The Twilight Zone Hall of Fame

Oh, I love the idea that he's being haunted by this symbol of his crime. I think it's a great touch, and shows allegorically that we cannot throw away or give away our guilt.

You mean you think Takei is saying that the father being a traitor wasn't real?

Don't know if it was mentioned, but there was a similar episode (similar subject matter, anyway) with the recently deceased Dean Stockwell as a soldier who gets to see both sides of the war in the Pacific during WWII. It was titled A Quality of Mercy.

From what I understand an updated version of that episode was made for Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983).

You know there's a much similar episode to The Encounter in the original Star Trek series, Day of the Dove.

Yes. Takei says at the 2:15 mark in the video that Arthur fantasies that his father was a traitor at Pearl Habor then he says or images it.

While I obviously take a lot of issue with the script as I'm reading it, I think that this makes even less sense. I took Takei's use of the word "fantasy" as being more akin to "hallucination" than to meaning something he was making up.

So... just a question on opinions: do you guys think the episode (The Encounter) was banned because of the suggestion of a Japanese American who was a traitor at Pearl Harbor (since no such story has ever been confirmed or even suggested, thus reinforcing some WWII-era stereotype that grew out of paranoia, but for which there was never any basis) OR was it due to some of the blatant racism and xenophobia expressed by Fenton?

I'm asking for opinions since this was not the only Twilight Zone episode to deal with racism or utilize offensive language to make a point against racism, but it was the only one banned (that I know of).

If Fandom is considered an accurate source, it's a little of both, with the former issue that there is no evidence that such espionage ever occurred being the primary reason.

"A Stop at Willoughby" CONTAINS SPOILERS

This is a pretty good episode that reminds me of "Time Enough at Last" in that it's also about a man with unsatisfying work and home lives who only finds solace in his imagination. While I viewed that other episode to be primarily about, well...there never being enough time to do that, this one is most effective as a case study in a widely discussed mental health condition lately: imposter syndrome. James Daly makes it easy to empathize with Gart, a man who as a result of feeling pressured to please his spouse, being promoted much too quickly or a little of columns A and B ends up in a place where he cannot live authentically. As for Willoughby, with a look and feel that reminds me of Mayberry, I love how nostalgic, sickly sweet and too perfect it looks as well as how much of a stark contrast it is from Gart's real world. There's also the demon that is his superior, Misrell, who Howard Smith plays as the worst boss any of us have ever had. Thankfully, he does it in a way that adds much-needed comic relief thanks to his delivery of his goofy "push" catchphrase.

I like the episode quite a bit, but it's not a classic like the similar "Time Enough at Last." Also, despite Gart's constant favoring of his stomach telegraphing the ending and even though I can’t think of another way the story could have concluded, it’s still a bit over the top for me that he dies. My opinion about the episode telling a valuable story about imposter syndrome still stands and I'd encourage anyone who struggles with it to watch it. You might need to warn them about the ending and to not take it the wrong way, though.

I'd guess it's because of the two script flaws IMO, that I mentioned. They are Takei saying his father was a traitor at Pearl Habor, and then apparently turned into a crazed warrior jumping out the window yelling banzai.

This is an interesting article that contains some production information on The Encounter and quotes from the director.

https://thenightgallery.wordpress.com/2021/09/01/a-harsh-encounter-what-a-long-hidden-twilight-zone-can-teach-us-about-
hate/

Takei's interview seems to suggest it was the former, and I think that makes the most sense. There are other episodes that deal with racism/bias (like the one you cited where the American wakes up and finds he's turned into the Japanese officer whose squad he's trapped in a cave).

Season 2 Episode 15: The Invaders

It's hard for me to talk about what I love about this episode without giving away the ending, so I'm not going to try to avoid spoilers. If you haven't seen this episode yet, don't read any further.



Next Up: It's a Good Life

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I hadn't thought along those line, but I like what you said there.

Time Machine the 1960 or 2002 version?

1960. I haven't seen the 2002 film.

The 1960 version is great. I actually liked the 2002 version too and it's been a long time since I seen it.

I might get to the remake someday. It's going to be hard to top the 1960 film though.

It's been like 20 years since I seen the remake but I remember it being very different so it's more a reboot I guess.