MovieChat Forums > The Twilight Zone (1959) Discussion > Come Wander with Me

Come Wander with Me

posted 9 years ago by Skippythesailor
30 replies | jump to latest

What do people think of this episode? I used to just dismiss it as a late series dud by a non-regular writer, but re-watching it today I do have to say it's a pretty interesting episode. I still wouldn't say I particularly love it, and it's still sort of a confusing mess that probably could have had brighter potential if written with a little more clarify, but I do admire that it sort of has a weird abstractness to it not quite like any of the other episodes. It kind of has the opposite problem of the rather repetitive one note episodes the show occasionally produced. Also the unusual use of long shot cinematography and the musical sequences definitely makes it stand out a bit, especially considering it's the last episode of the show produced.

[–] gbennett5 9 years ago

In my opinion, it's the very worst of the half-hour episodes. It doesn't
even make any logical sense. A total clunker.

[–] Doug-Oh 8 years ago

While this ep. would never make it on my list of favorites, it's not the series' worst.
By far, that title goes to the used car salesman ep., the one recorded on videotape.
Dull as a doughnut.

[–] oldskul_luver 9 years ago

The best thing about the episode is that song, so haunting. But it was definitely not the greatest TZ we know and love.

[–] Valentino55 9 years ago

I agree with everything said thus far. The best thing about the episode IS the song, but the episode IS a clunker, and it very well could be the worst of the half--hour episodes. (I know a lot of fans like to bestow that honor on "Black Leather Jackets," but at least that episode had a solid plot and a clean-shaven Denver Pyle.) It has a great set-up and that haunting song (something unusual for TZ), but it never really gels. We're never told WHY this cycle plays out over and over. And Floyd Burney could very well be the most annoying protagonist TZ has ever seen.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] MsLadybird99 8 years ago

'Floyd Burney' was so unlikable and full of himself, it really made it impossible to care what happened to him.

But yes, the tune is lovely.

[–] jgroub 8 years ago

Yeah, I agree with you on both counts. Nice song, and I didn't care what happened to the jerk.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] strntz 8 years ago

I like this episode even though I am also confused by it's lack of focus. This would have made an excellent fourth season episode if they fleshed it out and explained why Floyd was caught in the death loop.

[–] viaggio1 8 years ago

The ballad is haunting, Floyd was annoying, and Bonnie Beecher was beautiful.

The secret of this episode, however, is that the ballad IS the plot.

At the beginning of the ep, Floyd completely disregarded and crossed beyond the road-signs warning of danger, and ended up walking right into the territory of the ballad ("in, the Twilight Zone," naturally !!)

Enraptured by Beecher's voice, Floyd encourages her to sing the ballad again and again so that he can learn it. He falls in love with her, but then realizes too late that everything sung in the ballad comes true; that once having crossed over into its territory, he was doomed to live out the story of the ballad; and that in the end, there is no escape for him.

Kind of a downer episode, but then there are always some potential consequences for disregarding road signs --- especially in --- the Twilight Zone !

J'ai l'œil AMÉRICAIN !

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] viaggio1 8 years ago

I was astonished that Floyd killed one of the townsfolk just after only a few punches !

Moral of the story: never get into a fight with a rockabilly star !! (LOL !)

J'ai l'œil AMÉRICAIN !

[–] jgroub 8 years ago

Yeah, that was just plain stupid. And that he goes on a killing spree with the owner of that store. How dumb.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] kara-wild 8 years ago

I think the point of that was that it was way too easy for him to kill people... almost suspiciously easy, as if he were set up to do it.

My TV, movie, book reviews: http://thewildbloginthewest.blogspot.com/

[–] Scarecrow-88 8 years ago

You just made me want to give this a second chance!

[–] luvtzone 8 years ago

Enraptured by Beecher's voice, Floyd encourages her to sing the ballad again and again so that he can learn it. He falls in love with her, but then realizes too late that everything sung in the ballad comes true; that once having crossed over into its territory, he was doomed to live out the story of the ballad;

Well said, viaggio1
The song is what drives the story. It is so eerie (from the melody to how the character sings it) and it stays in your head. I absolute agree that Floyd is annoying and in true TZ fashion he gets what's coming to him. Another creepy character in the episode is the shopkeeper. He was so emotionless and just stoic.

"You unlock this door with the key of imagination..."

[–] viaggio1 8 years ago

Well said, viaggio1
The song is what drives the story. It is so eerie (from the melody to how the character sings it) and it stays in your head. I absolute agree that Floyd is annoying and in true TZ fashion he gets what's coming to him.

Most kind of you, luvtzone !

The fact that he's living out the ballad --- as you say, "the song drives the story" --- puts the whole puzzle together.

Just like Serling to avoid spelling out everything for us, the viewers !

That really is a lovely song --- in a similar vein is the ballad from the Season 4 ep "Jess-Belle" --- both are back-country, Appalachian, spooky, "woodsy" type eps.

Am surprised that no country / roots / bluegrass singer has picked up on them yet !

J'ai l'œil AMÉRICAIN !

[–] msaiu78 8 years ago

There's a Dutch duo who have made a hit from covering the wonderful title song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23Z52sxUNgA

I actually like the episode a lot. There is some interesting subtext about the theft and killing of traditional folk & hillbilly culture (their music, in particular) for commercial purposes, which Floyd Burney represents.

