Lt. Fitzgerald (William Reynolds), stationed in the Philippines during World War II, develops the ability to identify the men in his company who will be next to die, an eerie supernatural glow lighting up the faces of imminent goners.
The best Twilight Zone episodes are the ones that are either so clever that the twist is impossible to guess, or so engrossing that already knowing or accurately predicting the ending doesn't spoil matters. To be honest, The Purple Testament is neither of these—I figured out what the twist was well before it arrived, and the plot wasn't gripping enough to prevent this detracting from my overall enjoyment. That said, this episode is far from the worst the show has to offer, benefiting from strong performances, a palpable atmosphere of dread (no doubt helped by Serling's own experiences during the war), and a suitably sober ending, Lt. Fitzgerald realising that there is nothing he can do but accept his fate.
The best Twilight Zone episodes are the ones that are either so clever that the twist is impossible to guess, or so engrossing that already knowing or accurately predicting the ending doesn't spoil matters. To be honest, The Purple Testament is neither of these—I figured out what the twist was well before it arrived, and the plot wasn't gripping enough to prevent this detracting from my overall enjoyment. That said, this episode is far from the worst the show has to offer, benefiting from strong performances, a palpable atmosphere of dread (no doubt helped by Serling's own experiences during the war), and a suitably sober ending, Lt. Fitzgerald realising that there is nothing he can do but accept his fate.