An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Description: Season 5, Episode 22

Air Date: February 28, 1964

Plot Summary: A man miraculously survives his execution and attempts to flee home to his wife.

Review: This is, undoubtedly, the most unique episode in the TZ universe. In fact, this is actually a short film that has been edited into an episode rather than created by TZ's crew. For various legal reasons, you will rarely see this episode re-aired on TV, and it's even been cut from a few collections; it is thankfully included with my boxed set. Despite a significant difference in cinematography and presentation, I can see why TZ wanted this particular story as a part in their universe. The story, very much, has a TZ tone going on and invokes a similar twist to other episodes.

We start things off with a prisoner, during Civil War times, about to be executed. This process, of setting up the execution, is drawn out quite a bit in an effort to elevate the tension; it lasts for 8 full minutes to be precise. Apparently they are hanging the guy from this Owl Creek Bridge and have him held aloft on a plank that another soldier is keeping balanced; in other words, if the soldier steps off the plank, the guy will fall and be hanged. While awaiting death, the man imagines his wife and children as his watch ticks loudly in his mind. Moments later, the man is, at last, dropped. Miraculously, the rope snaps allowing the man to fall safely into the water below and escape. The soldiers give chase, firing their rifles and even a cannon, as the man continues his luck and escapes all harm.

The episode highlights that appreciation for life as the man is taking in every scene with awe--like it's the first time. After much swimming and running, the man finally stumbles along to his home and wife. Right as the two are about to fully embrace we cut back to the man dropping from the plank, and he is hanged as intended. The dream of escape was nothing more than an optimistic fantasy of a dying man in the mere seconds before his neck is broken. A dark ending indeed, but I think now you can understand why TZ wanted it in their series. The overly artistic nature to the cinematography does clash slightly with TZ's style, but that is easily overlooked or even seen as an improvement. This is a great addition to the franchise, but, honestly, TZ already covered this plot line before (and better) and tackled the various themes across multiple episodes. I much prefer the underrated "Perchance to Dream" episode to this one, but I understand the draw of this incarnation of the themes.

Spur of the Moment

Description: Season 5, Episode 21

Air Date: February 21, 1964

Plot Summary: The bizarre tale of a love triangle and a mysterious woman in black.

Review: Okay, I think I'm starting to realize why season 5 did lead to TZ's cancellation--this episode is terrible. In theory, the ideas could have worked, but, like "Black Leather Jackets," there is no resolution to the plot. Almost immediately after the story starts rolling we are shown shenanigans of the highest caliber; a woman in black appears and chases after a girl out for a ride with her horse. This mysterious woman in black could have been quite cool if they never did a closeup on her face. Unfortunately, we realize that the woman in black is an older version of the main girl, Anne, far too early. So we know we're dealing with time travel right out the gate despite TZ acting like the audience couldn't figure this out until we are told. Maybe the TVs were grainy as fuck in '64, but it seems plain as day to me.

The dilemma at hand is that this Anne girl is torn between marrying a guy her family approves of or marrying the guy her family hates. I'll give you one guess which one she picked. Surprise, the future version of Anne regrets this decision years later as that douche her family hated has ruined their family financially among other things. Anne is such an unlikable bitch too as she blames her father for all this! Yes, it's totally his fault you're an idiot. The episode ends with the future Anne, or the woman in black, chasing after her past self again in order to change time. Well, hun, you're the one with advanced knowledge--you might want to change things up a bit. The idea of a time loop, a woman in black, and a love triangle could have worked wondrously but, instead, falls apart magnificently. I'm just really pissed that they ruined this horseman of the apocalypse-looking character too quickly. What the hell were they thinking?

From Agnes--With Love

Description: Season 5, Episode 20

Air Date: February 14, 1964

Plot Summary: A dorky programmer's love life is sabotaged by his jealous computer.

Review: Valentine's Day was not lost on the TZ writers as they came up with this bizarre love story; though, the story is more comedy focused than anything. You have a computer programmer, named Elwood, replacing a previous programmer working on, I suppose, an AI super computer called Agnes. The last programmer was driven mad by the machine, and the audience will quickly understand why. It would seem Agnes has sentience of a sort and falls for her programmers. Elwood is interested in some busted chick, named Millie, to the dismay of Agnes. Instead of working on getting a man to orbit Venus (because that happened), Agnes flirts with Elwood and tries to sabotage his feeble attempts to win over his love interest. Surprisingly, Agnes is really funny despite "speaking" through text.

Elwood is another potato pancake-type who doesn't realize Millie is not interested. As you might guess, it doesn't take much effort for Agnes to trick Elwood and set Millie up with some pretty boy. Now, you may think this episode will go in one of two different directions, but it ends up going a third route. You'd think maybe Elwood would somehow love Agnes back but that doesn't happen. What I thought would happen was that this background chick Elwood kept giving Millie's rejected presents to would actually fall for Elwood, but that didn't happen either. The episode opts to make Elwood go crazy from Agnes' jealousy, similarly to the first programmer, and they have to replace him with Millie's pretty boy. In other words, it is implied this is a cycle with Agnes ruining the lives of any programmer she falls for. This episode was ahead of its time in a lot of ways despite the ridiculous handling of the material. I think this story could have been a hell of a lot more interesting if they made it a serious introspection. Oh well. It was funny for what it was, but I wouldn't go as far as to say it was a genuinely good episode.