Twilight Zone episode reviews

Jumping completely off-topic for this post...

At our group campout this weekend, Raindweller mentioned that she’d never seen an episode of The Twilight Zone. It’s one of my favorite shows of all time, so I volunteered to make her a top 10 list. Well, that idea kind of grew when I sat down to write it up.

Below is my top 20, followed by my review of every episode I’ve seen (sorted by airdate), followed by the same reviews, alphabetically by episode title.

Note that this doesn't include anything about the The New Twilight Zone (1985-1989) nor UPN's Twilight Zone (2002-2003). And when I say a show is "just OK" or "mediocre", that's in comparison to other TZ episodes. They're still probably better than most of the other shows out there.

(Thanks to the Twilight Zone Episode Guide, and to Marc Scott Zicree's Twilight Zone Companion)

A list of upcoming episodes on SciFi can be found at tv.yahoo.com.

Another complete list, with plot details, is at Wikipedia's Twilight Zone Episodes page.

Edits: constant. I'm using this as my personal "need to see" list.
3/16/06: Updated "The Jungle", "Still Valley", and "A Game of Pool"
3/20/06: Updated "Stopover in a Quiet Town", "Showdown with Rance McGrew", "To Serve Man", "One More Pallbearer", and "Little Girl Lost"
3/21/06: Updated "Execution", "Mirror Image", "What You Need", and "Escape Clause"
3/22/06: Updated "The Gift", "The Trade-Ins", "The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine", "I Am the Night - Color Me Black", and "What's In the Box?"
3/23/06: Updated "Person or Persons Unknown" and "The Dummy". Added Wikipedia link at top.
3/29/06: Updated "Elegy", "A Nice Place to Visit", "Young Man's Fancy", "I Sing the Body Electric", "Uncle Simon", "The 7th Is Made Up Of Phantoms", "The Changing of the Guard", "A Short Drink From A Certain Fountain", and "The Old Man In The Cave" 4/25/06: Updated "The Lonely", "Night Call", and "Spur of the Moment"

---

Top 20:

1. The Hitch-Hiker, 1/22/60 – I get goosebumps just thinking about this one. Classic.
2. Time Enough At Last, 11/20/59 – This is the one I think is most memorable. Burgess Meredith in a great role with a tragic twist.
3. It's A Good Life, 11/3/61 – Babylon 5’s Bill Mumy stars as the scariest kid ever on TV. What happens when a 6-year-old has ultimate god-like powers? Yeah, it’s that unnerving. They did a sequel to this in UPN's Twilight Zone a few years ago, where Bill Mumy stars as the same character, 35 years later, with a daughter (played by Mumy's daughter) who has the same power. Worth a watch, if you can find it.
4. A Kind Of Stopwatch, 10/18/63 – One of the best episodes ever. Very similar in the end to “Time Enough at Last.”
5. Twenty-Two, 2/10/61 – Creepy. Completely unexpected ending. Wow wow wow.
6. An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge, 2/28/64 – One of the best ever, often shown in film classes.
7. Nothing In The Dark, 1/5/62 – Robert Redford stars, one of my all time favorites, dealing with the fear of death.
8. The Howling Man, 11/4/60 – TMIB’s favorite. I like it too. Very TZ.
9. Little Girl Lost, 3/16/62 – I had to have been about 10 years old the fisrt time I’ve seen this episode, but it was so scary, I still remembered it. Saw it again recently, and even though there's some really forced plot points (quick! your kid's missing! call 911 a physicist!).
10. The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street, 3/4/60 – Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. A wry commentary on suburbia and paranoia, just as true 46 years later. This was re-made a few years ago on UPN's Twilight Zone, and would be worth watching there, too.
11. Nick Of Time, 11/18/60 – Your future is whatever you make it. Fail to realize this, and… well… you gotta see this one. William Shatner hams it up.
12. Will The Real Martian Please Stand Up, 5/26/61 – One of my favorites. A cast of the usual suspects, and an ending that doesn’t disappoint.
13. The Silence, 4/28/61 – Another of my daughter’s favorites. Double freaky ending. Wow.
14. Long Distance Call, 3/31/61 – Bill Mumy, who played Lenier on Babylon 5, was a scary kid. He’s scarier in “It’s a Good Life,” but this whole episode is a bit offsetting, if you can suspend disbelief long enough.
15. A Penny For Your Thoughts, 2/3/61 – This one has got a huge plot hole, is pretty illogical, has quite a stretch to reach the happy conclusion, but is still one of my favorites.
16. Eye Of The Beholder, (Originally titled "A Private World Of Darkness") 11/11/60 – Wow. Good suspense, good twist, cinematography is stellar.
17. A Most Unusual Camera, 12/16/60 – Normal criminals + supernatural situation = great episode, but with a weak, almost slapstick, final 30 seconds.
18. Nightmare At 20,000 Feet, 10/11/63 – “There’s a man on the wing of the plane!” William Shatner at his Shatnerest. Amusing, good ending.
19. The Invaders, 1/27/61 – Horroresque. Scary. Typical great TZ ending.
20. The Man In The Bottle, 10/7/60 – The classic story of the problem of getting exactly what you wish for.

