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Years ago, The Twilight Zone became an iconic part of our cultural fabric. The groundbreaking series, created by Rod Serling, aired from 1959 to 1964 and remains one of the greatest TV shows ever, still making waves even in an era dominated by peak prestige television. Serling helmed 156 episodes across five seasons, writing an impressive 92 of them himself. Yet, if you watch the show today, you're likely to encounter just a few standout episodes: Burgess Meredith struggling with his glasses in “Time Enough at Last,” the chilling scene of a woman treated by grotesque pig-faced doctors in “Eye of the Beholder,” or the overburdened businessman making a stop at “Willoughby.”
However, many truly great episodes remain largely obscure, known only to the most devoted fans. These episodes were either kept out of syndication, tucked away because of controversy, or simply lost in the shuffle of time, but they deserve recognition. Today, we shine a light on ten of the finest episodes of The Twilight Zone that have been nearly forgotten.
10. An Episode Shelved for 52 Years
Before making his name as Sulu on Star Trek, George Takei appeared in what may be the most contentious episode of The Twilight Zone. “The Encounter” first aired on May 1, 1964, only to vanish from the airwaves for over half a century, resurfacing on the SyFy channel during a Twilight Zone marathon on January 3, 2016. While it had always been available in DVD and Blu-ray collections of Season 5, the episode was absent from TV for 52 years due to its controversial nature from the very beginning.
Takei portrays Arthur, a young Japanese-American man who shares a beer with World War II vet Fenton (Neville Brand). Fenton wants to show Arthur the samurai sword he claimed after killing a Japanese soldier during the war. This leads to a series of troublingly racist conversations, Fenton’s PTSD played for humor, and the sword's supernatural influence driving Arthur to kill Fenton. Ultimately, Arthur succumbs to Japanese stereotypes and takes his own life by jumping out of a window.
Even before the Civil Rights movement gained momentum, viewers found the episode deeply offensive and tone-deaf. CBS responded by pulling it from summer re-runs and eventually from the syndication package. Seen through today’s lens, “The Encounter” seems to be attempting to tackle the consequences of war and racism, but it relies too heavily on harmful stereotypes. Nonetheless, it’s fascinating that this long-forgotten episode of a legendary series was eventually revived on television.
9. Award-Winner at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Awards
Much like “The Encounter,” the episode “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” comes from the tail end of The Twilight Zone’s original run, appearing late in the final season. Even the most ardent fans agree that by this point, Serling and his team were beginning to show signs of exhaustion. After all, the show had been running with over 30 episodes per season, an almost unheard-of pace in television today. Serling not only penned many episodes but also served as producer, showrunner, and the only recurring star, appearing as the show's narrator. So it's no surprise that near the end, Serling decided to look beyond the usual production process.
To do this, he acquired the rights to An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, a 1961 French short film based on Ambrose Bierce’s famous short story. Set during the American Civil War, it’s a surreal tale of a civilian’s last moments before his hanging by Union soldiers. The film is mostly silent, with only the occasional military command and bird sounds. This haunting film won the Best Short Subject award at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival and the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film at the 1963 Academy Awards.
At a time when the average episode of Twilight Zone cost $65,000 to produce, the show's producers managed to secure the rights to An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge for just $20,000. An extra $5,000 was spent on filming Serling’s introduction and editing him into the piece. This transformed a high-quality film into a more budget-friendly episode. However, when the time came for syndication, the episode was withheld, likely because the original purchase didn’t cover unlimited broadcast rights. While it occasionally airs as part of TV marathons and is available in home video box sets, it remains one of the lesser-seen episodes of The Twilight Zone.
8. The Pre-Twilight Zone Pilot Episode
In 1955, Rod Serling rose to prominence with his teleplay for Patterns. Airing on NBC’s live Kraft Television Theatre, Patterns became an immediate success, both critically and commercially. A drama set in a corporate boardroom, Serling’s script highlighted the struggles of the working class in corporate America. The episode resonated deeply with viewers, establishing Serling as a star. As the networks sought to offer him a show of his own, Serling envisioned an anthology series that would address pressing social issues through the lens of sci-fi, hoping to bypass network censors.
