I was very conflicted about the announcement of a reboot of "The Twlight Zone" under Jordan Peele. Or anyone for that matter. I felt that the writing talent pool the original series had could not be replicated and therefore neither could the show quality. Granted, Mr. Peele has proven to be a gifted writer, and I heard he would be given real control over the series- something no writer was given on previous reboot attempts- so, I was hopeful. And with the first episode, "The Comedian", I'm confident the show is in good hands.
The episode focuses on a struggling stand up comedian who's given a new approach to take by a more successful comic, but with a warning, and it soon comes to pass that the success he wanted may cost more than he bargained for.
This is a classic Rod Sterling set up. Kumail Nanjiani plays the lead in question and really fits the part. He's believable and a competent actor. The episode is aided by the presence of Tracy Morgan as Kumail Nanjiani's benefactor, Morgan is very effective, I feel since his accident he's more grounded. He carries an aura of worldliness about him and it really shows here.
But, the acting is not the magic here. The camera work and lighting sets the mood well. The story is told in traditional Twlight Zone fashion with some striking differences- it's in color, which still irks me, and there is profanity which caught me off guard. But the hour long run time bugs me the most. It drags a bit, while still being entertaining. The original series' (mostly) half hour format made the tales more savory, I think. More enjoyable. Refreshing. This episode felt very heavy and too long. But, I don't know how it could be reduced to 30 mins and still work.
This was a solid episode that would compare well to the show's past entries, but would be decidedly average in the grand scheme of things. I'm glad they chose this as the lead off entry, it catches the spirit of the classic series and promises more to come. I fear too much sociatal and/or political commentary in the future, but the original series had plenty of that. So, maybe it's only natural that things head in that direction. But, for now, things are off to a good start. I hope for more- and better- things to come.