tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1318310043864039191.post5744790280443812329..comments2024-03-20T15:28:13.030-05:00Comments on The Twilight Zone Vortex: "Escape Clause"JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808904189056290207noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1318310043864039191.post-50367823169647486842019-09-02T23:33:59.399-05:002019-09-02T23:33:59.399-05:00"Escape Clause" is of course by Twilight..."Escape Clause" is of course by Twilight Zone standards (especially season one standards) a mere trifle. However,the most pedestrian episode of TZ is generally light years beyond most other television. David Wayne,despite playing a thoroughly unlikeable character somehow always amuses me and Thomas Gomez as his Satanic Majesty is first rate. But then he always was in any part-Force Of Evil,Ride The Pink Horse,Key Largo...yes,even Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (his final role). I'd also give it a C-.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17050780812342957714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1318310043864039191.post-69329741170671029182018-12-26T19:38:51.770-06:002018-12-26T19:38:51.770-06:00There were indeed better choices to have otherwise...There were indeed better choices to have otherwise been selected in at least the first two of Serling's TZ short story collections, rather than some of what he DID choose. Instead of The Mighty Casey, The Whole Truth, or Dust, how about The After Hours? Or Eye Of the Beholder? Or even Nightmare As a Child?. Serling, for so much that he could accomplish, certainly lacked the monopoly in making choices to highlight as needed the appeal to fans of TZ!!naruto65https://www.blogger.com/profile/12170480906969053086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1318310043864039191.post-10753845888402974612018-12-26T18:37:52.072-06:002018-12-26T18:37:52.072-06:00There were indeed better choices to have otherwise...There were indeed better choices to have otherwise been selected in at least the first two of Serling's TZ short story collections, rather than some of what he DID choose. Instead of The Mighty Casey, The Whole Truth, or Dust, how about The After Hours? Or Eye Of the Beholder? Or even Nightmare As a Child?. Serling, for so much that he could accomplish, certainly lacked the monopoly in making choices to highlight as needed the appeal to fans of TZ!!naruto65https://www.blogger.com/profile/12170480906969053086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1318310043864039191.post-15633702176400895402018-12-11T12:17:30.299-06:002018-12-11T12:17:30.299-06:00Escape Clause from Season I is a fun episode featu...Escape Clause from Season I is a fun episode featuring David Wayne and Thomas Gomez as the Devil. As this commentary states the theme has been done many times in different formats and most recently from the silver screen, Bedazzled staring Elizabeth Hurley and Brendan Frazier. Another episode of TZ that features the cunning Devil stars the sexy Julie Newmar which is a great episode but Albert Salmi's character sold his soul a long time ago as the Devil states. David Wayne does seem to have two facets of his personality. At first, he is the all consuming hypochondriac and is afraid of death at any cost and then after the good doctor pays him a home visit (what ever happened to those country doctors?), and he laments out loud life is too short, which enters Satan (Mr. Cadawaladar). After Walter Bedeker makes his deal he becomes cocky and self-serving to the point of accidentally killing his wife who slips off the roof of his apartment building. Walter subsequently phones in the accident and takes blame for the murder only to get life in prison and not the preferred "Old Sparky" death penalty. Soon afterwards, he invokes the escape clause whereby dies and relinquishes his immortal soul with Mr. Cadwaladar laughing hysterically! I have a problem though. If Walter can live indefinitely even when he has life in prison (for one murder? what about parole after 25-50 years?), at some point he would have the opportunity to be let out of his cell and since he has eternity, he could try taking a guard's gun and shoot his way out while bullets cannot hurt him when making a jail break!. The fun in this episode is that Bedecker makes many attempts to defy death and keeps collecting insurance money and the banter/interaction at the beginning of the episode between Bedecker and Mr. Cadwaladar. I would rate this episode as a C- and not the D by Jordan. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08314582582238025846noreply@blogger.com