The Changing of the Guard

Description: Season 3, Episode 37

Air Date: June 1, 1962

Plot Summary: After being fired from his position, an aging professor feels as though his life was meaningless.

Review: Now we finally come to the end of season 3. As I mentioned at the start of the season, this was when TZ was cancelled idiotically. Obviously it wasn't the end of the show, but season 4 will be a significantly different experience as a consequence. Anyway, this episode is a fitting close for the season as its premise is all about reflection. We have Donald Pleasence, well disguised with makeup, as an old professor at an all boy's school. The higher-ups within the school have decided to "retire" the professor, and he is suddenly overcome with sadness. Couple this notion with the Christmas holiday, and the professor dwells upon his impact, or lack thereof, on the world to great dismay; the professor contemplates suicide believing his life to have been meaningless. When he goes to pull the trigger, the professor is distracted by school bells ringing in the distance. Checking to see why the bells would ring at Christmas time, the professor finds himself surrounded by many former students. These particular students happen to be those that have died over the decades to things such as WWII. These phantom students regale the professor with stories of how he affected their lives up to their deaths. In essence, the students reveal that their lives and deaths were dependent on the teachings of the professor and that he, indeed, left an impact on the world through their actions and thoughts. With renewed confidence, and the ghostly students disappearing, the professor accepts his retirement and the idea that his life has had more importance than he first realized.

Setting aside the "It's a Wonderful Life" parallels, this was a decent episode that I hardly see aired in reruns. Mr. Pleasence always carries a level of intensity to his roles that is to be commended. The presentation of the professor's sadness and reflection are done well, and you feel invested with the character rather quickly. I don't know if this was the best episode to close the season out, considering this was airing in the summer, but the themes were certainly apropos.