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jimmer85
Reviews
The Twilight Zone: Blurryman (2019)
An efficient nightcap to season 1 of an uneven reboot
A disclaimer. I was born 20+ years after the original went off the air. However, after growing, learning, and understanding the climate of that era, it's easy to see how amazing the original was. Yes, there was also the added personal side effect of being something I'd watch with my father (those New Year's Day marathons on Sy-fy network) before he passed away. The stories and backdrop alone made for a journey that you felt lucky to be a part of, and at the end, you felt like you'd learned something innate about the human condition. Maybe you'd feel something you never felt before. That, in and of itself, made the journey that much more rewarding. It's not easy to make tales of fantasy that are effective morality tales, yet Rod Serling delivered week after week.
This reboot proves how difficult it is to recreate that magic. Yet, the fact that they are trying, for better or worse, to keep that idea alive, is admirable. This episode reads to me like a confession. That it has been so difficult to be in Mr. Serling's shadow and effectively create those kind of tales for a new generation. The idea put forth by this episode that he would approve of the reboot is a bit pretentious. Bordering on disrespectful. The heart is in the right place though. Rod Serling believed in the rights of all people. He told tales about persecution, paranoia, and so many other cautionary tales. This episode makes me believe in the spirit of this reboot, in the sense that the motives are noble.
This finale is a sweet love letter to the OG and a lot of this season has bordered on ridiculous parody, maybe more suited to a Key and Peele sketch. Yet, there were a couple that made the subscription worth it, and the finale has actually sold me on the prospect of watching a second season. Serling was almost an early version of a punk rock star because so much was taboo back then. This show (as well as the other reboots) has the unenviable task of trying to recreate that rebellion in a meaningful way. That's a testament to how far we've come though. Keep it going folks. I expect next season will be more focused, and even better
The Twilight Zone: Replay (2019)
This reboot consistently condescends to the audience
The writers probably accomplished what they wanted here. Race baiting and stirring peeps up on both sides. Police brutality against African Americans is a serious issue, worthy of a TZ episode and much more exposure, clearly. Execution of this story is terrible here though. Sanaa Lathan provides a powerful performance, as the frightened mother but most of the other characters and dialogue prove stiff and one dimensional.
I know I'm a millennial, but I do still remember subtlety in storytelling. It was amazing! Rod Serling had a formula that made you rethink things in a way you wouldn't have expected before. This series through a few episodes is just self indulgent and tends to over explain the plot. If these episodes were shorter, like the original TZ, they could cut a lot of dead weight and make it a more cerebral experience.
The Twilight Zone: The Comedian (2019)
Nowhere near standards of the original TZ
First off, the good. Shot very well. Also, very solid idea for a twilight zone episode. For me, the simple fact that it was at least 20 minutes too long soured me on it. Frankly, after 25 or 30 minutes, you can probably already guess the ending (which my wife and I did). You find yourself looking to see how much longer you have till it ends.
It's very unfortunate, because this episode could've been really good. If only it had been half as long, a tad less predictable, and (for the love of God) had some actual comic relief or jokes. It is titled the comedian, after all