What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone (Season Finale)

The Twilight Zone: Season 2, Episode 10 “You Might Also Like” (B)

This show tends to have two different types of setups: where a person experiences something weird in a normal world and where a person living in a weird world starts realizing that they’re not acting normal. The first two episodes of season two that I watched – “Meet in the Middle” and “The Who of You” – fell into the former category, while this one is firmly in the latter. I tend to prefer the former, but I can appreciate the construction of an hour like this that’s meant to probe why we do what we do by showing how people act when things are overly prescribed. The eerie commercials that introduced the episode immediately established an uneasiness, and the obsession with this egg that would make it so that “everything will be okay again, forever” was peculiar and creepy. I’m a big fan of Gretchen Mol, who has starred in a variety of projects including “Boardwalk Empire” and “The Notorious Bettie Page,” and she was formidable in this episode as Janet, who understood that things beyond her control were going on and actively wanted answers while others were content to simply accept the status quo. I recognized actor Gil Bellows from “The Shawshank Redemption” as her husband from his photograph next to the bed, though he appeared in just one scene. Greta Lee from “Russian Doll” and “Miracle Workers: Dark Ages” had a bigger part, and her enthusiasm for the egg resulted in her exploding offscreen in a puff of red smoke. It was trippy watching the aliens talk about having a shared mind and looking for evidence of that in their intense studies of TV commercials. This episode reminded me most of the season one installment “Point of Origin,” with the ending with the flying saucers over the parking lot most similar to “A Traveler.” This season included a few really terrific episodes, and I hope we’ll see more of this show in the future.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Ethan Embry

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 2, Episode 9 “Try, Try” (B+)

Time loops are common in movies and television, and in fact a movie about the subject, “Palm Springs,” premiered on Hulu just two weeks after this episode first debuted. There are many things I liked about this episode, and the first was that it wasn’t inherently clear from the start that this was about a time loop. Instead, Topher Grace, an actor who started his career on “That 70s Show” and has transitioned to more serious projects like “BlacKkKlansman” recently, played someone who had a clear connection with a woman portrayed by Kylie Bunbury from “Pitch” and “Brave New World.” We knew she was an intellectual and a scientist, and how he knew so much about her and had so much in common was a mystery. Predicting what was going to happen next was a neat trick at first, but obviously that wasn’t enough for Marc, whose extensive time loop experience had convinced him that he and Claudia were soulmates. Her response – that she couldn’t match his feelings since this day was new for her – was absolutely correct, and it produced a terrifying response from Marc, who was also correct that he could do whatever he wanted because the day was just going to start again from him. The resolution was far from reassuring, since he’ll remember exactly what happened and likely hold it against Claudia even though she won’t have done it yet on that new day. I imagine I’ll be thinking about the implications of what was presented in this episode for a while, and it’s nice to know that even something as frequently done as a time loop can offer new food for thought.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 2, Episode 8 “A Small Town” (B+)

What I like most about this show is when it takes a simple concept, follows a relatively predictable trajectory of events, and then draws an unexpected conclusion that gives it an entirely deeper meaning. Jason, played by Damon Wayans Jr. from “New Girl” and “Happy Endings,” just wanted to see the town do well. His discovery of that astonishing model that, when turned on, mirrored real life, led him to do things to improve it. It seemed at the start that his undoing would be a need for credit, when in actuality it was just that he couldn’t stand to see the new mayor, played by David Krumholtz from “Numb3rs” and “The Plot Against America,” claim that he was the one doing it when he was responsible for the town being in such bad shape. He didn’t want the clerk at the convenience store to thank him – he just wasn’t okay that a man who had do nothing to improve the town was being showered with praise. And as a result, when he was confronted with the inevitable discovery of the model, he chose to sacrifice something important to him for the benefit of the town, ensuring future prosperity thanks to the giant piece of gold on the main street. I like that message, and this episode ended on a strangely optimistic note. Two additional points: I’m a fan of Paula Newsome from her work on the short-lived series “Women’s Murder Club” and more recently on “Barry,” and it was humorous to me after taking a recent interest in getting to know the U.S. interstate highways, that Interstate 10 was featured when the southernmost cross-country route doesn’t come close to any place that would see that kind of snow.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 2, Episode 7 “A Human Face” (B)

