The Twilight Zone (TV Series) A Traveler (2019) User Reviews

THEY HAD IT, THEN THEY LOST IT

[teamyordle23 · 6/10 · 19 April 2019]

There are many things I liked about this episode, the conversation of culture alienation between Christmas and the traditions of the Inuit people, the great choice and timing of the music which strengthens each scene, and the great acting of Steven Yeun, Marika Silva, and Greg Kinnear. It was all executed well until a certain point was reached, then the narrative changed. It's like the story did a 90 degree turn just for the sake of being unexpected. All the suspense that was built up within the last 30-40 minutes just vanished, then by the time the ending arrived it left me feeling disappointed more than shocked or confused.

A Traveler

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 19 April 2019]

They did not completely disrespect the legacy of a classic episode, but the episode went off the rails in a hurry.

It was not clear whether they wanted to focus on the alien aspect or humans fighting each other and because of that the purpose of both got lost.

Could Have Been Great, But....

[casher43 · 6/10 · 19 April 2019]

They dropped the ball in last minute or so of the episode. This could have been an excellent retelling of the classic episode "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up", but they completely dismissed the premise at the last second. I kept expecting the Inuit brother and sister to reveal themselves as the "Venutians" who had already begun to colonize earth. With so many nods to to that episode I'm completely baffled as to how the writers just completely threw the twist out the window. Instead they seem to have written part 1 of a 2 part episode of The Outer Limits. All of the performances were great. Steven Yeun knocked it out of the park. The story was wonderful until the last minute or so of the last act. I'm just really disappointed in the writing. I don't know how you missed such a golden opportunity for a classic TZ twist. WTF writer's room? Get it together.

Hobbled by the Twilight Zone "brand" instead of being able to do its own thing

[prankster36 · 6/10 · 28 April 2019]

This was shaping up to be the first genuinely great episode of the Twilight Zone, with a well-set-up mystery and ideas that seemed primed to go in any number of interesting directions. (My personal guess was that A. Traveler was a time traveling tourist who had shown up to witness some kind of imminent disaster.) The characterization was a little heavy-handed, but I was on board. Then...the show went off the rails by revealing itself to be a remake of "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street". It was both cliched and nonsensical (why would aliens with superior technology and a literal invasion fleet show up to play head games? And why target Alaska?)

This show has a real problem with constantly trying to "remix" classic Twilight Zone episodes in ways that sabotage them. This is a problem with pop culture in general right now--everything has to be a slightly tweaked version of something we're already familiar with--but this show is a particularly egregious example of it. It's original ideas are usually vastly more compelling, but it ends up getting dragged back into redoing the old ideas. I mean, are people really watching a new Twilight Zone show hoping everything is a variation on a show that aired in the 1960s? I don't get the showrunner's logic.

It Just Keeps Getting Worse

[boris_unanimate · 4/10 · 22 April 2019]

With this episode, this show has hit a new low. It wants to be both scary and witty, intriguing and amusing, but fails to evoke any sort of emotion other than sheer boredom. Weird camera angles and blurry scopes are not scary if you are not under the influence.

It started out good and had promise, but it ended like a TV commercial for a life insurance. Still waiting for a good episode of this show that doesn't insult the viewer's intelligence. It just keeps getting worse tho.

"The most powerful of myths"

[seymour_sp · 6/10 · 23 April 2019]

Honestly, I don't know why people watch shows like TZ if they can't take the merest hint of a mental challenge for fear that it may shake their fondly-held beliefs. Isn't that a significant part of the point and appeal of the show?

It makes one wonder how staunch those beliefs are in the first place when someone finds "beyond offensive" the notion that Christmas may be a myth, doesn't it? I don't know - so many snowflakes at Christmas!

I think there was a lack of sophistication in the ending - all a bit obvious - but that's true of more than a few of the original TZ episodes, too. I'm a huge fan of the original TZ but let's be honest: some of them were pretty poor when viewed through a modern prism. I had that feeling watching the end of this one - what might have worked in the 50s/60s all seems a bit old hat now.

Seriously!

[carnold-52156 · 1/10 · 13 March 2020]

An alien race knows how to travel across the stars, knows that there's a hidden power station (which is somehow the linchpin of taking over the planet), but can't find this power station without a human driving to it? Please.

Chills throughout the entire episode

[watice-79513 · 10/10 · 21 April 2019]

My favorite episode thus far (judging from the episodes prior to this one). Steven Yeun's acting was really great in this and his creepy smile gave me goosebumps throughout the episode. Having been a fan of the previous series I can say that the plot was somewhat predictable but the way Steven acted it out really made it that much more creepier. I couldn't of asked for a better actor to play this kind of role. If you're going to watch just one episode to get an idea of the kind of series this is, this is the one to watch.