CBS bought Serling’s first script for his new concept, titled 'The Time Element,' but decided to shelve it. The network executives simply didn’t recognize the potential of the idea. 'The Time Element' may have faded into obscurity had it not been for Desi Arnaz, who was looking to add prestige to his anthology series, the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse. Upon learning that CBS had a Serling script gathering dust, Arnaz got it into production, and 'The Time Element' premiered on November 24, 1958.
The overwhelmingly positive response to 'The Time Element' convinced CBS to purchase Serling's show idea, and The Twilight Zone debuted in the fall of 1959. Though 'The Time Element' was largely forgotten, its sci-fi and fantasy themes, along with its opening and closing narration and twist ending, made it an early prototype for The Twilight Zone. The pilot remained largely unseen until TV Land aired it as part of its inaugural broadcasts in 1996. In 2010, 'The Time Element' was finally included in the Blu-ray release of The Twilight Zone Season 1.
Robert Duvall's early performance in a starring role is unforgettable, especially in the context of his budding career. His appearance in this episode highlights a fascinating moment in his acting journey, long before he became a household name.
When discussing long-lost episodes of The Twilight Zone that sat in storage for years, the conversation often centers on Season 4. This season represented an ambitious attempt to revitalize the series, but despite strong critical reception and a loyal fanbase, CBS was dissatisfied with the ratings, ultimately putting the show on hiatus after Season 3. The show was absent in the fall of 1962, but Serling pitched a bold idea: extending the show to one hour per episode to recapture audience interest. The revamped The Twilight Zone debuted as a mid-season replacement on January 3, 1963.
Despite the attempt, the hour-long episodes of Season 4 didn’t manage to boost ratings. Season 4 was ultimately deemed a failed experiment. When the show returned for Season 5 in 1963, the show reverted to its original 30-minute format. Given the longer running time of the 18 episodes from Season 4, they were excluded from syndication. It wasn’t until the DVD release that Season 4 became more accessible. Many streaming services still do not feature these episodes due to their historical exclusion from syndication.
Although much of Season 4 is now considered rare, one of its most notable episodes is “Miniature,” which features an outstanding performance by Robert Duvall as a man who falls in love with a figure that seems to come to life in a museum dollhouse. As his obsession grows, his family believes he is losing his sanity and has him institutionalized. But in true The Twilight Zone fashion, expect a surprising twist ending.
Duvall's portrayal in “Miniature” is evocative of his role as Boo Radley in the film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. His subdued, introspective nature evokes a deep sense of empathy, making this episode a memorable standout among the hour-long episodes of The Twilight Zone.
The peculiar final moments of The Twilight Zone were marked by a strange conclusion, leaving fans with a lasting sense of bewilderment as the show came to an end. It was an odd way for the iconic series to close its chapter.
Speaking of To Kill a Mockingbird, Mary Badham, who portrayed Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch in the film, appeared in the series finale of The Twilight Zone in the episode 'The Bewitchin’ Pool.' In this episode, she plays a character named Sport, mirroring her previous role in a way—Scout’s brother in the film was Jem, while here her brother is Jeb. It’s hard to believe that Earl Hamner Jr., the writer (who later created The Waltons), didn’t intentionally evoke To Kill a Mockingbird with these character names, though the tone of the episode is quite different.
Hamner’s script was influenced by the societal rise in divorce rates and how such family upheaval affected children. In 'The Bewitchin’ Pool,' Sport and Jeb’s parents are embroiled in a bitter divorce, prompting the children to retreat to their swimming pool. There, they discover a hidden portal leading to the home of a kind woman named Aunt T.
Ultimately, the episode seems to convey a strange, unsettling message that children should simply escape if their parents can’t control their behavior. It’s an eerie conclusion for the series, and one that fits with the overall sense that Season 5 episodes, like 'The Bewitchin’ Pool,' showcased the show’s decline toward its end. It’s also one of the rare Season 5 episodes that is seldom aired in syndication.
Litigation has kept one particular episode of The Twilight Zone from being available for circulation, adding a layer of mystery to the show’s history.
In yet another unusual episode from Season 5, 'Sounds and Silences' tells the story of Roswell G. Flemington, a man who craves the constant presence of noise. However, when his wife grows weary of it, Flemington begins hearing everything at deafening levels—until he becomes unable to hear anything at all. While the episode doesn't deliver a clear lesson or moral, it remains a fascinating example of the experimental direction Serling was exploring toward the twilight of the show's run.