This was the second straight episode about an unusual being that may well have been capable of overpowering humanity. Unlike the previous installment’s threat, which was violent in nature and intent on physical domination of what it saw as its enemies, this one was a far more intellectual one. In fact, what was most stirring about it and made it feel most like a true journey into the Twilight Zone was that the protagonists knew that they were being tricked by mind games and had to continually convince themselves that it wasn’t real. It reminded me a lot of “Annihilation,” though there was something that made it happening in a house rather than the dark woods that made it even more eerie and foreboding. The primary cast members were very recognizable, with both having extensive TV histories. Christopher Meloni, most famous for “Law and Order: SVU,” played a much nicer guy than he’s tended to in recent roles on “Happy,” “Pose” and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” though it turns out that he wasn’t such a tender father. Jenna Elfman, best known for “Dharma and Greg,” has been on a handful of shows recently, including “Damages,” “Accidentally on Purpose,” and “Imaginary Mary,” and this was a considerably more complex part than the ones she’s played on her short-lived sitcoms. I was most impressed with young actress Tavi Gevinson, who made Mags layered and fascinating. She was difficult to read despite the intense honesty offered when she assessed that she was losing them, and that calculated move worked out very well for her in the end.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 2, Episode 6 “8” (B-)

I think I like it more if these episodes start with a situation that clearly has something strange going on without much explanation rather than a scenario that needs to be introduced for it to really become apparent. Every time there’s something that takes place in a snowy, remote research station, I immediately think of one of my favorite episodes of “The X-Files,” the season one installment “Ice,” that finds isolated scientists slowly being driven insane by a parasite. This episode didn’t really hold up to that, instead playing out as a monster movie where each of the characters were picked off one by one. That doesn’t feel like the type of plotline that begins on this show, since there wasn’t anything particularly noteworthy about the predator other than that it was trying to create a new species to replace humanity, which is obviously a big deal, but that wasn’t explored in a very satisfactory way. The notion that almost everyone there from the various international teams had different intentions and a mission was far more interesting to me than the actual events that played out, and I would have liked to see more about that. I did recognize two of the cast members, starting with Joel McHale from “Community” and “The Great Indoors,” who also plays a role in “Psych 2: Lassie Come Home,” which just premiered this week. The other actor was Brandon Jay McLaren from “The Killing” and “Falling Skies.” Jordan Peele’s appearance at the end didn’t do much for me, and while there was nothing especially bad about this episode, it really didn’t stand out as a memorable offering.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 2, Episode 5 “Among the Untrodden” (B)

I was a bit surprised to see this episode revolve around younger characters, but that didn’t make it any less effective. I wasn’t sure what the focus was going to be, even when Jordan Peele came on to introduce the central mystery, but that wasn’t a negative since the denouement here is what worked best. It was disturbing enough to see just how cruel Madison and her friends were to the new student without any reason for it, and I definitely wouldn’t have guessed that Madison would be the one to exhibit powers. Irene seemed genuinely excited at the idea of being able to help her, and going to a hidden room no one else knew about or ever visited didn’t seem like the best idea. Conjuring up the key to the roof was a cool trick, though that went downhill fast when Irene fell to what should have been her death. Madison only chastised Irene about hanging out with her friends because she knew of their “Mean Girls”-style plans to ruin her life via their science project, which somehow didn’t earn them any demerits before they were all turned catatonic, but this was still a redemption story, to a degree. Irene realizing as she was turning to stone that she had fulfilled the purpose Madison needed from her was chilling, though my head is still spinning from the notion that might have only been conjured out of thin air to begin with rather than existing in her own right. That’s one of the strengths of this show: sometimes, it’s hard to know what really happened and which way is truthfully more frightening.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 2, Episode 4 “Ovation” (B+)

