Mr. Garrity and the Graves

Amazing little story, totally new in the scheme for the TZ series. I can say again, probably for the twentieth time, that TZ show has recycled, used so many schemes, so many times; I watched the whole show - nearly finished - in eight weeks, several episodes per day. So, the repetitive schemes, I know.... This one is a refreshing plot, because very unusual. Maybe it inspired a French series and movie, in the 2000's: LES REVENANTS. An interesting and unusual character study, saving us a good ending too. I highly recommend it. And here, the back from the dead scheme has nothing to do with zombies of any kind.

Decent storyline and twist ending, I wasn't sure where this was going and was pleasantly surprised. No special effects. The characters were well acted.

John Dehner stars as Jared Garrity, a traveling peddler/con man who arrives in the old west town of Happiness, Arizona to make a most unique proposition to its residents: For a price, he will resurrect the dead loved ones so that they can be reunited. To demonstrate, he resurrects a seemingly dead dog, but the citizens soon realize that they don't want the dead back, so offer to pay Garrity to not bring them back(a variation on traditional extortion!) However, it seems that some powers are not all an act... Well cast episode has a wry sense of humor, though doesn't amount to much, with a twist ending as sinister as it is ironic.

How many folks would like their dearly beloved dead to return to life. That's the premise of this clever little half-hour, played strictly for laughs. Not the most promising comedic material you might think. However, the light touch avoids tricky matters of taste. John Dehner turns up in an Arizona backwater town circa 1890, claiming supernatural powers to raise the dead. Nonetheless, skeptics turn believers when he resurrects a road-kill dog before their very eyes. The town, of course, is filled with humorous types, such as J. Pat O'Malley whose dear departed 240lb. wife entertained herself by breaking his arm, "six times, total". Guess how eager he is for her return.

Dehner is so good at portraying eloquent scalawags. Here you can just about see him twirling his moustache as he counts the money. Story really plays out like an old Jim Garner episode from the Maverick series and is almost as satisfying. My one complaint-- they could have left off the occult after-thought. But then this is the Twilight Zone, not Maverick.

Interesting episode what with the Western motif and making light of resurrecting the dead....but, first off, how is it that a beer costs a nickel, but the lowest fee to halt the "miracle" is $500! And they are all walking around with it (shouldn't it be stashed in their mattresses?!). On a more serious note, I don't think today we would be making light of domestic violence, i.e. the drunk,s wife Zelda breaking his arm six times. I found that distasteful, but I,m thankful that in 2019 such a situation would likely not be used for comic relief.