The Obsolete Man - Twilight-Tober Zone

Рет қаралды 102,913

Жыл бұрын

Walter's favorite episode is here! "The Obsolete Man" is a piece of classic vintage TV that is still as relevant today as it ever was. The themes and morals aren't unique, but the execution of this story in every facet; from the visuals to the performances to the writing are top of the heap. Join Walter as he discusses this brilliant episode and dives further into The Twilight Zone.
Watch Twilight-Tober Zone 2021 Compilation - • Twilight-Tober Zone 20...
Watch Twilight-Tober Zone 2020 Compilation - • Twilight-Tober Zone 20...
Watch more Twilight-Tober Zone here - bit.ly/TwilightToberZone
Follow Walter on Twitter - / awesome_walter
Follow us on Twitch - / channelawesome
"The Obsolete Man" is episode 65 of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone, starring Burgess Meredith as Romney Wordsworth. It originally aired on June 2, 1961. The story was later adapted for The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas starring Jason Alexander as Wordsworth.
Twitch - / channelawesome
Facebook: / channelawesome
Twitter: / channelawesome
Instagram: / channelawesome
Like Doug on Facebook: / 127127037353766
The ONLY Official KZfaq channel for the Nostalgia Critic and Channel Awesome.
New Nostalgia Critic episodes every Wednesday at 5PM CST.
#twilightzone #thetwilightzone #twilighttoberzone

Пікірлер: 708

@ChannelAwesome Жыл бұрын

What did you think of "The Obsolete Man"? Watch Twilight-Tober Zone 2021 Compilation - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gNh1bLWT1diqgaM.html Follow Walter on Twitter - twitter.com/Awesome_Walter Follow us on Twitch - www.twitch.tv/channelawesome

@jessetorres8738 Жыл бұрын

This is definitely a Top 10 best episode to me, but I gotta say 1 thing I find interesting about this episode is how quickly the Chancellor is declared obsolete. In the beginning of the episode Romney is declared obsolete after an almost 2 year observation period. However, from the time the Chancellor arrives to Romney's room, the execution from the bomb, and him returning to his office only an hour or so passed. What I interpret from this is that the State has to keep up its appearance in order for average citizens to continue to believe in it otherwise they might rebel against it and demand a change to the system. So, once the State sees the Chancellor showing weakness and being a coward in front of the entire nation, they quickly replace him with his underling we saw at the beginning of the episode and declare him obsolete to prove it was the man and not the State that was flawed. Finally, this reminds me of the story of Harrison Bergeron where a similar government structure enforces equality amongst all its citizens but not its members and any sad memories of individuals or events are erased to keep up this facade of a perfect society.

@trinaq Жыл бұрын

It's a classic episode, and definitely one of the highlights of a wonderful show.

@rogue7723 Жыл бұрын

I love this episode, especially since religious people get so crapped on nowadays.

@DasKame Жыл бұрын

One of the best, a adore this awesome Table!

@Yesica1993 Жыл бұрын

Oh, I remember this ep! I saw it in the last couple of years. I can't remember how I came across it. I was just a bit too young for the old Batman show, but I do remember watching reruns or whatever. I only knew Burgess Meredith as Penguin. Not only did I have no idea he did dramatic roles, I had no idea what a brilliant actor he was. Shame on me!

@justanotherchannelonyoutub126 Жыл бұрын

The scariest thing about this episode is how relevant it still is today, which is also why I love The Twilight Zone because it knew how to tell stories that still resonate with people decades later, for better or worse

@aragorn1780 Жыл бұрын

Now that you say that I do wonder, especially when you see the public debates about work culture and fair wages you get a feeling of this very attitude that, while not as extreme as a mandated death sentence, someone who is not considered valuable by very subjective and biased standards doesn't deserve a quality of life Ironically this episode seems to play on Cold War scares against leftist ideas but the modern attitude leans more conservative

@michaelcoulter1725 Жыл бұрын

Yep you're absolutely right kind of like George Orwell's 1984 I saw the movie and I was like holy s*** who the hell would want to be happy because they're being controlled that's bullshit I ain't going in like that no sir I will die before I'm controlled shit and the other one going around you will owe nothing and you will be happy yeah right they can kiss my ass with that shit

@KingRandor82 Жыл бұрын

It never *hasn't* been relevant....

