Number 12 Looks Just Like You - Twilight Zone Episode REVIEW
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Our Twilight Zone REVIEW marathon continues with 'Number 12 Looks Just Like You.' Collin Wilcox, Suzy Parker and Richard Long star in this haunting tale about a dystopian future in which everyone who turns 19, has to undergo 'Transformation'...a complete body overhaul.
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#twilightzone #number12looksjustlikeyou #CharlesBeaumont #rodserling #twilightzonemarathon
Definitely in my top 10. Two things: First, I believe Mike Meyers has freely admitted Dr. Rex's gesture was the inspiration for that of Dr. Evil. Second, I once read another review of this episode in which the reviewer scoffed at the whole idea and preparing to write that, until he heard an ad on the TV he used for 'white noise' while writing, when the announcer says, "How would you like buy a new set of hands?"(I think I remember this one myself, for Playtex Living Gloves.) He promptly changed his tune and gave the episode a shining review. A feature remake from the short story, which I also read, would be an interesting one. Terrific video!
Hey David, Dr. Rex's hand gesture was pretty interesting...I actually ended up going down the rabbit hole on that bit, lol. Back in 2019 Dana Carvey discussed Mike Myers and Dr.Evil with Howard Stern, its a good read if you are curious the articles are still online. Much thanks for comment and watch, have a great weekend ahead! 🤜🤛
@@FeverDreamlandTheater Thanks much for the tip about Dana Carvey et al. I always enjoy your commentary. You enjoy your weekend as well!
Finished the book. And started it again. Cant wait for you to cover 4 o'clock. One very underrated episode
@@FeverDreamlandTheater, the transformations ALL seem like 100% brainwashing! YIKES! Also, they would NOT allow Marilyn to forgo the inevitable conclusion! And YES! Her brainwashing was complete! WOW!
@@davidmcdonald1898 Also I did the love that grave episode and the Talking Tina Doll, those are definitely some of my most favourite episodes by far.
Rod Serling was way ahead of his time
Hey Nakeisha, I agree. 😀 Hope you've been well. Happy 2024.
THIS WAS THE COMMENT I WAS SEARCHING FOR ❤ ❤ ❤ I’m totally surprised or not that you got just 3 including mine, PEOPLE are really SLEEPING to what this man brought us and I wonder IF HE even knew. This episode is just a dot to so many that are carbon copies reflecting our lives. Gifted beyond measure ❤❤ truly left us with a blueprint … bless him
This is like Hollywood right now, I can't distinguish one blonde woman from the other, Gwen Stefani with her new #12 face, I can't tell her apart from the other blondes now, Carrie Underwood etc, spooky
Growing up in Los Angeles I was told from my earliest memory that I would be “so pretty when you fix that nose”. I couldn’t wait to get a nose job when I was a kid of 10, but by the time I was old enough I had a change of heart, in big part to this episode! I never got it out of my head after seeing it once and I am so happy I am me and never got my nose “fixed”.
Now that is awesome. Always cool to hear how the TZ has impacted others. Much thanks for sharing aundrespeciale3414. Have a good one!
I did get mine done. But you know what I waant happyvwithvthevresult. I wanted it smaller still. Better off not doing it and just be happy with what you got.
I’m glad I had the same change of heart with my nose too. Yes it’s beaky and super thin… but it’s a nose that comes from my families past. I see my great great aunt in my nose and I thought she was gorgeous. Why did I not recognize that I too was beautiful? Because people told me I wasn’t. I grew to love being unique. I have always adored people with unique features, and I learned to love what makes me just as unique.
“And the nicest part of all Val! I look just like you!” Few lines have chilled me to my bone like that final line. And then the 4th wall breaking smile as we fade to black. Alongside that music I think it’s just such a great episode so stoked you reviewed this it needed the Fever Dreamland treatment. Loved that you told more about the Beaumont beautiful people story. Cheers my brother hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Heeeey Grande, wassup bro, yeah this is one I was so glad people voted for. Sometimes I review episodes anyway, but in this case its was cool to see others wanted to hear about it. Have a good weekend too man! 🍻🍀
I agree. That line is super creepy!
I think the idea of group think is one of the scariest in fiction. Invasion of the Body Snatchers, zombies, Star Treks Borg all deal with the erasure of individuality in favor of a collective which makes them compelling stories to me. This living death is a terrible curse even if those who are part of it don’t know what it is they’ve lost.
Hi NCT, I agree, its such a ripe topic for science-fiction with endless potential. And I also agree, there's something about the lost of self that is beyond terrifying. Thanks for the watch & comment. Have a good one!