This episode reminded me a lot of the series premiere, “The Comedian,” where a performer began to realize that they held a special sway over their audience that wasn’t their own doing. I actually had flashbacks to the terrible Natalie Portman movie “Vox Lux” during the first few scenes, and I’m glad that the rest of the episode didn’t feel like that at all. Jurnee Smollett had her last big TV role on “Underground,” and I was happy to see Tawny Newsome from “Space Force” and “Brockmire” playing Zara, Jasmine’s doctor sister. I also recognized Thomas Lennon, who I last saw playing Mr. Mxyzptlk on “Supergirl” as J.J, and Paul F. Tompkins, who played himself on “You’re the Worst,” as Jimmy O’Malley. It was clear almost from the start what was going on, and the challenge for this show was to see where it would go and what would happen in the end. I wasn’t sure if Zara was feeling the influence of the coin by recognizing that her sister might be talented or if she was in just as much disbelief as her, and that scene with her unconscious patient clapping mid-surgery was certainly trippy. Seeing how destitute Jasmine was after she threw the coin away and disappeared into obscurity was unpleasant, and it wasn’t clear that she wanted to do another more than demand the coin back from the new superstar. It was clever that her face wasn’t shown in any of the ads and that Jasmine ended up stabbing her own sister because she couldn’t have fame. Jordan Peele simply taking the coin and putting it in his pocket rather than offering his typical pearls of wisdom was a great way to finish.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 2, Episode 3 “The Who of You” (B+)

I watched this episode, which was provided in advance to press, immediately after episode one, “Meet in the Middle,” and thought it was just going to be another hour where two people shared a connection that no one else could understand. I was pleased to discover that it wasn’t just two people exchanging bodies but rather a remarkable, unexplained ability to jump from body to body, leaving whoever the latest person Harry inhabited trapped in his body beyond confused in an interrogation room. I’m a big fan of Ethan Embry, who has done great work on “Brotherhood,” “Grace and Frankie,” and in the film “Blindspotting,” and he was great here in this constantly changing role of confusion. Daniel Sunjata from “Rescue Me” burst in to the bank like he owned the place as Peter the detective, and he was perfectly cast for that part too. I was also excited to recognize Billy Porter, the Emmy-winning star of “Pose,” a show whose second season I’m currently watching, as Keith the psychic, who purposely tried to switch places with Harry so that he could see if he was telling the truth. It’s always interesting to me when people try to embrace the weirdness of what’s going on and to face the impossibility head-on. Keith naming both of them as scam artists but singling out Harry for being worse since he doesn’t make people feel good was a helpful distinction, and Harry didn’t seem to internalize that lesson too well as he switched places with a kid and then with Peter so that he could get his body killed. I guessed a few minutes earlier that the woman who kept calling Peter was indeed Marina, but that didn’t lessen the impact of the formidable ending, which did, as Jordan Peele put it, give Harry exactly what he wanted.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 2, Episode 2 “Downtime” (B)

I was surprised to see that this episode was only thirty-one minutes long, and it’s interesting to think that the timing actually worked pretty well, even if the content didn’t seem quite as substantive as other installments. I was immediately entranced by the central performance by Morena Baccarin, a familiar face from “Homeland,” “V,” and “Firefly,” as she talked at rapid speed and told a humorous story about Canadians right before she scored a major promotion at work. The unusual circumstances quickly made themselves known when she went outside, and it was indeed eerie seeing her panicked and running through the streets with everyone else frozen and looking up at the giant eye in the sky. Colman Domingo from “Fear the Walking Dead” and “Zola” had a brief but memorable role as Carl, who slipped into a strong accent before looking right into the sky, and Serinda Swan from “Marvel’s Inhumans” was Ellen, who appealed to her husband to remember that he was just inhabiting this virtual body of Michelle. The tech support representatives appearing in a disarmingly casual manner, and even the supervisor, Tom, played by Tony Hale from “Veep,” was relatively friendly and non-confrontational. The idea that Michelle could continue to exist here since Phineas had died after his heart attack was fascinating, and making that decision knowing that her world wasn’t real felt like the most typical embracing of this show’s dimensional concept: accepting that the world around you might not make sense and deciding to stay in it anyway.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone (Season Premiere)

