Elegy - Twilight-Tober Zone

"Elegy" is one of those episodes that sticks with you for it's blend of sci-fi and morbid/gleeful horror. Does this memorable story still leave you with an unsettling feeling? Find out now as Walter brings you inside The Twilight Zone.
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"Elegy" is episode 20 of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It originally aired on February 19, 1960.
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What did everyone think of "Elegy"? Worth the hype? Watch more Twilight-Tober Zone here - bit.ly/TwilightToberZone Follow Walter on Twitter - twitter.com/Awesome_Walter Follow us on Twitch - www.twitch.tv/channelawesome

[@soulsergeant]

There is no Two Sun solar system 655 million miles away. And these asteroids sure do have Earth gravity, air composition and heat. Hmm

[@lukeharbolt7681]

what's wrong with everyone in this CRAZY PLACE

[@nakeishamammeri5094]

I love this episode

[@claytonrios1]

I'm glad real actors were used but given that they literally had to hold still and say nothing the whole time for quite a few takes I'm certain, I can forgive small movements throughout.

[@MrDj232]

With modern techniques it would probably be easy to use a still shot of the dead and have the astronauts walk through that still. This might be one of the best episodes to remake just because that absolute lack of movement would be super uncanny.

[@julieporter7805]

That was brilliant and when you think about it such dedication from the extras.

[@goodnewsgeek42]

If anything, the fact that there are slight movements like there's still some small shred of life in them makes it even more horrifying

[@marga8732]

@@goodnewsgeek42 As though they are trying to break out of that state, but alas! ‘tis in vain for them as they watch in horror at the population of playthings growing…perpetual agony; as I would say.

[@melissagerber7231]

Nowadays they can edit out the movements. The Weeping Angels in Doctor Who were played by live actors. The slight movements were edited output by computer.

[@DynamicUnreality]

The idea of an AI that kills everyone to achieve peace has always fascinated me. The Twilight Zone was so incredibly ahead of its time, its almost unbelievable.

[@dannydorko7075]

Give credit to Charles Beaumont

[@supergiant92]

Completely agree. TZ is amazing and was so far ahead of it's time with concept and such, love it!

[@jesusromanpadro3853]

And still different to what most stories has done with this idea since.

[@ztslovebird]

Here’s a terrifying question - are we SURE the astronauts are the only unwilling residents?

[@MrDj232]

Those beauty pageant contestants had to lose somehow.

[@jillruff1655]

I'm sure the runner-up for Mayor wasn't too thrilled, nor the entire wait-staff. There were also stores. Like who wants to die & be a cashier?

[@overlydramaticpanda]

Pretty sure. Wickwire has been deactivated due to not being needed for around 200 years which according to the astronauts is roughly when the world went to shit. And Happy Glades was used only by the super rich. Wickwire also does say that the vast majority of "people" in the cemetery are replications and therefore are not and never were real people - presumably it's only those whom the scenes are centred around (i.e. the mayor, the pageant winner, etc) who actually were real people since the entire point of Happy Glades was to fulfil fantasies in death that (presumably) were never achieved in life. Of course, on the flip side, there is the minor fact that we only have Wickwire's word to go on for a lot of this...

[@jillruff1655]