👍
"I think the idea of group think is one of the scariest in fiction"
What do you mean "Fiction"? "Group think" is very alive in contemporary society. nearly all of us function to programs, it takes a very unique individual to break away from societal norms.
I've retired to the Bible Belt zone and No it's not the Southern region of America. It's Central America! oh my people down here love themselves some God. Everyone seems to turn to God in the areas, the murdering robber prays before embarking on his journey, extortionists visit church twice a week,,,.
Number 12 was one of my favorite episodes. I loved seeing all the adult actors doubling and tripling as different characters - especially Richard Long who took the time to really make his various characters distinct from one another. Although I always thought they went a little too far when "Dr Sig Friend" showed up -- in a world where everyone goes by their first name, they HAD to do a bad gag to shove the allegory in our faces. Just calling him "Sig" would have been sufficient. Still, in our own world where a quick facelift is only an hour away, and youth rules all, this episode hits even closer to home today than it did in the 1960s.
What was interesting was how this episode starts out so happy and joyful, and then gradually the darkness of this society is made very clear. The last look of Pam Austin (as the Transformed Marilyn) looking at the camera with the same empty smile as everyone else is absolutely chilling.
Another chilling moment comes when "Dr Rex" approaches Marilyn earlier in the episode, and he says almost matter of fact, "You see, the problem is simply to discover WHY you don't want [the Transformation] and then to make the necessary correction." This is really the first point in the episode where you realize the Transformation is more than it seemed, and makes the apparent "utopia" so much darker.
One issue I had, which is really kind of minor, is that the episode could have done better pushing the empty-headed conformity that clearly rules in this world. We get a little bit of it with the references to "Instant Smile," but I got a little confused by the late reference (by Pam Austin's Valerie), "Life is pretty, life is fun, I am all and all is one." That is the only time we get this phrase, and I think the episode would have done better by having the female characters repeat this phrase throughout - almost robotically. The focus being on conformity, it would show how much the characters pretty much act -- and THINK -- alike after the Transformation. The mental programming caused by the Transformation would have been much more obvious -- and more disturbing.
Of course, the episode is "Number 12 Looks Just Like You," but in the end, Marilyn "chooses" Number 8. "And the nicest part of all, Val! I look just like you!" Scary.
Also scary: There is actually a band that calls itself Number 12 Looks Just Like You.
Hi Kali, I agree, there are a few bits here and there which were unclear - or maybe intentionally ambiguous. I wasn't sure about the blind conformity in this world, so I assumed perhaps mind washing was in place? In any case, I'm glad to hear from you about that aspect and I hope others have thoughts on that as well. Thanks for the watch & comment, have a good one! 😀
I'm not sure that we needed to have everyone go Stepford on the triggering phrase. For me, once was enough.
More, everyone was so mindlessly "professional" just doing their jobs. That told me right there they couldn't handle anything out of the ordinary, they couldn't even react to anything that wasn't canned. Or at least the low level flunktionaries couldn't. The orderly who is taking the latest #12 to her recovery for example. No "hey, where are you going", no "are you lost", not even a blink or a frown or a "whoops" or a head turn (except for the vacant pleasant smile of the patient).
The point seems to be that everyone is so content that the catchphrase only needs to be trotted out once in a while, like reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at proscribed times.
Just my two cents.
But she is happy, rich, pretty, and gets to live 210 years. At least she isn't the maid.
This is one of my favorite episodes one of the reasons being that it doesn't use blood, gore, death, jump scares or anything like that to be scary.
What makes this episode prophetically creepy is how nowadays women who are literally starting to look the look the same.
I agree. It does feel like in many respects the more things change, the more they stay the same. Thanks for watching Alyssa, have a good day ahead!
@@FeverDreamlandTheater Thanks dude! Likewise 👍🏼
Rod Serling was very perceptive and had great writers. He was making great points about many things going on then and even now. I remember one episode where everyone turned on each other over paranoia over a supposed alien landind.
Another excellent overview. Yeah, this was a creepy one, and still so relevant today, where doctors today have no issues with the ethics of making extreme surgical changes for patients pressured by society, and the opioid epidemic being a form of this generation's "instant smile". Great review, keep 'em coming!
Hey Rob! I hear you man. I see some celebs after their surgery, and I think....why would they do that? As you noted, the ethics of these extreme surgical changes and societal pressures are still as strong as ever. Anyway, much thanks for checking in, be well!
Kind of like the free plastic surgery they offer to kids nowadays to make them feel better.
This one looks absolutely terrifying! Excellent overview as always!
Much thanks Pax! Yes this was another one of the more spooky ones. Always happy to hear from you! 😁 Be well!
