes out. The neighbors start accusing each other of being aliens, and soon the whole street is in chaos. With the US gripped in Cold War paranoia, this episode is a strong commentary on McCarthyism, American life and human nature. Why need enemies if we are our own worst nightmare?
Image: CBS
‘Time Enough at Last’
Henry Bemis is a bookworm who loves reading more than anything else. After a nuclear war destroys the world, he becomes the last person alive and finally has all the time he needs to read. But fate has other plans for him. This is reportedly Rod Serling’s personal favorite of the 92 episodes.
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‘The Obsolete Man’
In a totalitarian state where books are banned, a librarian is sentenced to death for being “obsolete.” But he has a plan to turn the tables on his captors. To get a sense of the show, here are some lines cut from the original epilogue: “Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all.”
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‘Nightmare at 20,000 Feet’
A man on a plane sees a gremlin on the wing, but no one else believes him. Is he going insane, or is there really something out there? One of the scariest episodes, this remains famous for its tense atmosphere and iconic performance by William Shatner.
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‘A Stop at Willoughby’
A sensitive ad executive dreams of a place called Willoughby, where life is simple and stress-free. His fantasies begin tainting his real-life, right until the very end. A strong commentary on the stresses of modern life and the desire for escapism, the main character was so powerful it inspired the ‘Mad Men’ character Don Draper.
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‘The Eye of the Beholder’
A woman undergoes plastic surgery to look “normal” and fit in with society. After several operations, doctors are still upset that the operation failed and the woman is terrified… but not in the way you’d expect. This powerful and well acted episode is a commentary on how subjective our views of beautiful and ugly are.
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‘It’s a Good Life’
A young boy has godlike powers and controls everything in his small town. The townspeople must obey him or face the consequences. ‘Time’ and ‘TV Guide’ consider this scary episode to be one of the best, and is especially blood-curdling for parents who have dealt with temper tantrums.
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‘The Hitch-Hiker’
A woman on a cross-country road trip keeps seeing the same hitchhiker everywhere she goes. But is he really there, or is she losing her mind? This episode, based on a radio play, is known for its psychological horror and twist ending.
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‘The After Hours’
A woman goes on an ordinary, run-of-the-mill errand to buy a gift in a department store. But she soon finds herself trapped on an eerie floor. But when she finally finds her way out, she discovers a shocking truth. Another surreal twist ending, as Serling asks at the end, “make you wonder, just how normal are we? Just who are the people we nod our hellos to as we pass on the street?”
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‘Five Characters in Search of an Exit’
Five strangers wake up in a metal cylinder with no memory of who they are or how they got there. They must work together to figure out their situation and escape. This existential episode is known for its claustrophobic atmosphere and twist ending, which has been reflected in contemporary shows like ‘Lost.’
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‘Living Doll’
A doll named Talky Tina becomes an obsession for a man’s stepdaughter. But when the doll starts talking to him, he begins to question his sanity. Decades before Chucky, this terrifying episode made people start looking at dolls in a whole different way.
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‘The Midnight Sun’
Earth is on a collision course with the sun, and the world is getting hotter every day. A woman and her landlady struggle to survive as the temperature rises and then a looter breaks in. This episode, shot on a summer set with no A/C, is a commentary on environmental destruction and the dangers of taking our planet for granted.
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‘The Masks’
A dying man invites his greedy relatives over for Mardi Gras and forces them to wear masks that reveal their true personalities. But what will happen when the masks come off? This unsettling episode is known for its dark humor and exploration of the darkness of the human psyche.
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‘The Invaders’
A woman living alone in a remote cabin is attacked by tiny invaders from outer space. But the invaders may not be as small as they seem. A this tense, brilliantly-acted horror story with an amazing twist at the end fills the audience with dread.
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‘The Bewitchin' Pool’
Two children escape their unhappy home life by diving into their swimming pool and finding themselves in a magical world. But is it too good to be true? This episode, the last of the original series, is known for its whimsical tone and exploration of the power of imagination. “But who can say how real the fantasy world of lonely children can become?” asks Serling in the final narration.
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‘The Odyssey of Flight 33’
A plane suddenly travels back in time and finds itself in prehistoric times. Can the passengers and crew find a way back to their own time before it’s too late? With its thrilling plot and exploration of the concept of time travel, people to this day still think of it when they board a plane.
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‘The Shelter’
“What you are about to watch is a nightmare. It is not meant to be prophetic, it need not happen, it’s the fervent and urgent prayer of all men of goodwill that it never shall happen,” begins the episode. One of the few episodes without sci-fi or fantasy elements, this is about what happens when a group of neighbors fights over who will be allowed into the only bomb shelter on the block when a nuclear warning is issued.
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‘The Dummy’
A ventriloquist is tormented by his own puppet, which seems to have a mind of its own.The entertainer decides to change acts, but the dummy has a different idea how the next act should go. The ending, described as “the old switcheroo,” still gives viewers the heebie-jeebies
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‘Number 12 Looks Just Like You’
In a future society, everyone undergoes a “transformation” at age 19 to become physically perfect. But one woman resists the procedure and must fight to maintain her individuality. “Portrait of a young lady in love - with herself. Improbable? Perhaps. But in an age of plastic surgery, body building and an infinity of cosmetics, let us hesitate to say impossible,” concludes the narrator, foreshadowing what is set to come in the future.
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‘The Silence’
A man bets that he can stay silent for a year to win a large sum of money. But can he survive the psychological toll of isolation and the temptations of breaking his vow? This episode explores the concept of sacrifice, hatred and the lengths people will go to for financial gain.
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‘The Lonely’
A man living alone on a remote asteroid falls in love with a lifelike robot (pronounced ‘ro-bit’). But can he be truly happy with something that’s not human? This episode’s themes, exploring the relationship between man and machine, have been touched on in many other sci-fi works like ‘Her’ and ‘Westworld.’
Image: CBS
'Two'
This episode follows the two last survivors of WWIII, who are soldiers from opposite armies. Despite initial hostility, they form a bond, only to discover a truth that changes their perspectives on war and the world forever. This show, with hardly any dialogue, is praised for its set design, acting and message about the futility of war.
Image: CBS
'Mirror Image'
This tale of doppelgänger paranoia centers on a woman who becomes convinced that someone just like her is trying to take over her life. As events unfold, Millicent's grip on reality becomes increasingly tenuous, leading to a surprising and unsettling conclusion.
Image: CBS
'The Four of Us Are Dying'
This visually stunning episode follows a con artist who can change his appearance at will. After a scam goes wrong, he becomes the target of revenge, leading to a twist ending. This episode explores themes of identity, manipulation, and the consequences of our actions, all with fun film noir vibes and music.
Image: CBS
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