MovieChat Forums > The Twilight Zone (1959) Discussion > Does the entire reputation of this show ...

Does the entire reputation of this show today hinge upon IT'S A GOOD LIFE?

posted 4 years ago by stevewyzard (1659)
19 replies | jump to latest

Mention The Twilight Zone to almost anybody these days, and the first episode off everyone's lips is "It's A Good Life". One would almost think it's the only episode millions of people have ever seen.

Dissertations have no doubt been written to explain "It's A Good Life's" popularity. Which is quite tragic, as I feel the episode is not truly representative of the series. It's an adaptation of an amoral short-story on a show that was very often a public platform for moralizing. Similar to The Mary Tyler Moore Show's "Chuckles Bites The Dust", it's become the easiest episode to name-drop.

Taking into account that The Twilight Zone's competitors/knock-offs have nowhere near the same following, I have to ask:

If "It's A Good Life" had never been made, would the show be held in the same regard today?

[–] Owlwise (1536) 3 years ago

That's a powerful & disturbing episode, but if it hadn't been made, the series would still be remembered & revered for so many other fine episodes. Just from the previous postings, it's easy to see that it appealed & spoke to many human needs, fears, and desires. "Walking Distance" & "A Stop At Willoughby" are especially strong episodes for me, as an example. Questions of identity lost & found (or not); of human authenticity in an increasingly mechanized world; of basic compassion & decency in the face of greed & callous evil; loneliness; despair; imagination ... and those are just a few of the eternally human issues it grappled with.

[–] strntz (12715) 3 years ago

A Stop at Willoughby is one of my favorites.

Many of the TZ episodes that have a great twist are almost a one-trick pony in that the twist is the best part. A lot of those are ones I skip. Well written episodes like Willoughby are eminently rewatchable from the first minute to the last.

[–] Owlwise (1536) 3 years ago

Yes, anyone who has reached a certain age can identify strongly with that episode. A very human & humane story, bittersweet, but not without hope either. A recognition that some things in life can never be regained, but they can still be cherished as long as we accept that recognition.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

if that episode didn't exist, i'm fairly sure the series would be remembered just as well. it's one of their signature episodes for sure, but i don't think if you took it out of the mix, the series' cult status evaporates.

there are a dozen episodes that are just as great, and probably just as engrained in the public consciousness. if you stripped away all those top tier episodes, then maybe the show's reputation goes away. but it doesn't all hinge on that one episode.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

It's a Good Life has a lot of traction for two simple reasons: It's one of the episodes represented in TZ: The Movie and Bill Mumy's willingness to whore himself out* to the ComiCon crowd and classic TV stations. He's probably the most prominent Twilight Zone player who's still alive and sells himself out as a relic of the series.

* I mean that in the kindest of ways, I truly do.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 3 years ago

OP: No.

[–] bobbydallas (8628) 3 years ago

there's a LOT of classic episodes

[–] mikethemartian (6889) 3 years ago

My favorite episode is probably The Howling Man but Dan Hollis is probably my favorite character of the whole series since he was the only one brave enough to stand up to that kid.

[–] xanthas (3215) 3 years ago

Weird. Is this a millennial thing? I had no idea that this was the only episode millions of people had ever seen.