DEFINITELY WORTH A CHECK ,ESPECIALLY FOR FANS OF THE GENRE

[petros-76298 · 7/10 · 18 April 2019]

I felt i had to write something to defend this new take on legendary "TZ" series by Jordan Peele. Maybe times have changed, maybe i m stuck, but really i dont get the low buzz. Older B/W episodes are pioneering and unsurpassable but i think we should always keep an open mind. The pilot was great, 2nd episode so-so, 3rd was mediocre and this one is maybe the best so far. Jordan Peele seems like a crusader for the genre that i love and have been "studying" all my life and i am all-in being supportive for his intentions and ideas. I think fans of the curious/bizarre/semi science-fiction/ thriller/mystery should be on his side too. This episode stars one of the most interesting new actors around, Steven Yeun was fantastic in "Burning" (a must-see) and carries the story. Its a shame that not a lot of you can "sacrifice" an hour every week to check this new installment. I encourage you to, especially fans of the genre thats been "on the outside looking in" for so many years and Peele is surely giving it a much-needed boost

I Really Wanted to Like This One...

[dmann-62849 · 4/10 · 21 April 2019]

I like Steve Yuen from his role on The Walking Dead, and Greg Kinnear is a steady performer, and newbie Marika Sila is suitably paranoid (and she's from NWT to boot), but even this episode moves at a slow pace, and the whole alien invasion thing is muddled: who are they? What do they want? Why did they put the Traveller in a jail cell? Does he really care about being pardoned?

Should have been titled "The 'Monsters' Are Maybe Due on Alaska Street, If They Don't Decide to Go Back Home or Eat Pie, Or Something LIke That."

If you change the title Glen Morgan, I expect an end credit.

Gripping

[kirstiepacker · 10/10 · 26 April 2019]

This episode had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I just loved it. Very gripping. Mysterious and funny with underlying morals to tell. I'd say more but I'd hate to spoil it.

Now this was an episode worthy of The Twilight Zone.

[alihandemiral · 7/10 · 21 April 2019]

Peele's The Twilight Zone revival started off with "The Comedian", which had many flaws, but in the essence, was a decent episode. I thought it would get better by each episode, but "Nightmare at 30,000 Feet" and "Replay" turned out to be predictable stories with not much to offer in regards to a "revival". With " A Traveler", The Twilight Zone revival finally has a story that deserves to be branded as twilight zone-ish. Steven Yeun's haunting performance also contributes to the eerieness of the episode.

Decent work!

Disappointing.

[bakisine · 2/10 · 18 April 2019]

The episode starts with the first 10 minutes being a senseless filler that could have been narrowed down in a 2 minute sequence. Also, the mystery aspect of the narrative lacks depth, the narrative is also stretched out to the point that the episode doesnt have many highlights for great lengths of the episode. The relaunch of TZ has been an overall disappointment.

A traveler came one night

[Hannah_Bananah · 7/10 · 20 April 2019]

Story: Mysterious stranger trope. Who is he, what does he want? This episode had a Stephen King vibe at first, but that quickly shifted towards a vibe of 'Huh, what?" as the story introduced elements that seemed to be added just to pad it out a bit to fill in the run time.

Direction: Ok, by now I'm starting to wonder why these episodes don't feel as unsettling or weird as they could be, many reviews blame the writing. Most of the stories so far have had decent premises for a good Twilight Zone story but fall flat because they lack the tone. I believe that the direction and story editing may be the weakest link.

Acting: Great, Greg Kinnear and Steven Yeun were fantastic. Yeun played the friendly yet menacing stranger well and the scenes between him and Kinnear were well done.

Twilight Zone-Factor? As this story unfolds and we realise the true nature of the stranger, we should be anxious about what is about to happen, instead we get a scene with them eating pie.

Feel like you missed something but it was to bad to rewatch

[silk2128 · 3/10 · 19 April 2019]

That was not fun. Don't want to give away spoilers but I will say one thing to help possible viewers; don't waste your time. I was so excited for this show but the show has been bad. Great actors and promising ideas but it feels to me, they wrap it and no one is watching the final product. It's been bad, please fix it, their is still time.

Too many loose ends

[Christmas-Reviewer · 7/10 · 23 April 2019]

I Have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films and Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.

In this episode the events take place on Christmas Eve in a small Alaskan town. A man mysteriously shows up in a jail cell asking for a pardon from a local sheriff. The sheriff is known for giving out one pardon on Christmas Eve. However the traveler raises questions in a female deputy.

