I finished watching this season on the 20th. But I chose to wait to post it again so it would go up on Christmas, which is Rod Serling's birthday. Happy birthday, Rod. It's not weird to say that to a person who died 21 years before I was born, right?
In His Image
GOOD
After Alan sleep talks about Walter, Jessica asks who that is. At first, he tells her Walter's his brother who they keep locked up. She quickly figures out he's kidding and then he admits it. I love how this moment isn't timed in a comedic way. It feels like a real conversation two people who know each other well would have. Man, this show is so good!
BAD
Why does Alan cover his nose when he walks into Jessica's home? Did she accidentally hit him with the door?
The Thirty Fathom Grave
GOOD
The diving suit reminds me of the first SpongeBob movie. That's all I got.
BAD
Despite having most of its twists spoiled, I found In His Image to be very entertaining. Very strong start to the fourth season. So, of course, the second episode is the absolute opposite. I don't understand what they were going for with this one. The mystery of it is intriguing, but the entire thing feels like all the men on the ship are doing basically nothing. And because I was interested in what the twist would be, that only makes it worse that it's derivative of previous episodes and hinted at too much to be surprising. It honestly boggles my mind how much of a boring hour this was. It may be my least favorite episode of the whole show so far. Zero out of ten.
Valley of the Shadow
GOOD
Dorn: Ham sandwiches and road blocks are a bit better than total destruction.
This amazing line.
BAD
Gas Station Guy: Well, that'll be $4.42.
Four dollars and forty-two cents for an entire tank of gas?! WHAT?! I know it was the 1960's, but that ridiculously low price just blows my mind.
Okay, now for an actual piece of criticism. They never explain why they kept the hotel open. They closed the restaurant because they don't want anyone to come to Peaceful Valley so there's no need for it, but there's much less need for the hotel. Some of the characters in the episode even acknowledge this and there's no good reason for why it never crossed their minds before.
He's Alive
GOOD
Dennis Hopper played the main character in this.
BAD
Usually, this show either explains the lore of its episodes very vividly or keeps it simple enough to understand with no explanation. Not this time. I felt like I didn't have a clue what was going on throughout pretty much the entire thing.
Mute
GOOD
Ilse's backstory is pretty creative. Usually, when characters have psychic powers, they have them just because. But Ilse can use telepathy because her parents never taught her how to talk. And the reason for that is because this episode is set in a reality where mankind used to use telepathy to communicate before verbal speech was invented. That's awesome. How did they ever come up with that?
BAD
Cora: Did it just start?
Harry: I hope so, if it didn't.
I know this is a very inconsequential thing to be upset about, but the redundant second half of this line bugs me.
Death Ship
GOOD
Since it's set in the year 1997, which was the future at the time, they don't have normal seats in the space ship. They instead sit in chairs that have holes in them that are the same size and shape as their bodies. I think that's cool and would love to see a real chair like that. Does anybody know if they're a thing? 1997 was 24 years ago, after all.
BAD
Watching this was such a frustrating experience. They're constantly going back and forth between hinting at the obvious ending and trying to make it seem like it's gonna end in a more interesting way instead. I understand what they were going for. They keep everything secret to make you feel like you're living through this with the characters since they're just as in the dark as you are. I like that idea and there were several well-executed moments in the episode. I personally didn't enjoy it though. It was annoying.
Jess-Belle
GOOD
Rod: The Twilight Zone has existed in many lands in many times. It has its roots in history, in something that happened long, long ago and got told about and handed down from one generation of folk to the other. In the telling the story gets added to and embroidered on, so that what might have happened in the time of the Druids is told as if it took place yesterday in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Such stories are best told by an elderly grandfather on a cold winter's night by the fireside in the southern hills of the Twilight Zone.
This opening narration is great.
BAD
But it has nothing to do with the plot.
And while we're on the subject of the opening narration not being specific to the episode, I don't like how Rod has just been in front of a blank background in Season 4. Having him step into the different setting of each episode was a lot cooler. I hope they go back to that in Season 5. But if they don't, that's okay too.
Miniature
GOOD
Myra: I could say you were a blue monkey and you'd agree.
That is hilarious.
BAD
Dr. Wallman: That's the way it is with hallucination. Ordinarily, the eye sees and transmits a picture to the brain. But sometimes, that's reversed. In certain cases, the brain sees and transmits its message to the eye.
This is a good line, but isn't it wrong? If you're seeing something that's not really there, doesn't that mean your eye actually isn't doing anything with the image at all?
Printer's Devil
GOOD
Doug: I am not how, nor have I ever been, a gloom cookie.
Introducing me to the term "gloom cookie."