@crazy silly ...hhhmmm very interesting therory. I've revisited this particular episode repeatedly throughout the years, hoping to unveil a better explanation as to why the deceased wld want to spend eternity in a less-than-desirable position? *Warning: I'm a writer so this WILL get a bit long winded* Lol. But follow me here, okay?... My 5-part multi-hypothesis: *OPTION 1)* Either the deceased actually wished for those positions, bc rich ppl are known to have wierd fetishes often being put in subservient roles, (ie: ppl who role play as slaves, french maids, concubines etc...) Ppl have strange secret desiries, so u never know. _ORRR_ ... *OPTION 2a)* Either the employees of Happy Glades ignored the dying wishes of a few ppl to fill those "undesireable, but necessary roles" in order to better fulfill the fantasies of their more prominent or higher paying clientele. Think of it as: The super rich get leading roles, while the less wealthy become supporting cast. _ORRR_ ... *OTION 2b)* Wickwire himself ignored the dying wish orders ON HIS OWN that were sent by his employers/programmers in order to fill the spaces of "supporting cast" all around Happy Glades. In this option, he's at least partially (if not, completely) sentient, therefore able to disobey commands & form his own judgements independently of his 200yr old programming, thus deciding ON HIS OWN to "murder" Kirby, Webber, & Meyers.... bc they are NOT clients of happy Glades who actually bought a plot, & are NOT "eternified" of their own valition.They did NOT ask to die. So the possibility of Wickwire acting on his own free will, & those "extras" placed there being REAL (dead) humans are not far-fetched notions in this option. _ORRRR_ ... *OPTION 3)* Mr. Wickwire is programmed to "eternify" any living person he encounters. It's also possible some ppl may have never encountered Wickwire, just simply committed suicide out of sheer despair then he found & placed them. Or they accidentally stumbled across the "eternifying fluid" since there is no real food or drink to sustain life. It _IS_ a cemetary after all. So the "supporting roles" aka ESSENTIAL WORKERS are just unfortunate humans who were unlucky enough to crash land or make a pit stop at Happy Glades post nuclear war. So Wickwire was simply doing his job. He only spoke extensively w Lt. Webber, Kirby, Meyers to acquire/oblige their final wishes to be (seemingly) homeward bound. _ORRRR_ ... *OPTION 4)* These extra ppl had no wishes at all. They aren't even clients, or rich. They just simply died somewhere, PRE-NUKE (before 1985) & Happy Glades headquarters so happened to collect their bodies, place them in whatever position they wanted, & ship them off to the cemetary, for Mr. Wickwire to maintain their upkeep, *WHICH IS MY GUESS.* In each of the scenarios above, all of the "extras" are in fact human corpses. Although I'm not dismissing your notion, I must wonder how you arrived such a conclusion, being as though the only "person" actually revealed to be a "human replication" was Mr. Wickwire, the overseer. There is NO indication made to any additional A.I., bots, or humanoids. & if so, where was that implied? Who decided their roles? & Who put them there? Wickwire? What did he make them out of? Spare parts? Eeewww! Lol. The idea that an A.I. bot built ONLY for maintenance can CREATE other humanoids out of thin air & limited resources, PLUS make the independent decision of who they shld be & where to place them is not only highly unlikely, but highly contradictory to his sole purpose -to obey orders, NOT make decisions on his own & create characters, & murder at will. Even if he is sentient like I suggested, his resources are limited. Happy Glades now defunct due to the war, no longer able to send any products, let alone bodies. What wld be his source materials for creating other "humanoids?" Is he Dr. Frankenstein? Did Happy Glades mold 500+ fake ppl & ship them over btwn 1973 & '85 just to stand around & NOT assist Mr. Wickwire in maintenance when they clearly had A.I. technology? I think not. Finally, Wickwire himself stated that he is the ONLY A.I. there. & EVERYONE you see is basically a well-maintained mummy "living out" its dying wish. So why wld he lie? He hasn't lied thus far. And he isn't lying now. All those ppl are real human corpeses. The ones in "favorable" positions actually paid to be there, & the rest are nobodies who either died 200yrs ago & got sent over as "extras," or they stumbled across this cemetary planet within the last 200y & got stuck just like the astronauts did. Happy Glades was created in 1973. The astronauts said the Nuclear War happened in 1985, which wiped out MOST of the humans, probably including Happy Glades headquarters, which is why Wickwire stated that he's had ZERO contact with Earth in 200yrs. Thus concluding that Happy Glades is defunct & obsolete on a now apocalyptic Earth. So Wickwire can't even be UN-programmed to eliminate mankind. So who ever lands there will probably never leave. *Concluding:* The "essential workers" & extras placed there are either unfortunate humans who crash landed within the last 200 yrs & never made it out, *ORRRR*... some"body" (either Wickwire or his employers) disobeyed the final wishes of a few clients to fill those "roles" 200yrs ago. *ORRRR*.... nothing's out of order, Wickwire is merely obeying his programming, & those HUMANS simply paid to be put into those positions. *ORRRR*... the extras are just nobodies who were already dead & got shipped there purposely to fill those less- than- desirable positions. Plainly put: *There is ZERO evidence to support your theory of ANY additional humanoids being placed in Happy Glades! & All the ppl we see are literal PEOPLE! DEAD PEOPLE* ...but I gladly welcome ANY view points that may suggest otherwise, my friend. Prove me wrong! Come at me bro! Today I got time cuz. Lol. Hit me w/ your best shot! FIRE AWAY....

