Post by Thargym The Black on Jul 30, 2024 20:56:59 GMT -5
Just from the original series.
20. The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine doesn't quite hit the mark as it lacks originality and is too predictable. Although it's not a terrible episode, it doesn't live up to the high standard set by the Twilight Zone. Hence, it barely escapes being ranked among the ten worst episodes with a score of 5/10.
19. Time Enough at Last features Burgess Meredith portraying a meek man with a strong desire for reading. The episode feels contrived with a lack of a satisfying payoff, earning it a modest 5/10 rating.
18. The Passersby presents a somber narrative of deceased Confederate soldiers passing by a lady on a porch. While not overly depressing, it's a story that fails to evoke much empathy, receiving a rating of 4/10.
17. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge revolves around a spy in the Civil War facing imminent execution but managing to escape. The storyline is filled with hatred, making it challenging to appreciate unless one has a particular inclination towards such narratives.
16. Still Valley struggles to garner much commendation, portraying a Confederate soldier's opportunity to alter the outcome of the war with the assistance of a demonic force. Despite an acceptable ending, the lack of compelling characters results in a 4/10 score.
15. The Mighty Casey isn't necessarily "bad" but feels lacking in strength. The concept of a robot playing baseball doesn't sustain interest for an entire episode, and the attempted humor falls short, resulting in a modest rating of 4/10.
14. Execution takes Albert Salmi's Western outlaw character on an unexpected journey from facing a hanging to being transported to a science laboratory. The episode is marred by excessive convenience and contrivances, diminishing its potential impact.
13. The Lateness of the Hour comes off as overly predictable, even for its time, depicting a family with robot servants and a disagreeable daughter, earning a rating of 3/10.
12. Shadow Play focuses on a man experiencing recurring nightmares as he awaits execution. The episode lacks substantial depth and mostly comes across as a morality piece, not much more than that.
11. Nick of Time, featuring Shatner, falls short of captivating as he contends with a foreboding fortune-telling machine. His character fails to elicit much empathy, resulting in a rating of 3/10.
10. Uncle Simon: An inventor who appears determined to torment his niece. Although the niece is not particularly pleasant, the dynamic between them reflects a disturbing power imbalance fueled by pure malice. 2/10
9. A World of His Own: The "writer" is purportedly skilled at crafting vivid character descriptions that bring them to life. However, the approach feels contrived and lacks the intended cleverness. 2/10
8. What's in the Box: A malevolent TV repairman seemingly manipulates the desires of a mundane man. This piece exudes vindictiveness and animosity towards someone the writer disliked. 2/10
7. The Fever: A couple is depicted in a casino without clear motivation, and the sudden onset of gambling fever in the old man lacks compelling storytelling. 2/10
6. A Thing About Machines: This entry comes across as a disdainful attack on individuals lacking innate talents. 2/10
5. Escape Clause: A lackluster character strikes a deal with the Devil for immortality, yet the episode fails to provide coherent motivation. The storytelling falls short, lacking depth and rationale. 2/10
4. Ring a Ding Girl: This piece appears to mirror the malicious intent seen in #3. The narrative involves a brunette seemingly fated to perish on a plane trip, echoing unsettling themes of Nazi propaganda. It's perplexing why Serling took this direction, in sharp misalignment with intrinsic human values.
3. Twenty Two: Much like #4, this episode exudes an unmistakable neo-Nazi propaganda undertone. 1/10.
2. A Nice Place to Visit: This narrative leans on the tired notion of the joke "Why worry?" to portray a troubling fantasy where Hell is depicted as an enjoyable place—a disturbing scenario tailored for indulgent individuals. 1/10
1. The Worst Ever Episode: The Masks. While the four "antagonists" are portrayed as pathetic, the affluent tycoon who mistreats them is arguably more sinister. What makes this the nadir of the episodes is the self-righteousness displayed as the writer positions the two supporting characters seemingly in favor of the tycoon's monstrous behavior. This stark contrast to another episode, where Serling condemns a mentally ill man for attempting to play God, is disheartening. Despite that man's instability, here Serling shows sympathy for an entirely sane, powerful figure with all the trappings of success.[/li]
20. The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine doesn't quite hit the mark as it lacks originality and is too predictable. Although it's not a terrible episode, it doesn't live up to the high standard set by the Twilight Zone. Hence, it barely escapes being ranked among the ten worst episodes with a score of 5/10.
