After directing the above average if very uneven previous episode, Norman Lloyd goes from director to back in the producer's chair and starring in the lead role in Season 4's sixth episode "Design for Loving". It also sees the return of Robert Stevens, four episodes after directing one of the worst episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' "Don't Interrupt". It is written by Ray Bradbury, adapted from his own short story in his first of five writing credits for the series (the previous two being the lacklustre "Shopping for Death" and the brilliant "And So Died Riabouchinska").
"Design for Loving" is a very interesting and very well executed episode with a lot to like. It is not one of the best episodes of Season 4 or the best Bradbury penned 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode ("And So Died Riabouchinska"). It is though one of the better Season 4 episodes up to this still very early stage of it and a million times better than Stevens' previous outing "Don't Interrupt" (not that that would have been hard though). Stevens directed some great entries for the series, "Design for Loving" is close to being one of them.
For me, Lydia is rather underwritten as a character.
Everything with the airline ticket also didn't make an awful lot of sense.
However, a lot is great about "Design for Loving". It is very well acted, with a great lead performance from Lloyd (especially later on) and Marian Seldes make much with her role. The chemistry between them is very strong. Hitchcock's bookending is amusingly ironic and Stevens' direction is always confident and in full control of the material. Did like the slick atmosphere seen in the production values, which aren't lavish but still has a good amount of atmosphere.
The theme tune has yet to get old. Bradbury's work is adapted spot on here, it doesn't come over as too talky and it always intrigues and full of darkly amusing moments. The human psychology is very vivid, insightful and haunting, as well as unmistakably Bradbury, especially with Lloyd's character. The story is clever and is darkly entertaining with some nice suspense and a wonderfully strange 'Twilight Zone' feel. The ending is immensely satisfying, with the second twist being truly chilling.
Concluding, very well done. 8/10.
"Design for Loving" is a very interesting and very well executed episode with a lot to like. It is not one of the best episodes of Season 4 or the best Bradbury penned 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode ("And So Died Riabouchinska"). It is though one of the better Season 4 episodes up to this still very early stage of it and a million times better than Stevens' previous outing "Don't Interrupt" (not that that would have been hard though). Stevens directed some great entries for the series, "Design for Loving" is close to being one of them.
For me, Lydia is rather underwritten as a character.
Everything with the airline ticket also didn't make an awful lot of sense.
However, a lot is great about "Design for Loving". It is very well acted, with a great lead performance from Lloyd (especially later on) and Marian Seldes make much with her role. The chemistry between them is very strong. Hitchcock's bookending is amusingly ironic and Stevens' direction is always confident and in full control of the material. Did like the slick atmosphere seen in the production values, which aren't lavish but still has a good amount of atmosphere.
The theme tune has yet to get old. Bradbury's work is adapted spot on here, it doesn't come over as too talky and it always intrigues and full of darkly amusing moments. The human psychology is very vivid, insightful and haunting, as well as unmistakably Bradbury, especially with Lloyd's character. The story is clever and is darkly entertaining with some nice suspense and a wonderfully strange 'Twilight Zone' feel. The ending is immensely satisfying, with the second twist being truly chilling.
Concluding, very well done. 8/10.