In order of air date:

First Season:

Where Is Everybody? 10/2/59 – Mediocre. A plot twist that’s repeated in several of episodes.
One For The Angels, 10/9/59 – Feh. Not worth watching.
Mr. Denton On Doomsday, 10/16/59 – A nice one. Good plot twist, good resolution. Gives you a grin.
The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine, 10/23/59 – Where's the TZishness? Oh -- it's there, in the last 30 seconds. Yawn.
Walking Distance, 10/30/59 – Kind of eerie. Again, just OK.
Escape Clause, 11/6/59 – OK. Not too memorable. The biggest flaw is when Cadwallader points out that "governments crumble." If that's true...
The Lonely, 11/13/59 – Good premise, strangly unsatisfying ending.
Time Enough At Last, 11/20/59 – This is the one I think is most memorable. Burgess Meredith in a great role with a tragic twist. Number 2 on my top 20 list.
Perchance To Dream, 11/27/59 – Sounds good, but I’ve never seen it.
Judgment Night, 12/4/59 – Good, but something about it bothers me. Maybe it’s just too illogical at the end.
And When The Sky Was Opened, 12/11/59 – Spooky. An ending that’s both expected and unexpected.
What You Need, 12/25/59 – It's OK. No real explanation, nor a satisfactory conclusion, and a pointless soliloquy at the end. Serling's voiceovers are OK; don't try and let the characters do it.
The Four Of Us Are Dying, 1/1/60 – Overacted, chewing on the scenery, but worth watching once.
Third From The Sun, 1/8/60 – Bah. Yes, it’s got a twist at the end, but one they used frequently in the show. Not too memorable.
I Shot An Arrow Into The Air, 1/15/60 – OK. One of my favorite (but often used) plot twists.
The Hitch-Hiker, 1/22/60 – I get goosebumps just thinking about this one. Number 1 on my top 20 list. Classic.
The Fever, 1/29/60 – Horroresque commentary on gambling addiction. Worth a watch.
The Last Flight, 2/5/60 – I vaguely remember this one, and that it was good, but not one of the best.
The Purple Testament, 2/12/60 – Haven’t seen, but sounds bad.
Elegy, 2/19/60 – Hmmm... didn't expect that to happen. A mediocre story, but a plot that I never saw coming.
Mirror Image, 2/26/60 – An intriguing story, a strange unresolved ending.
The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street, 3/4/60 – Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. A wry commentary on suburbia and paranoia, just as true 46 years later. This was re-made a few years ago on UPN's Twilight Zone, and would be worth watching there, too. Number 10 on my top 20 list.
A World Of Difference, 3/11/60 – Deals with the theme of “what is reality”, but doesn’t do a great job wrapping it up. Just OK.
Long Live Walter Jameson, 3/18/60 – Saw this a long time ago, and barely remember it.
People Are Alike All Over, 3/25/60 – Strange, unlikely story, but a good unexpected ending.
Execution, 4/1/60 – Gilligan's "Professor" invents a time machine which metes out temporal justice. Good one.
The Big Tall Wish, 4/8/60 – Feh. Serling was a boxing fan. I’m not. Haven’t seen it, but it doesn’t sound great.
A Nice Place To Visit, 4/15/60 – I wish I didn't know the ending before seeing this one. I think this could be close to the top 20. It's good.
Nightmare As A Child, 4/29/60 – Haven’t seen, but sounds good.
A Stop At Willoughby, 5/6/60 – Tivoed it twice, but never got around to watching.
The Chaser, 5/13/60 – A valentine’s day story for people sick of their SO, in the Twilight Zone. Good one.
A Passage For Trumpet, 5/20/60 – Saw this a long time ago, and it was OK, but not top 20 worthy.
Mr. Bevis, 6/3/60 – Dull.
The After Hours, 6/10/60 – Mildly spooky. Mannequins are often mildly spooky. Worth a watch.
The Mighty Casey, 6/17/60 – OK, kinda fun.
A World Of His Own, 7/1/60 – Another “what is reality” tale, again, just OK.

Second Season:

