KOI: A Twilight Zone Show - And When the Sky was Opened #11

What would you do if a person you cared about not only disappeared from existence, but no one but you has any memories of their having existed at all? That's at the heart of our Twilight Zone episode this week: "And When the Sky was Opened." Three astronauts leave earth only, disappear for 24 hours, and then mysteriously reappear. One-by-one, each disappears. we'll talk about whether or not we have a real version of this phenomenon; we'll discuss parallel universes and multiverses; and I'll give my moment of awe--it involves a certain project from the 1950s that helped us get to the moon in the 1960s.
Google form to rate this Twilight Zone episode: forms.gle/qD5zKHd9natqRugdA
Dr. Sean Carrol's video: • The Multiverse is real...
Head over to thekeyofimagination.com to learn more about me, check out my Twilight Zone trinkets and collectibles, and to to continue the conversation.
Episode outline:
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Plot synopsis
02:34 Episode Specifics
03:26 Episode tidbits
05:55 My initial thoughts
06:40 Question 1
12:50 Question 2
21:17 Question 3
23:22 Episode rating
23:59 Next episode and your questions
24:28 Listener shout-outs and messages from me
26:10 How to get involved and how to support the show
No show did a better job than The Twilight Zone at generating awe and wonder within its audience. It just so happens that awe is exactly what we need in these difficult, divisive times. So, join me, Joe Meyer, and let's walk through the fifth dimension with Rod Serling. Along the way, we'll discuss big questions and relate them back to our Twilight Zone episodes.
Opening and Ending theme: by Jacob Williams @jakeproduces on Fiverr
#twilightzone #rodserling #scifi #zone #outerlimits #sciencefiction

[@thekeyofimagination]

Join us on this journey through the Twilight Zone and through life. Question: do you think you could maintain your sanity if you KNEW someone had lived at one point, and no one else will acknowledge it?

[@chamuuemura5314]

This was good. Having not read the original story, I saw this as a kid after my good friend moved away whom none of my classmates seemed to remember a month later. The episode reminded me of real life and I thought it was social commentary. As an adult it happened twice at the same company. Shortly after a coworker left, nobody seemed to remember her. Her replacement lasted a few months and after he left nobody seemed to remember him either. In east Asia, being forgotten is the worst fear of many people, even worse than being remembered only for doing something wrong. So there’s a big fear of being forgotten, even more than death. So from that perspective the astronaut fine with disappearing may have been fine with disappearing once he accepted he’d be forgotten anyway.

[@thekeyofimagination]

Thanks for taking the time to add this. I didn’t know that it was a particular fear in East Asia. That’s really interesting.

[@appalachianamerican7171]

Not bad, held my attention most of the time. Plenty of room to grow 👍

[@thekeyofimagination]

Appreciate the kind words, and there is absolutely room to continue to get better.

[@nekorena]

I'm a huge fan of the old Twilight Zone episodes, so I'm happy to have stumbled upon your channel. :) Great Video!

[@thekeyofimagination]

Thank you for the kind words. It's wonderful to meet you.

[@rontrudeau6974]

First i have watched of your videos. I really like the subject and plan to keep watching

[@thekeyofimagination]

Thanks. I always appreciate kind thoughts and motivation to get better.

[@Ccc-kf5kn]

Mate thank you I really needed to hear that today !! Thank you I will get over it I am ment to be here 🙏🙏🙏

[@thekeyofimagination]

You are absolutely meant to be here. We live in a world where acts of kindness and goodness are seen as miracles. So, let’s go make a few miracles.

[@brooklyngal6334]

Hello! I found you through Twitter. I enjoyed this podcast episode and look forward to future listening and going back over your past episodes. There is a lot of food for thought on the themes! You're not just summarizing the episode or discussing the actors, writers, etc. That's something that has been done countless times with TZ. I know other commentators would like more visuals, but I don't mind so much. I listen while working from home, and it's hard to pay attention to the video and computer. Keep up the great work! Also, your commentary reminded me of one of my favorite books from Middle School - Singularity by William Sleator. The story is excellent and involves twin brothers in a contentious relationship. They go to visit their strange uncle’s home for the summer and find he has disappeared. Then something fantastic happens in the house that changes both their lives forever.

[@thekeyofimagination]

I'm so glad you found me over here. Welcome to the community. As you mention, there are plenty of people who do a wonderful job breaking down the episodes as reviews--and they're all fun and unique to listen to. But, it's because people did such a great job with those reviews that I can branch out and try something else with the Twilight Zone.

[@brooklyngal6334]

@@thekeyofimagination Thank you! Having done a lot of work in fandoms over the years, I wouldn't have been so inspired, either, if it weren't for the paths others carved. Everyone does something a little unique.

[@omniframe8612]

Subbed! Gotta run and rewatch this ep then come back! 😂

[@thekeyofimagination]

Haha

[@houndsandjackals]

cool video sir

[@thekeyofimagination]

Appreciate the kind words and for taking the time.

[@XperimentorEES]

Among all the episodes where the driving plot is from aliens humans or robots, I'd say this is one of the few episodes with outright lovecraftian implications instead of temporal ones. The astronauts repeatedly refer to something utterly strange that happened during their prototype's maiden voyage without being able to put their finger on it to define it in any meaningful way, then share a creeping ambiguous feeling that's portrayed both positively and negatively as their interactions with society become increasingly absent, but individually don't even consider the truth of their situation until they witness their uncomfortably inevitable fate happen to their colleagues. What's worse is because of the existential removal, this could've happened countless times before, and we simply don't remember nor can we find out . . .

[@thekeyofimagination]

Yes! I’m so happy to see that someone else gets just how horrifying this episode really is. And I was just rereading Anne Serling’s book about her dad, and she was talking about remembering Rod finding time to read Lovecraft during this time period, so spot on.

[@XperimentorEES]

​@@thekeyofimagination Ironically I didn't find out about Lovecraft till years after binging this series, but this was one of the scarier tales that stuck out to me; and after a few trips to the library, go figure I also enjoy most of Lovecraft's stories XD Rod Serling always had a nose for overlooked talent, like Perry Mason his show had quite the variety of writers directors and actors. Though I figured those esoteric existential stories inspired a few episodes, never would've guessed he enjoyed reading them!

[@ryanbellegrave9777]

I’m 3 minutes in and I have a couple thoughts and opinions. 1. I’m a diehard TZ fan and I’m so happy you did this video at all. 2. Your comedy feels a touch stiff and forced. You’ve gotta be a bit more expressive and cavalier at the same time, more natural. 3. NEVER explain a joke. Looking forward to more of your stuff, can’t wait to see how you evolve.

[@thekeyofimagination]

Appreciate the feedback. Good suggestions.

[@ryanbellegrave9777]

Sorry, one more thing. Include more clips of the things of which you are discussing. Show the interview clips you’re reading from, segments from the episode, etc.

[@user-gi8ke8ef8d]

Stop calling people by their last names. Call then by their first names.

[@plasticweapon]

why? who the hell are you?

[@user-gi8ke8ef8d]

I'm Greg. Who the hell are you?@@plasticweapon

[@plasticweapon]

@@user-gi8ke8ef8d it's greg, king of the universe! all hail greg!