@left4twenty Жыл бұрын

The scariest part to me, is that these "horrors" continue to happen, progressively more or in different ways, and humanity keeps running "business as usual" plows replaced hoes, tractors replaced plows, robots replaced tractors. It keeps going on and on accelerating, humans pushed more and more to the sidelines of the functioning of our civilization, and we just see it as normal

@michaelcoulter1725 Жыл бұрын

@@left4twenty yep I know what you're talking about I went into Taco Bell one day and not have seen that a soul inside in there except one dude at the counter I saw a lot of kiosks in there you can press the button on the kiosk and order your food or you can go to the counter and tell the cashier what you want to eat on the menu who knows how long that will last

@HandsomeSteveJacobson Жыл бұрын

Rod Serling was a genius way ahead of his time

@ConnanTheCivilized Жыл бұрын

The chancellor becoming the victim of the crowd reminds me of “Lord of the Flies.” In it the main characters turn on other kids one at a time in almost random cruelty, and it is only once Ralph looses power that he (and the audience) truly experience just how terrifying being hunted down by the state can be. Before becoming a victim himself, he portrayed it as “just a prank, bro!” It really shows how unreliable the viewpoint of someone in power can be, and how tempting it is for “good” people to excuse corruption. I love it.

@elder-woodsilverstein7716 Жыл бұрын

Theory: Wordsworth is actually Henry Bemis. After Henry broke his glasses, he then is encountered by a group of armed men claiming to be from the government. they said they were sent out to organize and rebuild the world. (For those who don't know, this is a reference to the Old Man in the Cave) Henry goes with them, gets eye contact lenses, and changes his name. He sees this as a new start for him and decides to change his name in respect to the written word, "Wordsworth". He then gets a job as a librarian. This I believe makes his death all the more meaningful. Henry/Rodney has been judged for reading books, by his wife, by his boss, and now the state. So it makes sense that he would grow wiser and decide to die for what he believes is a way of life.

@lovetolovefairytales Жыл бұрын

I love this theory.

@williamcrowe2576 Жыл бұрын

A pretty sound theory.

@xXTwigManXx Жыл бұрын

It's definitely not the case, but I do really like this idea! It adds up very well

@Yesica1993 Жыл бұрын

Oh, I love this idea!

@Reoko77 Жыл бұрын

Someone give this man a raise!

@jessetorres8738 Жыл бұрын

@politenonparticipant4859 Жыл бұрын

Perfection is only ever a theoretical, so the closest you can come is to make an illusion of it, but by taking measures to falsify the quality and nature of a thing, we tend to make it far worse than it would be if we just made it to serve the needs of its maker and made no claims to infallibility.

@xXTwigManXx Жыл бұрын

I always believed that some things must be inexcusable for the state. I believe that Romney would have been executed immediately had he been found with the Bible. Well, a top official of the state pleading for mercy to an obsolete librarian and yelling out "In the name of God" on live television, that must be grounds for immediate punishment

@mst3KGf Жыл бұрын

Totalitarian states cannot have those in power display weakness, at least not in public. It's one of the things that can lead to everything crashing down. You want a real-life example unfolding now, look at how the ongoing Russian military disaster in Ukraine is affecting Putin.

@melissacooper8724 Жыл бұрын

I thought the only reason that the Chancellor was declared obsolete was because he invoked the name of God when the state declared there is no God.

@julieporter7805 Жыл бұрын

Because he humiliated The State and revealed the cracks in the system. He revealed them for who they really are and they weren't going to allow that.

@SawBlood45 Жыл бұрын

This is my #2 episode of the entire series. #1 being the monsters are due on maple street. The obsolete man gave me chills the first time I saw it and Rod Sterlings ending narration has stuck with me for so long.

@landonletterman831 Жыл бұрын

I'll miss all those Maple Street's. They just all disappeared, over night, like they tore themselves apart in the process..... Every single Maple Street!

@LA_HA Жыл бұрын

@@landonletterman831 No wonder I couldn't find it... Woah

@precious_muse Жыл бұрын

This is my favorite episode too. I love how a librarian is the hero. This episode is so gutsy.

@xXTwigManXx Жыл бұрын

It's sort of like a David vs Goliath situation, which is perfect because of the religious themes and undertones in the episode

@ConnanTheCivilized Жыл бұрын

Twilight Zone shows how people of ANY cause can be corrupt if left unchecked, and how religion isn’t always the cause of this (as is portrayed in every single book/movie/speech I’ve ever seen.) Note how JK Rowling includes religious themes in her books, yet also portrays any religious influence as an excuse for the sins of characters. Also shocking for the time were all the moral grays and political complexity in Twilight Zone. So, it was very brave of this show on live television to make such statements. Even today, people ban anything “controversial” because it leads to introspection. And critcal thinking is apparently the enemy of “good people” these days.

@ConnanTheCivilized Жыл бұрын

That’s what I liked about Star Trek episodes that weren’t written by Gene Roddenberry. They actually cite the bible as a reason to champion human rights, and highlight individual liberty as important while limiting government. DS9 further explores how religion vs state can affect societies and the moral grays of various extremes.

@robertpolanco1973 5 ай бұрын

@@ConnanTheCivilized With all due respect, NOT EVERYONE believes in "The Bible" because it is an OVERRATED piece of religious literature and propaganda as well. After all, the writers of some of the episodes of the "Star Trek" shows were probably somewhat religious and that is so sad indeed.

