Once again, Burgess Meredith shows in just 25 minutes why he is one of the great actors of the 20th century. He is a titled Mr. Dingle, a milquetoast bullied in his bar hang out who gets the sudden gift of strength from visiting aliens. After taking care of the overly bombastic Don Rickles, Meredith goes out into public where he shows off his new strength but not wisdom. the aliens return to give him just that which he deals with both comically and pompously.
Sometimes when switching gears from serious themes to comedy, "The Twilight Zone" didn't always succeed as planned and lightning up the mood. Some of them are silly and gimmicky while others have a lesson in spite of a lighter mood. This one unfortunately falls into the category of silly and gimmicky, and there are definite laughs be had (especially the site of the two-headed Martian) but this is certainly not one that has any great lesson to learn. Well perhaps the lesson of humbleness which Rickles finds out after he is publicly humiliated, and that turns Meredith into a rather pompous jerk. I'm afraid in watching many of these episodes back-to-back, once I am halfway through the series, this will be one which has slid out of my memory.
Sometimes when switching gears from serious themes to comedy, "The Twilight Zone" didn't always succeed as planned and lightning up the mood. Some of them are silly and gimmicky while others have a lesson in spite of a lighter mood. This one unfortunately falls into the category of silly and gimmicky, and there are definite laughs be had (especially the site of the two-headed Martian) but this is certainly not one that has any great lesson to learn. Well perhaps the lesson of humbleness which Rickles finds out after he is publicly humiliated, and that turns Meredith into a rather pompous jerk. I'm afraid in watching many of these episodes back-to-back, once I am halfway through the series, this will be one which has slid out of my memory.