▶ "One Step Beyond": Episode of the Week (9/10)

"DELIA" -- SEASON (2) EPISODE (32). May 3 1960.
COMMENTARY (spoilers alert): After again transcending the role of TV host and narrator by interacting with the dramatis personae of the episode in question (in the fashion of "The Inheritance" and "Vanishing Point"), John Newland listens intently in "Delia" as an islander (why do these things always happen on islands?) describes a tale of tragic love. It is the story of Phillip Wilson, a disillusioned, bitter man with two ex-wives. Unexpectedly, Wilson has fallen for Delia, a beautiful young woman who disappeared after one fateful meeting, never to be seen by Wilson again. And as the years passed, Wilson grew ever more desperate to share even a moment with his beloved again.
If that set-up sounds like the stuff of a tear-jerker, it is. "Delia" is a sad story about lovers who have been crossed not by the stars but by time and the psychic mechanisms of an indifferent universe. In a virtual replay of the setting and concept driving "The Return of Mitchell Campion," a soul bi-locates or astrally projects to a distant island, only to find love there. In this case that love proves devastating, and it destroys Phillip Wilson. And, like Campion in "The Return of Mitchell Campion," it is a devastation not shared by two. Some eight years after Wilson's crisis, Delia is still young and beautiful, and she is able to dismiss her love of Phillip as merely a dream she once had. He lost his life over a love that was unrequited and virtually unremembered. Depressing.
Despite "Delia's" obsession with tragic love, the story tends to play out as trite. Delia and Phillip meet and, in the tradition of all bad television, are instantly in love. They speak immediately of destiny and of love, and it all seems a little saccharine. Of course, they are pressed for time because the episode is only a half hour long, but still, the lock-step feel of the romance tends to take away from the feeling of a meaningful love shattered.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about "Delia" is the sheer number of stock "One Step Beyond" ideas it recycles. The island setting (rerun #1), the out-of-body bilocation (rerun #2), the alcoholic protagonist (rerun #3), the insertion of Newland into the story by describing that he is "on a vacation" from the show (rerun #4), the time hiccup (rerun #5), and the protagonist's "Cassandra" status as disbelieved (rerun #6), all contribute to a feeling that this romance is really by-the-numbers rather than a truly meaningful love story.
In the remainder of the second season and in the third season: "One Step Beyond" would depict marvelous love stories of truly bizarre and original concepts in four superior episodes: "The Visitor," "The House of the Dead," "Legacy of Love" and "Nightmare." "Delia" is not in the same class as those stories, but in a way it is comforting in its steadfast reiteration of common series conventions. Like an old shoe: "Delia" fits well even if it doesn't look great . . .
From John Kenneth Muir's definitive book "An Analytical Guide to Television's One Step Beyond": • ▶ "One Step Beyond" Ba...

[@karenoengland9859]

I love this show. Growing up my older brother would watch it. I would get out of bed and watch it from the hallway. And be very quiet.

[@maryelizabeth6797]

My sister, two brothers and Ialso watched but from the staircase. Looking back I think my parents knew all along as they made very loud, drawn out tiding up activities while closing down the living room for the night. We were all night owls allowed to play around inside our rooms provided we were quiet. I think they just ignored us as long as we did not push the envelope. The saddest thing about this arrangement was that we never got to see the little end bit of Dragnet. Never found out the legal sentences that were given out.

[@danadavis6097]

Love love John Newland! It's great when he's in the show. He's a very good actor and so handsome! Thank you very much for playing these old episodes. On at a time when t.v. was worth watching. 🙏❤️🤗

[@suetipping4841]

He played Loretta Young's husband in one of her series prior to beginning One Step Beyond. He was always interested in science fiction related material.

[@Sunny25611]

😊👍🏼

[@tituskamau5554]

Ok, now I admit that I am addicted to these episodes. Keep em coming!

[@minivegana6516]

Same here!!!

[@Sunny25611]

😊 I love this episode! Thank you for uploading these - They remind me of those rare nights that we were allowed to “stay up late just this one time “ back in the day ! ^^ 💖

[@sarahalbers5555]

I love John in this. He looks awesome in his "relaxed) island clothes. Love the episode of the week, such a good idea.

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

This entire episode has sort of a contemplative feel about it . . .

[@rochellekeels8026]

It was beautiful 🤣🤣🤣

[@sjlinton]

Love that the first thing he wants to know about her was when she was vaccinated.

[@pan580]

I was like. Wait. Did he ask her that?

[@madhavi108]

Yes that’s very bizarre. Especially watching this in 2021 when “ to vaccinate or not to vaccinate “ is a big question! Who EVER asks someone when they were vaccinated ?? ( most of us were vaccinated as young children! ) I thought I imagined this dialogue. Then played it back.

