Description: Season 1, Episode 8
Air Date: November 20, 1959
Plot Summary: A man, who would love nothing more than to read books all day, finds himself as the lone survivor in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Review: This is the first of the classic episodes and one of the more famous ones to boot. While it is incredibly simplistic in presentation, it provides a cold irony that would later become something of a trademark by TZ. In a lot of ways, this would become a defining moment in the series and set the tone for the way the episodes would approach storytelling. The episode also features the first appearance of acclaimed actor, Burgess Meredith, who would become associated with the franchise despite only appearing in two more episodes; I suppose he was something of a fan favorite.
If for some reason you're new to all of this, the story involves a guy named Henry Bemis who is obsessed with reading...especially the literary classics. I know Henry is supposed to be likable, but he's a huge dork with thick ass glasses. He can't focus on doing his job as a banker, since he's distracted by the books, which annoys his customers and catches the ire of his boss. Later on, we meet Henry's super bitchy wife who hates that he wants to read for a reason that is never disclosed. She even goes to the length of scribbling on every single page of a poetry book Henry has hidden knowing at some point he will discover it. A bit overboard on that one, but I guess the point is taken. Having a habit of sneaking off to the bank's vault to read in peace, Henry inadvertently secures himself in the advent of some kind of nuclear strike; it's up to debate what exactly happened. Emerging as the only survivor, Henry realizes he will be fine as far as food goes but is plagued by the boredom. While taking the news of annihilation quite well, Henry overreacts to the boredom and plans to kill himself until he notices the rubble of a library with intact books. Beyond overjoyed, Henry plots out all the books and reading he plans to do for years to come. He even takes the time to speak the title before conveniently breaking his glasses. The hell...I've seen eggs more durable than that! Being blind as a bat, Henry is completely shit out of luck and unable to read his precious books. The episode ends with Henry saddened and saying how it's not fair as the harsh irony settles into his mind. Eh, look at it this way, you were probably going to die an agonizing death from fallout anyway.
For the most part this a good episode, but I think I've seen this one way too many times. I do like that Henry wants to read as this aspect can hold relevance to today's era; although, nowaday, we would be happy to see someone reading. The scenario that Henry finds himself in is interesting with a unique dilemma, but the themes are kind of all over the place without a definitive message as to what the episode wants the audience to take from it. I think this episode has its place amongst the classics, but there are better ones out there that don't get a lot of attention.
Classic episode, and I like Burgus Meredith's character here in a way, almost a likable goofball quality. Burgus is also known as the old man father of Jack Lemon in the "Grumpy old men" films decades later.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that these days seeing someone make a fuss over someone reading would be quite rare, since back in the late 1950s there was no internet, no video games, no videos or DVDs or Netflix, and no TV except a few channels showing "Leave it to Beaver" and such shows and the news.
Even though I don't fully understand Henry's wife not letting him read at home, I sort of understand Henry's boss making a fuss about his reading since that was about his distraction from working (and short changing customers). I do like the smile that forms on his face when Henry tells him about his wife never letting him read at home, showing that he relishes in his suffering. And Henry didn't look that upset at finding him dead after the nuclear blast.
I think that if Henry was to die soon too, it would've probably been from radiation poisoning, which would obviously be in the air that soon after the explosion.
I do wonder, if maybe after breaking his glasses, he could've eventually found an eyeglasses store half standing, in the same way he found the library and the food store still half standing. But with him having so much trouble seeing now, being able to find that would be quite the challenge.
I also noticed how the nuclear bombed out wasteland was the same background here as in the end of "One more pallbearer" when the mad professor finally completely broke down. Only difference, that was all allusions to him there, where here there are no indications of it all not being Henry's real experience