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The Twilight Zone: Still Valley (1961)
An underrated and understated episode
I believe "Still Valley" (S3E11) deserves at least one champion. It was the only half hour episode shown during seasons 3 and 4. Certainly, that was no mistake. Barring some fantastic event, it was likely a decision over which Mr. Selling had some influence. Of all the episodes up to that point to repeat, his choice of this episode in particular is notable. Other users mentioned this episode's slow pace, factual errors, and other issues. But I would suggest the finale is simple and anticlimactic (compared to other TZ episodes) because that is the way it is for most decisions based on ones morality. There is no great fanfare or explosion. If that conclusion isn't good enough, then consider that the episode is as close to an overt statement on race and civil rights as any TZ episode ever got. Even the two episodes well known for featuring black actors ("The Big Tall Wish" S1E27 and "I Am The Night - Color Me Black" S5E26) or involving the Civil War ("Back There" S2E13) didn't explicitly mention God and the Devil while discussing good and evil. The episode also managed to humanize Confederate soldiers, as they were the only ones with speaking parts. We saw their fears, their desperation, and (ultimately) their redemption in their decision to accept the will of God in their battle, and not invoke the spirit of the Devil. I just saw another TZ episode, "Stopover in a Quiet Town" (S5E30). It's just a long windup with a simple payoff, but it has an average IMDB rating of 8.1, while "Still Valley" has a rating of 6.1. Given its themes, topic and cast (including the dozens of actors/soldiers standing still), "Still Valley" certainly deserves more praise than what it has received.