The 5 best Twilight Zone opening monologues of all time
Rod Serling’s iconic monologues set the tone for The Twilight Zone. Here are the five opening speeches that left a lasting mark on TV history.
Published 13 hours ago
In a show defined by its dramatic introductions, these are the best
Image: CBS
“You are about to enter another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.”
Every episode of The Twilight Zone kicks off with an intro monologue, putting its own spin on the show’s mysterious fifth dimension. Series creator and host Rod Serling breaks the fourth wall to guide viewers into the story, only to return at the end with another memorable speech. From opening to closing, the series is defined by its cold opens and unforgettable monologues.
Not only do these monologues set the stage for what’s to come, but they also often elevate the story to come and leave a lasting impression. Here are our five favorite Twilight Zone openings, each chosen for its cultural impact, its clever subversion of expectations, or simply for Serling’s masterful command of language.
5 It’s a Good Life
The Twilight Zone season 3 episode 8, “It’s a Good Life,” is one of the show’s most iconic episodes, and its opening monologue sets the tone perfectly. It begins with a misdirection. Serling appears on camera in front of a map and explains that this story is “somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction.” He describes a fictional town in the United States that is now the only state in the country. The rest of America, along with its cars, electricity, and machines, has vanished due to a monster that lives in the town. Serling introduces the few remaining citizens as the players of the episode, but he saves the supposed monster for last.
“His name is Anthony Fremont. He's six years old, with a cute little-boy face and blue, guileless eyes,” Serling says. “But when those eyes look at you, you'd better start thinking happy thoughts, because the mind behind them is absolutely in charge.” It’s as unique as it is brilliant, and what follows happens to be one of the best episodes in Twilight Zone history.
4 Deaths-Head Revisited
Serling is at his best when eviscerating Nazis with his words. And the opening monologue of season 3 episode 9, “Deaths-Head Revisited,” is a poetic evisceration of former captain of the S.S., Mr. Schmidt. He returns to the old concentration camp where he used to work, looking for nostalgia, of all things. Serling picks Schmidt apart and refers to Nazis as individuals who “walk the Earth without a heart.”