Loved this. I'm 56, I've watched the Twilight Zone marathons on sifi channel since I'm 16 years old. NOW I AM HOMELESS 4 two years now! This gave me joy. Ty❤
god bless you
Such an underrated episode! This is one I sometimes forget about, but the ending is one of the best downer endings in the whole series though. Thanks for the info on the original short story too!
Hey Betamax Blocker! Wassup man. Agreed, this is certainly one of the more underrated entries and the ending is a total downer, yet very powerful. Be well man, have a good one!
I hope you're doing fantastic my friend! Another excellent review and analysis. You are right that this episode is still relevant to this day because people and society is always pushing how we should behave, think, or look. It's an ongoing theme of conformity vs. individuality.
Heeeey wassup Charles....or should I say, Spidey? 😜 Thanks for watching man, yeah this was another good one that certainly remains relevant to our modern times.
This is a classic episode from one of the best shows of all time ❤
Agreed Jessica! Thanks for watching!
Yes, this TV show is up there with the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Rod Serling was a genius. This episode seems more relevent now than ever before. It's kinda scary. I guarantee you there are people out there who would want this type crazy world, especially academics and politicians.
This episode is one of the BEST of the series. Some truly terrifying shit goes down.
Watching this FDT episode was like drinking a glass of Instant Smile! What an interesting TZ chapter, I haven't seen it but your indepth analysis was fascinating. The split screen effects, the pinky, the themes and issues - all covered in the usual professional and entertaining manor. Great job mate!
Thank you Greg, I think I'm still dizzy from too much Instant Smile myself. 😊 Have a good one my friend!
AYEEEE I’M EARLY!
Honestly I haven’t watched this one fully yet…the concept makes me just squirm. Yet I love Eye Of The Beholder…I guess it’s cuz that one ends somewhat happily. Not so here…call me an idealist.
Hey Miss Mint! You were early but I was late to respond....d'oh! 😜 Anyway, catching up today! Hope you've been well and thanks for stopping by. I hear you, the concept in this one is pretty disturbing, loss of self, loss of identity, these are all things that shake us to the core.
My number 74 episode. The several characters played by the same people was confusing. Marilyn (Collin Wilcox) was wonderful, but the end was a downer--too often the case in the fifth season. Also, why were numbers skipped? I get the premise, but this episode just didn't impress me 😮
Most dystopia tales have an ugliness or dirtiness of 1984 or the Obsolete Man. What makes Beaumont's story great is it flips that. The State wants beauty and perfection to evade jealosy, avarice or a drive to make your own way.
The State still needs workers, but compliant ones.
Eerie, Richard Long's wife's real name was Marilyn and his daughter's name Valerie. And Rex Randolph was RL's character in 2 TV shows, so saying Dr Rex kind of rolls into Dr X, 1930s horror movie about a mad doctor. Now in the 2020s how relevant, everyone seems to be getting collagen injections for duck lips and posing for selfies like the Kardashians on social media. And the media keeps telling us what we should think. Hmmm, books 1984 and Animal Farm, and The Stepford Wives come to mind too.
About the only comic relief in this one is Richard Long playing a classic Viennese psychiatrist.
I’m freaking out over my wisdom teeth removal, let alone a surgery that would completely changed my whole body
This is a great review, Anthony. A really great review. This is a really good thing that you’ve done, Anthony, really good.
You have saved yourself from the cornfield Quint....
....for now. 😁😜
@@FeverDreamlandTheater dang, and I always wanted to see what I looked like as a Jack-in-the-box
Well done as always my man!
Heeeey Liz, thanks! 😁This was a great one to cover. Have a good weekend!
I remember this episode very well. Twilight Zone was an important part of our TV week for all the years it was on. Suzy Parker was such a beautiful woman. I wonder how she felt doing a part like this, one that criticized the prevailing image of female beauty. She was also a decent actress. Collin Wilcox was an EXCELLENT actress! She also appeared in one of the classic, creepiest episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Jar. More essential television! Great video review!! But between you and me, I would definitely sign up for the "transformation". I would be happy to look like Richard Long.
Hey Mike! Thanks for stopping by - I have to check out the Hitchcock episode you noted. The Richard Long look is fine by me too...I already have the Dr. Evil hand gesture nailed! Be well man!
Sci-fi/mystery/horror tales full of social commentary. And people wonder why most modern fiction is considered garbage. I can't imagine what people in the 60s must have felt like watching this on tv.
Hey willprogresivo! Thanks for checking in. Luckily I sometimes hear from fans who grew up watching the series when it first aired and that is always great. As I recall, the episodes that seem to really have resonated were the scarier ones.