King Nine Will Not Return, 9/30/60 – OK story, with a very Twilight Zoney twist at the end.
The Man In The Bottle, 10/7/60 – The classic story of the problem of getting exactly what you wish for. Number 20 on my top 20 list.
Nervous Man In A Four Dollar Room, 10/14/60 – Well acted, good story. Just not top 20 caliber.
A Thing About Machines, 10/28/60 – Haven’t seen, but sounds kinda weak.
The Howling Man, 11/4/60 – TMIB’s favorite. I like it too. Very TZ. Number 8 on my top 20 list.
Eye Of The Beholder, (Originally titled "A Private World Of Darkness") 11/11/60 – Wow. Good suspense, good twist, cinematography is stellar. Number 16 on my top 20 list.
Nick Of Time, 11/18/60 – Your future is whatever you make it. Fail to realize this, and… well… you gotta see this one. Number 11 on my top 20 list.
The Lateness Of The Hour, 12/2/60 – Saw this one just a few days ago. I could see the ending coming a mile away, but it was still an OK episode.
The Trouble With Templeton, 12/9/60 – Sounds dreadful, but I haven’t seen it.
A Most Unusual Camera, 12/16/60 – Normal criminals + supernatural situation = great episode, but with a weak, almost slapstick, final 30 seconds. Number 17 in my top 20.
Night Of The Meek, 12/23/60 – Santa Claus versus the Twilight Zone. It’s a good one.
Dust, 1/6/61 – Slow, a bit disappointing, but still not bad.
Back There, 1/13/61 – A classic, well done time travel story, with Russell Johnson (Gilligan’s Island’s Professor)
The Whole Truth, 1/20/61 – So dull, I couldn’t really finish watching it.
The Invaders, 1/27/61 – Horroresque. Scary. Typical great TZ ending. Number 19 on my top 20 list.
A Penny For Your Thoughts, 2/3/61 – This one has got a huge plot hole, is pretty illogical, has quite a stretch to reach the happy conclusion, but is still one of my favorites. Number 15 on my top 20 list.
Twenty-Two, 2/10/61 – Creepy. Completely unexpected ending. Wow wow wow. Number 5 on my top 20 list.
The Odyssey Of Flight 33, 2/24/61 – Saw this a long time ago, and still remember it a bit. Good, obviously memorable, but not quite top 20.
Mr. Dingle, The Strong, 3/3/61 – Burgess Meredith again, in a really cheesy part with cheesy story and cheesy ending. But the cheese is still pretty good.
Static, 3/10/61 – Forgettable. Not bad, but not great, either.
The Prime Mover, 3/24/61 – Sounds fun. I need to see this one.
Long Distance Call, 3/31/61 – Bill Mumy, who played Lenier on Babylon 5, was a scary kid. He’s scarier in “It’s a Good Life,” but this whole episode is a bit offsetting, if you can suspend disbelief long enough. Number 14 on my top 20 list.
A Hundred Yards Over The Rim, 4/7/61 – My daughter’s favorite. I think it’s in part because of the time difference between today and the time period of the story.
The Rip Van Winkle Caper, 4/21/61 – Classic TZ. It’s a good one. Not quite top 20, though.
The Silence, 4/28/61 – Another of my daughter’s favorites. Double freaky ending. Wow. Number 13 on my top 20 list.
Shadow Play, 5/5/61 – Saw this just a few days ago, for the first time in decades. Good story, great ending.
The Mind And The Matter, 5/12/61 – Amusing, but not great.
Will The Real Martian Please Stand Up, 5/26/61 – One of my favorites. A cast of the usual suspects, and an ending that doesn’t disappoint. Number 2 on my top 20 list.
The Obsolete Man, 6/2/61 – Preachy, wordy, long – even Burgess Meredith can’t save this one. Skip it.

Third Season:

