8 Near-Perfect Episodes Of CBS's Twilight Zone That Predicted The Present

The Twilight Zone is one of the most influential TV shows of all time, and it also happens to be one that ended up predicting some current events. Among the best TV shows of all time are a variety of sci-fi shows, and most have a lot to thank The Twilight Zone for. Created by Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone is an anthology sci-fi horror series, with each episode being a different story with a different cast, although, with time, it built its list of recurring collaborators.

The Twilight Zone stands out for its blend of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and drama, with hints of comedy here and there (and some very rare comedic episodes). Each episode of The Twilight Zone has a twist and a moral at the end, often leaving the audience with a lot to think about and process after the credits roll. The Twilight Zone often explored futuristic scenarios, different worlds, and situations that, even though not realistic at the time, absolutely felt like they could happen in the distant future.

Unfortunately, in some cases, that distant future has arrived, and some Twilight Zone episodes now feel a bit too real. Just as has happened with The Simpsons, some Twilight Zone stories have become true to some extent, and while this doesn’t mean that the show has some sort of supernatural power, it does speak volumes about how well done and smart the show was, and makes it even more timeless and scary.

“A Thing About Machines”

Season 2, Episode 4

“A Thing About Machines” introduces viewers to Bartlett Finchley (Richard Haydn), an ill-tempered, lonely, misanthropic gourmet magazine critic who takes out his anger and frustrations on the household gadgets in his house. One day, these tech objects come to life, and while some try to warn him, others harass him, and some others, like his electric razor and even cars, go as far as to attack him.

While technological objects don’t come to life these days as those of Finchley did, technology has advanced to the point where most household objects are becoming “smart objects” and are even powered by AI. Machines are everywhere, and while they are certainly helpful, some can have glitches and malfunctions that can hurt their users – but hopefully, they will never rebel against them.

“A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain”

Season 5, Episode 11

“A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain” follows Harmon Gordon (Patrick O’Neal), an old but wealthy man married to Flora, a woman 40 years younger than he is. Tired of her youthful and selfish lifestyle, Harmon asks his scientist brother, Raymond, to inject him with an experimental serum that will make him younger. Raymond reluctantly does so following Harmon’s threat to end his own life, and although the serum does work, the side effects quickly emerge.

Although age-gap relationships aren’t something new, they have certainly gained a lot more attention, criticism, and worry in the last decade or so. Nowadays, there’s an obsession with staying and looking as young as possible, going to extremes to achieve it, as well as a borderline obsessive interest in age-gap relationships, mostly from outsiders.

“The Obsolete Man”

Season 2, Episode 29

Romney (Burgess Meredith) looking afraid in The Twilight Zone.

One of the best Twilight Zone episodes is “The Obsolete Man”, written by Rod Serling. “The Obsolete Man” takes the audience into a future totalitarian state, where Romney Wordsworth (Burgess Meredith) is put on trial for being “obsolete.” Romney is a librarian, but under this regime, this is a job punishable by death, as the State has gotten rid of books. Romney is given the chance to choose how, when, and where he will die, but he has a secret plan.

Unfortunately, with the rise of technology and more interest in social media and other forms of entertainment, many people have lost interest in books and libraries. While there are still many librarians around the world, it’s now a job that, if everything continues to evolve as it has so far, might be on its way to becoming obsolete. In addition to that, this episode addresses personal and tragic events being televised, which has now, sadly, become a normal thing.

"The Midnight Sun"

Season 3, Episode 10

"The Midnight Sun" is set in a scenario where, a month earlier, the Earth suddenly changed its elliptical orbit, causing it to gradually get closer to the Sun. Norma (Lois Nettleton) and her landlady, Mrs. Bronson, are the last residents in their apartment building, as the rest have either died or moved north to seek colder weather. With very limited water usage and food quickly becoming scarce, Norma and Mrs. Bronson do what they can to survive for as long as possible.

While the Earth isn’t getting closer to the sun, climate change and global warming have significantly and alarmingly increased, and it’s hard not to think about "The Midnight Sun" when seeing glaciers defrosting, lakes becoming dry, and forests being destroyed by fires. It’s worth noting that "The Midnight Sun" has a shocking and heartbreaking twist, which also fits in some ways with current climate issues.

"What's in the Box"

Season 5, Episode 24

"What's in the Box" is the story of Joe Britt (William Demarest), who is accused of cheating by his wife, Phyllis. A TV repairman is in the next room, and after an irritated Joe complains to him about the TV and the cost of the repair, the repairman suddenly announces the TV is fixed, and the job was free. Joe later realizes that the TV is on a channel that shows his and Phyllis’ past, present, and future, and he sees himself killing Phyllis after an argument. Joe becomes paranoid and obsessed with the channel, while Phyllis simply sees static.

"What's in the Box" is a perfect example of the current obsession with reality TV, true crime documentaries and shows, and watching other people’s daily moves (as allowed by social media). Surely, there’s no such thing as a TV channel that shows the past, present, and future, but Joe was pretty much witnessing a reality TV/crime documentary of his own life.

“The Lonely”

Season 1, Episode 7

“The Lonely” introduces viewers to Corry (Jack Warden), a man convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years’ solitary confinement on an asteroid far from Earth. Four times a year, Corry is visited by a crew that brings him supplies and news from Earth, and in his fourth year there, the Captain leaves him a box. In it, Corry finds a feminine humanoid robot named Alicia, with whom Corry ends up bonding as she’s capable of emotions and memory.

“The Lonely” echoes the current wave of loneliness and isolation that affects thousands of people around the world, who crave connection regardless of whether it’s in person or online. This has led to people developing feelings for AI programs such as chatbots and a sense of genuine connection with them, even though they are just mimicking human interaction, pretty much like Alicia does.

"The Brain Center at Whipple's"

Season 5, Episode 33

"The Brain Center at Whipple's" sees Wallace V. Whipple, owner of a manufacturing corporation, installing a machine that leads to thousands of layoffs. Despite being told by his employees that a machine will never be able to replace the value of a man, he continues to replace them with machines, eventually firing all human employees. However, this ends up backfiring when the machines he defended so passionately turn on him, leading to a very ironic fate for Whipple.

Unfortunately, we live in a time when many jobs once done by humans are now done by machines, some as “simple” as cashier and delivery jobs, and others more complex in areas like science, finance, and even the arts. At this point, it’s hard to think of a job that a machine wouldn’t be able to do in the near future, potentially replacing humans.

"Number 12 Looks Just Like You"

Season 5, Episode 1

"Number 12 Looks Just Like You" takes viewers into a future where all 19-year-olds go through the “Transformation”, a cosmetic procedure in which each person changes to a physically attractive design of their choice, while also slowing aging. Female model 12 is quite popular, to the point where those with it have to wear name tags to avoid confusion. When it’s time for Marilyn’s procedure, she decides not to do it, but she soon suspects that the “Transformation” might not be entirely optional.

In "Number 12 Looks Just Like You", Marilyn discovers that the government uses the procedure to ensure conformity and tame people, as those who have gone through it are now incapable of empathy. Nowadays, not only is plastic surgery very popular even among very young people, but beauty standards are in constant change and are becoming more and more unattainable.

All this has far more serious consequences than just a constant worry about their body image, as it also deeply affects them psychologically. Some beauty standards are seen as a way to ensure conformity and control, just like Marilyn suspected in "Number 12 Looks Just Like You.”