About eight months ago, I ordered The Twilight Zone: The Complete Definitive Collection. I’ve finally completed all five seasons and wanted to pay my respects to Rod Serling by sharing my top 10 favorite episodes.

First, though, I’d like to preface with a little commentary on the series as a whole. After experiencing all 156 episodes, I have a greater understanding of what makes The Twilight Zone such a work of unabated mastery. Though the black and white picture dates the show itself, the stories are timeless, performed with superb acting and delivered with quality dialog. Their wholesome 1950s values lend to them a charm that you just don’t see in television these days.

My top 10 now bears scant resemblance to my top 10 of 10 years ago. Originally, I was completely enamored with the most science fiction/horror-esque episodes of the bunch (The Invaders, To Serve Man, Living Doll, The Dummy). As my tastes have matured, I’ve grown more attached to the heart-string pulling and socially aware episodes. With this top 10 list, I’ve also given a little more weight to lesser known episodes in an attempt to spread the love. My episode descriptions are left intentionally vague to prevent any wanton spoilage. Seek and ye shall find. Without further ado…

Honorable Mention: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (Season 5, Episode 142; February 28, 1964)

This is a story of a man on his execution day. His crime: Meddling with the railroad (or so we are led to believe). His Punishment: To be hanged summarily. Ironically, from a railroad bridge.

This episode effectively has no dialog, but is able to deliver extreme emotional highs and lows through masterful use of sound, music, and imagery. (This episode is special because it is actually an award winning short film from France. While I regard it very highly, it didn’t feel right including it in my “official” list.)

10. Black Leather Jackets (Season 5, Episode 138; January 31, 1964)

Scotty, Freddy, and Steve are new arrivals in a small town. Externally, they are defined by black leather jackets, motorcycles, and a certain mystique. A close and watchful eye has shown them that humans are violent, hateful creatures, unfit for this universe.

This episode has a wonderful score that is able to perfectly articulate the uneasy mood created by a bunch of hip beatniks rolling into a quiet neighborhood. You just don’t get that anymore with TV. It uses darkness and shadow play to great effect… pretty good for a black and quite picture! Imagine what happens when a young and stunningly beautiful Shelley Fabares reveals to Scott a side to humanity thought to be refuted by their research. The ending hits a little closer to home than most people are aware.

9. Long Distance Call (Season 2, Episode 58; March 31, 1961)

Sweet, young, and innocent Billy is a Grandma’s Boy. On Billy’s birthday, Grandma gives him a toy telephone; on her death bed, she tells Billy that he can talk to her through it whenever he wants.

Actor Billy Mummy plays an exceptionally creepy kid that will make your skin crawl. If the side effects of the pill concern you and you find abstinence a bit dull, Long Distance Call offers a new and exciting alternative. The viewer quickly senses a twisted rivalry between Mom and Grandma for Billy’s love. This one evokes emotions that run deep.

8. Jess-Belle (Season 4, Episode 109; February 14, 1963)

Billy-Ben Turner is the county’s golden man, fit to be weddin’ a pristinely angelic Elwyn. News of this engagement sparks horrible envy in Jess-Belle, who will stop at nothing to win back his love.

Episodes from season 4 filled an hour time slot unlike the half hour slot filled by the other seasons. The old fashioned, Southern language used by the characters is what really draws me to this episode. Never fails to put a smile on my face. Admittedly, Laura Devon draws me to the episode, too. My she is fair.

7. Number 12 Looks Just Like You (Season 5, Episode 137; January 24, 1964)

Theirs is a futuristic society (“call it the year 2000”) where, at age 19, men and women transform their bodies into one of many beautiful templates. Number 12 is the most popular (and I wholeheartedly approve). The story follows Marilyn’s struggle to understand why being different is not only no longer popular, it’s unacceptable.

This episode marks the first piece of social commentary of the countdown. In the beginning of this episode, we hear a familiar score so effectively utilized throughout the series (and used again in the #1 episode on this countdown!) My favorite aspect of this Brave New World inspired episode is how genuinely ignorant many of the characters appear. The dialog and back stories are well written and convincing. It goes without saying the message is as relevant now as it ever was.

6. Third from the Sun (Season 1, Episode 14; January 8, 1960)

The world is on the verge of a nuclear holocaust. Scientist William Sturka is but a cog in the wheel. Unlike the other cogs, though, he has an escape plan. In this 1984 inspired short, one never knows who might be watching.

This episode makes great use of The Twilight Zone’s trademark tilted camera angle. It’s a story of courage with a nervous tone. The ending is sure to send you for a whirl.

5. Walking Distance (Season 1, Episode 5; October 30, 1959)

Martin Sloan is VP of a marketing agency, seemingly at the end of his rope. Sodden with anxiety part and parcel to the modern age and longing for the simplicity of a past life, he ends up wandering into a familiar drug store… as it existed 30 years in the past.

Rod Serling himself was harshly critical of this one and in retrospect, said he would’ve done it differently. Funny, it made number 5 on my list! Whether you have a soft spot for the good ole days or just have a thing for chocolate ice cream sodas, check out Walking Distance.

4. The Encounter (Season 5, Episode 151; May 1, 1964)

A Japanese American gardener encounters an American WWII vet turned Joe Six Pack in a sweltering attic. Tension builds as Joe 6 reflects upon his war torn past on the Pacific battlefront. He’s slammed a few too many beers, and his comments begin to leak out uninhibited and uncensored.

The emotions this controversial piece evokes is a rare find. I love it. The tension is built up steadily… so thick… you could cut it with a knife. It’s so raw that it only aired once! Look for it in the Definitive Collection.

3. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street (Season 1, Episode 22; March 4, 1960)

Picture Maple Street, a peaceful neighborhood block. Children are playing, mothers are cooking, and fathers are crafting. In this story of whodunnit, a strange roar and flash followed by a power outage sets off a chain reaction of McCarthyism inspired finger pointing.

What happens when survival is at hand? Primal instincts emerge. A reminder that we are not all immune to some level of survivalist savagery. The character Tommy has got to be the freakiest character in the whole series. This episode employs the oft used technique of phrase repetition for added effect. Just one of the many comfortably familiar devices of the series. Just one of them.

2. It’s a Good Life (Season 3, Episode 8; November 3, 1961)

It’s a good life. Real Good. Young Anthony Fremont is a gifted child, gifted with the uncanny ability to alter reality at will. Unfortunately for his family, such a power combined with a keen lack of empathy keeps everyone on their toes.

Twilight Zone: The Movie adapted this one for the silver screen, but it pails in comparison to the original. The special effects are a respite from the awful CGI of today. This is another episode best served dark with a thick slice of tension.

1. The Obsolete Man (Season 2, Episode 65; June 2, 1961)

What place does a librarian have in a world where books have been banned? Witness here how one obsolete man plots to leave his mark on the State.

And my favorite all time Twilight Zone episode is The Obsolete Man. The hallmarks of this episode (besides the great Burgess Meredith) are the dialog and the message. The writing is poetry. It never fails to send shivers down my spine or bring a tear to my eye. The resolution is a sharp reminder of the short-comings of totalitarian rule. Once again, an exposé of a possible future if we grow too lax in our ways.

Images Courtesy of Wikipedia