07/22/2005 2:58 PM
Posted by VeggieSteph

The Twilight Zone: The 80s Season One

When I saw that they had released The Twilight Zone series from the 80s on DVD, I was so excited. I remember watching this series with my family, just like all of those old series like Battlestar Galactica and The A-Team. I must admit, it was worth watching, if just for nostalgia’s sake. Some of the stories were cheesy and very, very dated, but others were still very poignant. It’s amazing how some of these stories have stuck in my head all of these years, and so many of the young actors that show up that have moved on to bigger things.

Here are some that for some reason or another, have stuck in my head since the first time I saw them, were especially good and 80’s, or just really good stories. Some comments might be a bit spoilerish.

Shatterday – a Harlan Ellison story that starred a very young a fresh Bruce Willis. A man phones his house, only to end up talking to himself.

A Little Peace and Quiet – This story was one of those that stuck in my head ever since the first time I saw it. A harried woman finds a device that stops time. It’s a great gift, until the big one is launched. I will never forget seeing her walking through a street, with everyone stopped, and seeing that bomb in the sky.

Nightcrawlers – A Vietnam vet happens upon a roadside diner, bringing his demons with him.

Teacher's Aide – Adrienne Barbeau is a teacher in a rough school who gets walked all over by her students, until she gets a little backbone from a school gargoyle.

Paladin of the Lost Hour – This is another Harlan Ellison story about a man who has control a bit of time, but who needs to find a person to whom to pass the gift. Danny Kaye is perfect as the Paladin, and the end gift of minutes was really touching.

Dead Woman's Shoes – A mousy woman in a second-hand shop, played by Helen Mirren, finds a pair of shoes. When she wears them, she morphs into someone else entirely. It’s a bit of a murder mystery, and one of those that stuck in my head for the great twist ending.

Wong's Lost and Found – A young man is looking for Wong’s Lost and Found, a place where you can find anything you have lost, from youth, to laughter, to joy.

The Beacon – A doctor stumbles upon a strange old town, where his services are needed, but not really wanted. The Shirley Jackson type ending is a keeper.

I of Newton – A mathematician offers his soul to the Devil to find a solution to his algorithm. When the Devil comes to collect, he must match his wits to save his soul.

Night of the Meek – This one is a remake of the original series. A drunken old man who plays a department store Santa finds that his garbage bag is one of the greatest gifts of all, and the department store manager learns the true meaning of Christmas.

The Star – An Arthur C Clarke story where travelers from the future happen upon a highly intelligent society that was destroyed centuries before. A philosopher and scientist debate the presence and meaning of God. This is one of those with a fine layer of 80’s cheesiness.

The Misfortune Cookie – A food critic finds a Chinese restaurant that has excellent food and even better fortune cookies.

A Small Talent for War – This is another of those great 80’s cheese stories, with a twist ending worth of Philip K. Dick. An alien race surrounds the Earth and gives us 48 hours to sort out our issues.

The Elevator – This is another, the story I first think of when I think 80s Twilight Zone. Two young men go to their father’s laboratory to see his experiment for feeding the world. They find something they didn’t expect.

Gramma – Stephen King wrote this story about a little boy who is terrified of his Grandmother. Add a dash of H.P. Lovecraft, and some creepy special effects, and you’ve got a great little episode.

Dead Run – Steve Railsback, former Dallas native, plays a trucker in need of a job. Too bad the job he finds is hauling souls to the underworld.

Profile in Silver – A professor returns to the 1960s to study JFK, only to try and change his fate. This one was shot on location in Dallas. I remember the filming downtown.

Button, Button – My least favorite episode, but one that stuck with me. A desperate couple gets a box with a button, and all they have to do is press the button to get money. Only problem is, when they press the button, someone they don’t know dies.

Need to Know – People in a small town start going mad, and William Peterson teams up with Frances McDormand to find out why. It’s neat to see William Peterson in a Gil Grissom type role, before there was a CSI.

Shadow Play – Peter Coyote plays a man who faces the death penalty, but exclaims at his trial that this is all a dream, and everyone will die if he does.

A Day in Beaumont – This is one of the best episodes out of the whole season. A young couple sees an alien spaceship land outside of the small town of Beaumont. No one believes their story, and the whole town ends up being assimilated a la Body Snatchers. The best thing is all of the cameos and hints to old 50’s Sci Fi. John Agar plays the coffee shop owner, and the newspaper man mentions Attack of the 50 Ft Tarantula, Them!, and a few others.

The Last Defender of Camelot – This episode is based on a Roger Zelazny story, and written for TV by George R.R. Martin. I love Jenny Agutter as Morgan LeFay. Merlin awakens from a 1,000 sleep and wants to put a new Arthur on the throne of Camelot.