Mr. Dingle, the Strong

I did not like this episode at all, this junk comedy plot that bored me at first sight. I wasted twenty five minutes of my time to try understanding this stupid and senseless plot. I already know that there will ne not many like this one, so in a way I am lucky. I am not sure that many other viewers have liked it too. Some, sure, but not the bulk of TV goers. It is funny, maybe, but that's not what I look for in this show. I prefer considering it as an accident in the series. To fully appreciate a TZ episode, you need to have your brain software set-up, updated in the proper way. I was not for this tale.

An invisible two-headed Martian enters a bar...

Sounds like the start of a joke, and perhaps it is, Rod Serling having a laugh for a change instead of delivering a thought provoking morality play or bothering to come up with one of the show's trademark ingenious twist endings. It's pure inconsequential whimsy, designed to amuse those looking for twenty-five minutes of light-hearted escapism. I liked it.

Burgess Meredith plays meek vacuum cleaner salesman Luther Dingle, who unknowingly becomes the subject of a scientific experiment by the Martian: he is transformed from cowardly human punchbag into a real-life Hercules when the alien makes him three hundred times stronger. Rather than employ his newfound powers wisely, Dingle uses them to become a media sensation, the experiment ultimately deemed a failure by the Martians, who remove the man's powers as he demonstrates his strength to a TV reporter.

No longer in the limelight, and back to being a wimp, Dingle is once more subject to abuse from brash bar bully Bettor (Don Rickles); however, a pair of passing invisible Venusians choose Luther for their own experiment and increase the man's intelligence five hundred-fold.

Not one of the greatest episodes that the show has to offer, but very entertaining nonetheless. Worth watching just for the hilarious aliens. 7/10.

It's Don Rickles at his mouthiest and most obnoxious, pushing around poor stuttering little Burgess Meredith. That is, until a two headed genie from Mars gifts Meredith with super human strength. Now the bully Rickles is in for it, or is he. Trouble is Meredith can't seem to decide how to show off his newly found power.

It's an okay episode, distinguished, in my book, by the imaginatively exotic critters from Mars and then Venus. Also, Meredith gets to again show his amazing thespic range as the cringing vacuum cleaner salesman. The premise itself is not exactly an unusual one—a ridiculed man suddenly getting transformative powers. Likely Meredith's demonstration of that newly found strength was hampered by budget constraints—punching holes in walls, splitting tables—all fairly cheap to stage. Still we get the idea.

What lingers from this 1961 entry is the two-headed space critter, which, I think, has become something of an icon for the series. Anyway, it's all done with a humorous undercurrent, making the overall mood a little different from the usual. All in all, it's Casper Milquetoast done entertaining TZ style.

The vacuum cleaner salesman Luther Dingle is a loser and regular client of a bar where two other regular costumers go to discuss baseball, boxing and gambles. One of them likes to punch the harmless and quiet Dingle on the face to relieve his discussions with the other man. One day, an invisible two-headed alien decide to use Dingle as guinea pig in an experiment, giving the strength of 300 men to him. What will Mr. Dingle do with his acquired power?

"Mr. Dingle, the Strong" is so far one of the silliest episodes of "The Twilight Zone". The title could have been "Once a loser, always a loser" since every viewer will certainly take pity on the poor Mr. Dingle. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Sr. Dingle, O Mais Forte" ("Mr. Dingle, the Strongest")

One of the true stars of TZ Burgess Meredith played four very diverse characters. Quite often the lead actor in the comedy entries would spoil whatever possibility of an enjoyable show there was. Meredith is a rare exception as he makes Dingle incorrigibly stupid, but in an almost Stan Laurel-like engaging way. This character is mixed into a crazy production that has no subtlety whatsoever. This is the Looney Tunes of The Twilight Zone. Even Don Rickles is more frenetic than usual. As to the hilarious aliens...well you just have to see for yourself. They are...well..I give up trying to describe them as you just wouldn't believe me . I like the idea of Martians and Venutians hanging round a bar, unnoticed, enabling Dingle to punch through an obviously paper thin wall.

They don't make them like that anymore!!!