We’ve been obsessed with The Twilight Zone for decades, and now it’s returned with a new series, new commentary, and new terrifying overtones.
The original Twilight Zone series might have been appropriate political and societal commentary for its generation, but the satirical, other-worldly science fiction needs to change with the present reality its critiquing. Building on the original Twilight Zone we know and love, Jordan Peele’s revival dissects the current dimensional dystopia we dwell in with the help of a parallel dimension. Now that our alternate dimensional fate is in the hands of new writers, showrunners, and producers, it’s only fitting that the series will stream on a new platform.
Debuting on CBS All Access, The Twilight Zone premieres with two episodes: “Nightmare at 30,000 Feet” and “The Comedian.” Although the rest of the season will continue with one episode per week starting on April 11, it would seem strange for an inherently bizarre show to debut normally.
According to the CBS All Access synopsis for “Nightmare at 30,000 Feet,” the episode might include a new spin on a classic tale from another realm:
"A journalist listens to a podcast detailing how the plane on which he’s a passenger will disappear."
The rebooted series starts with a classic tale based on a similarly-titled episode of the original The Twilight Zone, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” The extra height in the title naturally hints at an elevated plot, fit with some unique twists. From short stories to a couple of TTZ episodes before it, the mid-flight disappearing act will likely add even more depth to the already horrifying narrative.
Meanwhile, the synopsis for “The Comedian” will showcase how the show easily transitions from comedy to melancholy reality, along with a too-good-to-be-true deal:
"Taking advice from a famous comedian, a stand-up comic makes fun of his own life – with unexpected results."
Based on the episode summary, we’re going to hypothesize that the jokes the comedian tells become solidified into reality. Maybe it’s just a hunch, but we’ve watched enough tragic Twilight Zone episodes to know that you never make a deal without understanding the full extent of the terms and agreement.
There’s a lot that can happen in the ominous and unpredictable Twilight Zone, but we’ll let you experience the first two episodes on your own without spoiling the canonically unfortunate endings. After all, if we’re looking for the anthology to feature flawed characters who ultimately get their happily ever after, you might want to try another series (or wash down your weekly TTZ watch sessions with a happy-ending-riddled movie).
Here’s how you can watch The Twilight Zone live tonight:
"Date: Monday, April 1Episode: “Nightmare at 30,000 Feet” and “The Comedian”TV Channel: CBS All AccessLive Stream: Watch live on CBS All Access. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial. After the trial, the streaming service is $5.99 – $9.99 per month, depending on the option chosen."