Two, 9/15/61 – Yawn. Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery (Bewitched’s Samantha) can’t help this boring story.
The Arrival, 9/22/61 – OK, but nothing special. A below-average story, saved by an above average twist at the end.
The Shelter, 9/29/61 – Another commentary on the Lord-Of-The-Flies like tension in suburbia, but weakly concluded.
The Passersby, 10/6/61 – Run, don’t walk, from this dull, dull, predictable, dull, dull story. Probably the worst episode ever.
A Game of Pool, 10/13/61 – The ending, and the twist, come surprisingly quick, during Serling's voiceover. A good story, though.
The Mirror, 10/20/61 – Haven’t seen this Fidel Castro story.
The Grave, 10/27/61 – Good story, good drama, double-twist at the end. Pretty good.
It's A Good Life, 11/3/61 – Babylon 5’s Bill Mumy stars as the scariest kid ever on TV. What happens when a 6-year-old has ultimate god-like powers? Yeah, it’s that unnerving. They did a sequel to this in UPN's Twilight Zone a few years ago, where Bill Mumy stars as the same character, 35 years later, with a daughter (played by Mumy's daughter) who has the same power. Worth a watch, if you can find it.
Deaths-Head Revisited, 11/10/61 – Haven’t seen it, but it’s supposedly a very good TZ story set in a German concentration camp.
The Midnight Sun, 11/17/61 – It’s been a long time, but the twist at the end make this one memorable.
Still Valley, 11/24/61 – A morality tale, hardly TZish at all. Not bad, but below average.
The Jungle, 12/1/61 – Odd. It drags. The lead actor isn't beliveable. Skip it.
Once Upon A Time, 12/15/61 – Haven’t seen it.
Five Characters In Search Of An Exit, 12/22/61 – Very, very strange. You’ve gotta see it, and judge for yourself.
A Quality Of Mercy, 12/29/61 – Saw this for the first time about a month ago. OK, but not great.
Nothing In The Dark, 1/5/62 – Robert Redford stars, one of my all time favorites, dealing with the fear of death. Number 7 on my top 20 list.
One More Pallbearer, 1/12/62 – Bah. Unlikely setup, badly acted. You get a twist at the end, but it has no emotional impact.
Dead Man's Shoes, 1/19/62 – Haven’t seen it.
The Hunt, 1/26/62 – Haven’t seen, but sounds cheesy.
Showdown With Rance McGrew, 2/2/62 – Better than I expected, but not stellar.
Kick The Can, 2/9/62 – It’s been a long time, because I keep telling the Tivo to skip it when it comes up. Not so good.
A Piano In The House, 2/16/62 – Haven’t seen it.
The Last Rites Of Jeff Myrtlebank, 2/23/62 – Plodding, strange, unlikely ending. Skip it.
To Serve Man, 3/2/62 – A classic. The “pow” line of the show has been repeated in several other places, including a Simpson’s “Treehouse of Horrors” episode. A must see, just outside my top 20.
The Fugitive, 3/9/62 – Cute, good story, but ultimately forgettable.
Little Girl Lost, 3/16/62 – I had to have been about 10 years old the fisrt time I’ve seen this episode, but it was so scary, I still remembered it. Saw it again recently, and even though there's some really forced plot points (quick! your kid's missing! call 911 a physicist!). Number 9 on my top 20 list.
Person Or Persons Unknown, 3/23/62 - An interesting story, except for the clichéd elementary school ending. Maybe it wasn't such a cliché half a century ago.
The Little People, 3/30/62 – A blah story with blah characters, but with a good ending.
Four O'Clock, 4/6/62 – Very strange. About average story, below average ending.
Hocus-Pocus And Frisby, 4/13/62 – An amusing “Boy Who Cried Wolf” story. Good one.
The Trade-Ins, 4/20/62 – Sappy, cute story about aging.
The Gift, 4/27/62 – Los Monstruos Están en el Camino del Maple. The same story, different neighborhood. Some consider it racist, but the Mexicans are treated no worse than the Americans in "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street."
The Dummy, 5/4/62 – 20 minutes of your life wasted, never to be seen again. This is one of the worst. I think the title must refer to someone who thinks they should watch this episode more than once.
Young Man's Fancy, 5/11/62 – As Norman Bates said, "mother... isn't quite herself." Unusual, and fairly good.
I Sing The Body Electric, 5/18/62 – It's a lego grandma! It's a good story, not quite at TZish as I like, but good.
Cavender Is Coming, 5/25/62 – Yawn. Carol Burnett doesn’t do much to save this dull story.
The Changing Of The Guard, 6/1/62 – I like this one. .yteicoS s'teoP daeD

Fourth Season:

Shows went to an hour-long format; they’re rarely shown now.

In His Image, 1/3/63 – Haven’t seen it.
The Thirty-Fathom Grave, 1/10/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Valley Of The Shadow, 1/17/63 – Haven’t seen it.
He's Alive, 1/24/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Mute, 1/31/63 – It would have been a great half hour show, but it drags.
Death Ship, 2/7/63 – Haven’t seen it. Supposedly takes place in 1997 :)
Jess-Belle, 2/14/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Miniature, 2/21/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Printer's Devil, 2/28/63 – Haven’t seen it.
No Time Like The Past, 3/7/63 – Haven’t seen it.
The Parallel, 3/14/63 – Haven’t seen it.
I Dream Of Genie, 3/21/63 – Haven’t seen it.
The New Exhibit, 4/4/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Of Late I Think Of Cliffordville, 4/11/63 – Haven’t seen it.
The Incredible World Of Horace Ford, 4/18/63 – Haven’t seen it.
On Thursday We Leave For Home, 5/2/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Passage On The Lady Anne, 5/9/63 – Haven’t seen it.
The Bard, 5/23/63 – Haven’t seen it.

Fifth Season:

Back to 30 minute shows.

