The Old Man in the Cave

I realize that the other commentators took this episode pretty seriously. Indeed it is a political episode. It's about the baser elements of humanity. The soldiers representing the survivalist mentality, the townspeople the rabble, and the old man a manipulative, self righteous oracle. Everything plays out the way it should, with those who deserve it getting their just desserts. It is the forbidden fruit being put on the table in front of desperate men. I hope, in my heart of hearts, that this isn't what we would do, but, sadly, I don't think it's far from the truth. The whole business of these guys rolling into a weakened civilization is played out every day in parts of the world. As I speak, it continues in the Congo and other African nations and in Thailand. We can be our own worst enemies.

It's always a treat to watch these iconic old TV series and recognize familiar old faces in odd roles, and to see how many of these one-shot guest stars had any idea that within a few years they'd be big stars. Such is the Life of Uncertainty in the arts.

Note in this episode:

--- James Coburn riding into town with his trademark swagger that later fueled his stardom in the "In Like Flint" movies.

--- John Marley, with that commanding voice he used to send Tom Hayden (Robert Duvall) packing in "The Godfather" the morning before he woke up next to his prized thoroughbred's head.

--- John Anderson, just a few years after the customer --- Janet Leigh --- pressured the car salesman (Anderson) in "Psycho".

--- Josie Lloyd, kind of a cutie who was cast 4 times as a homely wallflower on "The Andy Griffith Show". Josie died in 2020, 53 years after her last credited acting role.

This episode's theme is all about the power of faith and how it gets you through the night, regardless of its source or credibility. I've heard an atheist friend describe religion as a mere placebo, but any medical professional will tell you....sometimes believing that the placebo's the real thing gets you through the illness.

Interestingly, this episode was followed immediately during SyFy's 2025 New Year's Night TZ Marathon by an episode about a hypochondriac.

Depending on which part of this show you pick, you can get different interpretations.

The final dialogue in the show talks about "faithlessness". But, what I got from the show revolves around the people's destruction of "the old man in the cave". People have difficulty trusting someone or something that is different from themselves. Difficulty trusting something they can't understand or relate to.

Do you put your faith in an unseen person who has kept you safe 10 years or do you put your faith in a authoritative person you can see, but is new to you?

We always put our faith in something whether it be science, religion, family, friends, political parties, government, etc. or ourselves. Unfortunately this is like trying to guess the future, sometimes we are correct, sometimes not.

In this case putting your faith in the wrong thing can have dire consequences, but who is to say it would have turned out differently if the choice of faith was different? Our target of faith may be fallible or our interpretation of directions may be incorrect.

In 1974, ten years after the ultimate nuclear war, a group of survivors under the leadership Goldsmith lives in a small town. Goldsmith is the liaison between the survivors and an old man in a cave that gives advices of how to live in the destroyed land. When four soldiers under the command of Major French arrives in the town, they question Goldsmith and wants to see the old man.

"The Old Man in the Cave" is a tragic episode of "The Twilight Zone". The plot is based on the fear of American people in the cold war and is presently dated. Nevertheless, is a great episode, with a great duel of Major French and Goldsmith. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Velho da Caverna" ("The Old Man from the Cave")