@Chaos89P Жыл бұрын

I still swear that the crowd was enjoying the idea of tearing the former chancellor a new one. There's something about that "wail" that possesses a sense of sadistic glee and satisfaction to my ears.

@Perid0tStar Жыл бұрын

That SOUND they made :O and the body language they used! Omfg. I bet even on the set that was really alarming to witness. I also wonder what the hell that dream was about, in spite of myself.

@angbandsbane Жыл бұрын

I believe it. In authoritarian circles like that, you live in constant fear of your friends, much less your superiors. Fear leads to hate, and hate, when the balance of power shifts, leads to wrath.

@JepMasta Жыл бұрын

The way they pulled off that sound was they had everyone start out at a relatively high pitch but at a low volume then as they got louder they lowered their pitch some of the time they got to the bottom it was a deafening base growl

@josephcontreras8930 Жыл бұрын

A great show comparable to Orwell 1984,Fahrenheit 451 and other shows.

@trinaq Жыл бұрын

The title "The Obsolete Man" is very applicable, but doesn't refer to the man we initially presume it does. It's fascinating that Wordsworth, a lowly libarian, accepted his death calmly, reading his Bible before the explosion. This is in stark contrast to the Chancellor, an esteemed State Member, who prowls the room for the key, then flees in a panic once its open.

@Chaos89P Жыл бұрын

It does tie into Sterling's ending narration very nicely.

@melissacooper8724 Жыл бұрын

Wordsworth reminds me of my father. Had he been in that situation where he is to be executed he would probably be reading his Bible too. Like Wordsworth my father is a God fearing man.

@Arkylie Жыл бұрын

"Who is the monster and who is the man?" "What makes a monster and what makes a man?" I'm not sure what to substitute for "monster" for this episode, but it's the same principle: the surface layer and the truth are often diametrically opposed.

@melissacooper8724 Жыл бұрын

This is my dad's favorite episode. He admired Meredith's character because like Wordsworth my dad is a God fearing man. Also the fact that he wasn't afraid to die while the Chancellor was a coward.

@chrisjackson1889 Жыл бұрын

God fearing man is the not the right description of Wordsworth. If he was, he would have been preaches Heaven and Hell.

@melissacooper8724 Жыл бұрын

@Chris Jackson, How would you describe Wordsworth? I only described him as God-fearing because he was reading the Bible to the Chancellor in his last hours!

@chrisjackson1889 Жыл бұрын

@@melissacooper8724 I was describe him as the best example of a Christian. He truly believes in God and the Bible but he doesn’t condemn others and the State for not believing. He condemns them for saying a human can be labelled as obsolete and how they decriminalise people like him because of his views. Even in his final moment, he shows the Chancellor mercy and opens the door so he could live. God fearing seems to indicate that Wordsworth was motivated out of fear of damnation.

@melissacooper8724 Жыл бұрын

@Chris Jackson, You're right. Wordsworth didn't act out of fear of damnation.

@wstine79 Жыл бұрын

Another great Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith. And his second to involve books.

@motor4X4kombat Жыл бұрын

"It was time now..."

@uncommon_niagara1581 Жыл бұрын

In his third episode, he is the devil who composes newspaper headlines. All three episodes involve reading or writing.

@arealconservative8712 Жыл бұрын

What’s funny is that in this episode, he was the victim of a bomb explosion. In the other episode, he was the only one who wasn’t.

@TammyBundleballs Жыл бұрын

I played The Chancellor in a stage production of this. I loved it.

@AnotherPugBoy 8 ай бұрын

I think this would make a great play. Were things added to the production?

@TammyBundleballs 8 ай бұрын

@@AnotherPugBoy Wordsworth was portrayed by a woman, but other than that, not too much. The set was simple. Our director adapted three of these and we had an actor portray Rod Serling, as well. It was a very enjoyable experience.

@micshork Жыл бұрын

This is my number one episode of all time. It’s so scary because of how real it is.

@progKansas Жыл бұрын

Now we are heading toward Christian fascism.

@ColonelCarnage Жыл бұрын

@@progKansas lol get with reality

@progKansas Жыл бұрын

@@ColonelCarnage look at Marjorie Taylor Greene's speech and laws passed by state legislatures.

@ColonelCarnage Жыл бұрын

@@progKansas look at Biden sicken the FBI on people. Look at the left censoring anything they disagree with. The Democrats are exactly the authoritarians in this episode.

@guillermoelnino Жыл бұрын

@@progKansas when your only input is leftist dogma you're going to think there's a white supreme around every corner.

@ECO473 Жыл бұрын

The look on the Chancellor's face when he realizes that the State will not be coming to his rescue is priceless. And Fritz Weaver perfectly shows the Chancellor's increasing panic with the knowledge that he is to share Wordsworth's fate in a matter of minutes. And of course, Burgess Meredith was equal to the task of twisting the psychological knife by using the Chancellor's own words against him, and showing him a special brand of karma to come. Weaver and Meredith really played well off each other in this episode.