Talking about Barbies and Kens, I have been watching doll collectors videos lately and there's a line of dolls called 'Barbie Looks' where the dolls don't have names, they have numbers (#3, #11 and so on). I couldn't help but think about the title of this episode.
Ahh, perfect timing. Thanks for checking in Box Head!
Sounds like a twisty tale! Brilliantly in-depth as always! :)
Thank you SciFirst! Much appreciated man! : )
Think another similar story to this would be a Clockwork Orange. Much different but pretty much the same message of a world attempting to present something artificial as if it's 'normal'. Only difference is that attempt was a failure simply because of human nature in itself.
I totally agree with that last comment..Marilyn's last line.."and the nicest part of all Val..I look just like you!" as she gazes lovingly at her own reflection...shivers all over.A similar line is at the end of the episode 'Young Man's Fancy'.(sorry don't know episode or series number),delivered by a younger version of a newlywed man who hasn't quite gotten rid of his past.Hey,I don't do spoilers!..but it's the delivery of that line..chills me every time.
I guess Star Trek the original series had a nice, non-creepy future. And some darn fine fashion at that. Definitely the future I want to live in.
Now, as to Number 12 Looks Just Like You, this is another of my favorite episodes. And dare I say, it's just as good as Eye of the Beholder. I was actually first exposed to this episode in kind of a unique way. Back in the 90s there was an indie sci-fi punk band called DC Moon and Red Giant. They used to play sci-fi cons and even wrote a song with John Shirley if my memory serves me. But they had a song called Number 12 Looks Just like You. And even then, it really caught my fancy.
Another darn fine episode, Ant-Man.
Heeey Rob! Interesting trivia about DC Moon and Red Giant. I didn't get around to much trivia this time around but I saw there was a band called 'The Number Twelve Looks Like You' who took their name from the title of this episode. And you are right about Star Trek, especially the original series. Speaking of which, I'm finally getting around to watching the animated show with all the original voice actors. That's a trip. Be well man!
@@FeverDreamlandTheater I have that one myself. Started watching it a year or so ago but got distracted. I need to get back to it one of these days. I thought it was really neat looking.
This episode rings true in today's society
It's worse than that: it doesn't even need to be enforced, people want to all look the same and elect to undergo "the transformation".
This was a show I watched when i was younger. I loved it.
Hey Anthony,
Hope the Friday has been a good one.
This episode I’ve always enjoyed as it always reminded me of Huxley’s Brave New World, a favourite book of mine. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it.
Hope the weekend will be a good one !
Oh no doubt, this story sent me down the rabbit hole wanting to check out other dystopian films and novels. Thanks Leslie! Have a good weekend as well. Cheers! 🤜🤛
Colin Wilcox known from "To kill a mockingbird " She was very good in the Alfred Hitchcock Hour. "The Jar" also.
Thanks John! Speaking of which, I have to catch up on that classic series as well.
You're welcome!@@FeverDreamlandTheater
The premise seems flawed. People are focusing on people that want to look like others but the majority want some degree of individuality, both for themselves and those they are attracted to.
The image at 1:37 looks like a Maxfield Parrish composition.
The first time I saw this episode, I was 12 years old. I was so spooked that I told my mom to never ever make me undergo something like this. Mom laughed, saying I was being silly. Well, with all the stuff today?
I thought maybe she would sabotage the transformation by scarring her face. Great review Anthony. I’ll definitely check out the story.
Heeeey Mr. Dan, always a pleasure. Thanks for checking in. Interesting idea. Now that you mention it, that type of turn was sort of setup with the revelation of her father. Pluto TV luckily has most of these episodes free (with ads) last I checked. Have a good one!
Take this one step further and you arrive at Welcome to Paradox, where there is an episode in which people can change their sex as easily as they can their appearance here.
So in the year 2000 we had instasmile? How did I miss that? 😅😅 another great one, Anthony.
I was so preoccupied with Y2K I didn't even notice it. 😅
@@FeverDreamlandTheater 🤣🤣🤣
This episode is one of the most horrific ones I always thought. I never interrupted as having her mind wiped, it was scarier to think she really was just afraid of the change and embraced everything afterward. Either way its a chilling episode.
I could go on and on about this episode but you pretty much summed up everything. Rod definitely saw the future.
Hi Susan, thanks for coming by. I agree, Rod was ahead of the curve in many respects. Have a nice week ahead! 😃
Right....
PERFECT 🥰 💞 👌 Full support guys!!! ❤️ Awesome upload 👌 Liking this one !!! This was amazing 👏 🙌 😍 ❤️
Thank you! Cheers!
