The Mirror

I had long heard about the "Fidel Castro episode" of TWILIGHT ZONE, and finally watched it last night. Yes, it is a bit heavy-handed, but I still enjoyed it. Peter Falk was always a likable actor, and he is very effective as the maniacal dictator. The setting of the Baroque hall in which the entire episode takes place is realistic and effective, resembling the colonial architecture you often find in Latin America. You can practically feel the tropical heat, the sand and the grime. In addition, it was a pleasant surprise to see Will Kuluva (with whom I was previously familiar as "Mr. Ferguson" in the hour-long episode "The New Exhibit") as the outgoing leader of the country. Kuluva had a fine speaking voice and presence. The episode has a notable musical score - surprisingly including a harpsichord, suggestive of a crumbling Baroque façade.

Some other reviewers here feel that the appearance and accents of Clemente's henchmen reflected negative caricatures of Latinos. The actors appear to have been a mix of Italians, Greeks, Jews and one Hispanic. I found their portrayals above all to be a caricature of unkempt militant leftist types. "Latino" did not exist as a racial category in 1961; these were "Latin Americans." Audiences were not ethnically and racially hypersensitive back then, as today.

I do think Serling missed an opportunity with the priest character. Priests, in addition to moral authorities, are also agents of mercy and forgiveness. It would have been not only effective writing but obligatory pastoral practice for the priest to try to lead Clemente to repentance and confession - and explicitly to invoke God! - before he killed himself. The priest seems little more than a "preachy" plot mechanism.

On a final note, I am happy to see that Rod Serling was a liberal in the classic sense and was anti-communist, indeed anti-tyranny of any kind.

This episode reflects reality in so many facets. Who among us hasn't, at one time or another, become our worst enemy. The acting was outstanding. This was by far one of the best episodes. The people who gave this episode a poor review are similar to the main character, in that they are afraid to admit we are our own worst enemy.

When the peasant Ramos Clemente (Peter Falk) leads a successful revolution in his undefined country, the former dictator General De Cruz (Will Kuluva) advises that his mirror is magic and can anticipate who will murder him. Clement becomes paranoid and kills each one of his revolutionary comrades believing that they want to murder him.

"The Mirror" is a predictable episode based on the paranoid behavior of a man unprepared to lead a nation. The despicable analogy to the charismatic leader Fidel Castro and the Cuban revolution is not a subtle, but a direct message; but the story of the corruption of the absolute power of a tyrant is reasonable. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Espelho" ("The Mirror")

Note: On 13 July 2023, I saw this episode again.

Of all the actors that I wish could have been in a better episode there can be none more so than Peter Falk. He makes this dud episode watchable. Ramos Clementi (Falk) leads a successful revolution against a dictator who warns him that he will see the faces of his assassins in a magic mirror. Absolute power corrupts of course and brings with it paranoia and tyranny.

Predictability is the worst aspect of this story. Some of the dialogue is fairly good and the character of Ramos mentally disintegrates in stages, sometimes questioning and understanding what is happening to him.

The obviousness of Ramos Clementi being Fidel Castro is spelled out in neon lights. Serling says that any resemblance to real tyrants 'is hardly coincidental'. The beards and military uniforms also spell out Castro too. Much less predictable than the plot was the Cuban's longevity as leader.

Not the worst TZ, but let's remember Rod Serling and Peter Falk for the many better things each did.

This is one of those episodes that you really have to think about the time in which it was shown in order to appreciate why it was relevant. The scene presented was reminiscent to its audience of more than just Cuba -- this was an era of frequent "revolutions" and military-style commanders: Castro, the Perons, Pinochet... but with a change of clothes and accents, this could become Burma or the Middle East or somewhere in Eastern Europe or Africa today, and maybe that consideration will help others appreciate this episode. The only problem I had with the story was the ending, which I didn't understand and didn't feel that it "fit" with the character. This episode is no more "preachy" than any of the Twilight Zone, and if such bothers you, it's not really a series you will ever appreciate, let alone enjoy.