If you knew something awful was about to happen, what would you do to prevent it and can it be prevented. That is a question that is pondered throughout this tale, this is another of my favorite tales from the show, I really like the plotline which uncannily predates part of the plot of the horror film "Final Destination" which came out many years' latter.
The whole episode is basically a psychic thriller, which I always love because it's mainly a way to put ordinary people in extraordinary situations by having something extraordinary inside they never knew they had. It's also a ticking clock thriller from beginning to end we're routing for the protagonist to somehow find a way to win before it's too late.
The late Charles Durning is great as Earl, his character you really sympathize with but also empathize with because he never asked to be given the premonition he received. Sure, like in any suspense thriller the protagonist sometimes can walk away or simply not do anything when the dilemma is no longer theirs. However, in good conscious and the good person they are, they never can and nor can we. It's true by doing this we'd be gambling/risking our lives for certain death, however by doing nothing at all we'd be dooming ourselves to a fate worse than death, which is to live in disgrace and dishonor; to die slowly forever with that poisonous memory.
The story is also about true heroism and who a hero really is. Earl is a person with no superpowers and any special abilities just an ordinary joe like anyone else willing to go to great lengths to do the right thing. In a way that's really what the superheroes themselves are as well, like with Superman in the TV show "Superman and Lois" sure he has all those great powers, but he flies back home to Lois and has a lot of the regular responsibilities like any other person from chores and parenting his two sons.
Can Earl find a way to prevent the worst from happening, you'll have to wait and find out.
Rating: 4 stars.