Still Valley

Description: Season 3, Episode 11

Air Date: November 24, 1961

Plot Summary: Toward the end of the Civil War, a confederate soldier considers using magic to turn the tide in their favor.

Review: This was another mediocre episode as nothing really happens in the story. I recall TZ mentioning before about certain stories being footnotes in the TZ universe--well, this is another entry in that position. It's the close of the Civil War and two confederate soldiers are scouting a group of Union troops coming through a valley. When the troops suddenly go quiet, the main guy goes to investigate what they're up to. When the soldier arrives on the scene, he finds the Union troops frozen in place at the hands of an old man. There is something about the old geezer being the seventh son of a seventh son or whatever, but the fact of the matter is that the old man has a spellbook able to freeze individuals or entire armies in their place. When the main guy wonders why the old man hasn't used this magic to defeat the Union army, he claims he's dying and does die moments later.

Taking the book back to his commanding officer, the main guy explains the situation and the power that lies in their hands. At first the main guy is not believed, but others verify the account of the frozen soldiers. Deciding that they stand no chance of victory, they accept the notion of aligning with Satan to win the war. However, when the main guy is about to read the spell from the book, he realizes he must renounce God and essentially lose his soul. This notion causes them to change their mind as they would rather be defeated than choose a much darker fate through victory. The episode simply ends with the implication that they all died at the battle of Gettysburg anyway. Eh, if you're into the Civil War you might find this entertaining. I just couldn't get into it. It's a competently told tale, it just felt like it was missing that classic TZ oomph.