BAD
When Molly the waitress brings them drinks, there's money on the tray for some reason and then Mr. Smith says she can keep it. I don't understand this at all. Was she gonna give them money? Why? Was it another customer's tip? If so, Mr. Smith has no right to decide if she gets to keep it, which she was obviously planning to do.
No Time Like the Past
GOOD
I don't know if it's historically accurate, but even if it isn't, the Hitler scene is quite the interesting thing to see.
BAD
The ending doesn't make sense. The fact he's the one who caused the fire in the past he already knew about should teach Paul that he can't make changes to the timeline because everything he does when he's in the past has already happened. Instead, the lesson he learns is that he shouldn't live in the past because he might accidentally make changes. He learned the opposite of what's actually true. This is like if a little boy got sick from eating too much candy and thought that it meant he wasn't eating enough of it.
The Parallel
GOOD
Do you like the Mandela effect? If you do, I can pretty much guarantee you'd enjoy watching this episode.
BAD
Part of the alternate world is John F. Kennedy was never president. I don't like how they never say who was president instead of him.
I Dream of Genie
GOOD
This is a fun rendition of the typical "genie granting wishes" storyline but with a fresh twist. Instead of actually wishing for things, George just fantasizes about what would happen depending on what he wishes for and figures out that each one will ultimately leave him unsatisfied, with the episode's other characters playing different roles in each one. This episode gets a recommendation from me, especially if you like A Christmas Story.
BAD
I don't get why Attila is a different breed in each fantasy. The first one makes sense because a tiny dog is the kind a movie star's more likely to have, but the reasons for the other two, if there are any, goes over my head. What do those other breeds he turns into have to do with being owned by a rich person and the president?
The New Exhibit
GOOD
Martin: Ooh, Emma, Emma, it's going to be like opening Christmas presents!
Two episodes in a row mention Christmas. And, as a bonus, they mention Halloween too later in the episode.
BAD
Martin keeps the wax figurines of the five murderers because he's a fan of the artist who sculpted them. Two of them came with a victim, which I imagine would be sculpted by the same artist. So then why doesn't Martin keep that figurine too?
Of Late I Think of Cliffordville
GOOD
This episode is a little similar to A Christmas Carol and Back to the Future. So, if that sounds up your alley, I recommend giving it a try. But not as much as I recommend the 1964 TV movie A Carol for Another Christmas, which is currently on HBO Max as I type this and was written by a certain person whose name rhymes with "Cod Yerling."
BAD
The bald cap they put on actor Albert Salmi doesn't even come close to looking convincing. It's so easy to see that he's not really bald. It probably achieved the desired effect a lot better back in 1963 because televisions were smaller and lower in quality, but still. I will say this though. Between the fact people back then probably wouldn't notice it and the fact he doesn't have to wear the bald cap for the whole episode, I completely understand why they didn't prioritize making it look good.
The Incredible World of Horace Ford
GOOD
The simple sight of a Mickey Mouse watch doesn't sound like it could possibly be creepy, but this awesome show finds a way.
BAD
Mrs. Ford: It's just a dirty old street. What are you going to say?
She should be asking what he's gonna do when he gets to Randolph Street, which would explain why he wants to go there. What does it matter what he's gonna say there? How would he even know?
On Thursday We Leave for Home
GOOD
This episode, which is set in 2021, is by far my favorite episode of the season. In fact, I like it much more than all other Season 4 episodes combined. I don't want to tell you anything else about it. Just watch it if you haven't already.
BAD
Colonel Sloane: That is the universal language, Captain.
Captain Benteen: Baseball?
Ah, yes. Because every single Earthling in existence is a baseball fan.
Passage on the Lady Anne
GOOD
Eileen: It leaves on Thursday.
A ship leaving on Thursday in the episode right after On Thursday We Leave for Home.
BAD
After the Ransomes are offered ten grand to get off the boat, Alan says...
Alan: Shall we make it an even hundred-thou?
What an odd time to use the word "even." You're supposed to say that when you're rounding up a random-sounding number like 76 to say 80, not 10,000 to 100,000. I get that line is supposed to indicate he's being greedy, but I feel they could've worded it better.
The Bard
GOOD
Rod: And although he may never get a writing credit on The Twilight Zone, he's to become an integral character in it.
That's just awesome, especially with the silly background music. I also love how you can hear Rod giggling about what he's saying in the closing narration.
BAD
Julius: Anyone ever tell you you were a dirty rotten kid?
Cora: Why don't you go take a cold shower?
What? What kind of comeback is that?
And with that, I've finished the fourth season. And just in time for Christmas!
I hope you'll all come back when I eventually cover Season 5.
