The Ideal Autumn Comfort Show

It’s officially autumn!

Well, technically, the first day of autumn isn’t until September 22nd. But as far as I’m concerned, autumn begins the first day of September. This means it’s time to prepare my room with blankets and coffee, and perhaps a cookie or two, and settle in with one of my favorite fictional worlds. This show always makes me feel so nostalgic. It’s so cozy, and even though it makes for a good watch year-round, it’s especially perfect for marathoning in autumn (and winter).

Of course, I’m speaking of every girl’s favorite autumn comfort show: The Twilight Zone.

There's something about this show that just hits different during this season. I can't explain it. The obvious deduction would be that it corresponds to Halloween, but I'm not a big Halloween person, and I don't like the horror episodes.

Perhaps the answer lies in the vast abyss they call... well, you know.

Certain TV channels occasionally do marathons around this time of year, but when they don’t, I put together my own. Usually I just pick a season and play them in order, which is a great way to see ones other than the “greatest hits” that usually play during other marathons.

I still haven’t seen every episode, but I’m not in a hurry. I like it when I haven’t seen every episode of a certain show—it means there’s always a new one to discover. The Twilight Zone in particular is a gold mine and never fails to surprise me.

I’m looking forward to finding new gems during my next marathon, but for now, here are my favorite episodes!

Note: I’ll be keeping the commentary short because because it’s always disappointing when people compile lists of Twilight Zone episodes that give the plots away! Maybe at some point I'll release an alternative version of this list that has more detailed thoughts with spoilers.

One for the Angels (S1, E2)

They really said “let’s wrench their hearts out and make them sob buckets with the second episode ever,” and I have to respect them for it. 

Walking Distance (S1, E5)

I tend to stay away from the horror/creepy sci-fi episodes, and thankfully, there are a number of sweet episodes that tug on the heartstrings in a soft way that's still satisfying. When I showed “Walking Distance” to my mom for the first time, she said “I never knew The Twilight Zone could be like this.”

Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up? (S2, E28)

A great one that will keep you guessing until the very end.

A Stop at Willoughby (S1, E30)

A childhood favorite. My friends and I would quote it all the time, and it became a bit of an inside joke over the years.

The Obsolete Man (S2, E29)

My favorite Twilight Zone episode of all time. Top tier.

Two (S3, E1)

Elizabeth Montgomery and Charles Bronson star in this post-apocalyptic story about two lonely people…

A Game of Pool (S3, E5)

I’m a big Jack Klugman fan, and he’s great here as pool player Jesse Cardiff.

Nothing in the Dark (S3, E16)

Starts out a bit creepy, but turns out to be very sweet in the end. Bonus points for Robert Redford.

In Praise of Pip (S5, E1)

Don’t ask me why most of my favorite episodes are tearjerkers! Another wonderful Jack Klugman performance.

Number 12 Looks Just Like You (S5, E17)

Speaks for itself.

You can watch The Twilight Zone for free on Pluto TV, or free on Amazon Prime with a subscription. English subtitles are available on both platforms.