The Twilight Zone: Season 2, Episode 1 “Meet in the Middle” (B+)

I really liked the first few episodes of this revival last season, and I’m ready to dive deep on the show now that all of its second series is being released on one day rather than a week at a time. This opening installment was immediately riveting, and I was particularly impressed because the hardest part of all these stories is figuring out a way for them to end. There wasn’t necessarily going to be an explanation for how Phil and Annie were connected, but the resolution of that bond was much more important. I’ve been a fan of Jimmi Simpson since his work in the pilot for “Virtuality” that never became a series, and he’s been featured much more prominently recently on “Westworld” and “Perpetual Grace, LTD.” He possesses exactly the right demeanor to play this kind of character, so tuned in to what’s happening in his own head and uninterested in what’s going on in the world around him. Kristen Lehman from “The Killing” and “Motive” was his therapist, and though I was sure Annie was played by Maria Dizzia every time I heard her voice, I now see that it was Gillian Jacobs from “Community.” Annie being married was a hurdle that was overcome when they just had to be together, and I wasn’t expecting her to be attacked by someone when she was on the train to meet him. The lengths he went to in order to protect her were extreme, and hearing her admit to him as he was being taken away in the police car that she had used him to break free of her marriage was a chilling and very effective finish. I’m ready for more immersive trips into the twilight zone.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone (Season Finale)

The Twilight Zone: Season 1, Episode 10 “Blurryman” (B)

It seems very fitting that this show should close out its first season with an extremely self-referential hour that involves the elements it’s used to frame other installments within its own storyline. I recognized Seth Rogen by his voice in the opening moments as the writer, though his presence and that of his costar Betty Gabriel, from “Get Out” and “Counterpart,” diminished considerably after that. Jordan’s narration being interrupted and rewritten was a surprise, with the focus shifting to the one recognizable performer not playing themselves: Zazie Beetz from “Atlanta” as Sophie. Ending up as the subject of the narration after Jordan’s existential discussion of what the Twilight Zone rather is and whether the narrator is needed to explain it was an interesting way of flipping our perception. I wasn’t as fond of where things went from there as the Blurryman turned out to be in the back of the frame in every episode, resulting in a relatively standard stalker-horror narrative from then on. Sophie angrily shouting at Jordan because she though that he was doing it to demonstrate that the horror is real as he’s done in the movies he’s directed was a bit more interesting, and I appreciated her opportunity to engage with the narration to truly understand what she was experiencing. I think ardent fans of the original were probably pleased with this trip back in time to its world, which for me felt appropriately weird if not entirely satisfying. I liked the first three episodes of this show a lot, and I’m hopeful that season two will offer more hours like those.

Season grade: B
Best Episode: The Comedian

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 1, Episode 9 “The Blue Scorpion” (B-)

I didn’t find this episode to be especially involving, starting from a point nowhere near as fascinating or terrifying as previous installments. I do like Chris O’Dowd, an actor known for comedy work in films like “Bridesmaids” and TV shows like the short-lived but great “Family Tree,” and I also appreciated his more dramatic turn in “Calvary.” I was also excited to recognize Amy Landecker, one of the most underrated players on “Transparent,” as his ex-wife, though she really didn’t have much of a role. The bullet bearing his name and the gun seeming intent on not being sold by going off as soon as he said he wanted it out of his life were early indicators of some strangeness, though the effectiveness of this hour was captured for me in just one moment. He sounded rather crazy and even acknowledged it when he was talking about how he keeps meeting all these Jeffs in his life, and then the response was that one of the two people was also named Jeff. This particular trip through the Twilight Zone didn’t seem especially worthwhile, eerie and mysterious but also seemingly aimless. Watching an anthology series like this is bound to be disappointing to a degree since one really solid hour won’t ever be extended or revisited. I did find the casting of O’Dowd here to be a good choice; I’m just not sure that the plot surrounding this part was as well thought-out. Intrigue doesn’t always equal satisfaction, and this episode was lacking in the latter.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 1, Episode 8 “Point of Origin” (B)

