On Thursday We Leave For Home - Twilight-Tober Zone 

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You can't help but feel sorry for Benteen in the end, even if his own stubbornness caused his crew to abandon him. They gave him plenty of chances, but when they finally escape, he's left all alone, hoisted by his own Petard.

The Twilight Zone crew really made good use of those Forbidden Planet materials.

And when people visit that rock, they’ll see somewhere written in the cave, “Benteen was here.”

It's a little tragically funny that between Shawshank Redemption and this episode, James Whitmore played two characters who are trapped in confined situations, who are looked up to by their peers, and who is afraid of the world outside.

Forget about what Earth is like or how Benteen acts, I'd bail on that planet just to experience night again.

James Whitmore was amazing in this Twilight Zone episode, he was also amazing in “Them”, “Where the Red Fern Grows” and as Brooks in “The Shawshank Redemption”

Benteen is played by Brooks, aka James Whitmore from The Shawshank Redemption.

It looks like Benteen has suffered from....SPACE..... MADNESS!

I feel for Benteen. He kept them together displaying strength, courage, and sacrifice. He seems less like a tyrant holding onto power than a father who isn't ready to see his children grow up and leave him.

Benteen is one of the best and most complex characters Rod Serling ever created for the show. You admire this guy for his will and skill to keep his people alive all this time, you hate him for his willingness to keep these people trapped in this living hell just so he can keep his power over them and then you pity him for ending up marooned alone because he just couldn't let go of the reigns of leadership. And Whitmore plays all facets of the character perfectly. Oddly, he's similar to Whitmore's most famous role, at least for modern audiences; Brooks Hatlen from "Shawshank Redemption." Both are people who are so used to their roles in these isolated communities (really, trapped on a planet is kind of like being in prison) that they simply can't function outside of them.

The reason the ending is so impactful is that he changes his mind, he goes back....too late. If they would have had him just be alone in the cave going mad at the end it would have been one thing, but to have him beg for the ship to come back? It hits home how people's stubbornness is their demise, yet preservation skills are stronger. How people can be blind not until the end, but until it's too late to actually do anything. Reminds me of "The view from halfway down".

Definitely the best one from season 4 and in my top ten of all time from TZ. I love when Captain Benteen talks about the earth and how beautiful it is. It makes you feel like you're in a special place. I also love stories where the hero turns into a somewhat villain by the end of it. Just an absolutely astonishing episode.

This was my dad's favourite episode. We had a running joke where we'd reenact Benteen's final scene "I want to go... HOME." We started watch Twilight-Tober Zone in 2020, and he passed in 2021. I hope he enjoyed this episode from the stars!⭐️🥹

This is the review I have been waiting for. My very favorite twilight zone! This episode is so wonderfully acted. You can clearly see the pain and suffering of the people. Jo Helton saying that “there is a ship coming” while trying to believe it is absolutely magnificent. Benteen’s description of earth is for me the high point of the series. I am so thankful this was a hour episode. Great review!

This is my favorite episode of Season 4 since I feel it's the 1 where the story makes the most use of the hour long format without feeling stretched/padded to meet the run time. Also, as someone who was a fan of The CW series The 100, I enjoy the parallels between Captain Benteen & Octavia Blake in terms of how they become leaders of their people that don't want to give up their power.

Benteen can pass the time alone on that planet, singing 🎵"I'm getting closer to my home"🎵 more times than Grand Funk Railroad did, if such a thing is possible.

I have been waiting for this review so much because I freaking loved this episode. I saw it for the first time in 2021, so the captain's reluctance to return to Earth felt like a parallel to being afraid to go back into the world after quarantine, which is a fear I admittedly had a little bit. And what makes it even better is the episode takes place in 2021.