[–] viaggio1 8 years ago

There's a Dutch duo who have made a hit from covering the wonderful title song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23Z52sxUNgA

Thanks for sharing, msaiu78 !

What a beautiful version ---

Looks like other gorgeous versions also available, by American folk duo "Hidden Highways"...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wHuIH-Hqx0

....Dutch chanteuse Anneke Van Giersbergen ---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA-GTcdKnac

...a cool instrumental & vocal version by the Brit band "British Sea Power" ---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwUrtZB16PY

...and a number of Beecher's original versions also available on youtube ---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W08Xg3whtZA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVdIf8BJME8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xQ06Vqgn-Q&index=11&list=RDlVdIf8BJME8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBzlhIYELeM&index=12&list=RDlVdIf8BJME8

Looks like other musicians have finally caught on to the beauty of the song !

Thanks for opening up our eyes !

J'ai l'œil AMÉRICAIN !

[–] viaggio1 8 years ago

I actually like the episode a lot. There is some interesting subtext about the theft and killing of traditional folk & hillbilly culture (their music, in particular) for commercial purposes, which Floyd Burney represents.

Nice call, msaiu78 !

I find the ep a bit too nightmarish --- the lack of any out for Floyd is too disturbing --- yet, he does chart his own destiny, by blissfully ignoring any number of warning signs !

The song, and Bonnie's sweetness, are of course major assets of the ep ---

I think that many musicians have acknowledged their debts to Appalachian music, but there are always those unscrupulous few who rip off other artists or folk traditions, without giving proper credit --- not to mention the mega-bucks that later rock musicians made off of original American Blues artists, both living and dead, without crediting them ! (Although, I understand that Led Zep at least has since settled many disagreements, both in and out of court --- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Led_Zeppelin_songs_written_or_inspired_by_others ).

J'ai l'œil AMÉRICAIN !

[–] richspenc 8 years ago

Something about the episode is just a little too cloudy to enjoy. I mean I know that there needs to be some confusion and mystery to make a TZ ep good, but when everything about it and the way the mystery is presented to us in itself is so unclear, then there's no excitement, we are just like "huh?"

[–] viaggio1 8 years ago

Something about the episode is just a little too cloudy to enjoy. I mean I know that there needs to be some confusion and mystery to make a TZ ep good, but when everything about it and the way the mystery is presented to us in itself is so unclear, then there's no excitement, we are just like "huh?"

Thanks richspenc ---

Sometimes, you just have to watch an ep of the TZ again in order to make better sense of it ---

Pay attention to the lyrics of the ballad, and then notice what happens to Floyd ---

Since he has ignored all warning signs, and willfully broken through the road barriers at the beginning of the ep, he has "crossed over" into what we may perhaps call "The Ballad Zone" ---

Sort of a bizarre carnival / dreamworld / "WestWorld," where trespassers are forced to go through a series of hazardous experiences.

In essence, Floyd ends up living out the ballad, against his will, and is doomed to follow its lyrics to their bleak conclusion.

J'ai l'œil AMÉRICAIN !

[–] richspenc 8 years ago

Interesting. I'll watch it again. I guess I wasn't able to pick up on all that first time watching. Some episodes I guess are easier to figure out right away. A lot of episodes, I can figure out while watching as the story moves along, then I am surprised by the twist (first time only when I don't know what'll happen). Once in a while, I'll see an episode where I can't figure it out all the way along so I then am not able to understand the twist since I didn't understand what was happening leading up to it. But I'll catch on the next time watching. I guess I should've watched it more than once before commenting about me not understanding it.

[–] telegonus (736) 8 years ago

I like Come Wander With Me. It gets better with repeat viewings, manages to be haunting, handles the supernatural stuff nicely. It could have been more subtle. If they'd gone more for the musical-poetic side of the ep, which is IMO its strongest aspect, this could have been one of the series' best. Instead there was too much melodrama too neatly stated and spelled out, which rather broke the spell the music and production values created. Still, pretty good and above average in my book.

[–] [email protected] (148) 8 years ago

I can just imagine a teenage David Lynch studying something like this.

[–] telegonus (736) 8 years ago

Re David Lynch: I hear ya'.

[–] Kjnetz (19) 8 years ago

The episode itself is a huge mess that had great potential. It makes no sense whatsoever.

However, I love the atmosphere and the song is absolutely hauntingly beautiful.

Bing's son did NOT inherit his acting abilities....

[–] JR-TV (102) 8 years ago

I actually really like this episode. I know its hated by a lot of people but I think its pretty haunting! I don't nessarily understand the ending but it is still a great episode. I think it is probably the second most under-rated episode next to "The New Exhibit."

[–] telegonus (736) 8 years ago

Yup. I think that it's more horror than sci-fi tone, the illogical, elliptical storytelling, turns a lot of people off. No, it doesn't make sense, but then it's The Twilight Zone.

[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

[–] telegonus (736) 8 years ago

The song is really good, and you just gotta love Hank Patterson, who was sort of the Twilight Zone go-to guy for rough hewn rustic types. Alas, he didn't have much to do in the episode but his mere presence made up for it.