[@devosrock1172]

@@overlydramaticpanda RIP Place (1973-1985)

[@michael24taggart]

I know people have their idea of the darkest Twilight Zone episodes, “The Midnight Sun,” “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” “Living Doll,” but coming from someone who has seen every episode, this in my opinion is the darkest because partly for the twist and partly because of the ending.

[@mst3KGf]

Kellaway's final lines in the episode really hit home.

[@anubusx]

The Obsolete Man.

[@MurderousEagle]

I don't know, it's really hard to to top Deaths-Head Revisited

[@sirreal1290]

Roddy McDowell in "People Are Alike All Over". Same moral as in "Elegy". When in an unfamiliar environment, ONLY trust your instincts and no one else.

[@rickfrombohemia9550]

Person or Persons Unknown: the ending is simply devastating.

[@JaitsuStudios]

I just realized that Twilight Zone really, really, REALLY liked the "3 austronauts" starter.

[@oliverdelica2289]

😂😂😂

[@elder-woodsilverstein7716]

Elegy, I shot an Arrow into the Air, Death Ship, etc. Please let me know if I missed any.

[@Omegeddon]

@@elder-woodsilverstein7716 And When The Sky Was Opened

[@elder-woodsilverstein7716]

@@Omegeddon Ah, yes. Thank you.

[@JusTheKing.]

Yes they did. A LOT.

[@jessetorres8738]

I love this episode's premise, but man it has 1 of the most depressing endings.

[@michael24taggart]

Not to mention (arguably) one of the darkest episodes The Twilight Zone ever aired.

[@mst3KGf]

@@michael24taggart Not surprising that it came from Charles Beaumont. Of the original "Twilight Zone's" writers, he was the one most partial to the horror genre (Richard Matheson not far behind) and he liked it dark.

[@toshirodragon]

Right up there with the astronaut who ends up in a human zoo on Mars..

[@snakejesus]

Almost as freaking dark as a certain child who killed a man by turning him into a jack in a box since he just wills it on his own with such omnipotent power he possess

[@kylemorello4787]

No kidding!

[@promontorium]

Set designer: What would future spacesuits look like? Costume designer: Rings. Big, puffy, rings.

[@solefinder3708]

Basically 1980's break dancing attire...

[@knottheory79220]

I always thought the very small movements made the whole thing much more unsettling.

[@TheTitandog70]

I agree with you on that.

[@tomious4257]

My guess is the three astronauts are not the only unwelcome guests, now a corpse frozen in place

[@troywright359]

wind, earth tremors, etc.

[@nick56677]

I liked that they moved a small bit. To me it's like they are conscious and trying to move to wake themselves up, the same as sleep paralysis. Makes it even more unsettling.

[@AlexCarson]

I definitely agree that this episode stood out for being unsettling, to say the least. I really adore the premise of Elegy and how they were able to shoot extras as if they were completely frozen. Definitely a wonderful installment of TTZ that always stands out to me!

[@WalterCulture]

It's a great one!

[@Diceyed]

i love how you can see as he was dusting them off one of the astronauts is on the verge of laughing at the tickleing

[@Next0gen0]

Boy, imagine being an actor and being handed the script to this one. Just 1 page saying "Do nothing".

