Twilight Zone New Year's Marathon Notes 2025/26

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Rod Serling introduces The Mirror

 I really wish many of these 4th season episodes had been chosen for the Christmas marathon instead of swallowing up so much time on New Year's Eve and Day. But I noticed on Reddit, there are Zoners who defend the season because some of the stories hit hard (neurodivergent Robert Duvall in The Miniature expected to somehow "become part of the team" or "fit in", instead opting for a life as a doll living with the woman of his dreams; broken Dennis Hopper, in He's Alive, having grown up with an abusive father and mentally ill mother who couldn't protect him, ultimately turning on the Jewish survivor of the Holocaust who lent him a place to stay and heart that cared until he became a pawn of hate; child-like Pat Hingle, in The Incredible World of Horace Ford, wanting to return to his childhood but ultimately realizing he had blacked out the bullying he experienced, equipped to "grow up" thanks to a very patient, loving, and mature wife), but I did some backtracking on episodes that were before I started work -- I had the marathon on as I was working -- and continue to do so today. Before falling asleep I was able to knock these out below. I dunno the first two sort of felt exactly right for where they were shown, as early kickoff episodes of the marathon, leaving the memory rather quickly while I really want to watch the third uncut to fully form a fresh set of thoughts. Depending on who you ask, The Mirror is a time capsule into how Castro was seen by Americans, and perhaps Serling, with Falk really hamming it up as a revolutionary figure seemingly no different than the general he replaced. But Beregi as Captain Lutze, how he enjoys some ole memories of his monstrosities, facing the very ghosts he sent to the afterlife, never fails to send chills down my spine before I revel in his comeuppance.. 

  • "Come Wander with Me" - 5:00 a.m.

  • "The Mirror" - 5:30 a.m..

  • "Death's Head Revisited" - 6:00 a.m.

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