The Obsolete Man

I can understand why people consider this episode preachy. And in some sense, I think that's a wonderful thing. Not wonderful that the episode is preachy, wonderful that people *think* so.

Because if people think it is preachy, it means that its message is obvious. But it's a message that has frequently NOT been obvious to people, in many times and places in human history. The theme of the individual versus the state is an absolutely timeless one, and the message is one that needs to be told again and again in every generation.

And the story *is* told timelessly. As much as one is tempted to see it from the cold-war context of its time as being a thinly-veiled anti-communism fable, the truth is that The State as presented here is any tyrannical totalitarian regime, be it Marxist, Nazi, or any other statist ideology.

The one flaw, for which I took off a star, is the invocation of religion. Religion is an ideological detail, not a fundamental to the theme. The State's outlawing of religion in this tale serves as too-concrete a connection with the Soviet Union of the era. It also excludes The State from potentially representing any kind of theocratic totalitarianism (which is just as bad).

But it's such a good episode, and the message so important, that I'm willing to cut it a lot of slack for that flaw.

In a totalitarian and atheistic society in the future where books are destroyed, the librarian Romney Wordsworth is declared obsolete and sentenced to death by the Chancellor. The librarian believes in God and has a discussion with the Chancellor that allows him to choose how he would be executed. Romney requests a personal assassin that will be the only person to know how he would choose to die and his execution broadcast live to the nation. Near the scheduled hour, Rommey summons the Chancellor to his apartment and discloses that there is a hidden bomb to kill him. He gets his forbidden Bible to read and when the Chancellor tries to leave the place, he finds that the door is locked. What will be his attitude?

"The Obsolete Man" is the last and best episode of the Second Season of "The Twilight Zone". The plot makes the viewer immediately recalls George Orwell dystopic society in "1984", Ray Bradbury´s "Fahrenheit 451" and Franz Kafka´s "The Trial". Burgess Meredith has a great performance in the role of the librarian Romney Wordsworth that uses his knowledge and experience to lure and give a lesson to the notorious and arrogant Chancellor. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "O Homem Obsoleto" ("The Obsolete Man")

This episode was written by Rod Serling, and in my opinion it ranks as one of the best of the series. The theme of a totalitarian possible future is not merely well produced entertainment, but is a recurring theme in Serling's work that serves as a warning we should not easily dismiss. This nightmare future seems even more relevant today then perhaps when it was written over 50 years ago. Burgess Meredith's performance is outstanding as he carries the single ray of hope in a very dark world.

An episode with a theme near and dear to Serling's heart: intellectual freedom and the will and power of the "little" guy. It's an obvious tribute to novels like "1984", and while not as well executed as that novel, there is something to be said for the startling visuals presented on such a low budget that bring to life the horrors of a totalitarian regime. My only criticism is the ending -- not to give anything away, but did they run out of money for something better? Regardless, this is an episode that makes you wonder what today's political realities and quasi-religious governments would have inspired Serling to write.

The Smoking man Rod Serling mastermind of "The Twilight Zone" using his logical mindset poke the totalitarian systems as Communism and Nazism as well, where the men are pure pawns at hands of the empowered class of blind politicians who ruled by unchanging dogmatic system and over the shadow of the fear, in this weird environment the humble librarian Romney Wordsworth (Burgess Meredith) is taken to Courthouse to be judge as obsolete man, useless to new society, where the books, philosophy and the religion is no longer make sense, all this were banned of this community , baffled Mr. Wordsworth tries by any means explain that his job is upmost importance, due all the books are the prestine knowledge that human race gathered through countless centuries by poets, philosophers, scientists, holly and wise men and all sort of writers giving to the mankind the background knowledge to the upcoming future at sight, however the cold and septic Chancellor (Fritz Weaver) disowns all statements gave by the wise Wordsworth, in 48 hours he must be executed on own choice, the old man claims that his execution must be aired by television broadcasting nationally, how it were routinely offered for the citizens, it is accepts on plenty, nonetheless Mr. Wordsworth planned something more, by far ones the greater episode of the whole series, at final Serling points out that without democracy there's no future to mankind, where every single person has the own right of choice whatsoever!!!

Thanks for reading.

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First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8.5