10 Twilight Zone Episodes Fans Wish They Could Forget
The Twilight Zone is one of TV’s most iconic shows, filled with mind-bending twists, eerie atmospheres, and stories that linger long after the screen goes dark. Not every episode landed, though.
Some left viewers baffled, cringing, or staring into the void wondering if they had just crossed into another dimension. Explore ten episodes that fans wish had stayed in the shadows and see which tales missed the mark in Rod Serling’s unforgettable universe.
Step inside the Twilight Zone… if you dare.
1. The Encounter
Few episodes in TV history have sparked as much controversy as this one. Airing in 1964, it pits a Japanese-American man against a WWII veteran in a deeply uncomfortable face-off that escalates fast.
The racial stereotypes and shocking ending left audiences stunned in the worst way possible.
How bad was it? CBS actually pulled it from reruns for decades.
That tells you everything you need to know about this cringe-worthy chapter of Twilight Zone history.
2. The Bewitchin Pool
Closing out an iconic series is no small task, and unfortunately this finale fumbled the ball spectacularly. Two kids escape their bickering parents by swimming through a magical pool into a fairy-tale world.
Sweet idea on paper, but the execution felt more like a Saturday morning cartoon than a Twilight Zone finale.
Fans who wanted a powerful send-off were left puzzled. Rod Serling reportedly had little involvement, and it showed in every awkward scene.
3. Black Leather Jackets
Aliens disguised as greaser bikers planning to poison Earth’s water supply sounds like a wild premise, right? Sadly, wild does not always mean good.
The episode leaned so hard into 1960s teen rebel stereotypes that it aged about as gracefully as a dial-up modem.
Viewers expecting suspense got a story that felt more like a rejected after-school special. Even hardcore Twilight Zone fans tend to skip this one on rewatches without a second thought.
4. The Big Tall Wish
At its heart, this episode wants to be a tearjerker about belief, magic, and second chances. A young boy wishes his favorite washed-up boxer back to victory.
Sounds touching, but the story moves at the pace of a slow jog and wraps up in a way that feels more syrupy than satisfying.
Nostalgia only carries a story so far. When the twist feels telegraphed from minute one, even the most patient fans start checking the clock.
5. The Jungle
African curses, jungle magic, and a city man slowly losing his grip on reality. The premise had real potential, but the episode stumbled into heavy-handed territory fast.
Every scene telegraphed its message with all the subtlety of a foghorn at midnight.
Where the story needed mystery and creeping dread, it delivered melodrama and eye-roll moments instead. Most fans agree the episode is more frustrating than frightening, which is basically the worst thing you can say about a Twilight Zone story.
6. The Thirty-Fathom Grave
Set aboard a Navy ship haunted by mysterious sounds from a sunken submarine below, this episode had genuine ghost-story potential. Unfortunately, the pacing drags like an anchor through mud, and most characters feel as flat as the ocean on a calm day.
If suspense were a race, this episode would finish last. Fans who stuck it out to the ending were rewarded with a conclusion that barely made the long wait feel worthwhile.
Yikes.
7. The Trouble with Templeton
Longing for the good old days is a very human feeling, and this episode tries to build a whole story around it. A Broadway actor travels back in time hoping to relive his happiest memories, only to find the past is not what he imagined.
Heartwarming concept, but the execution felt surface-level at best.
Without enough depth or surprise, the episode drifts by like background music at a dentist office. Memorable it is absolutely not, forgettable it absolutely is.
8. The Midnight Sun
Earth is hurtling toward the sun, temperatures are skyrocketing, and two women are barely surviving inside a scorching apartment. The concept is genuinely terrifying, but the performances lean so far into melodrama that tension turns into unintentional comedy faster than you can say sunburn.
Though the twist ending is clever enough, getting there feels exhausting rather than thrilling. Fans who know the show’s best episodes find this one hard to recommend without a few caveats attached.
9. The Fever
Gambling addiction wrapped in supernatural horror sounds like a Twilight Zone slam dunk. Sadly, the slot machine villain of this episode is more laughable than scary.
Watching a grown man scream at a machine for thirty minutes gets old surprisingly fast, even by 1960s TV standards.
The supernatural twist feels forced rather than earned, and the over-the-top acting pushes the story into parody territory. Fun trivia though: the slot machine became oddly iconic despite the episode’s weak reputation.
10. A Thing About Machines
If you have ever yelled at a printer, this episode might hit close to home. A grumpy, technology-hating man becomes convinced that every machine in his house is plotting against him.
Sounds fun, right? Unfortunately, the main character is so unlikable that cheering for him feels impossible from the start.
Dated gadgets and zero suspense make this one of the Zone’s most forgettable hours.
