“Imagination…its limits are only those of the mind itself.” – Rod Serling

Rod Serling, “The Angry Young Man” of television, became an acclaimed American writer when he wrote The Twilight Zone, an iconic show that presented speculative science-fiction and fantasy with uncommon human themes at its central core. The Twilight Zone  was a show that was new and daring to television at the time because of the various—and sometimes controversial–subject matter it dealt with. 

During the 1960s, tumultuous events such as the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement shook America. Many citizens and activists were angry with the government’s military action abroad, while domestically a populist movement stirred to eradicate racial segregation. Amidst these defining events, Serling was unafraid to tackle issues such as human prejudice or the war’s impact on American soldiers, and strove to help his audience realize that on the surface of reality, not all is what it seems to be. Today, his show is as relevant as ever.

The Twilight Zone  has stood the test of time by exploring interesting facets of human existence that are relatable to people regardless of era.

The Twilight Zone is an anthology series where each episode stands on its own and the only similarities between the shows is the exploration of society and the human dilemma. This approach allowed Serling to create each episode with its own “lesson,” without having to tie into the following premiere. The result was a show that brought fresh ideas, imaginative concepts, fragmented narrative structures, and stream-of-consciousness, all of which were interlaced with the thesis of human intellect and actuality. Rod Serling describes the show as being “a series of imaginative tales that are not bound by time or space or the established laws of nature.”

Where Is Everybody?

Written by Serling, the episode “Where Is Everybody?” examines human isolation and paranoia as a force powerful enough to drive a man to the brink of insanity. The episode is about a sole wanderer named Mike Ferris who wakes up to discover that he is all alone in a small town, unaware of who or where he is, or how he got there. As he explores the empty streets and stores for answers, he becomes increasingly agitated due to the isolation.

Similarly, people today are isolated from their surroundings because they are stuck staring at their phone screens. With technology and social media apps having taken over the new millennium, people are increasingly oblivious to their surroundings. Like Ferris, we become confused, even if only momentarily, by what the person in front of you is saying—everything else happening outside our line of sight is just a blur. However, there still exists those who refuse to be consumed by the cyber world, those who prefer to interact in person, without the distraction of phones. In this simpler form of communication, they are able to explore face-to-face interactions and engage in connecting with other humans.

Many people today speak through social media which has negative effects, such as causing social isolation. In “Where is Everybody?” Ferris’s utmost desire is to be heard by another human being. He does not want to feel like the only one around in such a lonely place. The moral of the story is that mankind cannot withstand being alone and isolated for very long. This message is just as relevant today as people become more isolated as they turn to technology. Face-to-face human interaction is the basis of humanity and essential to a normal and healthy lifestyle. This message is one of Serling’s prevailing themes in The Twilight Zone  series.

Kick the Can

Longing for the past—nostalgia—is the theme associated with “Kick the Can,” written by George Clayton Johnson. In this episode, an elderly man named Charles is reminiscing about his childhood, and wishes to leave the nursing home he is stuck in. As the saying goes, “you’re as young as you feel.”

According to Swiss physician Johannes Hofer, who coined the term ‘nostalgia’ in his 1688 medical dissertation, longing of the past could be linked to pain. Although Charles doesn’t feel physical pain, he longs for the times when he could play outdoor games and engage in childlike activities. Charles sneaks out one night to play kick the can when he transforms into a child again and disappears into the night.

Commonly associated with adults, nostalgia lingers and seems to only become stronger as we age. This episode questions the idea of nostalgia and how childhood, maturity, and old age are connected. In many ways, it seems to suggest that old age is a state of mind that we can control, and that we are not defined by our age. But it also cautions against getting lost in your nostalgia. There seems to be a certain sense of balance that one must create while trying to live with youthful vigor; you don’t want to be consumed by it.

Walking Distance

“Walking Distance” tells of the over-demanding pressures of the business world and how it impacts the face of adulthood. In this episode, Martin Sloan, an overworked and frustrated man, goes back in time while walking down the road and finds himself in his hometown looking exactly as it was when he was a child.

Interestingly enough, Sloan is an exact representation of Rod Serling. Working twelve to fourteen hours a day, seven days a week while being involved with The Twilight Zone, Serling became exhausted. As a result, “Walking Distance” is a personal story that encompasses how Serling himself feels. The message is that there is an absence of responsibility in childhood, a simpler time, which many prefer, but sadly, we must all grow up.

At the end of the episode, Serling narrates: “And perhaps across his mind there’ll flit a little errant wish, that a man might not have to become old, never outgrow the parks and the merry-go-rounds of his youth. And he’ll smile then too because he’ll know it is just an errant wish.”

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

One of the most acclaimed episodes of The Twilight Zone is “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” adapted from the short story by Ambrose Bierce. The plot is that humans cherish the beauty of the natural outside world so much that their senses are overloaded.

Human themes are at the core of many Twilight Zone  episodes, which intellectually reveal that in every person, every soul, there lies an abundance of emotion.  

In Bierce’s story, this could not be more true. The protagonist, Peyton Farquhar, a man about to meet his death, experiences the ecstasy of nature. Realizing his mortality, he metaphorically opens his eyes for the first time and discovers, through visualization, smell, and touch that the natural world is in fact Heaven on Earth.  

Today, far fewer people appreciate the outdoors and bond with the natural beauty of Mother Nature. Instead, many of us are engrossed with technology. We fail to value what grows and exists in the outside world choosing instead to focus on screens, be it a phone or television. Ironically, we admire digital pictures of forests or rivers, a poor substitute that does no justice for experiencing these wonders in person.   

Serling created The Twilight Zone to challenge the mind to think and see through the “normal” veneer of culture that’s present in every day of our lives.

Beyond the scope of ordinary existence lies a deeper message that the naked eye cannot see; life should not be taken for granted, for in every interaction, every opportunity, there is something of worth to be held, lessons to be learned.

Hidden in every episode of the show is a thought provoking perspective. Serling’s message is that there is always more to perceive because things are not always what they seem to be. This is the essence of The Twilight Zone.

Ironically, Rod Serling died in 1975 thinking that he was a failure. Despite having won two Emmy Awards, a Hugo Award, and a Golden Globe for the show, Serling felt he had more potential in him still. Due to censorship and ads running every fifteen minutes on television, he felt the show’s message couldn’t be fully delivered.

Feeling restricted, Serling perceived that his inherent writing talent could have been presented more thoroughly. However, he never realized the true extent of his groundbreaking show. The Twilight Zone provides much more than just entertainment, it captures the seemingly ordinary and converts it to knowledgeable advice—advice that’s relevant to us all today.

Rod Serling and his legacy of a show is enough to motivate one to pursue what they love.  For him, it was writing, as is true for many others living today. Personally, I have never left, nor will ever leave, the dimension which is “as vast as space and as timeless as infinity.”