The Twilight Zone (2019)

:

Season 1
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
4.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 105 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 105
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 105
  3. Negative: 51 out of 105
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User Reviews

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  1. devilsdesign
    Apr 9, 2019
    4
    Based on the episode Nightmare this TZ rehash just really didnt work and if this is any indication for the rest of the series than I dont have any hope that it will. Peele sounds and acts as if hes playing a character on a Key and Peele sketch . Has trouble finding an identity and decides to basically rip some of the greater aspects of the original TZ but fails to capture its essence. TheBased on the episode Nightmare this TZ rehash just really didnt work and if this is any indication for the rest of the series than I dont have any hope that it will. Peele sounds and acts as if hes playing a character on a Key and Peele sketch . Has trouble finding an identity and decides to basically rip some of the greater aspects of the original TZ but fails to capture its essence. The whole thing was a mess of thrown together ideas from a dusty vault that no one needed to open. I think it wants to be Black Mirror but cant seem to find a cohesive plot to get a firm footing on. This TZ rehash needs to figure out its identity because, as of now, I feel like they are just throwing anything they have against the wall and seeing what sticks which doesnt make for good TV.… Expand
  2. sandborn
    Apr 4, 2019
    5
    Too long, the first two episodes are just a soulless retooling of original TZ episodes. One mistake the original series made was to have a season of hour long shows. They quickly learned their mistake and went back to the original format of 30 minutes. So why didn't the present TZ producers learn from this?
  3. cyanScientist
    Apr 1, 2019
    4
    The Twilight Zone is another cash-in on this franchise that is along the lines of the 2002 reboot. Despite Peele's good work on Get out and Us none of that was translated into this reboot. Like previous iterations this show seeks to "reinvent" episodes of the original series and give them a modern spin. The only difference is that they don't have the subtly or the charm of Rod Sterling'sThe Twilight Zone is another cash-in on this franchise that is along the lines of the 2002 reboot. Despite Peele's good work on Get out and Us none of that was translated into this reboot. Like previous iterations this show seeks to "reinvent" episodes of the original series and give them a modern spin. The only difference is that they don't have the subtly or the charm of Rod Sterling's work that made the '58 show so engrossing. Gone is the realistic and subtle dialog, and in its place is unnecessarily vulgar nonsense with unnecessary exposition. Peele's opening and closing monologues are just affectations of Sterling's which sums up the problem with this show: its just an affectation of a greater visionary's work that nearly feels like a parody. At this current moment you're better off watching the original series.… Expand
  4. geralt1
    Apr 1, 2019
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Host is no Rod Serling and the stories might come close but they'll never quite measure up to the originals, they'll always just be copies but I'll probably still watch them if there isn't much else on. The Comedian was a predictable tale with a predictable ending and episode two was a re-run. Is that a tradition now to redo that very episode whenever they try to revive the show ?… Expand
  5. greenisgood
    Aug 7, 2021
    4
    TL;DR - Watched only certain episodes from the original and The old movie so I was definitely not comparing. Still, this was quite a letdown on a whole there were just 2 maybe 3 out of all the episodes that were genuinely unnerving and disturbing in the right way.
    Everything else which is about 60 to 70 percent of was bad, boring, and overly expositional; repeating something again and    TL;DR - Watched only certain episodes from the original and The old movie so I was definitely not comparing. Still, this was quite a letdown on a whole there were just 2 maybe 3 out of all the episodes that were genuinely unnerving and disturbing in the right way.
    Everything else which is about 60 to 70 percent of was bad, boring, and overly expositional; repeating something again and again even if it is a good social message does not make for good entertainment, even less so for the threshold of
    The Twilight Zone.

    The Good

    Every single cast member, all the episodes, hands down were the best part of the show. The writing given to most of them was near garbage but every actor really brought their 'A' game. Even when what I was hearing the actors say and do annoyed and bored me, watching them was the only reason I finished the show.

    Special mentions to Kumail from the comedian, Sanaa from replay, Kinnear, Steven and Marika from A traveler were all particular standouts in the season.

    Concepts for almost all the episodes were worthy of the twilight zone but the writing was not. Almost every episode has a decently unique concept if executed better would have made for an excellent rebirth of this legendary show. Ep 4 A traveler being my favorite followed by Ep 3 Replay had probably the best-executed concept even handling the social messaging in an intricate enough way that the message did not overshadow the concept of what was happening.

    Effects can be praised but this shows original run was in a time where effects needed ingenuity and creativity and so were melded with the stories of the OG TWZ this was why they are so good;
    Hence if I am to say a show in 2021 has good effects even as a TV show it is expected and as such the expectations were fairly met.

    The Bad

    This particular aspect of haphazardly just bolting on social issues to sci-fi/horror stories needs to stop. In the most recent memory Sabrina, Doctor Who, Star Trek and now Twilight Zone. Social issues have their place here, but they need to be written better they need to be narrated and paced better.

    Except for 2 or 3 episodes every message is repeated over and over again as if you are listening to an objective announcement rather than a story. It was really boring and without the amazing cast for all 10 episodes, I probably would have stopped halfway and quit out of boredom.

    Yes, we want media to involve social issues and have stories that in sci-fi and horror touch on everyday problems, but this is still primarily sci-fi and horror. Stop making it boring, stop repeating the expositional message like an objective announcement we are smart enough to get it if you write it subtly and more intertwined with the genre.

    This writing is so bad that by shoving the social message haphazardly, they manage to make the message pointless. Because it feels like it was bolted on to the genre story and the genre of sci-fi and horror is also muddled because that is not where you are focusing on.

    This means you failed to deliver the message and failed to make a piece of genre entertainment. Turning away both sets of your viewers.

    Final Words

    I was really excited about this. A similar situation happened when I went into the Doctor Who reprisal all those years ago, not knowing much about the old show but the rebirth bringing back the good stuff from the old show along with the contemporary setting.

    Unlike Doctor Who's initial reprisal run this fails as a rebirth attempt. I know that there is a Season 02 and I will be watching it but I have very low expectations going in due to the failure of Season 01.    … Expand
  6. geewah
    Mar 15, 2023
    5
    This reboot lacks the mystery and intrigue that made the original a must watch despite the cast's best efforts.
    Disappointing.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Most Discussed TV Season of 2019
5
#5 Most Shared TV Season of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 37
  3. Negative: 2 out of 37
  1. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Lucy Mangan
    Feb 25, 2020
    40
    Every episode – which run for between 35 and 55 minutes – feels too long. ... Instead of the original series’ bleakly measured contemplation of mankind’s capacity for cruelty and evil, the reboot falls into either preachiness or schmaltz.
    Read full review
  2. The Independent
    Reviewed by: Ed Cumming
    Feb 25, 2020
    40
    Compared to Black Mirror’s spiky nihilism, The Twilight Zone feels tame.
    Read full review
  3. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Apr 11, 2019
    80
    Serling would be proud. And I'm hooked again. [15-28 Apr 2019, p.13]
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