[@AnimeSquirrel]

I kind if liked the small twitches and movements from the real actors. To me it gave a sence of "These people are trapt and trying to move but can't"

[@StrickenWithFear]

This is one of those episodes that really sticks with you. There's so many questions that I almost want an expansion of but I guess some things are just left as questions.

[@lO_-_Ol]

Mr Wickwire reminds me of Ultron from Age of Ultron in motivation and in cold delivery. They would make a great duo

[@OptimusMaximusNero]

The experience the extras of this episode lived during the shooting must have been funny

[@apt2607]

I wonder if for some of them their role actually was their greatest wish. They're just alive while posed in it.

[@Kentrc11]

This Twilight zone episode would be a great ad for Madame Tussauds New York!

[@mst3KGf]

Funny thing is, a later "Twilight Zone" episode ("The New Exhibit" from S4) concerns a waxworks museum.

[@Ails1234]

"Quick, we need a place that is just like Earth in every possible way!" "uhh... random asteroid!"

[@wakkasoblitzed7970]

How is this episode not in the consensus top 50 twilight zone episodes? This is probably the darkest and sickest concept of all the episodes

[@tyrant-den884]

"KILLER DM!" "You could have asked him for fuel instead insisting you lived there now. You could have not drank the obvious poison!"

[@derekseven1647]

This episode is creepy creepy creepy.

[@marie-helenemartel7147]

Really loving this series you're doing. Great mix of infos, anecdotes and analysis.

[@Doormau5719]

This is a great series. Please do more videos like this!

[@ladyalmathea7610]

As someone who is deathly afraid of dolls and mannequins, this premise really creeps me the hell out. Still, it oddly intrigued me.

[@rewster7]

This episode is fantastic. The way it was shot is incredible.

[@gregorytyson995]

Pairs well with the incredible The After Hours.

[@MultiEinsteinium]

This is the first one of the twilight zone episodes where the twist actually caught me by surprise; where I didn't see it or anything like it coming!

[@julianfacundocalabrese1176]

This is my favorite episode of the serie, such a grimm atmosphere, and such a heavy twist, after i finished the series i was still thinking about this one.

[@shoestringVA]

Without spoiling anything, but since he mentioned wanting a similar villain.. Dr Stone. That’s all I’ll say.

[@justanotherchannelonyoutub126]

Twilight Zone sure got a lot of mileage out of the “asteroids are just like earth” thing. I know we didn’t know much back then, but it’s still ridiculous if you ask me

[@Kiku91]

Lol have you ever seen the 1902 short film "A Trip to the Moon" directed by Georges Méliès? It is probably, one of the first science fiction films...and....yeah, they got away with so much BS when it came to space travel. But it's fascinating to watch. You can find it on KZbin or Netflix.

[@MrDj232]

This one was clearly created to be like that. This was before the moon landing so plenty of people didn't know anything about space, but I think it's safe to assume this asteroid was intentionally made to be like Earth.

[@soulsergeant]

There is no Two Sun solar system 655 million miles away. And these asteroids sure do have Earth gravity, air composition and heat. Hmm

[@Akira625]

Asteroids can’t even support an atmosphere, much less resemble Earth.

[@rhocat362]

Sorry, but you are entirely missing the point-- the story is the point, not the scientific accuracy

[@francisfatta]

They may have been on a weird world, but trust me, once you’ve seen a lot of what’s going on today, this would just be another coin in the pile

[@gtsgreatteacherscathach5550]

Well that's a chilling twist that works quite well for the Twilight Zone.

[@feathero3]

5:21, not gonna lie, that music made me laugh the first time I saw this episode. It's super dark and sad, but that music was so unexpected I had to laugh!

[@alexmalcolm6309]

This one's definitely one of my favorites

[@GreaTMaX32]

That was kinda sad ending :(

[@melissacooper4282]

I can't imagine my body frozen in place like a mannequin after I die! If that were possible I probably would like myself to be holding a book with my cat laying on my lap. I know that sounds boring but that's my most content state.