Another great review, man. Thanks for sharing.
I confess, I haven’t seen this episode since I was a kid and I recall being pissed off at her being forced to change at the end. I wished she’d get away.
But now as an adult, I not only get all the metaphors, but I get the unhappy ending is what made it memorable and powerful.
Thank you for reintroducing me to it.
Keep it up, please, I always look forward to these reviews.
Hey WW, much thanks man! Have a good weekend!
It’s not just Hollywood nowadays, it’s every 20-something that looks like a plasticized Kim Kardashian
Most twenty somethings look nothing like this. Fat tatted up, purple hair usually short, rings in the nose. We're quite safe from this dystopia. But not from mass shootings at school, and a refusal to do anything about it.
Nice review. TZ knows how to make sci-fi, future episodes really well.
Yes indeed! Thanks Scofield!
I'm gonna save your latest Fly video for when I've finally seen the sequels. This TZ episode is grim indeed and oh so relevant to today, as always. I'm just so thankful I (barely) missed the era of cellphones and social media as a high school student. It would have destroyed me. Thank you for another wonderful, in depth analysis!✨
No prob Rainbow! " I'm just so thankful I (barely) missed the era of cellphones and social media as a high school student. " I'm with you on that. Being a part of the generation where everything was not documented for all time online has its advantages.
Another awesome review Anthony. Good seeing Richard Long,he was great as Jarrod Barkley in The Big Valley.....I don't think I ever saw this episode.
Heeey Patrick! Thanks for stopping in, glad you enjoyed the vid. I have to give The Big Valley a watch. Be well & have a good weekend ahead. : )
One of your best vids imo, I can see why you've grown so much in the past year. The art at the end is hilarious :D
Thanks a ton Rosetta! Yeah this is one of things things, I find if I keep at it, there's always room to improve. Thanks for the kind words man. Be well!
Anthony I saw this one more then one time. I love this one and know how his one ends. You do an excellent job on Twilight Zone Episodes. Again great job.
Hey glad to see this is another favorite for so many. Thanks for the kind words Betty! Have a good one! : )
An awesome episode. And another fine breakdown Anthony. Best wishes
Much thanks T!
Hi Anthony, As usual, I'm getting to the party late, but I've been meaning to chime in on this one for a while. It taps into an obsession of Rod's that keeps cropping up in episodes written by him or by someone else: _the tyranny of conformity._ Besides "Number 12 Looks Just Like You", there are "Eye of the Beholder", "The Trade-Ins" (this one, while primarily about an old couple wanting younger, healthier, more beautiful bodies, still has a similarity with the episode you review here, as it them being led past display cases where they can choose which models they would like as replacement bodies), "The Obsolete Man" (interestingly, in aa a comparison of plot points you mention, Marilyn's poignant plea, where she cites the books of several famous authors--particularly stating how Dostoyevsky was deformed yet wrote of beauty--an appeal which falls on deaf ears, whereas the protagonist Romney Wordsworth, is seen as being "obsolete" because he's a librarian in a dystopia where books have been banned).
I agree with you about Collin Wilcox delivering one of the strongest lead performances in the _Twilight Zone._ As strong as the supporting cast is, she certainly is the most memorable (part of that's the role itself, but it took a really fine actress to bring out all of the pathos). Wilcox may have appeared in _Jaws II,_ but it was her turn in another horror tale that I remember more, and that's as a farmer's trashy, unfaithful wife in "The Jar", a grisly, demented episode of _The Alfred Hitchcock Hour_ based on a Ray Bradbury short story. In _Se7en,_ Detective Mills cried out, "What's in the box?". Here, it's more like "What's in the jar"". "The Jar" is way beyond "Number 12 Looks Just Like You" in sheer weirdness and depravity. I urge you to check it out if you haven't seen it before. dailymotion.com/video/x6dpr6e
I rate "Number 12 Looks Just Like You" a solid 4.5 out of 5 demented dystopian doctor's twisted pinkies!
The hallway at 1:23 looks like the same set used in "The Long Morrow".
Hey Galantski, no matter how late you are to the party, you are always welcome. I have to check out Wilcox in "The Jar", from The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Hey speaking of Ray Bradbury adaptations, are you familiar with the The Ray Bradbury Theater series? I've been watching random episodes on Amazon...there are some really interesting stories.
Anyway, have a good week ahead!
@@FeverDreamlandTheater It's funny you should mention _The Ray Bradbury Theater_ (an underrated anthology series imho),as a version of "The Jar" appeared on it in1992. I've only skimmed through it (none of the cast is very well-known), but it's very close to the Hitchcock episode, with the biggest change being made in it running just half an hour. For me, that's a mistake, because it's so much better when the characters are fleshed out over a full hour. By the way, besides Wilcox there are a number of prominent actors including Pat Buttram as the farmer (he also played a farmer in another episode, "Lonely Place", where he hires a drifter--very effectively played by Bruce Dern--to pick peaches, but the man ends up being a psycho who terrorizes the farmer's wife), Billy Barty as the carnival barker, James Best as the guy who's cheating with the farmer's wife, George "Goober" Lindsey as the village idiot, Slim Pickens as a townsman, and William "Blacula" Marshall as "Jahdoo" a mysterious figure who is maybe into voodoo.
A radically different adaptation of "The Jar" was a featured episode of _The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents_ in 1986. The setting is moved from "back in the sticks" to an urban scene, and the farmer is replaced with a failing avant-garde artist, played by Griffin Dunne (Jack in _An American Werewolf in London_ ). It's directed by Tim Burton, but it didn't work for me as well as the original from 1964). It's not bad, but it just doesn't have quite as creepy a vibe.
Stay well, my friend; it's always a pleasure having our discussions.
One of Rod Serling's best....
I'm watching this episode right now on dvd. I thought the young girl was incredibly beautiful just the way she was and smart too.
I wouldn't want this for myself ever.
Their stupid and obviously mandatory and apparently dictated surgical procedure makes these people into mindless brainwashed idiots only concernrd and obbessed with their own looks in the mirror.
I would never want this type of surgical procedure ever done to me not matter what doctor or quack might say about the matter.
I don't care what the law might say otherwise even if it was mandatory or dictated.
This type of thing or otherwise erases all your personality and everything about you as gone and your replaced with being another mindless moron only obbessed with what's in the mirror.
That girl was very beautiful and smart exactly as she was.
Also I think that doctor used whatever he could to make her into another mindless doll which makes me severely question his own morals ethics and especially breaking the law and leaving her unlawfully detained just to force her into that shell of a person she once was.
The problem with this tale is the timing of it. If Marilyn's father had the transformation at 19 like everyone else, when did he have all these deep intellectual conversations with Marilyn? he stuck around for a few years with his new face and couldn't distinguish himself, so he killed himself. They why pass this sickness to his daughter. He could live to support her. His appearance is irrelevant to who he is.
There is also Val, she and Marilyn are best friends. Val had had the transformation only a few months before, but Marilyn doesn't notice a difference in her friends personality? It doesn't seem to make sense that Marilyn would have a friend like Val.
Hey Michael! Excellent observations. It's a been a while since I last watched/reviewed this one, so I'm a little fuzzy regarding the details. In Val's case, maybe she was accepting of the transformation beforehand, in which case her personality might not have change much afterward. Either way, you are right - Marilyn and Val do seem so different. I feel like the scene in the hospital is when Marilyn truly realized Val is essentially on another planet. Thanks for the watch & comment man, have a good week ahead. 🤜🤛
@@FeverDreamlandTheaterI happened to see the episode yesterday, that is why I clicked on your review. An introspective Marylyn would have noticed right away if her friend had changed so much.
In eye of the beholder, the protagonist is trying to become like everyone else. She feels an outsider. Here Marylyn wanted to stay different. But strangely enough, the society around the girls is identical in both. At least in this story, the society is willing to make her part of it. In Eye Of The Beholder, she is sent away.
If you take a step back, Marilyn (and her father) are the ones with the problem. She thinks that her identity is all wrapped up in how she looks. Having a 'beautiful' body doesn't change who she is inside. If she hadn't made such a fuss, she would have been the same person with a new face which is of course only skin deep. But she complained as if looks made a person and it cost her, her real inner beauty.
@@michaelcolfin8464 on the other hand hand, seeing what it did to her father and Val, the former committing suicide and the latter turned into a vapid airhead, made her question the transformation.
This is a great review, and I have a few thoughts (as usual).
Like you have pointed out, the real problem is that the Transformation is not just surface level (which, since we as individuals and a society are so invested in our looks, a surface change would be enough to change our whole outlook on life) but as a means for societal control. The population is beyond content, they are passive. And will do whatever is convenient and conforming and comfortable, to be like everybody else.
But looking quickly over the comments didn't see anyone commenting over Marilyn's mother, Lana. Or over her Uncle.
The Transformation has become a rite of passage in this world. Lana spent days in happy anticipation waiting to become the new her, #12, the most beautiful and popular model. That anticipation of a late teenager was genuine, as it took place before the actual procedure (and any possible mind wiping).