This was one of my personal faves, even as a little kid when I first viewed it, and it always hurt my heart to see Benteen left alone down there as the parting shot pulled away; I’d headcanon that the ship would pull one orbit of the planet, the people would implore the captain to give Benteen one more go in honor of all he’d done for them, and they’d make one more landing where Benteen would come to his senses and board with them 😅🛸

This is the episode of TZ that got me into the series. I saw it on TV, and it instantly became one of my fave episodes. It still is today.

A good tale of how absolute power corrupts absolutely.

My friend is Buzz Kulik’s great nephew! I’ll ask him to ask his grandmother about Daniel!

I empathize with Bentsen because his strong leadership keeps the people on the colony together, but he also using his leadership to try keep the people from leaving the planet; it’s all Benteen knows how to be: a leader, going back to Earth, Benteen won’t be one anymore, won’t be what he was, won’t be what he’s been all his life and that is why it is difficult for him to let go

This totally reminds me of that DS9 episode called "Paradise" S2E15.

For some reason this one really affected me. The guy was in charge for so long and couldn't let go. The last scene where everyone's left and he realises too late that he doesn't want to stay was heartbreaking. It's like when someone has been in a job for so long that they have no life when it ends and they are lost. I read Arsene Wenger's autobiography and it sounds like his job took over so much that he basically sacrificed his marriage. When he finally left he had nothing to do so he had to go around his friends house for lunch just to have something to do.

The first TZ episode I ever watched back in High School Film Club, the good old days.

This episode was so sad. The actor who played the leader was so good. Ugh this one was tough to finish cuz you knew what was going to happen

This is what people who are earnestly trying to do a good job look like,that huge cast brought their a game

I think that this is the best of the hour long episodes.

I recently came back across an old TV show I forgot about called Monsters that was on SciFi back in the late 80's. If you're a Twilight Zone fan definitely worth checking out or idea as a new October series once youre through all the Twilight Zone episodes

This month has been awesome thanks to you guys🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤

I'd tune in for a Twilight Zone episode where every day becomes Thursday. No fancy time loops or anything, just a simple declaration by everyone claiming: "It's Thursday." Say goodbye to weekends, TGIFs, Garfield's Monday blues, Taco Tuesdays, lazy Sundays, and humpdays. It's all just Thursday from now on.

I'm pretty sure this was the first season 4 episode I ever saw. I misremembered it as being the only season four episode I saw, until hearing these reviews made me remember seeing at least two others. Looks like I lucked out that my first hour-long Twilight Zone episode was the best one and it was truly meant to be an hour long story. it wouldn't be the same if it were a half hour. It occurred to me while listening to this review that this episode is a very good example of the tragic hero trope we learn about in highschool English class. Bentine was in a position of nobility as a the kindhearted leader of a colony that depends on him, but he has a fatal flaw (his dependence on being the leader) which leads to a tragic downfall. You feel bad for him because he started out as a genuinely good person but losing his power corrupted him (kind of the opposite of the power corrupts trope, he was a good leader until loss of control corrupted him). And right up until the end, his nemesis still wants to help him and bring him home to Earth. he waits as long as he can for Bentine to come to his senses. Then Bentine finally comes to his senses and wants to go home but it's too late. the tragedy of him waiting just a few minutes too long to finally realize the error of his ways really hits hard.

This was one the best episodes of the entire series - maybe the best. Everything about it worked, and James Whitmore has to be one of the most underrated actors in history.

I think this could easily be expanded into a feature film. Add in a prologue, get a little bit to know the routine of daily life.

Matthew Broderick was Inspector Gadget..functioning sociopath who always wins: Ferris Beauler..Adult Simba; Disney's lion king..and the nemesis of Godzilla himself..and now i learn his dad chilled on the set of the Twilight Zone in one of its better later episodes.. HOW IS THIS MAN'S LEGACY SO FREAKING EPIC FOR WHO HE IS!!!! THAT feels like the premise of a Twilight Zone episode on its own!if they ever make a Space Quest live action movie, he NEEDS to play Rodger Wilco, cause he has that shict DOWN man!