In Praise Of Pip, 9/27/63 – A mediocre, forgettable episode.
Steel, 10/4/63 – Another (dull) boxing story.
Nightmare At 20,000 Feet, 10/11/63 – “There’s a man on the wing of the plane!” William Shatner at his Shatner-ist. Amusing, good ending. Number 18 on my top 20 list.
A Kind Of Stopwatch, 10/18/63 – One of the best episodes ever. Very similar in the end to “Time Enough at Last.” Number 4 on my top 20 list.
The Last Night Of A Jockey, 10/25/63 – A one man show (Mickey Rooney) that just never gets off the ground.
Living Doll, 11/1/63 – Haven’t seen it, but it’s supposedly one of the best.
The Old Man In The Cave, 11/8/63 – Huh? I don't get it. Blah.
Uncle Simon, 11/15/63 – Danger, Will Robinson! Slightly above average story ahead!
Probe 7-Over And Out, 11/29/63 – Please don’t make me watch this one ever again.
The 7th Is Made Up Of Phantoms, 12/6/63 – Classic TZishness. A good one.
A Short Drink From A Certain Fountain, 12/13/63 – Mediocre, average story. Nothing to really get excited about, except for the description of racing an elevator to the ground.
Ninety Years Without Slumbering, 12/20/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Ring-A-Ding Girl, 12/27/63 – A great Twilight Zoney story, with a TZ-ish ending. Very good one.
You Drive, 1/3/64 – A well acted engaging story, although without the classic twist at the end.
The Long Morrow, 1/10/64 – I saw this one a long time ago. It’s so sad. Good story, though.
The Self-Improvement Of Salvadore Ross, 1/17/64 – Haven’t seen it.
Number Twelve Looks Just Like You, 1/24/64 – You WILL be happy. A decent story, good ending.
Black Leather Jackets, 1/31/64 – Weird, and ultimately dissatisfying.
Night Call, 2/7/64 – Just when you thought it got spooky, it gets spookier. Very good.
From Agnes-With Love, 2/14/64 – Computer dating, circa 1964. Amusing, but not very believable.
Spur Of The Moment, 2/21/64 – A horsey time machine. Could have been better.
An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge, 2/28/64 – One of the best ever, shown in film classes. Number 6 on my top 20 list.
Queen Of The Nile, 3/6/64 – Kinda dull. Never watched it all the way to the end.
What's In The Box, 3/13/64 – Why watch an episode where both main characters are dispicable? One reason: Sterling Holloway has a bit part as a TV repairman; I finally got to see the Disneyfied voice of Winnie the Pooh (and Kaa (Jungle Book), the Cheshire Cat, and the Peter and the Wolf narrator).
The Masks, 3/20/64 – Some people have said that this one is really good. It’s merely OK in my book.
I Am The Night-Color Me Black, 3/27/64 – If they'd just listened to Bill and Ted: be excellent to each other. Mediocre.
Sounds And Silences, 4/3/64 – Haven’t seen it.
Caesar And Me, 4/10/64 – Weird, and not very good.
The Jeopardy Room, 4/17/64 – Entertaining and OK.
Stopover In A Quiet Town, 4/24/64 – Saw this just a few days ago. It seems a bit long, and the ending is a not-too-special surprise. It's not mentioned anywhere on the web, but I think this episode was one of Straczynski's favorites (Babylon 5), with the background character of Rev. Kosh Gleason, and the menacing nature of the dark shadows.
The Encounter, 5/1/64 – Haven’t seen it.
Mr. Garrity And The Graves, 5/8/64 – Haven’t seen it.
The Brain Center At Whipple's, 5/15/64 – Haven’t seen it.
Come Wander With Me, 5/22/64 – Haven’t seen it.
The Fear, 5/29/64 – Haven’t seen it.
The Bewitchin' Pool, 6/19/64 – Haven’t seen it.

Alphabetical (including “The” and “A” in the title):

