65 Years Ago Today, One of the Scariest Episodes of The Twilight Zone Aired (And It’s Still the Highest Rated Episode Ever)

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The most popular episodes of Rod Serling’s classic series, The Twilight Zone, according to IMDb, are pretty much what you’d expect. Many explore the darker side of human nature, like how quickly people can turn against each other, as seen in episodes such as “The Shelter” and “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.” Others are simply frightening, like “Living Doll” and “It’s a Good Life.” Still others, including “Time Enough at Last” and “To Serve Man,” are famous for their clever and shocking endings. And of course, there’s the iconic “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” featuring William Shatner.

According to IMDb ratings, the highest-rated episode isn’t one of the more commonly mentioned favorites. That honor goes to “Eye of the Beholder” from Season 2, which first aired on November 11th, 1959. Remarkably, even after 65 years, the episode remains incredibly impactful.

What Is “Eye of the Beholder” About & What Makes It So Special?

“Eye of the Beholder” tells the story of Janet Tyler, who lives in a future world where how you look is everything. In this society, anyone whose face doesn’t meet the current beauty standards is required to have government-funded surgery to change it.

People needing this surgery are given eleven attempts. If all eleven fail, they are exiled to a community for those considered severely disfigured.

Tyler is recovering from her eleventh surgery and is understandably anxious. If this operation isn’t successful, she fears being ostracized from the community where she grew up and treated as though she has no worth.

We only see the woman’s head, completely covered in bandages. Doctors and nurses explain this is necessary, as the injuries underneath are horrifying. However, the faces of the medical staff are also never shown, cleverly hidden by lighting and camera work.

Tyler was desperate to have the bandages removed, unable to bear the anticipation any longer. When they finally came off, her face was revealed as strikingly beautiful. However, almost everyone present – all but one of the medical staff – reacted with horror. Their faces were grotesque, twisted into expressions resembling pig snouts. Tyler was then led away by an equally handsome man, and the narrator, Serling, pointed out that beauty is subjective, varying with time and place. Focusing solely on outward appearance prevents us from recognizing the deeper, more meaningful beauty within a person.

While physical beauty fades, flaws in character – like poor judgment and close-mindedness – are permanent. That’s what makes this episode so powerful and relevant even today. It’s a classic The Twilight Zone story, known for its surprising twist and ability to make viewers really think about things.

This episode is brilliantly made – even if you already know what happens, it’s still incredibly powerful. The haunting image of a woman completely wrapped in bandages is particularly striking, and the doctors’ ominous descriptions of her condition before the operation add to the unsettling atmosphere.

The most impactful moment of the episode occurs when a nurse reacts strongly to a doctor questioning society’s obsession with looks. The doctor wonders why everyone cares so much about physical appearance, especially in relation to a bandaged patient. Instead of considering his point, the nurse sharply warns him that such talk could be considered an act of treason.

It’s difficult to ignore how relevant this situation feels, especially considering the current U.S. president often comments on women’s appearances. Hopefully, neither the U.S. nor any other country will ever reach a point where people are excluded from society simply because they don’t meet a strict standard of beauty.

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2025-11-11 18:40