@claytonrios1 Жыл бұрын

This is another one of those episodes that I did a reading for in high school. It's as chilling now as it was when I was a teenager in the 2010s...

@trinaq Жыл бұрын

Agreed, I never would have seen the twist coming, it's one of the most memorable installments of the series.

@claytonrios1 Жыл бұрын

@@trinaq Probably explains why my teacher chose this and Maple Street for the episodes to show his high school class.

@tvccreator_elysius Жыл бұрын

I didn't realize that was Burgess Meredith as the main character until you pointed it out. Such amazing talent from Meredith!!!

@toshirodragon Жыл бұрын

I have nothing to add to Walter's summation of this episode. Burgess Meredith and Fritz Weaver knocked it out of the park. And the relevance to the modern world is frankly terrifying.

@Omar-wq9dz Жыл бұрын

This episode is still relevant today as it brings up censorship, rewriting history, and cancel culture. Serling was really prophetic about people and society when he says at the beginning, “Logic is an enemy and truth is a menace”

@overdrive7349 Жыл бұрын

A lot of writers at the time wrote things like this. Such as Ray Bradbury, one of Serling's favorite authors.

@Chaos89P Жыл бұрын

Well, you can look to the past to get a glimpse of a possible future.

@brianskirk Жыл бұрын

I have noticed that, when it comes to episodes like this, conservatives assume its an indictment of liberal values and liberals see it as a critique of conservative values. It's worth noting that Serling was a passionate progressive (politically and socially) and this episode, and others, reflect his denouncement of fascism and totalitarianism.

@JP2GiannaT Жыл бұрын

@brianskirk, I see it as an indictment of method rather than ideology. Both liberal AND conservative ideologies can end up in that place. I think you're falling into a trap by describing it as an indictment of ideology. It's not. It's an indictment in trust in something other than truth, of the state taking over the place of an objective morality that exists outside of it. It's far more productive to see ourselves in light of these stories than our enemies. I can't change those that ascribe to an ideology I dislike, but I can change myself.

@Regfife Жыл бұрын

@@JP2GiannaT Exactly. If you say "My side is the good side and has good reasons for everything, but the OTHER side is the bad side, and must be stopped at all costs", you're flirting with totalitarianism, regardless of which side you're on.

@allison1908 Жыл бұрын

I played this episode for my students on the last day of their Introduction to Humanities course. We had just finished studying Antigone, and this seemed like a very relevant tie-in. Great review, Walter!

@LegendStormcrow Жыл бұрын

Dang good choice.

@guillermoelnino Жыл бұрын

I'm surprised your teaching license wasn't revoked for showing something depicting tyrannical government as bad.

@LA_HA Жыл бұрын

@@guillermoelnino Haha

@kthemaster1999 Жыл бұрын

@@guillermoelnino especially if it's in Florida

@smellme6313 5 ай бұрын

@kthemaster1999 How stupid are you exactly?

@nataliegray8019 Жыл бұрын

There is a reason Burgess Merideth is one of my all-time favorite actors. Every role he did was golden. RIP, Mr. Merideth.

@dannyvalenzuela8075 Жыл бұрын

I agree so much with that. He n ever has been regraded as highly as merited.

@cherylcampbell9369 7 ай бұрын

and he was one of those chameleons.

@lexh.5225 Жыл бұрын

This is my absolute favorite episode too! When Romney turns the Chancellor’s words back on him, I get goosebumps, no matter how many times I’ve seen it.

@miroslavtomic7038 6 ай бұрын

This was one of rare strictly serious roles for Burgess Meredith in his entire career... And he totally nailed it. His performance was simply perfect.

@alexd0617 Жыл бұрын

This is also one of my absolute fav TZ episodes. It always reminds me of George Orwell's 1984, and yes, it IS quite relevant today as it was back then, when you look at how our individual liberties are slowly being taken away from us and the words of the people no longer apply. Then when you listen to Serling's closing comments, almost makes you weep.

@kyleshiflet9952 Жыл бұрын

One of the most stellar episodes it's so simple yet so powerful it's the perfect example of the perfect episode of any show and it's one the episodes that helped The Twilight Zone stay relevant to this day

@johnhaladay5541 Жыл бұрын

A little tidbit I always found interesting was that the Chancellor first referred to the librarian as "Mr. Wordsworth" when he had power over him, but then called him "Wordsworth" after he realized that he had been set up.

@FlutterLights Жыл бұрын

I'm happy with the amount of praise the big room with the table and podium got here. Such an intimidating set.

@JoseJoseC626 Жыл бұрын

The craziest part to me is the librarian faced his death with dignity and peace while the chancellor was kicking and screaming and begging.

@melissacooper8724 Жыл бұрын

I didn't find it surprising because Romney was a man of faith while the Chancellor was not.