[@BethHarmon-yh8ms]

Great episode. And you're right about the fact that such whimsical music is playing while Wickwire is dusting the 3 corpses of the astronauts he just murdered, it's unsettling to say the least. Horrific ending but brilliant episode. Always loved Cecil Kellaway. Even though Wickwire's actions are indeed monsterous, you can't completely hate him. As he says, he didn't do what he did to them out of malice, but out of necessity (in his point of view) to perserve the peace of this 'cemetary' in space. Still, you gotta hope that no other space travelers are unfortunate enough to get stranded on "Happy Glades".

[@CroobieLetter]

Twilight Zone: Doing the Mannequin challenge before it was cool

[@i_teleported_bread7404]

It was never cool.

[@Spiritualchick82]

@@i_teleported_bread7404 Haha. My exact thought, and then I opened your reply to see you had already made it! :D

[@Mysteryof89]

I remember the first time I saw this episode and I was like "wow......that ending was depressing"

[@loganthomas5736]

This is my second favorite episode, only topped by The Monsters Are Due on Mulberry Street.

[@jgg75]

This is the best series of videos from Channel Awesome in years... can you please continue and take us into The Twilight-vember Zone when that time comes...? Please.

[@RoninDave]

Definitely one of the eeriest episodes. First time watching you're trying to figure out what the hell is going on - androids, the afterlife, time distortion, etc... It ends unresolved in true horror fashion with this forgotten asteroid out still out there from the pre-Disco Era with its dead inhabitants frozen in their favorite fantasy moments until the next unlucky travelers stumble upon it.

[@thedarkwolfv7233]

When he says "and where there are men, there can be no peace..." Chills

[@DanBrizuela]

The ending with the music is very Hitchcockian.

[@JasonSanders]

one of the main masterpieces

[@Unownshipper]

This is one that's gonna stay with me. There were a few moments that stood out to me for the age difference (the man and woman in the hotel suite, the beauty pageant), but overall it didn't register to me that all of the "central figures" among the posed people were elderly. The mayor, the farmer, the fisher, and even the cards player seemed natural, but now knowing the twist, it all makes sense. This episode was perfectly paced, I'd finally let my guard down and then the moment came when Wickwire turns around. Talk about an "oh shit" moment! This reminds me of the Dr. Who episode "The Girl Who Waited;" the idea of a seemingly-benevolent animatronic that kills "out of kindness" to maintain peace is a creepy concept. I wouldn't be surprised if the creators of Dr. Who were inspired by this.

[@m.lanzoni9306]

That guy who killed the astronauts kinda reminds me of Victor Zsasz from the Batman comics. Whenever he kills someone, he lets their corpses in positions that looks like they are doing regular activities, like if they were "living their greatest dreams while being death".

[@dogthebountyhunter8504]

Never stop making these!

[@WasabiSniffer]

I’m really diggin these shorts. I hope you keep going with it even after October is over

[@supersodiq]

These are awesome keep them coming after October

[@SeqZZ]

I love this episode.

[@HououMinamino]

This is one of my favorite episodes. I love the concept, and it is amazing how the actors were able to stay so still. And the "moral," that humanity is destined to destroy and while it exists, there can be no peace wherever they may be, is a sobering one. There is even mention of a terrible war, which seems to prove Wickwire right. The only thing that bothered me is that the astronauts wished to be on a ship headed for home instead of actually home. If it were me, I would want to be safely at home, not on the way there. When the sound effect played while the men were drinking what Wickwire provided them, I knew it was poisoned. It was so obvious.

[@philipportelli7700]

It features Jeff Morrow who starred in THIS ISLAND EARTH, THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US and THE GIANT CLAW! Kevin Hagen is best known for playing Doc Baker on LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE.

