Twilight Zone episode review — 2.6 — The Eye of the Beholder
Episode 2.6 “The Eye of the Beholder
Original air date: November 11, 1960
Writer: Rod Serling
Director: Douglas Heyes
Rating: 10/10
“The Eye of the Beholder” is a masterpiece, and easily one of the most memorable and quintessential episodes of the series. It’s best remembered for its plot twist, which isn’t so much a twist ending, but the episode holds up on repeat viewings and if you already know the twist, due to its visual style.
Season two may not have gotten off to the best start in the world, but it was now in full swing. Season two is probably my second favorite season of the series. It has its own share of classics, though perhaps not as many as the first, and would see an increased contribution from writers other than Serling. Still, Serling was the best, and this is one of his best scripts.
The episode begins with a patient under wraps, Janet Tyler (Maxine Stuart, who gives a powerhouse vocal performance). She speaks with a nurse, and desires to see the sky and the sunshine. It’s mentioned that she’s getting surgery due to how her face looks. She says that the first thing she can remember is a child screaming when looking at her. She says he never wanted to be beautiful, but just wanted to be normal.
The entire episode is darkly lit, making excellent use of shadows. I really enjoy the set design of the hospital, and what we see out the window is great.
Away from Miss Tyler, a few nurses discuss how they’ve never seen anyone so bad. After Serling’s narration, a doctor enters, and talks with Miss Tyler. It’s revealed that this is her 11th operation, which is legally the mandatory number, before she’d be banished to some kind of colony with others that look like her. The doctor and nurses grow affectionate for Tyler, and feel genuinely bad for her.
Tyler eventually questions the state, and its right to “make ugliness a crime.” The Doctor eventually concludes that he will take the bandages off. In his office, he discusses the case with his nurse, and admits the personal involvement he feels. He says he’s been able to look past her disfigurement and see who she really is. He starts questioning why people aren’t allowed to be different, and the nurse warns him.
The state’s leader comes on the television to talk about conformity. I really like the dystopian setting, and it’s one of the reasons this episode succeeds even with foreknowledge of the plot twist.
The Doctor then begins the process of removing Miss Tyler’s bandages, going very slowly, as light begins to seep through. It’s a tense scene with marvelous music from Bernard Herrmann. It’s not an original score from the episode, but he had produced so much wonderful music for the series already, that they were able to pull some great stuff that fits the mood of the scene.
Before he removes the last layer of bandages, the Doctor reminds her that if it hasn’t worked, she can still live comfortably in her congregation. He removes the bandages, and we see that Miss Tyler is beautiful, and played onscreen by Donna Douglas (The Beverly Hillbillies). The doctor drops his scissors and the nurses react with fright.
She gasps and begins to run, though she’s held against a wall. The nurse turns on the light and for the first time all episode, we see the Doctor’s face outside of shadow. He’s ugly and disfigured, as are the rest of the hospital employees.
The employees try and sedate her, but she escapes, running through the hall, as the leader (also disfigured) speaks on multiple televisions. His passionate speech on conformity serves as the perfect backdrop for the climactic chase scene, with Bernard Herrmann’s sinister score in accompaniment.
Miss Tyler goes through some doors, and collapses, crying, finding a good looking man, serving as a representative of the congregation that she will be sent to. He reassures her, and says that she will feel a sense of love, though she asks why they have to look like this. “There’s an old saying,” he says. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” They leave, with the Doctor saying goodbye.
Rod Serling narrates: “ Now the questions that come to mind: ‘Where is this place and when is it? “What kind of world where ugliness is the norm and beauty the deviation from that norm?’ You want an answer? The answer is it doesn’t make any difference, because the old saying happens to be true. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, in this year or a hundred years hence. On this planet or wherever there is human life — perhaps out amongst the stars — beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Lesson to be learned in the Twilight Zone.”
It’s an excellent episode for the way it builds suspense only to pay it off in a big, and uniquely Twilight Zone way. Visually, it’s amazing, with its use of light and shadow, and the makeup look of everyone at the hospital is truly memorable. This is certainly one of the signature episodes of the series.