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

@@madhavi108 Polio vaccine began in 1955 . . . and it was a big deal at that time.

[@rosiedgington9179]

When you were vaccinated?!! 😂😂😂

[@rosiedgington9179]

The year I was born.😩

[@kalitheamare]

Thank you for including JK Muir's analysis, very interesting

[@stephaniehand503]

thank you

[@psw4763]

Great shows all of them.

[@tburnsmatheny]

Loved this show.

[@youreright]

Wilson's fate reminds me of the other Wilson (coincidence?) in Sommerset Maugham's 'THE LOTUS EATER'. Both gave up everything, in pursuit of a 'dream'. All Life is an Illusion (Maya). Only the Consciousness within is Absolute. May All who read this, be Blessed with Limitless Light! Namaste!

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

Props -- rare to hear anyone cite Maugham any more. It turns out that "The Lotus Eater" . . . is one of about 10 short stories that I've compiled into a binder as having most haunted me from past reading (years and years ago).

[@youreright]

@@one-step-beyond-1959 Thanks for sharing. The Lotus Eater was our Literature short story reading in high School, I remember. Yes, I agree, it does have a haunting quality to it. Oftentimes, I have wondered, would I have done the same thing as what Wilson did? That question has become more relevant now, with the Pandemic and Lockdowns, lol!

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

@@youreright Balancing the short term vs the long term . . . is a perennial issue in all that we do.

[@johnhulsker9123]

A most excellent observation,

[@youreright]

@@johnhulsker9123 Thank you. Hope you and yours are well and happy. Have a great day, my friend!

[@firekind1980]

I don't know if UK people realise one of the cheaper (better quality) channels on skys movie section is showing this show on tuesdays at 6pm. Don't know if it'll last. It's one of the times I work and miss it. I caught the tail end on Tuesday. It was the one with the smudge that looked like a dead person. The picture was superb. It was weird hearing that theme on the TV.

[@Pigeon55]

You are correct ,I watch it through Virgin Media, on TalkingPics channel

[@spidermoth1170]

🥂👍🏻💜 BRILLIANT Thanks for sharing

[@arliesam217]

Poor guy

[@AsAs-dv8gr]

I like these episodes. Newland the presenter have got magnetism. In this episode perhaps the woman was real that she stayed at the hotel but for whatever motives it was a conspiracy to keep her hidden.

[@Lolabelle59]

I find this to be a particularly haunting and poignant episode. Wonder what Einstein would have thought about it. Lee Philips (Phillip Wilson) played Michael Rossi in Peyton Place (1957).

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

You'll probably figure out soon that I'm choosing my own favorite episodes for these "episodes of the week" . . .

[@barbararemsen8207]

An odd episode. Maybe Delia was having out of body experiences when she was asleep. Very sad if the poor guy ended up drowning because of it.

[@mebeingU2]

Yes, but 8 years before, she would have been just a teenaged kid.

[@monicalifornia_]

“Id like so much to know about you. When you were vaccinated” Carries a different ring in 2023

[@jordankennedy8421]

I love these but they are so hard to see .

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

JK Muir (commentary above) doesn't seem to think much of this episode. I myself find that it's just a part of life . . .

[@seanacameron8940]

Was lying in my bed in Edmonton. Suddenly, was in Germany. Frankfurt. Noticed so many things. Two years later, my husband took me over there. The first thing I pointed out was the Loto Toto booth. He was quite startled. I then told him how to get to our hotel. I had never been there before, except in my mind. Directed him with glee to bakeries, meat shops, and so much more. Before we had left for Germany, I had explained what I had envisioned. Helmut was born in Germany, and ended up laughing, that I, a Scots?Brits mix knew his country so well. I loved it, and miss it still.

[@jessidavies3344]

Serendipity! Very Romantic Love has no limits...there is always a strory!

[@Zurround]

Twilight Zone got 3 tv series revivals and Outer Limits gone one remake with color film and way better special effects. But for some reason One Step Beyond never got a remake?

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3i2loOVd72koKs

[@jjj1951]

So if the guy had hung on for one more week he would have met his love.

[@ladedalounge]

When you were vaccinated?

[@Zurround]

Sometimes one show can be cooler or better overall but a different show can have a better TITLE. For example BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is a way cooler sounding title than Star Wars which does not really sound so cool when you think about it even though Star Wars was superior overall. It was kind of a "wannabe" for Twilight Zone but I actually think "One Step Beyond" sounds cooler than Twilight Zone.

[@monaj33]

Fake..no man refuses a free drink at a bar!

[@jacquelineking1770]

Bi location maybe?