View Single Post
  #7  
Old 14th July 2011, 02:38 PM
Bibliomike Bibliomike is offline
Cult Rookie
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Havertown, PA, USA
Send a message via AIM to Bibliomike
Default

Ugh. I am surprised that, even in its day, this episode was produced. Granted, the TZ is full of improbable, implausible, and impossible situations -- but, as Zicree laments in the Companion, that we are asked to believe three (presumably) highly trained astronauts can't recognize that they're still on Earth -- let alone the fact that the space administration can't track a crashing rocket? No one would be watching the launch? No amateur astronomers in this reality? No other governments with telescopes and radar? -- It just fails on every level. Not even the performances (way over the top, in my opinion) can salvage such a ludicrous premise.

Can an asteroid even have an atmosphere? Again, ugh.

No airplanes flew overhead in all that time? Ugh ugh.

And, as Tom pointed out -- "Gee, I guess the most logical conclusion is that we're on an asteroid in the same orbit as Earth." Really? Ugh to the third power.

Also, Serling's Act Two narration (prior to the closing narration) is exceptionally cringe-worthy.

So, no, I don't like this one. I do, however, like Tom's interpretation on the podcast of the poem from which the title comes! Your evaluation of the episode is far more charitable than mine. :-) Unlike you, though, I really do think the major problem is the premise. As you say, I simply can't buy that these characters are that stupid. And I kind of resent that Serling thought the viewers would be stupid enough to fall for it. Very unlike him, since he talked a lot about respecting the audience's intelligence... but this episode doesn't.
Reply With Quote