This episode is also notable for its role in a legal dispute. Back in 1961, a screenwriter submitted a script titled 'The Sound of Silence,' only for it to be rejected. When 'Sounds and Silences' aired in 1964, the writer claimed the episode had plagiarized his work. As a result, the episode was temporarily excluded from syndication during the lawsuit, and it remained largely unseen for years. Though it can be easily accessed now, it still remains a rare feature on television.
4. National Tragedy Interrupts an Episode
On November 22, 1963, a dark chapter in American history was written with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. As expected, television programming was disrupted in the wake of the tragedy, and the country watched as Kennedy's suspected assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was taken into custody and later killed himself. On that fateful day, 'The Twilight Zone' had an episode titled 'Night Call' scheduled to air, but in light of the events, the show was understandably postponed.
'Night Call' finally aired on February 7, 1964. The episode centers on an elderly woman who receives mysterious phone calls, which are later traced back to a ghostly voice from a graveyard. Given the chilling content of the story, it would have been highly inappropriate for it to have aired close to the Kennedy assassination. Since then, the episode has been broadcast less frequently than others from the early seasons, though it remains far from obscure.
3. An Episode That Might Not Hold Up So Well Over Time
'Black Leather Jackets' originally aired in early 1964. The plot involves aliens from another planet who infiltrate Earth, posing as human bikers in leather jackets. These extraterrestrials, named Fred, Steve, and Scott, take up residence in suburban neighborhoods to observe everyday Americans.
The youngest alien, Scott, falls for the teenage girl next door, Ellen. When Scott confesses the truth about his identity, Ellen believes him to be mad, and her father attempts to have him institutionalized. Scott tries to prevent an interplanetary conflict by convincing his homeworld's leader that humans are a peaceful species.
While The Twilight Zone often used allegory to tackle pressing social issues, 'Black Leather Jackets' awkwardly attempts to address the generation gap by presenting alien invaders as handsome bikers in leather jackets. Just like the 1960s counterculture they are meant to reflect, the youthful aliens emphasize 'peace and love, man!'
Although 'Black Leather Jackets' has never been considered lost or banned, it’s not one that frequently appears on television. This might be because the fear of leather-clad bikers that the episode draws upon is now a distant memory, making it feel somewhat outdated compared to other classic The Twilight Zone episodes. Regardless of its rarity, it remains an enjoyable and endearing episode that’s worth tracking down.
2. Another Episode in Legal Uncertainty
'A Short Drink From a Certain Fountain' first aired on December 13, 1963, but soon disappeared from circulation. Alongside episodes like 'The Encounter,' 'Miniature,' and 'Sounds and Silences,' it became part of a group of 'lost episodes' officially pulled from syndication until the full series was released on DVD. It’s believed that this may have been due to plagiarism accusations, but if any legal action was taken, the specifics have been lost to time.
'A Short Drink From a Certain Fountain' is, in fact, a solid episode. The story revolves around a May-December marriage where the older husband resorts to extreme measures to keep pace with his much younger wife. He persuades his brother, a research scientist, to concoct a youth serum. True to the spirit of The Twilight Zone, the episode takes a dark and ironic turn when he gets exactly what he asked for.
7. Is it Missing Because of Music Rights or Due to Its Poor Quality?
Looking back at the intriguing episodes from the last days of The Twilight Zone, we find 'Come Wander With Me,' a Season 5 episode that holds the distinction of being the last one filmed for the series. Though 'The Bewitchin’ Pool' was the last to air (due to delays in voice dubbing), 'Come Wander With Me' was the final episode produced. The plot follows Floyd, a folk singer reminiscent of Bob Dylan, who composes a song during a visit to a small town. This song eerily reflects the unfolding events and ultimately foreshadows Floyd’s own tragic fate.
The song 'Come Wander With Me' was originally written for the episode and later featured in a couple of films. Music rights issues might be a reason why this episode has been rarely seen since its 1964 premiere. While there’s no concrete evidence that it was deliberately kept out of syndication, it's also one of those episodes that doesn’t make many appearances on TV. On the other hand, it has garnered a reputation for being subpar. Marc Scott Zicree’s book The Twilight Zone Companion described it as 'virtually incoherent.' Since Zicree’s book is regarded as the definitive guide for Twilight Zone enthusiasts, this is far from a glowing review.
