The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street

If I had to isolate one episode, this is my favorite. This has the most profound ending of all TZ episodes. There is not much you can say that wouldn't qualify as a "spoiler." If you've never seen this great episode, I wouldn't want to spoil the experience for you. The story is essentially a commentary on how intelligent human beings are, and always have been. Watch the episode and form your own conclusions.

Strange happenings drive ordinary neighbors into a frenzy of suspicion.

Serling takes on mob psychology in this cautionary tale about an ordinary American neighborhood with average looking people (a well-chosen cast for that effect), going about normal activities. An unusual noise followed by mysterious electrical stoppage soon has these same normal families in the street looking for those among them who may be disguised space monsters. Premise plays pretty well, considering production crew only has twenty-plus minutes to unravel a whole community, which they do, especially with a series of montage close-ups to convey the mounting hysteria. First one neighbor falls under suspicion, then another, as the most innocent daily activities suddenly become suspicious in the climate of fear, which is probably the most unnerving part of the story. The script does a good job of showing how the most ordinary pursuits can be reinterpreted as sinister undertakings once mob psychology takes over. No doubt, those familiar with the 50's will see a subtext paraphrasing the anti-communist hysteria of the time. However you take it, the theme remains an important and timely one.

Chilling episode is quite possibly the series' best, as it tells the tale of the inhabitants of Maple Street, USA, which is experiencing bizarre happenings like the loss of all electricity and phone service, which creates fear and panic in the people. A young boy tells them that he thinks it the work of aliens, and though laughed at, this is exactly what takes hold of their minds, as paranoia and panic start to get out-of-control, and once friendly neighbors start hurling accusations, then objects, at each other, until someone pulls the trigger... Outstanding episode has fine performances by the cast, especially Claude Akins, Jack Weston, and Barry Atwater, all leading to a devastating finale(especially that final narration by Rod Serling) that may leave viewer speechless, at least at the time, and may still today.

A great episode of the twilight zone based solely on the chilling true look at humanity. Hard to believe that all this time alter the same theory would probably stand true. This episode does a great job of using small tricks to make a big impact.

The Twilight Zone featuring Rod Sterling is one of the finest Sci Fi show made in the history of cinema. It is a cinematic genius.

Absolutely beautiful to watch the episodes from back to back and you will love it.