Simply through sheer circumstance, this is probably my most viewed episode of the Twilight Zone. It's also one of my favorites, certainly making my personal Top Ten, and near the top of the list at that. The story connects with anyone who's ever been hassled by the pressure of every day job stress and matrimonial discord. Rod Serling was virtually perfect with the writing for this story. When his character Gart Williams (James Daly) admits he wasn't built for competition, you can almost hear the collective sigh of disillusionment and regret many folks have with the 'push, push, push, all the way, all the time' treadmill of their own lives. And then you stop and think, this was a story written fifty years ago! It's only gotten worse, as advances in science and technology haven't been able to deliver any measure of relief or comfort since then.
By this point in the series, this being the thirtieth episode, I find it interesting that most of Serling's main characters were in their thirties; Gart Williams was thirty eight. Serling was in his mid-thirties when he wrote the series, and there's definitely an autobiographical slant to many of the episodes. Even without knowing a lot about his life, one can infer a good deal about the way the man felt about his place in the world with the existential approach he took. He was certainly able to connect with his audience in a unique way, and I'm sure I speak for a lot of fans who grew up with the series when I say that the Twilight Zone is my favorite TV show of all time.
The odd thing is, the twist ending of 'Willoughby' isn't such a shocker, even if it ostensibly deals with the main character's suicide. It depicts one man's response to the overwhelming agony of life in self imposed incarceration to status, money and a social climbing spouse. Other episodes of TZ handled it in different ways; Martin Sloan (Gig Young) was given a second chance to reconsider his lot in episode #1.5 - 'Walking Distance'. Both Homewood and Willoughby offered their characters a way to slow down to a walk and live life full measure, with the viewer's response in each case tempered by one's individual approach to life and it's challenges.
By this point in the series, this being the thirtieth episode, I find it interesting that most of Serling's main characters were in their thirties; Gart Williams was thirty eight. Serling was in his mid-thirties when he wrote the series, and there's definitely an autobiographical slant to many of the episodes. Even without knowing a lot about his life, one can infer a good deal about the way the man felt about his place in the world with the existential approach he took. He was certainly able to connect with his audience in a unique way, and I'm sure I speak for a lot of fans who grew up with the series when I say that the Twilight Zone is my favorite TV show of all time.
The odd thing is, the twist ending of 'Willoughby' isn't such a shocker, even if it ostensibly deals with the main character's suicide. It depicts one man's response to the overwhelming agony of life in self imposed incarceration to status, money and a social climbing spouse. Other episodes of TZ handled it in different ways; Martin Sloan (Gig Young) was given a second chance to reconsider his lot in episode #1.5 - 'Walking Distance'. Both Homewood and Willoughby offered their characters a way to slow down to a walk and live life full measure, with the viewer's response in each case tempered by one's individual approach to life and it's challenges.