We may receive commission on purchases made from links.
Few shows have stood the test of time like “The Twilight Zone.” For a show whose initial run ended 60 years ago, it’s astonishing how relevant and influential many of the classic episodes remain. However, like any show that runs for over 100 episodes, there will be some stinkers in the group. “The Twilight Zone” is no exception, it contains some pretty horrifying stuff. Luckily, the good far outweighs the bad, which is all anyone could ask from a long-running series. On the opposite end of the spectrum, what’s the best of the group? Which episode stands above the rest?
Although this question can be debated (and has been debated) for decades among fans, there is at least one clear winner when it comes to users of a specific website. “Eye of the Beholder”, the 42nd episode of “The Twilight Zone” overall, stands above the rest Highest rated entry of the series on IMDb, It’s certainly a hard episode to argue against for anyone who has seen it. Audiences will undoubtedly have their own personal preferences, but “Eye of the Beholder” is an oft-cited quintessential installment for a reason.
The episode focuses on a young woman lying in a hospital bed recovering from a procedure that was performed as a last-ditch effort to make her appear normal. With her head wrapped in bandages, she is anxiously awaiting the results of the surgery. Don’t spoil it for those who haven’t seen it, but this episode contains the biggest twist in “Twilight Zone” history. It’s up there with the best of them.
The Eye of the Beholder is The Twilight Zone at its best
Airing as the sixth episode of “The Twilight Zone” Season 2, “Eye of the Elder” is one of the best executions of a story in the show’s history. It was written by series creator Rod Serling and directed by Douglas Hayes, who directed several episodes during the show’s first two seasons. It also required little visual effects, had no fancy sets, and involved only a handful of actors. It is entirely dependent on the great foundation and the implementation of that foundation.
Looking back, it seems like a miracle that CBS allowed this show to run with such high quality for five seasons and over 150 episodes. After all, it was network interference that ruined the 2002 revival of “The Twilight Zone.” 60 years later, it remains an example of timeless storytelling that represents the best of what Serling had to offer the world as a storyteller. There are no bad CGI shots that would take the audience away from it, nor are any compromises made due to the unnecessarily big budget. It’s just a clever story with something to say, executed to perfection by some very talented artists. It is special and deserves every praise it has received.
“The Twilight Zone” is currently streaming on Prime Video and Paramount+. You can also get the complete series on Blu-ray from Amazon,
