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Entering the Fifth Dimension: A Twilight Zone Podcast — TV & Film
Entering the Fifth Dimension: A Twilight Zone Podcast

You are Entering the Fifth Dimension, a fan podcast dedicated to the sci-fi classic, The Twilight Zone. It’s a dimension not only of sound but of exploration. A journey into the wondrous world of the new Jordan Peele series on CBS All-Access and the original Rod Serling episodes we all cherish. That’s the signpost up ahead—your next stop, The Fifth Dimension!

Latest Episodes:

Dimensions in Space Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

Alternate dimensions and parallel worlds is not something The Twilight Zone was afraid to explore, and this month we take a look at two excellent examples of this type of storytelling. Season 3 "Little Girl Lost" explores a scenario where a young girl named Tina slips into the fourth dimension via a portal that opens up in her bedroom wall. The following season in "The Parallel" we see astronaut Robert Gaines transported to a parallel earth where he has a slightly different family in a slightly different house and JFK is unknown.

Each of these episodes wonder what might happen if one was to get trapped in an alternate dimension in such a way that it leaves us much to ponder, while still giving us quite a bit to enjoy.

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Righteous Reciprocity Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

Rod Serling was no stranger to the atrocities of what Hitler's Nazi party did to Jews during the Holocaust. He fought in WWII, battled anti-semitism in his own home state, and through the power of his pen fought to bring light to this hate in an effort to end racism of every kind. As brilliant as he was, we unfortunately still find racism all around us and Jews are still being attacked more than any other group today. This month we look at two episodes that Rod wrote to shed light on the horrors of the Nazi party, and express his confidence that their ultimate judgement awaited them. These episodes are "Judgement Night" from season 1 and "Death's Head Revisited" from season 3. These episodes stand as proof that The Twilight Zone is just as relevant today as it was in the 1960's.

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Before They Were Famous Part 4 Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

Many Hollywood legends spent time in The Twilight Zone, and this month we look at two of the largest legends in Hollywood history with Robert Redford and Dennis Hopper. Redford's season 3 appearance with Gladys Cooper has him portraying the role of the death angel escorting her character to the afterlife. Meanwhile, Hopper's season 4 role is one of an angry young man under the influence of Hitler, who is raising up his own all-too-familiar brand of hate. It's easy to see in these performances what will make these men legendary, and each of these stories gives us a lot of meat to chew on for discussion.

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Close Encounters Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

The Twilight Zone is no stranger to close encounters between various aliens and humans. Sometimes those encounters are fun or silly, other times they reveal some of the darker realities of our humanity. This month's episodes fall into that latter category with "People Are Alike All Over" from season 1, and "Stopover in a Quiet Town" from season 5. Of course, the dark side of humanity is not all that is on display, because in a twist only the Twilight Zone can deliver, these aliens have their own dark side as well.

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Religious Connections Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

Over the course of the 5 season run of The Twilight Zone many episodes touched on religious themes. We've already looked at episodes like, "The Hunt," "The Obsolete Man," and "The Howling Man," for example. This month we take a look at two episodes which, for better or for worse, are very on the nose with their religious themes. First up is "The Gift" from season three. Drawing parallels to Jesus and his crucifixion, an alien visits a small Mexican town with a gift that will change the world, but their fear leads them to killing him. Next up is "Probe 7, Over and Out" from season five, which tells its own version of the beginning of Earth, Adam, Eve, and a tree with fruit.

In our Whipple's segment, Robert shares this list of books about alien contact and messages from outer space.

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Do You Believe In Magic Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

It's been said that magic is just science that we don't understand yet. While we're not sure if that's a suitable explanation for the kinds of magic on display in this month's episodes, we certainly had a magical time discussing them. First up is "Dust" from season 2. Written by Rod Serling and directed by Douglas Heyes, it tells the story of a dusty small town on the verge of killing a man who drunkenly killed a young girl. Is it magic dust or something else that brings the town the hope it so desperately needs?

In "The Fugitive," we encounter a young girl with a crippled leg name Jenny, and an elderly man the neighborhood children call Old Ben. Written by Charles Beaumont and directed by Richard Bare, we learn that Old Ben seems to have the gift of magic, and while he may not be what he appears, he might just be the savior Jenny needs.

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Before They Were Famous Part 3 Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Carol Burnett was recently honored on her 90th birthday for her lifetime of work in film and television. Her talent was recognized early in her career, and Rod wrote an episode especially for her with season 3's comedy, "Cavender is Coming." Before Martin Landau became famous for his work on Mission Impossible, he starred in two Twilight Zone episodes and we cover season 5's thriller, "The Jeopardy Room" here.

Both Burnett and Landau would go on to become Hollywood legends and each have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Carol's star has a fantastic story that relates to her Twilight Zone episode, and we share that story in this month's episode.

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Poetic Justice Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Season 5 of The Twilight Zone brought us two episodes handing out poetic justice to the lead characters. In "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain," an aging businessman drinks from a fountain of youth in order to satisfy his much younger, demanding wife. His plan backfires, leaving both of them to deal with life-altering consequences. In "Sounds and Silences," a toy boat manufacturing executive forces everyone in his life to be constantly subjected to loud noises. His life is turned upside down when he develops hypersensitive hearing, and he's forced to live his life with highly compromised hearing.

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Am I Dreaming Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

"Perchance to Dream" follows the story of Edward Hall, who suffers from a recurring nightmare. He seeks help from a psychiatrist who helps him confront his fear. However, the dream becomes a reality, blurring the line between dream and reality, while the episode explores the power of the mind and the subconscious.

"Twenty-Two" tells the story of Liz Powell, who has a recurring dream in which she is in a hospital and follows a nurse to room 22, which is the morgue. Once released from the hospital, she realizes that the dream is a premonition of death, and it saves her by keeping her from boarding a doomed aircraft. The episode explores the theme of fate and the idea that our dreams can reveal hidden truths about the future.

Both episodes are known for their psychological horror and explore the idea of being trapped in a nightmare or a dream that is indistinguishable from reality. They also examine the relationship between the mind, the subconscious, and the external world, as well as the idea that our dreams may hold hidden meanings and truths about our lives.

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Big Talkers Dec 30, 2022

Show notes

The world is full of big talkers, and not even the Twilight Zone can escape them. In season 2 Rod Serling wrote "The Silence" about two rich men who square off in an expensive bet, just so one of the men can be freed from the incessant talking of the other. In season 3 the Zone served up "Hocus-Pocus and Frisby," a story about a country bumpkin that can spin yarns unlike anyone else. He's abducted by aliens and is able to escape using his harmonica, but the townsfolk believe his story is just another of his exaggerated tales.

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