@matrix91234 Жыл бұрын

@@melissacooper8724 Isnt the problem more with autocrats?. Though one way i think you could spark fear in Romney is saying God is a woman, and i have proof. XX is woman, XY is man. Therefor XY is a addon to nature, ergo what if judging innocent people sends you to hell?. Either case, the sin is being an autocrat.

@robertfolkner9253 5 ай бұрын

This seems to be a constant: examine the cases of Yagoda, Yezhov and Beria, each in his turn the head of the Soviet secret police. When each of these men fell out of favor, they -who had subjected their own victims to terror, torture and death- they ended up cringing, sobbing, begging for their lives. When the end came, they couldn’t face their deaths with any courage or dignity. They died as the cowards they truly were.

@Brian-uy2tj 2 ай бұрын

Both men are excellent in their roles. Every episode with Burgess Merideth is top notch, a winner. This is probably his most powerful role in the series but his roles in "Time enough at last" and "Mr. Dingle the strong" showed that he had a real flair for humor. He was just so damned good at what he did.

@trinaq Жыл бұрын

Yes, I was wondering what Walter's favourite episode was, and we've finally gotten there, almost three seasons in! I'd definitely recommend showing this episode to someone who hasn't seen the show before, I reckon that they'd be instantly hooked! 💗😍

@ramsfan0868 Жыл бұрын

It might come off too preachy to some. Religion might hinder the episode for some to.

@xXTwigManXx Жыл бұрын

@@ramsfan0868 Personally, I really love the inclusion of religion in the episode. Wether you believe in God or not, no state or ideology should be able to ban religion. Plus, like the video said, it's the perfect correlation since the state pretty much sees themselves as a god and it made for the perfect moment when the chancellor yells out "In the name of God, let me out of here!" live on television, thus showing the hypocracy of the state

@ramsfan0868 Жыл бұрын

@@xXTwigManXx Fair enough

@Globalman43 Жыл бұрын

@@xXTwigManXx Exactly. One of my all time favorite favorite episodes.

@libraryofluke Жыл бұрын

I'm glad that you mentioned Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and Orwell's 1984 in the review as this episode shares a lot of the same themes as the two books and deserves to be analyzed and taught in schools. This is also my favorite episode.

@LegendStormcrow Жыл бұрын

I could see them happening in the same world,.in the same dimension.

@22espec Жыл бұрын

I loved the Obsolete man, i was only 15 years old when i first saw, i just saw a random couple of episodes of the show and honestly I was not amused but after this one I was a total fan.

@clownfromspongebob3979 Жыл бұрын

I can just hear the excitement in Walter’s voice during this

@markhouck7834 Жыл бұрын

One interesting thing that I didn't know until recently is that this episode was made around the time that verificationism was starting to die out in philosophy. Verificationism was the idea that any statement that could not be verified using the scientific method was meaningless and in a sense worthless. CS Lewis wrote about this attitude in The Abolition of Man. He argued that if we were to follow that philosophy to its natural end we would end up wiping out mankind since mankind's value could not be scientifically verified. We see a great depiction of that idea here. I wonder if Serling was responding to this very idea

@anarchomando7707 Жыл бұрын

I prefer "he's alive" basically implying Neo- Nazis in America Basically using words that would be echoed by Trump

@shainewhite2781 Жыл бұрын

One of my favorite Burgess Meredith episodes.

@melenatorr Жыл бұрын

Agreed: one of my very favorites, and one of the best showcases for Meredith, and Weaver both: they needed to be able to depend on each other to carry this as strongly as they do.

@DrTimes99 Жыл бұрын

My favorite episode of all time. It's a timeless classic. I love at the end when the mob comes for him, the Chancellor is still pleading that he wants to serve the state, still oblivious the the cult-like, slave mentality.

@jinchuriki7022 Жыл бұрын

Definitely my favorite episode. Those that deem others worthless are intrinsically talking about themselves. They need to tear others down.

@brianskirk Жыл бұрын

This one is definitely in my top ten, in part because of that amazing opening set, and the excellent performances.

@moonleafteaofthemonth Жыл бұрын

I remember watching this episode as a kid and most of it going over my head. But it stuck with me, and has all the more so now that I've grown up and have a much firmer grasp on and the life experience necessary to get an idea of what's going on.

@MsBackstager 9 ай бұрын

A very powerful ep with a timely message. Sadly, the cigarettes that RS pushes is what killed him. :(

@ztyran Жыл бұрын

Since you love this episode, may I suggest the audio drama with Jason Alexander as Wordsworth. It expands on the piece by showing who else is being declared obsolete, how he got the idea for his plan, and a scene with the man who sets up the camera in the room.

@asterixking Жыл бұрын

I've been waiting for a video dissection of this particular episode for quite some time now. You have no idea. This episode is a big deal to me. It's what I fear most. Thank you so much Walter. You're the man.

