The Twilight Zone is one of the greatest shows of all time, and one of my personal favorites. It’s actually the reason why I’m writing to you all today. Rod Serling’s classic anthology broke new ground sixty years ago with its many thought-provoking stories that explored the human condition and addressed many social issues that are relevant today. For these reasons, here are the Top 10 Best Episodes of The Twilight Zone.
(While there are spoilers ahead, I wouldn’t dare reveal any of the show’s iconic twists!)
10. Living Doll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z0bdJPvDaw
When Erich Streator begins to hear his stepdaughter’s doll talking back to him, he suspects that someone is playing a trick on him. He eventually concludes that the doll is alive and dangerous, as it soon threatens to kill him. Erich’s fearful anger carves a wedge between himself and his family, only making the doll all the more powerful. Talky Tina is one of The Twilight Zone‘s scariest creations, and her final words are sure to make you afraid of dolls.
9. It’s A Good Life
CBSThe story takes place in a town separated from the rest of the world by a six-year-old boy with psychic, godlike powers. The only ones still alive are his family, who live in constant fear of upsetting him and being whisked away to the mysterious “cornfield.” This chilling episode symbolizes the struggles of parenting, while also showing the dark consequences of an amoral mind having too much power. All in all, Billy Mumy’s haunting performance as the wicked child may be enough to make you rethink having kids of your own.
8. The Masks
CBSWhen a rich, elderly man faces his last day on Earth, he summons his selfish and immoral family to his deathbed to celebrate Mardi Gras with him. They each have their own vices that make them understandably hated by their dying patriarch. He thus forces them to put on hideous masks representing their true selves so they can receive their inheritance. The episode’s ending is arguably one of the most memorable in the show, displaying its true brand of narrative capabilities.
7. Five Characters In Search of An Exit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEpaq332pmI
This perplexing episode focuses on a general, a ballerina, a clown, a bagpiper, and a tramp trapped in a mysterious prison. None of them knows who they are, where they are, or why they were put there, but that doesn’t stop the general from trying to escape.Each of them has their own theories about their situation, ranging from being insane to not existing at all. This episode is a nonstop series of questions that’ll keep you guessing until its shocking twist ending.
6. To Serve Man
CBSYou may already know this episode’s famous twist from multiple parodies, but the entire episode is just as memorable. When a race of aliens arrive on Earth and declare their desire to aid humanity, world leaders become suspicious of their true intentions. A group of cryptographers are then assigned to translate the aliens’ language to verify their peaceful motives. At the same time, the aliens win over the planet by using their technology to achieve world peace. In the end, this episode displays just how easily humanity can let its guard down, which may ultimately lead to their own destruction.
5. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
CBSThis episode follows the member of the titular neighborhood when a UFO flies overhead. Everyone investigates this mysterious anomaly, and they begin to suspect one of them is an alien in disguise. This story is a classic witch hunt gone too far, as the whole neighborhood descends into anarchy when they all turn on each other. This episode is a shocking example of how fear and paranoia can destroy even the happiest of communities, and its message couldn’t be more timely.
4. Walking Distance
CBSThis unforgettable story follows a businessman when he returns to his hometown, only to find himself traveling back in time to when he was a child. He reaches out to his parents and his younger self, which leads to some of the saddest moments in the entire series. Everyone goes through nostalgia at one point in their lives, and this episode poignantly encapsulates the depressing struggle of having to grow up.
3. The Eye of the Beholder
CBSThis landmark episode depicts a woman who has undergone facial reconstruction due to her deformed appearance. She faces the threat of being relocated to an oppressive society that demands conformity, and her plight causes her doctors to question the system they live in. It is only until the episode’s iconic twist that we see everything turned on its head, from our perceptions of beauty to our understanding of discrimination.
2. Time Enough at Last
CBSThis instant classic is described as “the story of a man who seeks salvation in the rubble of a ruined world.” The episode follows a bank teller, played by legendary Rocky actor Burgess Meredith, who loves to read but can’t find the time to because of his angry boss and his oppressive wife. When he locks himself in a bank vault to read, a nuclear holocaust suddenly breaks out, and he seems to be the only survivor. Alone in a world devoid of happiness, he contemplates suicide until he realizes he can read to his heart’s content. However, the episode’s small but monumental twist makes this episode one of the greatest tragedies in the Twilight Zone.
1. Nightmare at 20,000 Feet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXHKDb0CNjA
Even if you’ve never seen this episode, you’ve most likely seen it referenced before. When a man (William Shatner) recovering from a nervous breakdown is on board a flying airplane, he sees a gremlin out on the wing trying to destroy it. However, nobody but him can see it, which makes them all question his sanity. This episode perfectly embodies the show’s theme of telling the difference between reality and fantasy, and this tense thrill-ride will keep you on the edge of your seat until the plane lands.