The Obsolete Man

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!!!

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

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.

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 is a top ten pick for me. It's not so much the Orwellian culture it depicts. It's about our humanity; what we are. The shadow of the huge lectern where Fritz Weaver lords it over the accused. His incredibly emotive speech method. It's Burgess Meredith, seemingly cowering at first and then realizing that if his life is to have worth, he needs to make a final statement. While there is a bit of religion thrown in there, I like to think that it is the wish of this man to simply live out the last moment of his life on his own terms. Meredith, as I've said before, is a great actor. His calmness and grace in this role make this otherwise simplistic tale sing. The meek shall inherit the earth I guess.

Another of Rod Serling's cautionary tales of the rise of the totalitarian state.

Rodney Wordsworth is declared "obsolete" by a tribunal of the state in the not too distant future. The sentence is. of course, death, but some surprises await the State at the humble hands of Mr. Wordsworth.

Anyone seeing this episode today will be shocked at it's relevance. A society which has "proven" that there is no God; a state which enforces a mind-numbing conformity; a state which refuses to respect or acknowledge the rights of the individual or the sanctity of life.

Watch this episode and reflect long and hard.