A Game of Pool, 10/13/61 – The ending, and the twist, come surprisingly quick, during Serling's voiceover. A good story, though.
A Hundred Yards Over The Rim, 4/7/61 – My daughter’s favorite. I think it’s in part because of the time difference between today and the time period of the story.
A Kind Of Stopwatch, 10/18/63 – One of the best episodes ever. Very similar in the end to “Time Enough at Last.” Number 4 on my top 20 list.
A Most Unusual Camera, 12/16/60 – Normal criminals + supernatural situation = great episode, but with a weak, almost slapstick, final 30 seconds. Number 17 of my top 20.
A Nice Place To Visit, 4/15/60 – I wish I didn't know the ending before seeing this one. I think this could be close to the top 20. It's good.
A Passage For Trumpet, 5/20/60 – Saw this a long time ago, and it was OK, but not top 20 worthy.
A Penny For Your Thoughts, 2/3/61 – This one has got a huge plot hole, is pretty illogical, has quite a stretch to reach the happy conclusion, but is still one of my favorites. Number 15 on my top 20 list.
A Piano In The House, 2/16/62 – Haven’t seen it.
A Quality Of Mercy, 12/29/61 – Saw this for the first time about a month ago. OK, but not great.
A Short Drink From A Certain Fountain, 12/13/63 – Mediocre, average story. Nothing to really get excited about, except for the description of racing an elevator to the ground.
A Stop At Willoughby, 5/6/60 – Tivoed it twice, but never got around to watching.
A Thing About Machines, 10/28/60 – Haven’t seen, but sounds kinda weak.
A World Of Difference, 3/11/60 – Deals with the theme of “what is reality”, but doesn’t do a great job wrapping it up. Just OK.
A World Of His Own, 7/1/60 – Another “what is reality” tale, again, just OK.
An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge, 2/28/64 – One of the best ever, shown in film classes. Number 6 on my top 20 list.
And When The Sky Was Opened, 12/11/59 – Spooky. An ending that’s both expected and unexpected.
Back There, 1/13/61 – A classic, well done time travel story, with Russell Johnson (Gilligan’s Island’s Professor)
Black Leather Jackets, 1/31/64 – Weird, and ultimately dissatisfying.
Caesar And Me, 4/10/64 – Weird, and not very good.
Cavender Is Coming, 5/25/62 – Yawn. Carol Burnett doesn’t do much to save this dull story.
Come Wander With Me, 5/22/64 – Haven’t seen it.
Dead Man's Shoes, 1/19/62 – Haven’t seen it.
Death Ship, 2/7/63 – Haven’t seen it. Supposedly takes place in 1997 :)
Deaths-Head Revisited, 11/10/61 – Haven’t seen it, but it’s supposedly a very good TZ story set in a German concentration camp.
Dust, 1/6/61 – Slow, a bit disappointing, but still not bad.
Elegy, 2/19/60 – Hmmm... didn't expect that to happen. A mediocre story, but a plot that I never saw coming.
Escape Clause, 11/6/59 – OK. Not too memorable. The biggest flaw is when Cadwallader points out that "governments crumble." If that's true...
Execution, 4/1/60 – Gilligan's "Professor" invents a time machine which metes out temporal justice. Good one.
Eye Of The Beholder, (Originally titled "A Private World Of Darkness") 11/11/60 – Wow. Good suspense, good twist, cinematography is stellar. Number 16 on my top 20 list.
Fever, 1/29/60 – Horroresque commentary on gambling addiction. Worth a watch.
Five Characters In Search Of An Exit, 12/22/61 – Very, very strange. You’ve gotta see it, and judge for yourself.
Four O'Clock, 4/6/62 – Very strange. About average story, below average ending.
From Agnes-With Love, 2/14/64 – Computer dating, circa 1964. Amusing, but not very believable.
He's Alive, 1/24/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Hitch-Hiker, 1/22/60 – I get goosebumps just thinking about this one. Number 1 on my top 20 list. Classic.
Hocus-Pocus And Frisby, 4/13/62 – An amusing “Boy Who Cried Wolf” story. Good one.
I Am The Night-Color Me Black, 3/27/64 – If they'd just listened to Bill and Ted: be excellent to each other. Mediocre.
I Dream Of Genie, 3/21/63 – Haven’t seen it.
I Shot An Arrow Into The Air, 1/15/60 – OK. One of my favorite (but often used) plot twists.
I Sing The Body Electric, 5/18/62 – It's a lego grandma! It's a good story, not quite at TZish as I like, but good.
In His Image, 1/3/63 – Haven’t seen it.
In Praise Of Pip, 9/27/63 – A mediocre, forgettable episode.
It's A Good Life, 11/3/61 – Babylon 5’s Bill Mumy stars as the scariest kid ever on TV. What happens when a 6-year-old has ultimate god-like powers? Yeah, it’s that unnerving. They did a sequel to this in the New UPN's Twilight Zone a few years ago, where Bill Mumy stars as the same character, 35 years later, with a daughter (played by Mumy's daughter) who has the same power. Worth a watch, if you can find it.
Jess-Belle, 2/14/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Judgment Night, 12/4/59 – Good, but something about it bothers me. Maybe it’s just too illogical at the end.
Kick The Can, 2/9/62 – It’s been a long time, because I keep telling the Tivo to skip it when it comes up. Not so good.
King Nine Will Not Return, 9/30/60 – OK story, with a very Twilight Zoney twist at the end.
Last Flight, 2/5/60 – I vaguely remember this one, and that it was good, but not one of the best.