19. Time Enough at Last features Burgess Meredith portraying a meek man with a strong desire for reading. The episode feels contrived with a lack of a satisfying payoff, earning it a modest 5/10 rating.
18. The Passersby presents a somber narrative of deceased Confederate soldiers passing by a lady on a porch. While not overly depressing, it's a story that fails to evoke much empathy, receiving a rating of 4/10.
17. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge revolves around a spy in the Civil War facing imminent execution but managing to escape. The storyline is filled with hatred, making it challenging to appreciate unless one has a particular inclination towards such narratives.
16. Still Valley struggles to garner much commendation, portraying a Confederate soldier's opportunity to alter the outcome of the war with the assistance of a demonic force. Despite an acceptable ending, the lack of compelling characters results in a 4/10 score.
15. The Mighty Casey isn't necessarily "bad" but feels lacking in strength. The concept of a robot playing baseball doesn't sustain interest for an entire episode, and the attempted humor falls short, resulting in a modest rating of 4/10.
14. Execution takes Albert Salmi's Western outlaw character on an unexpected journey from facing a hanging to being transported to a science laboratory. The episode is marred by excessive convenience and contrivances, diminishing its potential impact.
13. The Lateness of the Hour comes off as overly predictable, even for its time, depicting a family with robot servants and a disagreeable daughter, earning a rating of 3/10.
12. Shadow Play focuses on a man experiencing recurring nightmares as he awaits execution. The episode lacks substantial depth and mostly comes across as a morality piece, not much more than that.
11. Nick of Time, featuring Shatner, falls short of captivating as he contends with a foreboding fortune-telling machine. His character fails to elicit much empathy, resulting in a rating of 3/10.
10. Uncle Simon: An inventor who appears determined to torment his niece. Although the niece is not particularly pleasant, the dynamic between them reflects a disturbing power imbalance fueled by pure malice. 2/10
9. A World of His Own: The "writer" is purportedly skilled at crafting vivid character descriptions that bring them to life. However, the approach feels contrived and lacks the intended cleverness. 2/10
8. What's in the Box: A malevolent TV repairman seemingly manipulates the desires of a mundane man. This piece exudes vindictiveness and animosity towards someone the writer disliked. 2/10
7. The Fever: A couple is depicted in a casino without clear motivation, and the sudden onset of gambling fever in the old man lacks compelling storytelling. 2/10
6. A Thing About Machines: This entry comes across as a disdainful attack on individuals lacking innate talents. 2/10
5. Escape Clause: A lackluster character strikes a deal with the Devil for immortality, yet the episode fails to provide coherent motivation. The storytelling falls short, lacking depth and rationale. 2/10
4. Ring a Ding Girl: This piece appears to mirror the malicious intent seen in #3. The narrative involves a brunette seemingly fated to perish on a plane trip, echoing unsettling themes of Nazi propaganda. It's perplexing why Serling took this direction, in sharp misalignment with intrinsic human values.
3. Twenty Two: Much like #4, this episode exudes an unmistakable neo-Nazi propaganda undertone. 1/10.
2. A Nice Place to Visit: This narrative leans on the tired notion of the joke "Why worry?" to portray a troubling fantasy where Hell is depicted as an enjoyable place—a disturbing scenario tailored for indulgent individuals. 1/10
1. The Worst Ever Episode: The Masks. While the four "antagonists" are portrayed as pathetic, the affluent tycoon who mistreats them is arguably more sinister. What makes this the nadir of the episodes is the self-righteousness displayed as the writer positions the two supporting characters seemingly in favor of the tycoon's monstrous behavior. This stark contrast to another episode, where Serling condemns a mentally ill man for attempting to play God, is disheartening. Despite that man's instability, here Serling shows sympathy for an entirely sane, powerful figure with all the trappings of success.[/li]