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The Twilight Zone

The Encounter

Season 5, Episode 31, Aired May 01, 1964

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A World War II veteran and a Japanese-American gardener battle each other over a war that ended more than 20 years ago.

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Rod Serling

Narrator/Host
Neville Brand

Fenton
George Takei

Taro

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The episode opens with an alcoholic and recently unemployed veteran of World War II going through old keepsakes in his attic. A young man of Japanese descent, who makes his living as a gardener, soon enters and asks for work. The men start chatting and..moreless

8.5

"Great"

By meathead704, Dec 01, 2011

This controversial episode of The Twilight Zone is very entertaining. Both actors in this episode play their parts well. George Takei overacts a little bit here, but it's a nice change of pace to see him before his career defining role on Star Trek. Historical inaccuracies of this episode (Which is the primary reason why it has not been seen in syndication) are a flaw, but that flaw is a minor one and does not take away from the enjoyment of the episode. It's good that the episode is available on DVD because it should be seen despite its shortcomings.moreless
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TRIVIA (1)
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- According to the first printing of Marc Scott Zicree's book "The Twilight Zone Companion" (@1982), this was the last of a series of episodes not originally included in syndication of the series. No clear reason is known. The most likely speculation is that the episode does have some severe anti-Japanese/American sentiments in it. For that reason, the episode have also initially received some letters of protest.
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QUOTES (2)
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- (Closing Narration)
  Narrator: Two men in an attic, locked in mortal embrace. Their common bond and their common enemy: guilt. A disease all too prevalent among men, both in and out of the Twilight Zone.
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- (Opening Narration)
  Narrator: Two men alone in an attic: a young Japanese-American and a seasoned veteran of yesterday's war. It's twenty-odd years since Pearl Harbor, but two ancient opponents are moving into position for a battle in an attic crammed with skeletons--souvenirs, mementos, old uniforms and rusted medals--ghosts from the dim reaches of the past that will lead us into...the Twilight Zone.
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NOTES (2)
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- This is one of the original episodes that was not shown in syndication, apparently due to protests from viewers after its initial broadcast.
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- This episode is included on volume 33 of Image-Entertainment's DVD collection, as well as Treasures of The Twilight Zone.
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