Little Girl Lost, 3/16/62 – I had to have been about 10 years old the fisrt time I’ve seen this episode, but it was so scary, I still remembered it. Saw it again recently, and even though there's some really forced plot points (quick! your kid's missing! call 911 a physicist!). Number 9 on my top 20 list.
Living Doll, 11/1/63 – Haven’t seen it, but it’s supposedly one of the best.
Long Distance Call, 3/31/61 – Bill Mumy, who played Lenier on Babylon 5, was a scary kid. He’s scarier in “It’s a Good Life,” but this whole episode is a bit offsetting, if you can suspend disbelief long enough. Number 14 on my top 20 list.
Long Live Walter Jameson, 3/18/60 – Saw this a long time ago, and barely remember it.
Miniature, 2/21/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Mirror Image, 2/26/60 – An intriguing story, a strange unresolved ending.
Monsters Are Due On Maple Street, 3/4/60 – Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. A wry commentary on suburbia and paranoia, just as true 46 years later. This was re-made a few years ago on UPN's Twilight Zone, and would be worth watching there, too. Number 10 on my top 20 list.
Mr. Bevis, 6/3/60 – Dull.
Mr. Denton On Doomsday, 10/16/59 – A nice one. Good plot twist, good resolution. Gives you a grin.
Mr. Dingle, The Strong, 3/3/61 – Burgess Meredith again, in a really cheesy part with cheesy story and cheesy ending. But the cheese is still pretty good.
Mr. Garrity And The Graves, 5/8/64 – Haven’t seen it.
Mute, 1/31/63 – It would have been a great half hour show, but it drags.
Nervous Man In A Four Dollar Room, 10/14/60 – Well acted, good story. Just not top 20 caliber.
Nick Of Time, 11/18/60 – Your future is whatever you make it. Fail to realize this, and… well… you gotta see this one. Number 11 on my top 20 list.
Night Call, 2/7/64 – Just when you thought it got spooky, it gets spookier. Very good.
Night Of The Meek, 12/23/60 – Santa Claus versus the Twilight Zone. It’s a good one.
Nightmare As A Child, 4/29/60 – Haven’t seen, but sounds good.
Nightmare At 20,000 Feet, 10/11/63 – “There’s a man on the wing of the plane!” William Shatner at his Shatner-ist. Amusing, good ending. Number 18 on my top 20 list.
Ninety Years Without Slumbering, 12/20/63 – Haven’t seen it.
No Time Like The Past, 3/7/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Nothing In The Dark, 1/5/62 – Robert Redford stars, one of my all time favorites, dealing with the fear of death. Number 7 on my top 20 list.
Number Twelve Looks Just Like You, 1/24/64 – You WILL be happy. A decent story, good ending.
Odyssey Of Flight 33, 2/24/61 – Saw this a long time ago, and still remember it a bit. Good, obviously memorable, but not quite top 20.
Of Late I Think Of Cliffordville, 4/11/63 – Haven’t seen it.
On Thursday We Leave For Home, 5/2/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Once Upon A Time, 12/15/61 – Haven’t seen it.
One For The Angels, 10/9/59 – Feh. Not worth watching.
One More Pallbearer, 1/12/62 – Bah. Unlikely setup, badly acted. You get a twist at the end, but it has no emotional impact.
Passage On The Lady Anne, 5/9/63 – Haven’t seen it.
People Are Alike All Over, 3/25/60 – Strange, unlikely story, but a good unexpected ending.
Perchance To Dream, 11/27/59 – Sounds good, but I’ve never seen it.
Person Or Persons Unknown, 3/23/62 - An interesting story, except for the clichéd elementary school ending. Maybe it wasn't such a cliché half a century ago.
Printer's Devil, 2/28/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Probe 7-Over And Out, 11/29/63 – Please don’t make me watch this one ever again.
Purple Testament, 2/12/60 – Haven’t seen, but sounds bad.
Queen Of The Nile, 3/6/64 – Kinda dull. Never watched it all the way to the end.
Ring-A-Ding Girl, 12/27/63 – A great Twilight Zoney story, with a TZ-ish ending. Very good one.
Shadow Play, 5/5/61 – Saw this just a few days ago, for the first time in decades. Good story, great ending.
Showdown With Rance McGrew, 2/2/62 – Better than I expected, but not stellar.
Sounds And Silences, 4/3/64 – Haven’t seen it.
Spur Of The Moment, 2/21/64 – A horsey time machine. Could have been better.
Static, 3/10/61 – Forgettable. Not bad, but not great, either.
Steel, 10/4/63 – Another (dull) boxing story.
Still Valley, 11/24/61 – A morality tale, hardly TZish at all. Not bad, but below average.
Stopover In A Quiet Town, 4/24/64 – Saw this just a few days ago. It seems a bit long, and the ending is a not-too-special surprise. It's not mentioned anywhere on the web, but I think this episode was one of Straczynski's favorites (Babylon 5), with the background character of Rev. Kosh Gleason, and the menacing nature of the dark shadows.
The After Hours, 6/10/60 – Mildly spooky. Mannequins are often mildly spooky. Worth a watch.
The Arrival, 9/22/61 – OK, but nothing special. A below-average story, saved by an above average twist at the end.
The Bard, 5/23/63 – Haven’t seen it.
The Bewitchin' Pool, 6/19/64 – Haven’t seen it.
The Big Tall Wish, 4/8/60 – Feh. Serling was a boxing fan. I’m not. Haven’t seen it, but it doesn’t sound great.
The Brain Center At Whipple's, 5/15/64 – Haven’t seen it.
The Changing Of The Guard, 6/1/62 – I like this one. .yteicoS s'teoP daeD

