User Reviews

This first episode of Season Three offered that spiraling black and white cone for the show's opener, one that's not seen too often, but still remembered by fans of the show. As was often the case, the story brought a couple of familiar character actors to the screen before they became celebrities. Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery are the apparent lone survivors of a world wide holocaust caused by the last great war. Their first encounter is fraught with fear and suspicion, with 'The Man' overpowering 'The Woman' in a continuation of the battle between their respective sides.

The episode taps a lot of the fear and paranoia that existed in the early Sixties, when the world stage was dominated by the United States and Russia in a seemingly endless battle of wills and ideology. Living during that era one recalls the grammar school 'duck and cover' drills and canned food drives that were preparations for an impending attack. I reflect on those times now and how we miraculously dodged World War III more than once, but it seems that paranoia might be about to infect us on a global scale once again. World-wide financial collapse, nuclear terror states, and failed leadership all threaten humanity with the stakes greater than ever. I can't imagine how Serling might have dealt with it all today.

"Two" is a simple but effective parable about the end of days when a futuristic Adam and Eve find it necessary to start things up all over again. Serling's treatment seen today is bound to be considered simplistic, but you have to consider the limits of resources and technology of fifty years ago. Even so, the series produced a meaningful story most of the time, and they made you think. Now that's a commodity that's all too often in short supply today.

This has got to be one of my very favorite Twilight Zone episodes, primarily for the portrayal of two lonely souls in a post-apocalyptic environment.

The cobweb-strewn shops and rubble-laden streets are eerie in that particular way the Twilight Zone does best.

While the parable can be a bit heavy-handed by today's drama standards, it is an excellent one - using the setting to make a statement relevant to the human experience, as well as geopolitics, in a way that is timeless. The entire drama rests solely on the shoulders of Mr. Bronson and Ms. Montgomery, who do not disappoint. (May they both rest in peace.)

A true classic.

Wow! All I can say is that if Elizabeth Montgomery is the enemy (she speaks Russian), then I'm surrendering right now. In her short skirt, high-top boots, and pronounced bust line, she's a real babe, even if her zombie-like eye-shadow sort of comes and goes. This 30 minutes is no doubt the sexiest of the series. Note the realistic and revealing wrestling match with Bronson until he ungallantly slugs her on the chin, ruining all the fun. Okay, probably I should leave off my hormonal response.

This is a very well produced half-hour by that underrated force behind the series's success, Buck Houghton. Naturally, the producers want to lead off the third season with an above average entry. It's post nuclear-holocaust America (we know because she's part of the invading force) and only American Bronson and Soviet Montgomery are left, along with about twenty tons of realistic wreckage. They wander among the destruction in alternating moods, while we wonder how long it will take for biology to trump politics, which of course it eventually does, (lucky Bronson). And that's about it. No real talk, except for what Bronson has to say which is pretty overblown. Nonetheless, the screenplay is still entertaining, and rather daring for its time, even suggesting that not all Russian women looked like truck drivers (a popular Cold War stereotype of the time).

In passing-- it's rather curious that the very Slavic-looking Bronson (Buchinsky) would be cast as the American and the glossy-looking Montgomery as the Slav. Appearance-wise, it should be the reverse. My guess is that the producers did not want to cast the American in the physically weaker role of the female, regardless of appearances. However that may be, there is little of the usual TZ fright or atmosphere, still the episode remains a very, very watchable 30 minutes.

IN TURNING BACK our collective memories a half century or so, we would find that we had a whole generation of youngsters who had deep seeded fears that they would never Live to adulthood, love their spouse and raise their own family. These kids of the "Post War Baby Boom" did have such wide-spread feelings. We should know, being "Boomers" ourselves. And we're boomers who spoke to others in our generation; finding such pessimism to be widespread, even pandemic.

THIS WAS AN Era when terms such as I.C.B.M. (that's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, Schultz), Nuclear Fission and Radioactive Fallout found their way into our everyday lives. They painted a sort of imaginary Hell, that continually lurked in the recesses of our minds.

OIT WAS TO this World of the "Cold War", Arms Build-up and Space Race that Mr. Rod Serling brought this story. Interjecting it into his outstanding and now classic TV series of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, he got truly "dead" serious with his audience. With this episode the flight of fancy and whimsy that so often were a major element of the show were shelved. It was time for a serious sermon to us, his Friday evening Congregation.