Great story but it should have been a little longer so the loose ends could be tied up. Worth watching "ONCE"

Its like Cloverfield Lane

[garabedian123 · 5/10 · 19 April 2019]

Is it Aliens, or a Crazy man. Oh its both.. Tried to be too many things all at the same time.. I was intrigued early in the episode. But the end ruined it. So the "theme" of the episode was that humans, even the ones that seem good, are actually all corrupted. Really? that was the theme? That the woman cop is just as bad or worse than anyone else at the party? It was not conveyed very well

Classic! Ignore the haters.

[BeginningoftheEnd · 9/10 · 12 November 2022]

Loved it from the eery Alaskan atmosphere to the suspense that just kept building and building, the acting, the music, the reveals etc. I see all these negative reviews from people who bring up the original series, hold them to some high standard as if they are perfect when many of those were flawed in the pacing and logic.

The new ones are more sophisticated in the writing, have better effects. But, equally fit the Twilight Zone brane. Is an hour too long? Perhaps but at no point did I feel it drag on. Welcome to today's audience where people just like to complain, don't want to have to think too hard or know what they are upset about. Lol.

A lot of viewers did not understand the idea here.

[zohairkhan-42361 · 7/10 · 29 October 2021]

Illegal Aliens.... turning locals agains each other... some big conspiracies. It's all quite relevant actually.

Im surprised this one went over peoples heads. Yes some parts were a bit outlandish with the ending especially but i think thats just for fun and theatrics.

Great production, terrible writing.

[atwiththestars · 2/10 · 20 April 2019]

I would have given this a higher rating, but the direction of this show seems to be heading more towards politics rather than art and entertainment. Good art should bring people together. Divide and conquer is more of a political thing. I feel this episode is a metaphor for what this show is becoming about. I think the writers/producers of the show are the alien characters in this episode. Shame that they don't see that they are the characters that they warn us about.

Another great show!!!

[monberger · 10/10 · 21 April 2019]

Episode 4th was fantastic, the acting, the suspense was up to the standards of The Twilight Zone show. I'm very happy so far with all of it. Love it! Please watch all the little details in the show...are really great.

Unfortunately, people nowadays are so numb about everything as a result of so much choices of tv shows, movies, and to all the things we have been exposed to. We have lost that innocence that viewers had in the '60s.

Please, don't trash the show!

First episode that had me intrigued, if only briefly

[stakmaster · 7/10 · 23 April 2019]

Very mysterious and interesting for the first half, but towards the last quarter begins rushing and totally deflates the anxiety it had earned before. Great acting all around and the music is the first in this new series I actually noticed and appreciated, but that storyline really falls apart. Nailed the atmosphere, but just couldn't stick the landing. They're getting close though.

A Traveler

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 27 March 2020]

When Jordan Peele turns up at the end to give the moral of the story. I thought well what the hell is he on about?

Set in a small Alaskan town on Christmas Eve. Police chief Pendleton (Greg Kinnear) throws a party for the townsfolk and he always pardons one person in the police cell that night.

This night he pardons a mysterious person who suddenly showed up. A Traveler (Steven Yeun.) Pendleton's deputy Yuka is unsure about him.

Traveler has travelled the world and as time goes on he displays intimate knowledge about the townsfolk and he might be more than just mysterious.

What started out as an intriguing and creepy story, it took a left turn and went off on a tangent. It just came across as the writer was struggling with an ending, so he came up with that one.

Strange and mysterious suspense like episode!

[blanbrn · 7/10 · 7 March 2020]

This "TZ" episode from the "CBS" All Access series called "A Traveler" is one that was a little different yet it entertained with suspense and felt strange in a mysterious way. The story is set in Alaska on Christmas Eve it involves a mystery type man a wander, drifter who's traveled to the police station and this strange guy(Steven Yeun) has plenty of info and knows things about people and the whole town's under the table doings, it's like he's psychic! Will he really now be in the good grace's for pardon from the police capt. Lane Pendleton(Greg Kinnear). Thru the tale the drama and suspense builds as it ends with a twist that involves something from another universe! Overall pretty good and well done episode!

Very Lacking

[Duskmourne · 4/10 · 19 April 2019]

This is my first written review, so apologies.

I'd like to start off on the single positive note, I quite enjoyed the acting of most of the cast. The problem, and I'd guess this lies in the directing because Steven Yeun is a quite capable actor, that the one character this episode revolves around is done horribly.

It's hard to go more in depth for spoiler reasons, but the episode lacks any kind of intrigue or mystery. It is completely transparent to the point where it figuratively crams the last sense of questionability down your throat.

I was really looking forward to The Twilight Zone, but this episode just left me disappointed. If I could give Twilight Zone a fitting analogy, it's if you took Jordan Peele's lack of subtlety (Which is one of the few criticisms of his objectively good movies), boiled it down and created a pure extract of that.