Boy somebody was busy yesterday.
This will be a two parter, five today and the rest of season one tomorrow.
Execution: Interesting theme when a condemned man is inexplicably sent into the future. I do like the twist where a modern day crook, who kills the previously condemned man, ends up transported into the noose meant for that same condemned man.
Pity you never watched Gilligan's Island. You can have it though, we had to endure that show in reruns for decades. Incidentally, Russel Johnson seemed to always play brainiacs, didn't he? You'll see him in another TZ later (Rating: A-)
The Big Tall Wish: This is an especially interesting, and brave Twilight Zone, because it featured a predominately African-American cast when it wasn't cool to do so. You missed an "Isn't that" though. Ivan Dixon would be best remembered for playing Kinchloe on Hogan's Heroes a few years later. Anyway, great episode and kind of sweet in its own way (Rating: A)
A Nice Place To Visit: This episode has a special place on my heart because this is the first Twilight Zone I truly remember. This is where Beaumont is starting to get into his groove as well. Sebastian Cabot is menacing as the "angel" Pip and it makes up for Larry Blyden's overacting (and if you think he's bad here, check out his other Twilight Zone, Showdown with Rance McGrew). Blyden doesn't take away from the premise though and Cabot, who went as far as to dye his hair and beard white, more than makes up for Dryden's overacting chops. One of my favorite TZs (Rating: A+)
Nightmare as a Child: This one is eerie and psychological at the same time. My thought is Helen is seeing her repressed memory. Either that or it is a doppleganger of herself as a child warning her that she's in trouble. Either way, it has you thinking throughout. I like this episode (Rating A-)
A Stop At Willoughby: Another favorite of mine. In some ways, it's a lot like Walking Distance but with, perhaps, more tragic undertones. Misrell is a beleagured middle-aged executive who desperately wants to get out of the rat race and finds his oasis in the magical town of Willoughby circa 1888 if I got the year right. As it turns out, Willoughby is just a vehicle for Misrell's suicide by way of jumping off the train... or is it?
(Rating: A+ )
Will wrap up first season tomorrow. You're hard to keep up with, Trolls