They do the procedure at a point when most teens are desperate to conform, and as a rite of passage it becomes the unquestioned norm. The same way any ritual becomes expected, even the most extreme body modifications become the in thing and you are outcast if you refuse to comply.
Tattoos are a good example. They have gone from the symbols of sailors and outlaws (males only) to the point where a large part of the men AND women in the States from all walks of life have them. It wouldn't surprise me if both Princes Wills and Harry have tattoos (but I'm sure it would still be a scandal if either of the wives had tattoos, no matter how discreet).
It also seems when Lana was transitioning the procedure was still truly voluntary, but it had become so much the done thing, that most willingly gave up their individuality...and there were likely perks. The women would have more status, even if still in lowly jobs. They could get more potential mates (attractive women often do and have an easier time getting noticed). The men likely got better jobs, better status, attracted "better" wives, just from making the change.
And of course, once it becomes the norm, there is less and less reason to question it, because it is normal.
Finally, because most women tend to fall into ordinary or suboptimal categories, and they are always being judged by their looks, far more than men, even today, getting a teen girl excited about swapping out a dull, awkward body and face for a perfectly proportional body and gorgeous face (no freckles, no snub noses, no moles, no unibrows, no chin, etc etc) isn't much of a stretch.
Now it is also the tale of two brothers. Marilyn's Dad and Uncle. Dad may have put off the change, put it off until it was clearly counterproductive and it seems that the full compliance program wasn't in place yet...which makes Lana's aristocratic noblesse oblige and Uncle's hearty 'nothing to worry about just drink the kool-aid because it's good for you' are both voluntary surrender of the ability to think for oneself.
Uncle does not understand either his brother or his niece, tho both are beloved. He just wants her to be happy but he feels the best way to BE happy is to get with the program. No worries, no stress. You'll be like all your friends. You'll have a perfect life. What's not to like?
He just doesn't get that being the same girl in the same body that she likes isn't a bad thing. She doesn't need or want to be a carbon copy of anyone, she wants to be herself, imperfections and all. I also think she wants to honor her father and his principles by staying the same girl that her father loved. Of course she knows that being robbed of his fundamental identity (even if he and his brother wore the same face which you would think made things easier) drove him to despair and suicide. But I think it more than that...it was a bit selfish on Dad's part, unless the depression made the decision less decision and more a symptom of the disease. But the entire thing brought on by a wife that could not possibly understand what was happening, and had no frame of reference to be able to understand why he'd be unhappy with life and specifically their lives.
Lana on the other hand has had so many cups of Instant Smile that she isn't even a bored housewife, but can spend all day wearing exactly the same clothes, organizing the household and the staff (while making sure that she isn't mistaken for a mistress or noblewoman of the house, by insisting on Lana as the mode of address), and interacting with her daughter and others...the work of housekeeping clear performed by others, no need for makeup or hairstyling or clothes, the entire process for the day will take about ten minutes, the rest devoted to a leisure that will have most of us screaming from the endless same.
Dad could no longer take the perfect world that isn't so perfect the minute you actually want to do something. All he could do is pass on the knowledge that life doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful, and that a billion clones blinding chanting vapid slogans are no different than a billion lemmings leaping off a cliff. You are controlled by your leaders and you die either way with no say in the matter.
Marilyn loves to read and has read the classics (which are now seen as "pornography" according to Dr. Sig) and she wants to keep loving the things she loves... And her poor friend Val, isn't so much afraid as uncomfortably embarrassed by Marilyn being different and not wanting what everyone wants. It weirded her out and as you said, she was unable to relate or give any comfort.
There is so much to unpack in this barely sketched world, but these are the things that hit me most strongly...the bad guys didn't take over...the good guys surrendered.
Hi Marie, I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on this one. You said it best, there's a lot to unpack in this dystopian world. It's a story that gets the wheels turning on so many different subjects. We have the dangers of blind conformity, book banning, the overreach of the state, loss of identity and more... all mixed into this bleak tale about everyone becoming 'beautiful people'. TZ at its best. Giving us lots to think about and consider.
What I want to know is what happened to models 1-7 and 9-11.
SUBSCRIBED! I've been binging your content. I'm attracted to any channel that does TZ content, and yours is excellent. You really do your research. Also, your accent is really listenable. LOL Good sense of humor, too.
Hey thanks Jack, that means a lot to me and is just awesome to hear. Happy to have you here and glad I have enough vids for viewers to binge. Very cool! Stay tuned for more from the Fifth Dimension! Be well & have a good one! 🤜🤛
Another great review! Thanks so much!
