Twilight
Zone Season Premiere - September 18, 2002
I'm watching TV this evening and all of a sudden I see a sign post up ahead. I
have seen this sign before. I was driving home this evening. No, actually it was
while I was walking past a video store. It seems so odd, yet so familiar, and
yet so different. I hear a voice and the words are soooo familiar.
Words so familiar. The fifth dimension has again returned to my boob tube
and I feel as if an old friend has come for a visit. Like baseball and Star
Trek, both so well known to America and to the world, the Twilight Zone has
returned in its third incarnation! Some would argue that this is the fourth
incarnation as they say that Night Gallery was really the Twilight Zone
in all but name.
The Twilight Zone
Hosted by Forest Whitaker
Created by Rod Serling
Evergreen
Evergreen Estates: Palatial, secure and not really part of the rest of America.
The Winslow's are moving in and they do so because their eldest daughter is out
of control: doesn't listen to them, a rebel, nearly burned-down her school and
her parents are desperate. Jenna's life will be changed against her will. Once
they reach the driveway of their new home, the daughters are thrilled at the
prospect of drinking some freshly prepared lemonade that Mrs. Winslow has ready
for them.
Don't drink the lemonade! Jenna awakes to startling changes: her hair is neatly
prepared, body rings and tattoos are gone and her punk style is no more. She
makes a sympathetic friend with her male neighbor (Logan) who also suffered the
lemonade trick. She quickly learns all about the Homeowners Association and how
powerful they are and in their rabid desire to control their children.
In a key moment, the association must vote to keep Logan or to do away with him.
They vote with marbles. The meaning was clear: Have they lost their marbles? Too
bad Jenna was peering in while they were voting . . .
The episode had those familiar elements of the original Twilight Zone, such as
the intro by Forest Whitaker, the music and the simple, but decent story. The
story was a bit predictable, but a decent start to this new television show. Many
times I have seen producers, directors and writers try to give a storied
franchise new blood, or a new take - Ira Steven Behr and staff do well in
staying true to the original. My rating: C-
Synopsis (From Twilightzonetv.com)
Directed by: Allan Kroeker
Starring: Amber Tamblyn, Paul Perri
The Winslow family moves into Evergreen Estates, an exclusive gated community, in the hopes of taming their rebellious daughter, Jenna. Jenna is immediately suspicious when Cliff Barnes, head of the Evergreen Community, explains that Evergreen strives to be a true haven from the outside world and points out the neighborhood youth, all who are dressed in matching uniforms. After drinking lemonade given to her by her mother, Jenna passes out and wakes up to discover that her multi-colored hair extensions and tattoos have all been removed. She is also now dressed in the same uniform as all the other Evergreen kids. Eager to run away, Jenna quickly forms a bond with her neighbor Logan, another former delinquent. Logan shares the dark truth behind the community with Jenna, as well as where he has hidden all of his contraband possessions. That night Jenna learns that Logan has broken the rules one too many times and that he will be taken away by the community authorities to a mysterious military school named Arcadia. As Jenna watches Logan being transported out of Evergreen, she discovers something she shouldn’t have and learns for herself that teenagers who are sent to Arcadia are never meant to return.
