'the Twilight Zone' And When the Sky Was Opened
Season 1. Episode 11
“And When the Sky Was Opened”
Originally aired on Dec. 11, 1959
Based on a short story by Richard Matheson
Teleplay by Rod Serling
Spoiler Alert: You should only continue reading if you have seen the episode in question. The Twilight Zone’s themes are revealed in subtle ways that shouldn’t be ruined by reading an essay before you have seen the episode.
“And When the Sky Was Opened”
Originally aired on Dec. 11, 1959
Based on a short story by Richard Matheson
Teleplay by Rod Serling
Spoiler Alert: You should only continue reading if you have seen the episode in question. The Twilight Zone’s themes are revealed in subtle ways that shouldn’t be ruined by reading an essay before you have seen the episode.
|
|
When one of a crew of three disappears after a mission into space, only one of the other crewmen remembers him. For everyone else on Earth, the missing airman never existed. When that crewman disappears, it is only a matter of time before the history of space exploration is rewritten.
The story of this Twilight Zone doesn’t seem to have a moral. It is an interesting story, and it does ask if it is enough if only one person knows you and the answer is a resounding “NO.” By this time, Sputnik was in the air (and out), but man hadn’t yet made it into space.
The story gives no reason for the men’s disappearance, but that is part of what it is about. What happened during the hours that the ship was lost to radar is something that no one will ever know.
The story of this Twilight Zone doesn’t seem to have a moral. It is an interesting story, and it does ask if it is enough if only one person knows you and the answer is a resounding “NO.” By this time, Sputnik was in the air (and out), but man hadn’t yet made it into space.
The story gives no reason for the men’s disappearance, but that is part of what it is about. What happened during the hours that the ship was lost to radar is something that no one will ever know.
Read about Anne Serling's presentation at Salt Lake Comic Con 2013
Read about Anne Serling's book As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling
Read about Anne Serling's book As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling