The Twilight Zone / Spur of the Moment / Notes

Morbidly, I must admit, I often research how many of the cast is still alive. I was quite surprised to see that three of the five cast members for the Richard Matheson-penned TZ episode, "Spur of the Moment", are still with us. Hyland unfortunately left us at the young age of 41 due to breast cancer, but her mother, played by Marsha Hunt (I know her from the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "Too Short a Season"), is still alive, as are familiar faces, Roger Stone ("Dark Shadows", the 60s classic horror soap) and Robert Hogan (who has been a television staple up until 2018!). 

I still like the twist. You'd think Hogan's preferred investment banker and Hyland's fiance would be the one responsible for her family's ruin; that it was Stone, for whom Daddy Warbucks didn't like at all and was decidedly against, and seemed sincere and just right for Hyland, was actually the one who ultimately leads the family into destitution popped me. The way the episode sets this up is clever, I thought. Matheson plays on melodrama's cliches and turns those expectations upside down. You'd think Hogan isn't the one right for Hyland, that Stone just seemed like the perfect pick. There seemed to be fire and vigor, real passion. Stone seemed too aristocratic and yuppie for Hyland, who just feels like a firebrand. That Daddy was actually right about Stone, while Hyland clearly felt differently but put up a front to satisfy him for the time being isn't the kind of plotting many who watch soaps play out might anticipate. So bravura once again to Matheson.