This episode was decidedly dark, taking its protagonist from her high perch in society to a place where she couldn’t even help herself, unable to identify what’s real about her own history or to deny what other people tell her is true. I appreciated the casting of Ginnifer Goodwin as Eve since I remember being disappointed by the lackluster nature of her real-world character in “Once Upon a Time,” and it’s good to see her display so much energy here, transforming Eve from disconnected socialite to powerless prisoner. James Frain from “True Blood” was a natural choice to play the interrogator, who has a sinister presence in everything he does, even if he’s supposed to be good guy. His demeanor here didn’t indicate any sympathy for the woman he was questioning, and he was all too happy to apologize only to her husband and sons for treating them wrongly when he still didn’t release her. Tricking her into believing that she was released and confiding in her husband was enough to get her to confirm what he had suspected all along, though that wasn’t nearly as horrific as the real reaction her husband had when she was able to catch a ride home with the ice cream man. I suppose the moral of this episode was that we really can’t change where we come from even if we accomplish so much, an important parable with easily recognizable parallels to immigration in the United States as expressed early on by the relationship between Eve and Anna.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 1, Episode 7 “Not All Men” (B)

This episode felt like the closest to horror that we’ve seen yet on this show, with a clear issue spreading and threatening to turn every possible ally into a violent and uncontrollable enemy. I recognized a whole bunch of actors in this episode, starting with Luke Kirby from “Rectify” playing a far less sympathetic role as the first man to become infected by the meteor. Taissa Farmiga, recently seen in films like “The Mule,” “What They Had,” and “In a Valley of Violence,” was the lead who began to notice this horrific shift, and Rhea Seehorn, one of the most valuable players on “Better Call Saul,” as the sister who took a bit more time to start believing her. Ike Barinholtz, usually far more obnoxious in projects like “The Mindy Project,” was a creative but effective casing choice as Mike, whose creepy rendition of “Happy Birthday” was by far the most memorable scene of the episode. I knew I recognized Cole, who was played by Percy Hynes White from the recently-cancelled “The Gifted.” I like that Seehorn’s Martha wanted to harness the power of the meteors that was turning the men into superpowered fighters, though the rules of this nightmare didn’t allow for that. The near-closing interaction with the guard who was evidently affected demonstrated, as this show usually does, that all is decidedly not well, and understanding what the problem is doesn’t mean that it can be easily solved. A happy ending is rarely in the cards on this show, even if characters did manage to survive.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 1, Episode 6 “Six Degrees of Freedom” (B)

Like the last two episodes, this one started from a point where its characters were undergoing an incredible experience without knowing where it was going to lead. The beginning of the hour reminded me of “Last Resort” when one submarine was out on its own after a nuclear event, and the idea of a mission to Mars taking off as most of the human race was wiped out by nuclear bombs was certainly very intense. Once aboard, especially when the one crew member was trying to bait the rest of them and there was another shot of steamy sex, I was thinking about “High Life,” the recently-released film that I saw at the New York Film Festival last year about death row inmates sent into space to harness the power of a black hole. I’d say that the most on-brand part of the episode was Pierson starting to believe that none of this had actually happened and that it was all a test, going so far as to airlock himself to prove it. Like the last time we encountered aliens, in Alaska, they were far more aware of what was going on than any human, though it turned out that Pierson’s bravery and ability to see someone watching – even though he had no idea who or what it was – was enough to make the human race worthy of salvation. Though it wasn’t presented as such, it was a far more optimistic and rather hopeful ending than usual for this show.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 1, Episode 5 “The Wunderkind” (B)