@CartersRemasters 7 ай бұрын

Get your head out of the gutter, you should not fear the "state" maybe fear the unfeathered greed and capital that is slowly destroying and corrupting the earth, not a state that attempting to regulate and prevent this

@landonletterman831 Жыл бұрын

The way he spoke definitely took inspiration from dictators, but I feel only Christian's see the wildest part of this. The huge room, the congregation (how quickly, and dangerously, they became a mob), the man on the pulpit, the fact that he's preaching his ideas and the fact that he's yelling "there is no God" no differently than a preacher would stand up there and cry "there is a God!" He talks about dangers, and how the state may show him mercy and "save" him, but religion or belief is still a personal journey, it can't be handed to you by someone else. It _can,_ but it will never be as strong as what you went out and confirmed or denied for yourself.

@Yesica1993 Жыл бұрын

Wow! Talk about completely missing the point.

@landonletterman831 Жыл бұрын

@@Yesica1993 how so? You failed to explain. You mean the religious persecution of this man resulting in his death because he stuck to his guns (literally dieing on that hill), while the persecutor runs and cowers just to be torn apart by a machine even colder and more unfeeling than the one he just sentenced to death as "dangerous"? Perhaps it was the tearing down of information for all to help promote the more state sponsored, and approved, dispensing of information! Yeah, went right over my head, sorry. Sorry I just decided to raise one thing I noticed about the scene, and thanks for making your point so clear. Hate to think you were just bleating about somebody else's opinion on something, as if any of it mattered.....in the Twilight Zone.....

@landonletterman831 Жыл бұрын

@@Yesica1993 Wow! Talk about a glib complaint!

@George-kz5hb Жыл бұрын

This review is a clear love letter to the episode. Excellent job Walter!!

@glendasmilesalot2959 Жыл бұрын

OMG..you nailed your analogy on my favorite "Twilight Zone" as well. The brilliance of this episode is unmatched. Thank you so much! 🥰

@FionaLovecraft Жыл бұрын

Gosh that wailing is so visceral, it really is bone-chilling excellent coverage as always

@parnellsmith7035 Жыл бұрын

"This story is anything but obsolete." Very well put.

@godzy323 Жыл бұрын

As a creative writer, I love writing and handwriting my ideas. When I first watched this episode, we really connected with the words "obsolete" and how relevant it feels in our life. What's the point in handwriting when nearly everything is typed? What's the point in writing lovely words when most people don't read? What's the point in a skill which seems more focused on visual media than written? It really made us think that in that society, and an extension of this one, perhaps my own skills are obsolete. That I was obsolete. We honestly struggle with it often whenever we notice people don't read things we write for work, or friends don't read the stories we write unless they are published and drawn online. This episode hit such a cord with us, we still tell people about it as one of the Twilight Zone episodes we take inspiration from in our stories.

@xXTwigManXx Жыл бұрын

"we"? Are you talking about the voices in your head lol

@Jack1994hoo Жыл бұрын

I can tell you. From the bottom of my heart (as small as it is). You, my friend, are NOT obsolete.

@Chaos89P Жыл бұрын

There may come a time when your skills are needed or - more likely - desired.

@godzy323 Жыл бұрын

@@Jack1994hoo By saying this, you have a greater heart than you know

@godzy323 Жыл бұрын

@@Chaos89P 🧡🙏

@KRAFTWERK2K6 Жыл бұрын

Now THIS is a timeless story.

@Globalman43 Жыл бұрын

Yes it is! Look at what’s happening in Florida.

@robertpolanco1973 5 ай бұрын

@@Globalman43 I agree with you because of the right-wing assault on certain books that were being declared as "controversial" and "not mainstream" in any way has proven the conservative and religious extremists to be so intolerant as ever.

@kshitijmehta876 Жыл бұрын

Ever since you started uploading these videos i was so earnestly waiting for this particular episode...I LOVE this episode...Obsolete Man and Changing of the Guard are my personal favorites😊😊😊

@julesthief Жыл бұрын

Definitely one of the best episodes of the show. Great video Walter!

@oo1670 6 ай бұрын

one of my personal favorites I I remember when it was broadcast many years ago , and now looking back on how much is taking place today in our country and the world !

@xXTwigManXx Жыл бұрын

This is my second favorite episode of all time, right after Walking Distance! This review actually made me decide to rewatch it for like the 20th time, haha. This ep holds sort of a special place in my heart, as it just so happened to be one of the very first episodes that I watched of the series, by pure chance. When I first started on this series, I decided to just choose random episodes from random seasons to watch and this was one of the first ones I chose randomly. It's always been one of my favorites and I realized only about a week or so ago that's its definitely my second favorite.

@MoonlitLycan Жыл бұрын

The most terrifying thing about this episode is that every day this comes closer and closer to becoming our reality.

@asterixking Жыл бұрын

What can be done about it? I don't know. I wish I had the answer.

@JP2GiannaT Жыл бұрын

Seeing our enemies as people is a start. Affirm the truth in what they say, then work from that common ground on the rest. The trouble is that both parties have to agree on that.

@Raximus3000 Жыл бұрын

@@JP2GiannaT Be serious the western world has been undergoing a "leftification" for decades. There is no such a the 2 sides have to agree... They are using the "two sides" for simplification and the world is far too complecated to have such simplistic ideologies.

@GrimJackal Жыл бұрын

Oh, what utter nonsense. Meaningless doom-speak. "Oh, things are so bad in the age I live in. They were SO much better in the past."

@Yesica1993 Жыл бұрын

@@JP2GiannaT There's no truth in what some people say. There's no common ground with people who want to destroy you.

@daveroche6522 Жыл бұрын

A lot of us remember (and love) Burgess as The Penguin, in much the same way we remember (and love) Richard Basehart as Admiral Nelson (able to spout any old scientific gibberish and make it sound plausible) yet somewhat bizarrely forgetting/overlooking the fact that they were both excellent actors with many superb roles under their belt(s). Thank you lads, R.I.P.

@ramsfan0868 Жыл бұрын

This episode I was never too crazy about but to each their own and it does have Burgess Meredith.

@tejmonster Жыл бұрын

I must thank you for covering this series! There is basically not Twilight zone content on KZfaq, and it’s such a shame because it has so much to give. Your channel is like a diamond! Thank you! Happy New Year!

@jacechretin4597 Жыл бұрын

This is without a doubt one of the most fascinating episode of the twilight zone series. And to think this story was made to reflect an idea of what the world could be, now we can easily see it as our world will be soon. And it’s no longer a question of how will it come to be this way……..but when.

@ModernBarbarian187 Жыл бұрын

Powerful, terrifying, and still very relevant today. Great story telling that still makes you think.

@pgrocky33 Жыл бұрын

If you guys loved this episode their is an audible versio (like an old time radio show) out there. It's a longer story staring Jason Alexander. It's really good too. This one of my favorite pieces of any media. Wonderful for its time, and just as relevant today.

@kdusel1991 Жыл бұрын

Never saw this episode but the fact that walter is praising it as his favorite makes me want to watch it!!

@JTeam45 Жыл бұрын

The way the chancellor repeats himself into the microphone after every rebuke from Wordsworth hits hard for how almost any discussion goes today.

@Nightman221k Жыл бұрын

One of my favorite episodes

@kali3665 Жыл бұрын

Still one of my favorite Zone episodes, and as you say, just as relevant today.

@Deadlift4chips Жыл бұрын

We back and I’m happy.

@evilsdemise1287 Жыл бұрын

I always thought I was alone in having this episode as my #1 favorite TZ episode. It becomes more and more relevant as time goes on . . . . .

@weareallbronies9031 Жыл бұрын

This was my favorite episode for a while

@Blackout1077 Жыл бұрын

Wow, one of my other top 3 back to back! CLASSIC

@binkyboy448 Жыл бұрын

What a coincidence, this is my favorite too.

@heidifedor Жыл бұрын

One of my favorites

@mrsbluesky8415 Жыл бұрын

As kids my brother, sister and I would say “you are obsolete “ whenever we got mad at each other. Childish but effective and we cracked ourselves up.

@goldenfiberwheat238 8 ай бұрын

“You cannot erase God with an edict” what an amazing line. This guy is a chad

@amyfisher6380 Жыл бұрын

The whole look and feel of the episode is reminiscent of 1950’s live television dramas, which gave Rod Serling his start in television. In fact, Nineteen Eighty-Four is one of several literary classics staged for live television in that decade, and these productions were often minimalist and stark, with a theatrical feel and a small number of cast members due to budgetary constraints. Viewers of “The Obsolete Man” would probably have experienced a bit of nostalgia for the live television programs of the previous decade.

@wingzero7X Жыл бұрын

This channel deserves more views more subscribers, I look forward to this every year.

@theoncelers1fan Жыл бұрын

Birthday Twighlight-Tober Zone? Best Day Ever!

@nickeldan Жыл бұрын

My favorite Twilight Zone episode.

@themaninblack7503 Жыл бұрын

Best Burgess Meredith episode ever. Love how the bad guy gets killed by his own state

@VidWatcher01 Жыл бұрын

That last scene was terrifying!!

@jrr2480 Жыл бұрын

This is a great episode 👏 God bless all those souls 🙏 who are brave, even in the sight of death.

@samhenley7156 Жыл бұрын

God bless.

@robertpolanco1973 5 ай бұрын

@@samhenley7156 With all due respect, NOT EVERYONE believes in a "god." After all, religion does not always help or work with people anyway.

@DreamcastAesthetic Жыл бұрын

This is such a good episode, easily in my top 5. Welcome back to October Walter, we're hype for your TwilightOber Zone

@kenslycarpel3140 Жыл бұрын

This is literally my FAVORITE TWILIGHT ZONE EPISODE!!! I can quote that court scene word for word, to the point where my brother finds it annoying and oddly cringe.