Cheers! Instant Smiles for everyone! 🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂
The split screen wasn't quite seamless. Unfortunately, the clip at 5:18 ends a second too soon. If you keep watching, you can see Marilyn's arm disappear when it moves to the left of the wall, which is where the screen was split.
Hey good catch. Ah well, almost seamless. 😆
Haven’t seen this episode, sounds like a great one and I loved Eye Of The Beholder so I’ll definitely check it out. Such an interesting concept on many levels. So important to be yourself and not give into the pressure even if your aggressively coerced. How boringly uncreative the world would be if we gave in. Nicely done Anthony✌️
No doubt, this is the type of old-school sci-fi I like. Yeah it is in the same spirit of 'Eye Of The Beholder' Thanks for popping in Karen. : )
Great reviews friend. I've been a huge fan of the TZ for decades. I brought the box set 15 years ago but haven't watched them for a while. Your reviews remind just how amazing this show,was. The e1980s episodes were great too. I watch em all the time on RUclips. The episode called the card resembles many lives including my own about how addiction will take everything from you. I hope you eventually r3view the 80s episodes too.
Hey Stefanos, always great to hear from a longtime fan. I'm looking forward to the 80's episodes as well. Be well & have a good week ahead.
Good morning my friend! Great episode! and intresting overview!
Thanks for the visit!
The Assimilation Project. "Number Twelve Looks just like You." FORE!
I don't think I've ever seen this episode! Nothings registering 😅But your video had fun facts and trivia! I'm gonna go look for this episode lol. Great job!😊
Heeey Nye! Thanks for checking in. I believe the series is now streaming on Pluto tv for free. This was a cool one, worth a watch. Be well!
What's up with the doctor with the doctor or evil pinky.lol creepy. I need some instant smile too
🤣🤣🤣 I just wonder what exactly is in that drink.
Rainbows and mescaline bro.
I'm just going to go with Val's philosophy on life for now on.🤣🤣
😂 LoL, I hear you.
Truly I watch your TZ vids repeatedly. This was indeed a chilling episode. I love how in these reviews you link the episodes' messages to our time today(like the tiktok filter), it really goes to show how timeless TZ can be.
With the origin of The Transformation, I wonder if this episode also sends out an example of, even with good intentions things can turn out awful when done in action?
Hey Strange Tomato, great to hear from you and I appreciate the kind words. Whenever possible, if I can relate something form these shows to current times I try to. The 'Bold Glamour' tiktok filter fits the bill. So many people had VERY strong feelings about that. Thanks for watching & be well! 🤜 🤛
That's absolutely awesome and you have a great channel
Thank you!
Great 👍 show ❤ KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK 👍
Much thanks! Will do!
Classic
I understood the message but like The Obsolete Man I didn't really appreciate this episode. Just me I guess. I was hoping Marilyn wouldn't transform. Collin Willcox was a great actor though
The brilliant, ahead of his time, Rod Serling. I remember this episode. Yep, I’m that old. Probably could use a little nip and tuck, filler and Botox, but it just seems so unnatural.
My favorite episode!!
This is such a eerie looking episode. lol
Did Suzy Parker have red hair? I never thought of it that way.
Hi Susan, yeah I'm always surprised whenever I come across color photos related to the series or those who appeared in it. Never quite what I imagined.
Yes, Suzy was the Super Model of the 1950s. She gives a great performance as Gregg Adams in “The Best of Everything” (1959). She was married to actor Bradford Dillman for 40 years when she died in 2003.
The show didn't make sense. Collin Wilcox was already a 10/10 (if you seen her in Hitchcock's Jar episode, you would see).
I'd love to see this episode recreated with all the Kardashian gals as the models, and maybe the Hemsworth boys as the guys
Now that would be interesting. This is yet another tale that could be fascinating to see expanded on.
It's the Kardashians Jenners
It may not happen tomorrow….. maybe in 60 years……
Remain yourself. No insta smile for me, thank you.
🚫🍵 No Insta-smile around these parts. 🤣
Well this was a great episode I am not sure about having to go everywhere in stockinged feet and leotards but I guess we wouldnt be burdened with 200 pairs of shoes in our closet lol and stocking feet are comfortable......
Ha ha, I hear you, the fashion of the future may not be for everyone, lol.
The mother seems so Caring, wanting the best for her daughter
Gee, sounds just like 2024.
BBL ahh episode
she looked better before
I am not familiar with this episode. 🤔
You gotta watch it if you’re a fan of the TZ. It’s probably the creepiest one.
Hey wassup HH Knight! Hope you have been well man. The classic series is streaming free at the moment over on Pluto TV. I believe this episode is there.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater Thank you.
Jesus Christ loves you!!