BLU-RAY OF THE WEEK: The Twilight Zone

Out today on Blu-ray is all 5 seasons (and the movie!) of The Twilight Zone.

I can’t stress to you enough how fantastic this is for all of us. I’ve been watching the show over and over again on Netflix (you can still watch it there, just not in glorious Blu-ray) and I can’t begin to tell you how blown away I continue to be at this show. As a kid, this used to be a holiday tradition. Thanksgiving’s were spent watching every episode of Twilight Zone I could stomach and it created in me a deep love of the show and of science fiction in general.

For those who think the show is just a gimmicky old TV show that has a twist at the end, I would challenge you to revisit it.

For one, Rod Serling’s writing is top notch. His voiceovers are infectious. I dare you to watch even five episodes and not start thinking about the beginning of your day narrated by such an iconic voice. Forget Morgan Freeman, I want Rod Serling to give the play by play for my life. The eloquence of speech and brilliance on display is simply astounding.

But the episodes you remember are almost always those that have to do with that big twist ending. (Oh no! His glasses broke! She’s pretty and they’re all ugly! There really IS a man on the wing!) But my guess is you’ve forgotten some of the best episodes, the fantastic bits of science fiction history that Serling smuggled on to television before even Star Trek.

Do you remember the episode about the man (Jack Warden) who is imprisoned for a crime that was clearly a case of self defense in solitary confinement on an asteroid? The prison wardens bring him a robotic woman to combat the loneliness. I won’t tell you the twists and turns the episode takes, but suffice to say it was one of the most thought provoking bits of television history I’ve ever watched.

Do you remember the episode with The Professor from Gilligan’s Island travelling back in time and finding out that he’s arrived on the day of Lincoln’s assassination? And every attempt he makes to prevent it further convinces everyone he’s a lunatic? It was a tremendous episode.

There are so many of these small stories, nuggets of brilliance, wonderful morality plays, that it’s hard to not kick your brain into overdrive as you watch.

And if you’re going to watch, sure you can do it on Netflix, but you might as well get the Blu-ray. I can’t tell you how gorgeous these old Black and White shows and movies look in high-definition.

But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself.