The Ray Bradbury Theater (TV Series) The Playground (1985) User Reviews

One of the Circles of Hell

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 23 March 2015]

While he could enhance the sentimentality of childhood, Ray Bradbury also could take on the nightmares of childhood. I'm not sure I understand the ending totally, but the whole portrayal of the playground is frightening. William Shatner's Charlie, a single father, has been traumatized as a childhood. Before the pre-frontal cortex gets its act together, children can do things that lack conventional conscience. Charlie fears the playground and yet is drawn to it. He still lives in the same neighborhood where the kids of his day tormented him, and now his own son wants badly to be a part of the culture. The boy is pretty fearless and innocent. When we see things from Shatner's perspective we see fangs, facial distortions, horrors coming from these beings. At some point one must seek to confront or nothing will change. Charlie/Shatner knows that he will be haunted for his life it he doesn't act. That gets us to the end. Make your own conclusions.

The Playground

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 22 May 2022]

William Shatner is Charles Underhill. An insurance salesman, a single father who has been forever haunted with memories of childhood bullying.

With his sister looking to get married soon. She has looking after his year old son Steve. Charles is at a stage when he needs to introduce Steve to the outside the world.

The nearby playground still haunts Charles and he believes that the playground is no place for his son.

This is a surreal, nightmarish short story. Charles is on the verge of a mental breakdown. The kids in the playground are monsters in his eyes.

The conclusion is rather strange and unnerving. Does Charles suffer a total breakdown and leave his son at the mercy of the bullies, is it in his head or did Charles and Steve swap places?

Ray Bradbury doesn't shy away from the harshness of childhood.

Shatner will be Shatner

[safeJ · 6/10 · 24 October 2020]

William Shatner's acting is basically the same, whether playing Capt. Kirk on "Star Trek" or Mr. Underhill in "The Playground." His acting is stiff and agitated, his speech staccato with pauses in unnatural places. Part of this could be attributed to the part he's playing, but very similar to his Capt. Kirk. This episode indeed does have a puzzling but sad ending, though took a while to figure out exactly what has happened. Agree with other reviews that something missing in this climax of the story.

Good although a little confusing

[calsinic · 20 August 2013]

I'd recommend first time viewers really pay attention to the scene where Shatner's character is telling the story of his childhood bullying at the playground. You're still left to wonder exactly what is going on with the ending, which is disturbing on a psychological level (assuming he & his son really did swap minds, it's kinda disturbing that his son would just walk away as he was bullied & beaten by a pack of kids) no matter how you spin it. The only way it would really make sense is if the bullying is all in Charles head & it really wasn't taking place with the exception of his past.

All in all I liked it, & with Shatner it's much the same as usual with him in the way that you either like him & his style or you can't get past it. I find him entertaining so I'm always willing to give his work my time, at least in his younger (1950s - mid 1980s) days.

"Come on in and play, Charlie."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 3 December 2021]

I always like catching familiar personalities in old time TV shows. This one had William Shatner, a couple decades after his celebrity turn in the 'Star Trek' television series. He portrays a troubled character in this one, a widowed father who wants to protect his young son at all odds against the kind of bullying he himself experienced as a child. What makes his angst even more difficult is that he still lives in the same neighborhood he always did, and the local playground where he faced a tormentor by the name of Ralph has fallen into shambles. The neighborhood kids look like any group of normal looking youngsters, but in Charlie's (Shatner) eyes, start to take on the appearance of snarling, vicious pranksters. His distress begins to take a toll on his life and his job, forcing him to realize that he has to confront the demons of his past if he wants his son to grow up with the companionship of friends that he himself never had as a child.

Almost universally, the other reviewers for this program state that the conclusion of this story is somewhat hard to fathom. I have to admit that it struck me the same way, although Charlie's son Steve might have offered a clue when he signaled him off with a quick wave of his hand as the playground kids began to attack him. With the suggestion that Charlie and Steve physically changed places with each other, it was almost as if 'Steve', with his father's persona, finally decided to confront the terrors of his past, even if it meant getting roughed up for it. Obviously, other viewers come away with something different because it really did seem to be an open ended story.

For a more uplifting tale of an aging person reliving his youth, but in a happier context, you might try the Twilight Zone episode titled 'Kick the Can'. That one had a conclusion suggesting that oldsters had an opportunity to recapture their youth by resorting to the games they used to play as kids. William Shatner wasn't in that one, but did show up in a story where he had to deal with a gremlin tormenting his psyche on the wing of an airplane, much like the bully Ralph did here.

I Did not Understand the Conclusion

[claudio_carvalho · 4/10 · 25 March 2009]

Charles Underhill (William Shatner) lives in the suburb with his wife and their five year-old son Steve (Keith Dutson), but he does not allow Steve to go to play in the nearby playground with other children. Charles has a childhood trauma with the bully Ralph (Mirko Malish) and his friends, and he frequently sees his ghost challenging him, until the day he decides to go to the playground with Steve and face the wounds of his past.

I did not understand the conclusion of this intriguing episode. The story has a promising beginning, it is well developed but I was completely disappointed with the weird open conclusion. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "The Playground"

The Ray Bradbury Theater--The Playground

[Scarecrow-88 · 9/10 · 10 April 2013]

William Shatner stars in the second episode of The Ray Bradbury Theater that came on HBO primarily in the 80s. It is called "The Playground", with Shatner giving (what I thought) was a strong performance as a tormented adult named Charlie who has never recovered from the bullying he suffered at the hands of kids in and around a playground where he lived. The playground, as presented by director William Fruet and writer Bradbury, looks like Hell on Earth to Charlie when we see it from his perspective. When not in his perspective, however, it looks like any normal city playground. Prior to his arrival, Charlie's sister (Kate Trotter) has taken his son, Steve (Steven Andrade), to the playground without his approval (she harps endlessly—and perhaps, realistically—about Steve not being so sheltered and needing to be with kids his own age so he can face the real world), and we see him playing tag joyfully with kids who don't look like sharp-toothed demons with tattered clothes and dirty faces. Ralph (Mirko Malish) was the kid that led the cruel bullying antics that left Charlie, as a child, in a constant state of terror and dread. Ralph re-appears to Charlie when he once again passes by the playground that represents, symbolically, a Den of Evil to him. Ralph calls out his name, mostly shadowed by darkness, but that distinctive voice once again strikes a horror that leaves Charlie visibly shaken and disturbed. He doesn't want his son to face the same horrors, takes Steve to the playground, and "wills" (this is up for debate) a switching of personalities that has his Steve in his body and vice versa. As the little child monsters besiege Steve (with Charlie's personality inside the body), Charlie (with Steve's childlike personality) rides the swing, takes a brief look at his dad being hit and ridiculed, and eventually leaves the playground. Director William Fruet even distorts the lens with the kids on the playground modeled as if right out of Lord of the Flies, and there are enough close-ups and establishing shots that allow us to visually see the memories of the past made manifest in the tormented mind of a scarred adult man. My favorite scene has Shatner recollecting running from the kids after they belittle and attack him, chasing him to his front door, as his sister realizes that her brother has legitimate reasons to feel as he does for his son's welfare. I think "The Playground" adequately describes the long-lasting effects of the trauma of bullying. I was bullied as a kid, and the emotional wounds will never be fully healed. Memories return to me, from time to time, and when you see Shatner walking about his house, 3 a.m. in the morning and unable to sleep due to restlessness, it has merit, I believe. I think Shatner perfectly imbues his Charlie with the pathos required to inform us exactly what childhood experiences victimized by mean kids ganging up on you can do long-term. That abuse can be long-reaching even as you are a 40-ish year old, as the consequences of bad seeds can lead to dysfunctional, unsettled adult lives. I am happy that this hasn't stunted my ability to live a somewhat emotionally healthy life, but there are times where the memories return, if just for a little while until I shoo them away. Charlie seems unable to function unless he confronts the past, even if he might actually be destroyed by them. The ending could leave some a bit miffed and bewildered because it is open for debate. Did Charlie and Steve actually have a switching of personalities, or is this simply Charlie addressing what ails him psychologically in a dream state? Could it be that this is a sacrifice with Charlie volunteering to enter the lion's den so his son can be left in peace? Open endings often infuriate and dismay, but sometimes an episode has lasting, staying power if we must offer our own conclusion, provide our own answers, fill in the blanks as we see fit, without the benefits of others doing it for us.

Please pay attention

[blake-36398 · 1/10 · 31 May 2021]

This was a nowhere episode for me and my husband. I just waited for it to be over. The ending was more than strange and left questions.

As usual Shatner was over the top with his acting.

Then, Kate Trotter who played Carol was his sister, not his wife. She talked about leaving to get married.

The Conclusion

[san-hit10 · 10/10 · 26 November 2020]

At last, a body swap happens between Charles and Steve when Charles was about to face his bullies by telling himself, "I am Steve" . Charles, now in Steve's body, is once again bullied by the kids. However, Steve, in Charles body doesn't know what to do with the mind and soul of a six year old, . He stays away from the crowd. Maybe he doesn't fully understand what is happening. He plays a little by himself, then gets bored and leaves.

Let down by the ending

[bigfootmurf-72304 · 5/10 · 20 August 2022]

William Shatner acts well as the dad who doesn't want his son to go to the local playground because of his own childhood trauma. Another universal theme? I remember one time my brothers and I were scared out of the local playground when some big kids came in and started pushing everyone around. The spooky close ups of frightening children make it frightening but the end was confusing. A short story needs a good conclusion.

Sometimes a traumatic past is a hard thing to let go of.

[b_kite · 8/10 · 19 June 2019]

William Shatner plays Charlie a single father, who fears letting his young son grow up and play with other children, due to the fact Charlie was horribly bullied as a kid. He finally however agrees to let his son go to the local playground were he was terrorized those many years ago, but, the demons of Charlie's past begin to haunt him once again, will he fight them or will he be over taken. This episode builds up some nice atmosphere making the playground look like a hellish landscape, and Shatner's performance is pretty sincere to, the ending leaves a lot of questions unasked, but, still highly enjoyable

Facing your past it proves demons can haunt and live on with you!

[blanbrn · 10/10 · 27 August 2020]

This episode two from season one of "The Ray Bradbury Theater" called "The Playground" was well written and acted as the story twist while one faces his troubled past, as it proves lasting wounds can cause drama. Featuring the great William Shatner as Charlie a grown business man and single dad who's just trying to get along in life starts to have painful memories and nightmares from his days as a child when he was bullied at the local neighborhood playground. Forever Charlie is haunted as each time he passes by the old stomping grounds the wicked demons of his past come to light. Things are more complex when Charlie's son little Steve wants to venture out in the open more and start to play at this very playground! And you guessed it Charlie has mounting fear for Steve, so when they journey together to the playground demons once again become present this episode then twist with a little surprise as Charlie faced his demons in a strange way. Overall well written and acted episode with a tense tone and dark atmosphere build up really one of the series better episodes.

An Adult with some child's fears

[AvionPrince16 · 8/10 · 13 December 2023]

I like the episode pretty much and it just show us how a child's fear can still last even years after . Its pretty well shown and love also the scene at the playground and we can understand how that man feel the fear . Its pretty exaggerate like any fear but i really love it and make us see that it really affect him during these moments .

We immediately know that its related to his past when he was a kid and we will also slowly discover the truth trough some flashback nearly the end . And will make understand more how he gets harassed by his friends and how it affected him. And i found it pretty well explained and that POV make us understand the problem.

We have also an interesting role inversion here at the end : with the Dad and son and how they swap roles and make us understand that kind of problems are more something psychological more than a question of age . And at the end of the day , fear remain fear whatever the age right ?

This ending was also so meaningful : we immediately know that the father is still afraid and make me think that its become like a trauma and the fact that maybe the father will not be able to save himself as illustrated at the end with that scene at the playground where his son is trapped and he is going out without saving him . It clearly make us understand that he still afraid and its pretty powerful . I like also the scenes where the dad see the other childrens as monsters and illustrate very well his fears that still remain . A really nice episode . That i really enjoyed.