10 Must-Watch Twilight Zone Episodes

The original Twilight Zone has some truly amazing episodes – many are better than most TV shows today. It’s one of the few shows where you can watch almost any episode and enjoy it.

Most TV shows with self-contained episodes have a few that aren’t great, and that’s okay. But with The Twilight Zone, every episode is still worth watching, even after all these years. These 10 episodes, in particular, are just as good as anything on television today.

Time Enough At Last (1959)

Season 1, Episode 8

“Time Enough at Last” is a classic example of the kind of ironic twist The Twilight Zone is known for. The show often features characters who get exactly what they wish for, only to discover it has a dark side. This particular episode, from the first season, centers around Henry Bemis (played by Meredith Burgess), a man who loves to read so much that his boss and wife are constantly annoyed by it.

Henry survives a nuclear blast by hiding in a bank vault, but when he comes out, he discovers he’s the only person left. Surprisingly, he’s overjoyed – there are books everywhere, and now he’ll finally have time to read them all. But his happiness is short-lived when he breaks his glasses, realizing he can no longer see well enough to read anything.

The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street (1960)

Season 1, Episode 22

In the story “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” a quiet neighborhood is suddenly disturbed by a strange light in the sky. Soon after, electrical devices start malfunctioning, and a boy wonders if aliens have landed and are disguised as their neighbors, inspired by a comic book he read.

The episode shows a town descending into fear and violence as neighbors begin to suspect each other of being alien imposters, ultimately tearing the community apart. It’s a gradually unfolding story that culminates in a bleak observation about humanity’s tendency towards conflict.

Nick Of Time (1960)

Season 2, Episode 7

In the film “Nick of Time,” William Shatner, well-known from appearances on The Twilight Zone, plays Don Carter. While driving to New York City with his wife, Pat (Patricia Breslin), their car breaks down in a quiet Midwestern town. They stop for lunch at a diner while the car is being fixed, but this seemingly ordinary town turns out to be a dangerous trap, much like something from The Twilight Zone.

During their visit, Don tries a fortune-telling machine and is shocked when it appears to accurately predict what will happen. By the time he wants to leave the diner, he’s become convinced that a ‘no’ answer from the machine means something terrible is about to occur. It’s a chilling tale with an ending that is both cheerful and unsettling.

The Prime Mover (1961)

Season 2, Episode 21

“The Prime Mover” is a charming episode of The Twilight Zone that perfectly showcases the show’s ability to tell compelling stories in a short amount of time. The episode centers around Ace, a gambler, who discovers his friend Cobb has a limited ability to move things with his mind.

Okay, so this guy, Ace, gets hooked up with Cobb, who can basically manipulate luck. At first, it’s amazing – Ace is winning big at the casino, having the time of his life. But the more he wins, the more of a jerk he becomes, demanding everything and losing sight of what’s important. Then, Cobb pulls the rug out from under him, pretending his powers are gone, and Ace loses it all. It’s a classic downfall story, but here’s the weird thing about this Twilight Zone episode: losing actually ends up being good for him. It’s like he needed to hit rock bottom to get his act together, which is pretty unusual for that show!

Deaths-Head Revisited (1961)

Season 3, Episode 9

Rod Serling, a Jewish soldier who served in the Pacific during World War II (though he’d hoped to fight in Europe, according to the National WWII Museum), was profoundly impacted by the Holocaust. This trauma is reflected in several episodes of The Twilight Zone, which grapple with the horrors of this historical event. It’s easy to picture Serling enjoying the opportunity to deliver a fitting, *Twilight Zoneesque punishment to characters representing Nazis.

In the film “Deaths-Head Revisited,” Gunther Lutze, a former SS captain, secretly returns to the Dachau concentration camp. He intends to relive his cruel past, but instead finds himself haunted by the ghosts of those he tortured, who now force him to experience the same suffering he inflicted on them.

The Jungle (1961)

Season 3, Episode 12

“The Jungle” is a unique episode of The Twilight Zone because it draws on African folklore and storytelling traditions. While the show usually focuses on issues relevant to America, this episode explores the themes of African colonization. The story centers around Alan Richards (played by John Dehner), who has just returned from Africa with the blueprints for a new hydroelectric dam.

Alan’s wife reveals a village shaman predicted misfortune for anyone building the new dam, which will force people from their homes. Soon, strange and dangerous things begin happening to Alan. What really stands out about this story is how it draws parallels between the beliefs of the shaman and the superstitions accepted by modern society.

Nothing In The Dark (1962)

Season 3, Episode 16

“Nothing in the Dark” is a touching story about death and feeling alone, and it skillfully mixes moments of suspense with genuine warmth – something only shows like The Twilight Zone often achieve. The episode features Robert Redford as Harold Beldon, a police officer who is shot and falls near an elderly woman’s house.

Wanda, played by Gladys Cooper, is hesitant to assist, fearing Death will come for her if she does. But touched by his desperate request, she allows him inside, and the two have a thoughtful conversation about death itself. The film is a poignant and deliberate story, anchored by two wonderful acting performances.

Passage Of The Lady Anne (1963)

Season 4, Episode 17

I absolutely love “Passage of the Lady Anne.” It’s one of the more hopeful episodes of The Twilight Zone, though it’s still really strange and unsettling. It follows a husband and wife, the Rasomes, who’ve kind of lost their spark. They stumble into something… otherworldly, and it genuinely helps them reconnect. It’s amazing to see how their experience, even though it’s scary, ultimately makes their relationship stronger.

Hoping to save their marriage, a couple embarks on a 13-day cruise aboard the Lady Anne. During the voyage, they notice strange occurrences and unusual behavior from other passengers. Surprisingly, these experiences bring them closer, and they leave the cruise with a stronger relationship, grateful to the mysterious Lady Anne for helping them reconnect.

An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge (1964)

Season 5, Episode 22

“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” is based on a classic American short story by Ambrose Bierce, originally published in 1890. Interestingly, it wasn’t initially created for The Twilight Zone. It’s actually a 1961 French short film that was later shown as part of The Twilight Zone.

The story centers on Peyton Farquar, a soldier fighting for the Confederacy during the Civil War, who is about to be executed. When he’s dropped from the gallows, the rope unexpectedly breaks, and he escapes into the river. As he tries to make his way home, he begins to have strange and increasingly unreal experiences.

Stopover In A Quiet Town (1964)

Season 5, Episode 30

You know, as a big “Twilight Zone” fan, there are some episodes everyone talks about, but “Stopover in a Quiet Town” is a real hidden gem. It’s seriously one of the best! The story is just so unsettling – a husband and wife, Bob and Millie Frazer, wake up completely lost, with no idea how they ended up in this strange room. Then they realize… everything around them is fake, just a set. It’s a really clever and creepy episode.

Walking through the strange neighborhood, they found it completely empty and realized almost everything around them was artificial. This episode of The Twilight Zone is incredibly creative in how it presents a world that’s subtly but disturbingly different from our own – truly capturing the essence of The Twilight Zone.

2026-02-22 23:21