[@MapleStarBlitz]

Amazing

[@SilentRiotXOX]

I love this series so much! I’m gonna be so sad when it’s over :(

[@ultramag0343]

This was a great episode

[@FatNorthernBigot]

Great premise. Great show.

[@christophertheriault3308]

I must have missed the part in the dialogue where it explained that not every figure used to be a person. I've always been wondering with this episode why a rich person would want to spend eternity as a waitress in a diner or in the audience of a beauty pageant.

[@melissacooper4282]

I can understand why that homley woman won the beauty pageant instead of the beautiful contestants.

[@ashrafshelmani]

Thats actually better than any “Black mirror” I’ve seen.

[@jyesucevitz]

great concept for a video series. nicely done and very entertaining.

[@DodgeThisBam]

If you took the extra time to warn me on the twist I'll take that to heart. I'll be back!

[@gerardmcmillan8591]

Yeah, the ending really caught me off and was really creepy. Mission accomplished.

[@dessamill3567]

my favorite episode. the meaning is really deep.

[@genjibenkei]

Hell yeah this is one of my favorites 😎🤘🏻

[@antonmassopust568]

I remember seeing this for the first time at late at night and was freaked out by it couldn't get back to sleep that's the power of The Twilight Zone

[@NCTStudio]

I feel like this is something Ultron would do. "But why? Why are you doing this?" "Because you are here. And you are life forms. And while there is life, there can be no peace."

[@mysterion3182]

In my Top 10 favorite Twilight Zone episodes

[@strangebrew1231]

That ending music made me lol

[@Fred-xo3ku]

Chilling episode 😨

[@BlackoutEclipse]

This was a good one I remember. The ending is crazy. Please do The Howling Man.

[@CannibalCowboy51]

I think the small movements of the still actors adds to the creep factor. Like they could all start moving at any moment.

[@TheNeonTheater]

Damn! That's a good story. I'm gonna go watch it.

[@Thaistickthai]

Anyone else get the vibe from Vault 112 from Fallout 3? I feel like if you crossed this with the Matrix it could be the inspiration for that particularly creepy vault and it's uber creepy Overseer

[@RWAC685]

The Cemetery, Awesome

[@Gunnery69246]

HOLY SHIT! I typed into the Google search bar this -------> *"twilight zone a band can you hear it?"* and this video came up. How the hell did Google's algorithm figure that out? I am old school but I'm not old, so I know some what about internet algorithms, but this just blew my mind. BTW great video explaining this episode. That phrase from this episode stuck in my head because the band _Skinny Puppy_ sampled it in one of their songs back in the 1980s. Back then we didn't have the internet so we had to search for the origin of song samples the old fashion way, which was actually pretty fun and challenging. I remember watching this episode one night in the 1990s and I immediately recognized the origin of the song sample, it was this episode. 👍

[@andrewscolari5724]

That is a scary ending. I mean three astronauts just want to return home to there friends and loved ones, and some self-righteous A.I just goes and kills them just because they landed on his asteroid.

[@billking1751]

Well, maybe he felt, they can't get back home anyway. So might as well take em out.

[@sharkherogaming8242]

I love the twilight zone

[@wcapewell3089]

See's the ending Me:"so thats what happened before the Red Dwarf crew me Kryten"

[@ThatPurpleGirl81]

Omg someone who knows Red Dwarf! 😁💜

[@ashleytuchin7693]

Well, howdy doodly doo fellow Smegheads. It actually made me think of Legion, given that it's an A.I that only activates when people show up.

[@davidratte1959]

I gotta see this.

[@TheQuashingoftheTub]

The A.I.'s ideologies also bring to mind A.I. misinterpreting their program. I remember one area in a Fallout game that had a chef Mr. Handy, that had the emergency sub routine "Serve anyone." It resulted in the Handy murdering any wastelander that came in with the intent to prepare them for food. I love stories like this, as the fault is STILL not with the A.I., it's mainly still on the humans. Humans' carelessness in fully researching what we make so as not to ruin everything with a simple botched execution is terrifying indeed. Also like the mentioned Mr. Handy, I love the blatant black comedy approach the ending takes, it's really fitting for the A.I., as it has no reason not to treat this like any other day. Makes you wonder how many times it's done this.