@jc9561 9 ай бұрын

Such a GREAT episode... We always chant OBSOLETE every time the word comes up... decades later.

@MaverickChristian Жыл бұрын

This is also is my favorite episode of the entire series.

@fifth_noble8022 Жыл бұрын

Wow. A moving one-I really need to watch this one directly.

@shadowjudge921 Жыл бұрын

This is my #1 favorite! I absolutely love it. This is, also, by far, my favorite Burgess Meredith performance.

@antonmassopust568 Жыл бұрын

You're absolutely right everything about this episode is creepy weird strange that giant sat that weird ideas eared ideas and the idea that basically a lot of these things are still going on today but wonderful performances and probably one of the best episodes of the twilight Zone

@stevejohnson2941 Жыл бұрын

I can't wait for Deaths-Head Revisited, a fantastic episode.

@noahhamel6689 Жыл бұрын

This is easily my favorite episode as well

@benjaminfuentesiv751 Жыл бұрын

Loved this episode!! your twilight toner is so great especially for this episode!!!! 🎉

@ttthecat Жыл бұрын

This has reignited my love of this show! And I hope it has introduced this marvelous work of intelligent fiction to some of the younger folks who might not be familiar with it! Watch the show, and then come back and watch the reviews for more insight! Let me know if you fall in love with the show and end up watching the cool black and white interviews with Rod Sterling speaking brilliantly ahead of his time on race relations and other issues of civil rights. Truly a great mind and spirit!

@Vaquix000 Жыл бұрын

As I watched this I thought "oh that's an interesting idea maybe I'll want to see this episode" but it is clear that the writer is heavily pushing his beliefs. They could have made it seem like a man just trying to have freedom of religion but you can clearly see the writer is trying to show a "nice man who knows the Truth vs the evil atheist" they're not exactly subtle. Not particularly intelligent to me.

@mustbetheSUN Жыл бұрын

This is such a strong episode, one of those simple-but-assertive pieces of writing that will shape a part of your thoughts. Glad that people haven't forgotten it.

@FlinxWeasel Жыл бұрын

I always felt like this episode fit perfectly alongside the British series "The Prisoner"

@LucyLioness100 Жыл бұрын

Just like Walter, this is one of my absolute favorites. The pacing is inanely perfect, the acting balances each other out so well & that ending is horrifying; the original extension of the finale was actually even more gruesome

@BP-dn9nv Жыл бұрын

While this isn't the most subtle, it gets the point across very well.

@Mildnumber4444 Жыл бұрын

Man this is going to be a strong month of episodes. This one is a classic, but my favorite has to be "5 characters in search of an exit". Can't wait for that one.

@CaptainRiterraSmith Жыл бұрын

What a powerful way to tell the world who they need and who they can do without.

@Galantski Жыл бұрын

When the Chancellor berates Romney for being obsolete, he declares: _"Delusions, Mr. Wordsworth, that you inject your veins with printer's ink."_ 8:48 In the video you mention that this is one of two episodes where Burgess Meredith's character has close ties with books; the other being "Time Enough At Last". where he portrays bookworm Henry Bemis, who becomes an obsolete man in a different sort of way. What's also of note along these lines is that while these two episodes allude to the reader's end of books, the Chancellor's rant about "printer's ink", that is, a component in the manufacturing end of reading matter. This reminds of us another Meredith episode that is about that aspect: "Printer's Devil". What's disturbing in how closely the near-dystopia of the hysterical reaction to the 2020 pandemic by officials both elected and unelected mirrored this episode, and to some extent still mirror it. In "The Obsolete Man" the State deems that there is no longer any need for certain occupations, hence. Wordsworth is declared "obsolete", while in the real world government officials declared some businesses and other groups as *non-essential*, as if they had any right whatsoever to do so. The outcome of this closet totalitarianism meant the bankruptcy of many long-standing companies, along the disruption of countless lives through unemployment culminating in homelessness and severe depressions/suicides. In other cases, even houses of worship were persecuted as non-essential,

@badgerwijohnson4081 Жыл бұрын

I think they got the idea from the early turn of the century progressives. "We should all be obliged to appear before a board every five years and justify our existence... on pain of liquidation." George Bernard Shaw

@Fordo007 Жыл бұрын

One of my all time favorites. Love the message.

@F1989C Жыл бұрын

I swear this episode is more relevant today than Ever. Rod Serling had foresight into the future, Guaranteed 💯💯

@ACD1994 Жыл бұрын

Burgess Meredith best performance was in this TZ episode. Yes, even over his very good performance in, ''Time Enough At Last.''

@Yesica1993 Жыл бұрын

It wasn't until I saw "Time Enough At Last" a few years ago that it suddenly dawned on me that Burgess Meredith was a brilliant actor. Shame on me for only knowing him from the old Batman TV show. I'm GenX and I should have known better. Somehow, I missed it!