This episode was definitely very watchable, though I don’t think I loved its framing. The way that the first three episodes of this show played out found the protagonists realizing that there was something strange going on and trying to figure out both what to do with it and how to get anyone else to believe it. This hour spotlighted an unusual event, but we knew how it was going to end (mostly) because we were treated to the sight of Raff waking up to realize the horror that his candidate is the president and that spells doom for him. John Cho was a smart choice to play Raff, joining his “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle” costar Kal Penn in the political sphere as this skilled campaign manager who didn’t always manage to back the right horse, starting with John Larroquette’s unpopular incumbent. Enter an eleven-year-old streaming sensation, played, of course, by Jacob Tremblay, of films like “Room,” “Wonder,” and “Good Boys,” a natural for this role. This episode had far more to say about the state of politics in this country that could get a child elected for president and the way that he just wanted to deliver on his promises which is never so easily possible than about supernatural occurrences. The young doctor bit at the end was the only moderately horrifying part, following the way that his treason was instantly reported and identified by the child president. Even though their roles were minimal, I was happy to see Aaron Douglas from “Battlestar Galactica” and Allison Tolman from “Fargo” in the cast.

What I’m Watching: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 1, Episode 4 “A Traveler” (B-)

This was the least impressive offering this show has presented yet, not nearly as intriguing and involving as the first three. This was reminiscent of “The X-Files” more than any of those hours, and it also felt pretty dated, more, I’d imagine, like previous iterations of this show. What made this one different was that it wasn’t immediately clear that something strange and unexplainable was going on, and the mystery had to build as a result. I had seen previews a while back with Greg Kinnear, and he played the jolly captain well, turning him from energetic socializer to a much more serious man with secrets to protect when the occasion called for it. I wondered right away whether it was Steven Yeun’s breakthrough role in the Korean-language “Burning” that netted him the role of A Traveler here, or if it was his American fame on “The Walking Dead” that led to his casting as the very mysterious prisoner so eager to be pardoned in this small Alaskan town. I didn’t love much of the middle of the episode, though I got back into it towards the end when, after being confronted by Yuka, the captain knowingly told her that “it’s only a lie if we choose to believe it.” I would have preferred that the hour ended up the flying saucers showing up overheard, but I guess aliens eating pie with Jack was the way to go. In this case, I’m glad this show reboots its premise each hour, and I’m looking forward to whatever’s in store next time.

Take Three: The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone: Season 1, Episode 3 “Replay” (B+)

I was very impressed with the first two installments of this show, which I reviewed a few weeks ago in a Minute with Abe. Though it took me a while to watch it, I’m pleased to report that this third episode is just as strong. Like the second episode, this one dealt with technology having an extraordinary power, after the iPod foretelling the doom of its listener’s flight. I recognized most of the cast here and confirmed later that I was right about knowing the fourth from somewhere too. I was a big fan of Sanaa Lathan’s when she starred in the second season of “Boss,” and she recently appeared in a moderately worthwhile role on season four of “The Affair.” Damson Idris, who played her son Dorian, currently stars on “Snowfall.” Steve Harris was a regular on both “Legends” and “Awake,” but most probably know him from his Emmy-nominated role on “The Practice” two decades ago. The best instance of casting was Glenn Fleshler, who recurs on “Billions” and has also appeared in many other projects, and as soon as I saw his police officer appear I knew that his character was going to serve some nefarious purpose since you don’t waste an actor like that. What I liked most about the trajectory of this hour was the way in which it embraced the supernatural nature of its selected item’s power without questioning it. Every scenario that Nina tried ended up with her son either doomed or dead, and both her brother and her son chose to trust rather than doubt her, which was cool. Best of all, when Dorian suggested that they simply go back and try again when Officer Lasky confronted them, Nina was brave enough to end the loop and take a stand against his recurring racism. I thought that this hour was going to end without a negative fate for its characters, but that final sound of a gunshot after her camera finally broke signified that wouldn’t be the case. I’m not sure if this show will be Emmy-eligible for its performers, but I’d love to see a few of these people get recognized for their stellar work here.

Pilot Review: The Twilight Zone

I'm trying something new with my pilot reviews, so from now on, check out video takes on each new series, which I'll embed below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.