Man, this episode would do well with a reimagining in the form of a Wall-E sequel. I always imagined it would be about humans struggling with returning to their home and no longer being dependent on their captain or technology, with some having second thoughts and wanting to remain on the ship.

Oh wow I actually remember this episode. One of my teachers showed it in class.

Captain Benteen was a noble leader who fell victim to his own madness. Given he was tasked for thirty years of keeping people from giving into despair on a desert planet with two suns…hmmm…in a galaxy far far away somewhere? 🤔

His downfall and attempt to destroy the the ship with a metal pole is so pathetic.

Definitely the best episode of season 4. i remember that the first time I saw it I was terrified that Benteen would sabotage the ship stranding them all there.

My number 38 episode. James Whitmore was a great actor. He also played an authoritarian figure in TV show about this time. He kidnaps a young troublemaker (played surprisingly well by Frankie Avalon). He certainly did a fine job here, but suffers for his arrogance. The scene where he tells the little boy about Earth was heartbreaking 😢

Having eternal daytime instead of darkness is such a clever reversal!!! I love that!

This is not just my favorite hour-long, but my favorite TZ as well. I think that, beyond the "holding onto power" story, there's a greater moral about people who insist that privation is an inherently good thing, that any kind of joy leads to hedonism. Also, there's one exchange that wasn't quoted, but that I think is particularly appropriate at this time: Benteen: "The Earth...is it still green?" Sloan: "It's still green!" Benteen: "And the cities?" Sloan: "And the cities still stand!" Benteen: "And war?" Sloan: "As always. One flares up here, another dies down there...but through hard work and the grace of God we never had the hydrogen war."

Such a magnificent episode. How brilliantly James Whitmore makes us care! A part of me wants to believe Sloan went back for him later.

I love the zoom out shoot at end

Today is Wednesday though XD

0:37 2 suns? Did they land on tatooine?

I couldn't wait till you got to this episode I really really really really really really love the first time I saw during the Twilight Zone episode marathon I really really really really really really loved it that ending with him screaming out to the sky saying don't leave me here more frightening than any horror movie can you imagine left alone on a hot searing Rock for all of eternity you could have been a hero he could have rode a best-selling book and been a celebrity on Earth I am for years Play the movie about him to remain behind in the Twilight Zone

I love this The Twilight Zone episode!

Absolutely gutted that this didn't come out on a thursday.

Nice review, and I think this is the only episode worthy of a whole hour. To be honest, I think the Twisted moral here is the old saying that it's better to rule in Hell than serve in heaven❤

I remember this one being shorter, but I think tuned in about halfway, not sure.

Are you gonna do Twilightober for The Twilight Zone 85' show?

This reminds me of a story in the Weird Science about how TV is making people fade into a new world.

When Joe Joe asks the captain to tell the people about earth, I can’t help but feel sorry for him. He stays behind on the asteroid because he can’t bear the fact that he is no longer a messiah to the people who depended on him for everything. It’s a great Twilight Zone episode. 😮

I think the ship is also the same one from "To Serve Man"!

I actually watched this video on 11/9/23. Thursday

This was the first episode of the Twilight Zone I ever saw on cable way back in the mid 90s as a little kid.

This is among the spectacular hour long episodes. I wish someone would have mentioned how could Benteen survive on his own long term. November 3rd 2023 2:00 PM Central Time

Probably some of Serling's best writing.

Before we leave for home on Thursday because tomorrow is Thursday our trip with be intriguing

I agree. This is the best S.4 episode.

Years later, after the captain’s death, they find carved into a tree…”BROOKS WAS HERE”

Could this episode have inspired the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” episode “Ensigns of Command” (S3E2) in which Dat tries to convince a group of humans on a hostile planet to leave before the Sheliak Corporate, who have the right to the planet arrive and remove them, i.e. exterminate them, and the leader refuses to let anyone leave.

