Description: Season 5, Episode 12
Air Date: December 20, 1963
Plot Summary: An old man believes his life is intertwined with a grandfather clock.
Review: Typically when I discuss contenders for the worst episode list they are stupid stories, but this one isn't traditionally bad per se. The problem with this episode is that it was struggling to fill out the running time with a gimmicky plot line; I mean, my plot summary essentially covers this entire episode's story that easily. For whatever reason, the main old guy thinks if his grandfather clock stops ticking he will die--that's all there is to it. They include a visit to a psychiatrist, family drama, a pointless neighbor, and petty vandalism to pad out this story which makes the entire experience feel like a mess. And, in the end, it was all in the old guy's head as he doesn't even die when the clock stops. There is nothing really noteworthy except one shot where the son in law smacks his wife on the ass. First, kudos on your choice of affection...second, that was a bit risque for TZ. I guess I should mention that the old man has a conversation with his own ghost which makes no sense. Or was that supposed to be the spirit of the clock? What the hell was going on in this episode?
I found that female neighbor that bought the clock kinda cute, with a quirky smile and friendliness I liked. The old man was a bit screwy to say the least, why did he wait til the very last second of his psychiatrist appointment as he was walking out the door to mention "if that clock stops working, I'll die"? Wasn't that his main concern and reason for the visit? And his passing out the second the clock stopped when those men were moving it downstairs, it looked totally psychosomatic. There were definitely better TZ eps.
ReplyDeleteI found that female neighbor that bought the clock kinda cute, with a quirky smile and friendliness I liked. The old man was a bit screwy to say the least, why did he wait til the very last second of his psychiatrist appointment as he was walking out the door to mention "if that clock stops working, I'll die"? Wasn't that his main concern and reason for the visit? And his passing out the second the clock stopped when those men were moving it downstairs, it looked totally psychosomatic. There were definitely better TZ eps.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. To me, this is one of the worst episodes in the series.
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