The Chaser, 5/13/60 – A valentines day story for people sick of their SO, in the Twilight Zone. Good one.
The Dummy, 5/4/62 – 20 minutes of your life wasted, never to be seen again. This is one of the worst. I think the title must refer to someone who thinks they should watch this episode more than once.
The Encounter, 5/1/64 – Haven’t seen it.
The Fear, 5/29/64 – Haven’t seen it.
The Four Of Us Are Dying, 1/1/60 – Overacted, chewing on the scenery, but worth watching once.
The Fugitive, 3/9/62 – Cute, good story, but ultimately forgettable.
The Gift, 4/27/62 – Los Monstruos Están en el Camino del Maple. The same story, different neighborhood. Some consider it racist, but the Mexicans are treated no worse than the Americans in "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street."
The Grave, 10/27/61 – Good story, good drama, double-twist at the end. Pretty good.
The Howling Man, 11/4/60 – TMIB’s favorite. I like it too. Very TZ. Number 8 on my top 20 list.
The Hunt, 1/26/62 – Haven’t seen, but sounds cheesy.
The Incredible World Of Horace Ford, 4/18/63 – Haven’t seen it.
The Invaders, 1/27/61 – Horroresque. Scary. Typical great TZ ending. Number 19 on my top 20 list.
The Jeopardy Room, 4/17/64 – Entertaining and OK.
The Jungle, 12/1/61 – Odd. It drags. The lead actor isn't beliveable. Skip it.
The Last Night Of A Jockey, 10/25/63 – A one man show (Mickey Rooney) that just never gets off the ground.
The Last Rites Of Jeff Myrtlebank, 2/23/62 – Plodding, strange, unlikely ending. Skip it.
The Lateness Of The Hour, 12/2/60 – Saw this one just a few days ago. I could see the ending coming a mile away, but it was still an OK episode.
The Little People, 3/30/62 – A blah story with blah characters, but with a good ending.
The Lonely, 11/13/59 – Good premise, strangly unsatisfying ending.
The Long Morrow, 1/10/64 – I saw this one a long time ago. It’s so sad. Good story, though.
The Man In The Bottle, 10/7/60 – The classic story of the problem of getting exactly what you wish for. Number 20 on my top 20 list.
The Masks, 3/20/64 – Some people have said that this one is really good. It’s merely OK in my book.
The Midnight Sun, 11/17/61 – It’s been a long time, but the twist at the end make this one memorable.
The Mighty Casey, 6/17/60 – OK, kinda fun.
The Mind And The Matter, 5/12/61 – Amusing, but not great.
The Mirror, 10/20/61 – Haven’t seen this Fidel Castro story.
The New Exhibit, 4/4/63 – Haven’t seen it.
The Obsolete Man, 6/2/61 – Preachy, wordy, long – even Burgess Meredith can’t save this one. Skip it.
The Old Man In The Cave, 11/8/63 – Huh? I don't get it. Blah.
The Parallel, 3/14/63 – Haven’t seen it.
The Passersby, 10/6/61 – Run, don’t walk, from this dull, dull, predictable, dull, dull story. Probably the worst episode ever.
The Prime Mover, 3/24/61 – Sounds fun. I need to see this one.
The Rip Van Winkle Caper, 4/21/61 – Classic TZ. It’s a good one. Not quite top 20, though.
The Self-Improvement Of Salvadore Ross, 1/17/64 – Haven’t seen it.
The 7th Is Made Up Of Phantoms, 12/6/63 – Classic TZishness. A good one.
The Shelter, 9/29/61 – Another commentary on the Lord-Of-The-Flies like tension in suburbia, but weakly concluded.
The Silence, 4/28/61 – Another of my daughter’s favorites. Double freaky ending. Wow. Number 13 on my top 20 list.
The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine, 10/23/59 – Where's the TZishness? Oh -- it's there, in the last 30 seconds. Yawn.
The Thirty-Fathom Grave, 1/10/63 – Haven’t seen it.
The Trade-Ins, 4/20/62 – Sappy, cute story about aging.
The Trouble With Templeton, 12/9/60 – Sounds dreadful, but I haven’t seen it.
The Whole Truth, 1/20/61 – So dull, I couldn’t really finish watching it.
Third From The Sun, 1/8/60 – Bah. Yes, it’s got a twist at the end, but one they used frequently in the show. Not too memorable.
Time Enough At Last, 11/20/59 – This is the one I think is most memorable. Burgess Meredith in a great role with a tragic twist. Number 2 on my top 20 list.
To Serve Man, 3/2/62 – A classic. The “pow” line of the show has been repeated in several other places, including a Simpson’s “Treehouse of Horrors” episode. A must see, just outside my top 20.
Twenty-Two, 2/10/61 – Creepy. Completely unexpected ending. Wow wow wow. Number 5 on my top 20 list.
Two, 9/15/61 – Yawn. Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery (Bewitched’s Samantha) can’t help this boring story.
Uncle Simon, 11/15/63 – Danger, Will Robinson! Slightly above average story ahead!
Valley Of The Shadow, 1/17/63 – Haven’t seen it.
Walking Distance, 10/30/59 – Kind of eerie. Again, just OK.
What You Need, 12/25/59 – It's OK. No real explanation, nor a satisfactory conclusion, and a pointless soliloquy at the end. Serling's voiceovers are OK; don't try and let the characters do it.
What's In The Box, 3/13/64 – Why watch an episode where both main characters are dispicable? One reason: Sterling Holloway has a bit part as a TV repairman; I finally got to see the Disneyfied voice of Winnie the Pooh (and Kaa (Jungle Book), the Cheshire Cat, and the Peter and the Wolf narrator).
Where Is Everybody? 10/2/59 – Mediocre. A plot twist that’s repeated in several of episodes.
Will The Real Martian Please Stand Up, 5/26/61 – One of my favorites. A cast of the usual suspects, and an ending that doesn’t disappoint. Number 2 on my top 20 list.
You Drive, 1/3/64 – A well acted engaging story, although without the classic twist at the end.
Young Man's Fancy, 5/11/62 – As Norman Bates said, "mother... isn't quite herself." Unusual, and fairly good.