I didn't realize how much James Whitmore AKA "Brooks" gives me Spencer Tracy vibes.

That’s twice my man got left alone on a planet. They did him dirty on “The Lonely” too 😂.

My brother and I caught this one on TV years ago. He still talks about how he doesn't like the ending, and how he felt bad for Whitmore's character.

Loneliness will kill him.

A shame that the order of the episodes didn’t put this episode on a Thursday

Since S4 was never syndicated in reruns, the only traces of S4’s existence I saw growing up was when two of the Serling-written hour episodes were repackaged as a syndicated two-hour TV-movie, “Return to the Twilight Zone”: He’s Alive, and this one. In retrospect, I think that’s all you really CAN say about S4 for the record, although I don’t know if Death Ship and Jess-Belle were ever similarly repackaged.

Finally! The only one hour episode I really liked.

Enjoyed this overview and agree it's season four's best.

Liked Benteen. Great man that did sacrificed for others. IMO don’t think the character had family to go back to on Earth so I think he felt afraid of being alone without his colony on earth so that’s why he desperately tried to hold on to his colony.

Definitely the strongest episode of season 4. Death ship is my favorite but this episode is on another level.

I’m early just posted 5 minutes ago? 😮😂

So this is set in the distant future of 2021?

I've never seen this one. Don't know how I missed it!!

Im here ❤

Awesome episode!

I had no idea James Whitmore was in this! He was such a fantastic actor! Don’t believe me? Watch Shawshank Redemption and see for yourself.

Benteen is an understandable idiot. Stubborn, Prideful, Stern, Pitiful. This episode is one of the better ones for this season for sure. No spoilers but I think this happens in real life. The colonists are a positive reflection of the episode with the man in the mountain. Benteen is a great contrast to the leader in that episode in my opinion.

i did the math and the episode set in 2021-ish

Also, if you can see the boom mic you're watching it in the wrong aspect ratio.

A twist which might have been effective is if it was a lie and Earth was terrible, so it would have been better if everyone stayed on the desert planet

The second best version of this story is that King of the Hill hurricane episode where Bill becomes leader of the shelter and it goes to his head.

One of these days Walter will appear in an episode and will be stuck there

This was the best episode!

My only issue with this episode is the logic. Why would you settle on a planet with 2 sun's? That's like looking at Pluto and saying "Yeah, no problem's living there". Think it would have made more sense if they crashed on the planet.

I can't look at the Sloane character now without thinking of Spotswood from Team America.

Loved this episode. Wanted Benteen to leave that place! Sad episode...😮

"And when you pray to god his name wont be benteen"😂❤

I remember this episode. Wasn't this one already covered?

Some people would rather die than admit they're wrong.

It’s amazing these last three episodes how they go. First, we start off with this one which is easily one of the best of the season. Then the next episode is a wasted opportunity that feels unfinished. I’m currently watching the last one and I’m not even five minutes in because I have to keep stopping every five seconds because oh my god this could be the worst of a bunch . We need to end with this episode for the season finale not with what there doing now

man this is pretty good

Did anyone else get the Jonestown type of vibe from this episode? I mean it was before the how massacre. But Benteen did give off a Jim jones feel.

I hope you'll do an episode on Season 5 episode 33: "The Brain Center at Whipple's". The Reason: the episode addresses the concern that has been talked about this past year and has been one of the subject of science fiction - "Will the working man be replaced by Artificially Intelligent machines?" With Artificial Intelligent programs able to generate original artwork and literature, with the Walt Disney Company becoming more invested in animatronics, and with the SAG-AFTRA Strike 2023, is the birth of the intelligent machine slowly becoming a reality?

A great show. Always liked this Episode except when they cut it down to 30 mins. This always reminded me of Roanoke VA in Space and Jones Town with a positive outcome for the people.

This is one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes, but I also am a huge fan of James Whitmore. I compare this to an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine called "Paradise."