[@masterskrain2630]

The row of arc-shaped gauges on the left in the spaceship are from... you guessed it... "Forbidden Planet".

[@wjzav1971]

Having my body frozen forever in my "happiest" moment. That would be a nightmare. I hate it. I want my body to decompose or burn or something to become of it, not become a statue in an eternal graveyard, with a watcher who confuses peace with stagnation.

[@MegaMagicdog]

Not to mention the "graveyard" receives no visitors. You'd think the decedent's loved ones would want to visit their loved one in a life like state.

[@jbcatz5]

Watching this retrospective reminded me of a story from The Martian Chronicles (The Third Expedition, first published as Mars is Heaven! in 1948 and preceding the publication of the original Elegy short story by five years) where three astronauts land on Mars and find what bears remarkable resemblance to the town of Green Bluff Illinois as it was in the early 20th century.

[@Rikalonius]

I know there are a few episodes whose themes were rolled into Planet of the Apes, but I didn't realize this was one of them. Clearly the caretaker is a precursor to Dr. Zaius' admonition to Taylor on the beach. "And you're right, I have always known about man. From the evidence I believe his wisdom must walk hand in hand with his idiocy. His emotions must rule his brain. He must be a warlike creature who gives battle to everything around him, even himself." "The forbidden zone was once a paradise. Your breed made a desert of it, ages ago."

[@danwallach8826]

It almost makes up for Cecil Kellaway getting his brain pan stove in by John Garfield in "The Postman Rings Twice."

[@MrJuvefrank]

He must have feared and hated dogs too because I don't see the dog moving or reacting to anybody.

[@heyitzbabygurl4025]

That's dark, like really dark!

[@spongylord7131]

I think the small movements add to the audience not sure what’s going on. I was pretty sure watching this the first time that a scene or cut or so was a freeze frame and, because of the little bits of motion, I thought maybe they were all hypnotized to just try to stay in place. Like the twist was some crazy person creating an elaborate play just to amuse themselves or maybe lure in visitors who’s ships they steal.

[@jcollins1305]

I LOVE this episode. It hits all the right notes, about men and the destruction they bring, peoples happiness, death after life, etc. the only qualm I have is the finale music. It really breaks the spell for me, and I wish it had been kept as more somber music. Reading Zicree’s book, it is stated that they didn’t want the ending to be completely morbid, hence the change, but I wish they had continued the morbid tone. Still a top 10 episode for me.

[@Phantomx1989]

Actually Marvel already did a villain like that, Ultron, in the comics he's an IA who actually believes that humanity must be destroy to ensure peace, an also had the thing that since his IA is based on Hank Pym mind, Ultron actually had some human characteristics, like be he the one in command of his human-free world or build Yocasta as his wife

[@CCaster2000]

Give this guy a reward.

[@julscatten2640]

Fun bit of trivia: Cecil Kellaway, who played Wickwire, actually died the year the “cemetery” in this episode opened - 1973.

[@lukeo.1863]

I feel like instead of having the actors *try* to stay still, they should have been breathing--notably, but just in one place. Would have made it creepier, too.

[@drewbrown2175]

You can hear samples from this episode on the Track Dig It by the band Skinny Puppy.

[@patrickholzer6415]

aaaand I have a BBEG for my next DnD game, thanks for showing me that!

[@saffiegirl4158]

I was always fascinated that Doc Baker from Little House was in this episode.

