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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!
The 16mm Shrine" and "Static" are Twilight Zone episodes thematically linked by the persistent pull of nostalgia. In "The 16mm Shrine," audiences witness an actress so enchanted by her cinematic past that she chooses to inhabit it, distancing herself from the present realm. On the other hand, "Static" features a man rediscovering a vintage radio that transmits echoes of his past joys, offering a momentary haven. Both episodes expertly capture the theme of longing for days gone by, exposing how such attachments, though comforting, risk isolating individuals from current experiences and growth.
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The truth is out there, but do you recognize it when you hear it? "The Old Man in the Cave" is about a post-apocalyptic community guided by a mysterious old man in a cave who provides crucial advice for survival. When outsiders challenge his authority, chaos and disaster ensue. "Black Leather Jackets" involves three alien bikers who infiltrate a small town as part of a conquest plan but face unexpected human emotions.
Both episodes explore the themes of trust, authority, and the consequences of disobedience. They reflect on the vulnerabilities of human societies when confronted with external influences and the critical importance of faith in guidance, whether it be from figures of authority or unknown entities.
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"A Thing About Machines" and "The Brain Center at Whipple's" each explore the tension between humans and technology. From the second season,"A Thing About Machines," tells the story of Bartlett Finchley, a technophobic man, who is tormented by his household appliances which eventually drive him to his demise. "The Brain Center at Whipple's" from season five features Mr. Whipple, who automates his factory, replacing human workers with machines, only to find himself redundant and isolated. Both episodes critique humanity's over-reliance on technology and its dehumanizing consequences, highlighting the potential for machines to dominate and disrupt lives when human value and interaction are overlooked.
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"Mr. Bevis" and "The Man in the Bottle" from "The Twilight Zone" explore the pitfalls of wish fulfillment. "Mr. Bevis" features James B.W. Bevis, whose guardian angel temporarily improves his unlucky life. Bevis soon realizes these changes erase his unique personality, and he chooses to return to his authentic self. In "The Man in the Bottle," Arthur Castle, an antique shop owner, uses a genie's four wishes to solve problems, but each brings dire consequences. His final wish restores his original life. Both episodes highlight the dangers of altering fate and emphasize that true fulfillment comes from embracing one's authentic self.
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Step into the ring with us this month as week take a look at two sports-themed episodes from The Twilight Zone. "The Mighty Casey" and "Steel" both explore themes of man vs. machine and the struggle to stay relevant in a changing world. In "The Mighty Casey," a struggling baseball team's fortunes change when they recruit a mysterious but talented player named Casey, only to discover that he is a robot. "Steel" takes place in a near-future world where human boxing has been replaced by robot fighters, and a former boxer disguises himself as a robot in a desperate attempt to prove his worth. Both episodes highlight the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity and the challenges posed by technological advancement.
SyFy Twilight Zone Marathon Info
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Themed around groups of people making an escape, this month we look at two iconic Twilight Zone episodes: "Third from the Sun" and "On Thursday We Leave for Home." Season One's "Third from the Sun" presents a story steeped in the dread and anticipation of a nuclear apocalypse, following a desperate plan by a group of individuals to escape their doomed planet. Season Four's episode, "On Thursday We Leave for Home" offers a look into the psychological and social dynamics of a leader who faces the reality of relinquishing control as his colonists prepare to return to Earth after 30 years. Both episodes masterfully explore the human condition under extreme circumstances, highlighting themes of hope, fear, authority, and the longing for safety.
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Nothing is civil about war, and nothing is ever as it seems in The Twilight Zone. This month we take a look at two Civil War themed episodes, "The Passerby" from season 3 and "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" from season 5. Each episode not only plays in the sandbox of Civil War themes, but also takes a look at the supernatural realm, passing through to the afterlife, family, and paying for one's acts while on earth. "The Passerby" includes a wonderful Abraham Lincoln portrayal from Austin Green, while "Owl Creek" is a short-film that was purchased as a completed project and edited to become last episode of The Twilight Zone ever produced. We had a lot to say about each of these wonderful episodes, and hope you enjoy our discussion.
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Music has the power to enchant, stir emotions, calm the spirit, and heal. This month we take a look at two episodes that use the power of music to explore the impact of music. In season 3, "A Piano in the House" takes a look at the sides of our humanity that we all try to hide, by using music to expose those hidden faces. In season 5, "Come Wander With Me" is a somewhat disjointed story that still leaves us enchanted and mesmerized by Mary Rachel and her melody.
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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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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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Amanda is a wife. A mother. A blogger. A Christian.
A charming, beautiful, bubbly, young woman who lives life to the fullest.
But Amanda is dying, with a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know.
She starts a blog detailing her cancer journey, and becomes an inspiration, touching and
captivating her local community as well as followers all over the world.
Until one day investigative producer Nancy gets an anonymous tip telling her to look at Amanda’s
blog, setting Nancy on an unimaginable road to uncover Amanda’s secret.
Award winning journalist Charlie Webster explores this unbelievable and bizarre, but
all-too-real tale, of a woman from San Jose, California whose secret ripped a family apart and
left a community in shock.
Scamanda is the true story of a woman whose own words held the key to her secret.
New episodes every Monday.
Follow Scamanda on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Amanda’s blog posts are read by actor Kendall Horn.
