The 25 Best Twilight Zone Episodes...#22 - "Living Doll"

The historic television series, The Twilight Zone, turns 50 this year, and to commemorate Rod Serling's groundbreaking effort, the 25 best episodes are being chronicled here.

Serling's masterpiece, "Living Doll" is one of those episodes better known for its star than its story, and even with a menacing Telly Savalas in the cast, make no mistake, the star is Talky Tina. Today's sophisticated technology, far more advanced than half a century ago, has rendered the latest generation of life-like dolls that can practically think on their own seemingly without the influence of awe-struck children. It is not uncommon to hear the unsolicited verbalization of one of these "dolls" in the middle of the night from your daughter's room. The terrifying fear resulting in the goose-bumped parents may very well have originated from memories of "Living Doll." It is number 22 on this "best of" list, the result of an unscientific poll of 250 people in the New York metropolitan area who were asked to rank their favorite Twilight Zone episodes based on writing, performance, and compelling subject matter.

The setting in "Living Doll" is a home in conflict. The mom, Annabelle, played by Mary LaRoche, and her daughter, Christie, seem petrified by the surly Savalas, playing the ornery Erich, husband and stepfather. Savalas' performance defined creepy, as did so many of his characters during a long and illustrious career.

The atmosphere is tense, and then Annabelle buys Christie a playmate, and things get downright edgy. Too much money, claims Erich. She doesn't need it, fumes Erich. Tina, it appears, is a doll, but one with an agenda, as she immediately understands that Erich is self-absorbed, probably abusive, and an obstacle to Christie's happiness.

Talky Tina's comments quickly turn ominous toward Erich, but only, of course, when he and the doll are alone. "My name is Talky Tina and I don't think I like you...My name is Talky Tina, and I think I could even hate you...My name is Talky Tina, and you'll be sorry... My name is Talky Tina, and I'm going to kill you." If you look closely, you almost come to believe this inanimate object, this assembly-line creation of plastic and materials, is alive. Many have used Talky Tina through the years as the model for dolls gone wild, with "Chucky" as the most popular. But none have the impact of Tina, because she is utterly lifeless until Erich, and the viewers, breathe life into her.

The denouement is the last scene, in which Tina somehow is deftly positioned (or positions herself) at the top of the stairs in direct path of Erich as he investigates a noise in the middle of the night. Stepping on Tina, he loses his balance and falls down the stairs, fulfilling Tina's last admonition, and transitioning cleanly to Mr. Serling's final comments:. "Of course, we all know dolls can't really talk, and they certainly can't commit murder. But to a child caught in the middle of turmoil and conflict, a doll can become many things: friend, defender, guardian. Especially a doll like Talky Tina who did talk and did commit murder, in the misty region of the Twilight Zone."