[@TheCreepypro]

yeah this was pretty good I'm not going to lie

[@popcultureasylum7456]

Of course the pageant scene is memorable, am i right guys *wink wink*. In all seriousness though this is without a doubt one of the best twilight zone episodes of all time and definitely one of my favorite episodes. Its so simple and complex at the same time. It look peaceful at first but when you go deeper, its dark and disturbing. Just the idea of our bodies being our caskets is extremely disturbing. The shots in this episode is authentic, beautiful, and well done, the characters are amazing and memorable, and the story is one of the darkest stories i ever watched and that only from a 30 minute to an hour episode of a show. Sometimes the darkest stories come from the simplest of ideas. I love this episode and if anyone never watched this episode before, go out of your way to do so, you wont be disappointed. Awesome video

[@jcollins1305]

Check out “A death in the family” from season 2 of Night Gallery” a very good segment that mirrors this one.

[@hayleyelise7144]

Your analysis of Elegy perfectly enumerates the constituent facets, from a narrative and cinematographic standpoint, which contribute to the overarching complexity and memorable status this episode has achieved. Thematically, the poignancy and gravity of this work predominantly lies in the deceptive simplicity of Wickwire’s instilled programming that defines humanity as intrinsically incompatible with peace. Within the context of the episode itself, this insuperable mentality towards men that Wickwire has adopted implies his awareness of the almost constant state of war and the threat of nuclear annihilation which pervaded the era of the mid-twentieth century. From the perspective of an artificial observer, the prevalence of grotesque morbidity wrought from war and the excoriation of civilian lands must disturb even the tranquility of the dead as the number of their mutilated companions rapidly amasses. Therefore, it seems that Wickwire has certain veracity to his sentiments concerning humanity and the necessity of ensuring that his graveyard is absent of all men and the consequential prospect of incipient conflict. As Wickwire is the murderous villain of this episode, however, the righteousness of his mentality is demonstrably flawed and perniciously generalized as it pertains to humanity as a whole. After all, true peace is not necessarily the absence of all conflict, but rather the ability to find peaceable resolutions in spite of it. The beauty of humanity is derived from the expansive diversity in experiences and perspectives which comprise it, which, in its heterogeneity, will undoubtedly breed disagreements and debate. The vast majority of such instances need not end in violence, and though an intrinsic part of humanity, all forms and scales of conflict are not necessarily negative attributes. In a sense, Wickwire’s beliefs and desires are incongruous with the astronauts’, causing a conflict to arise between them, which potentially could have been solved peaceably by helping the men to quietly leave Happy Glades as they intended. Instead, Wickwire ironically found peace through violence and killed to achieve resolution, himself perpetuating the very same negative presumptions he imparted upon humanity. Undoubtedly, this episode inspires quite interesting discussions pertaining to what constitutes true peace and whether or not humanity is compatible with this ideation. Thank you, Walter, for your intriguing thoughts and conversations on this fascinating topic!

[@WalterCulture]

Loved your breakdown, Hayley! Didn't think of Wickwire falling into the same ideology of murder to achieve peace that he accuses man of instinctively having. Good point! This episode is definitely one of my personal favorites.

[@hayleyelise7144]

@@WalterCulture Thanks so much, Walter! Elegy is truly a memorable episode and one of my top favorites as well!

[@Chaos89P]

Considering, until now, I only saw the ending of this episode, your dissertation of the episode made sure the irony wasn't lost on me. Seriously, it may have blown over my head if you hadn't said anything.

[@christopheralthouse6378]

Her synopsis of these episodes has almost become a feature of these reviews in their own right! Keep it up, Hayley...your comments deliver almost as much as these videos! 😅😁

[@hayleyelise7144]

@@christopheralthouse6378 Oh wow, thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Walter’s exceptional writing and fantastic insight has proven greatly inspirational to me, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed participating in these Twilight-Tober Zone discussions with everyone!

[@tvccreator_elysius]

*el·e·gy /ˈeləjē/ noun 1. a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead. 2. (in Greek and Roman poetry) a poem written in elegiac couplets, as notably by Catullus and Propertius. early 16th century: from French élégie, or via Latin, from Greek elegeia, from elegos ‘mournful poem’.* Oh my God, the name makes sense now.

[@thefreakmachine]

To me this is one of the best three. It's the third.