OUR STORY DEALS with the meeting of two survivors of a thermo-nuclear exchange between the super powers of the World. This Atomic War has wreaked its havoc on the Planet Earth. One survivor is a Male, the other (luckily) a member of the opposite Sex.(a Girl, Schultz)

IRONICALLY, THEY ARE each from the opposite side of the conflict. Being enemies, they must be committed to fight and annihilate the other. But then, Father Time, Mother Nature and the Good Lord intervene.

FOLLOWING THEIR INITIAL disdain for the other gradually gives way for "doing what comes naturally." The male 'lead ' and only other player besides the female 'lead' eventually do fall for each other. And just for the record, the Lady (a pre BEWITCHED Elizabeth Montgomery) appears to be representing the Soviets; while the Gentleman (a young Charles Bronson) is portraying the USA.

IN THE FACE of all of the previously mentioned troubles and horrible potentialities, our guide to THE TWILIGHT ZONE, Mr. Serling, is telling us that everything is going to be all right, even if it takes a post-Atomic conflict's new Genesis.

OUR VOTE PUTS this episode right up at the pinnacle of this great, intelligently written series. Rating: ****+

***SPOILERS*** Some six years after the bombs stopped falling the only two survivors of an apocalyptic nuclear war run into each other in this deserted town and try to pick up where they left off: In trying to kill each other.

Both survivors the man played by a pre "Death Wish" Charles Bronson-without his famous mustache-and woman the pre "Bewitched" Elizabeth Montgomery-minus her wiggly and twitchy nose-soon come to realize that they need each other more then ever even though they were once bitter enemies. It's the man who at first wants to make peace with the woman who's still bitter over what happened to her and her people in the war that had just ended. The woman refuses like a stranded Japaneses soldier holding out on a deserted Pacific island, 30 years after the war ended, to acknowledge that the war is over and still wants to continue it by killing the only survivor of the enemy the man. But then what! End up dying alone together with the human race that she'll end up being the last and only representative of!

It takes a while especially for the woman to realize that their's no such things as enemies in a world or countries that no longer exists. Slowly the two come to an agreement to bury the hatchet and makes peace with each other. Since they've come to realize that the world from which they've come from, a world of violence death and destruction, isn't the kind of world they want to leave over to their, in them being a modern or future Adam & Eve, children.

Both Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery, who as far as I can remember never were again in a movie or TV episode with each other, really click together in this "Twilight Zone" episode with the usual strong and silent type Bronson doing most of the talking of the two. As for Liz Montgomery she's like that old saying far more beautiful, or Prekransi in Slavic as the two keep saying to each other, when she's angry then how she looked in the end when she's dressed,in a wedding dress not her usual Army fatigues, and all dolled up. Liz in fact was far more sexy and attractive, as well as hot blooded, when she looked hungry panic stricken and combative which was during almost the entire "Twilight Zone" episode.

Warning don't read unless seen episode.

This is my 10th favorite "Twilight Zone" tale, this tale kinda predates the sci-fi films "The Quiet Earth", "Night of the Comet" and "Passangers" which were also both about people inheriting a whole world to themselves.

Yeah it's true that in a way it's sort of a Cold War parable with a anti war message since both characters represent different factions. But by it's nature it's really the Adam and Eve tale re imagined, both of them are Adam and Eve and the post apocalyptic enviorment is the new Eden.

I like the look of the post apocalyptic enviorment where a lot of things are worn out, from seeing some of nature grow over certain places and the amount of dust and dirt collected. However it's not all bad as we see in some place there are still resources which makes the place live able.

However what really drives this episode are the two actors I really like there performances. Charles Bronson I thought was great as a soldier that has had enough of fighting and sees no reason to continue, there literally is no reason.

Elesebeth Mongomery is great as the opposing female soldier whom is mute throughout the whole episode but putting on a quiet performance really isn't as easy as it looks because you have to rely on you physicality and facial expression to utilize content. And I'll admit as a kid had a bit of a crush on her, despite how dirty she looked she still looked great much like with Lara Croft in the recent "Tomb Raider" games and what can I say I have a thing for women in uniform. Ahem anyway, from some of her actions and the look on her eyes you get this feel this is a person whom still harbors some paranoid fear and hatred despite all that has happened.

The interplay between them is sweet if a bit strained, what makes it interesting is that it's somewhat of a reverse in cliché format. Where it's usually the male figure that is willing to fight and the female figure that wants peace. I really loved this reverse because it really makes these characters seem more human and truthful because not every guy is looking for a fight or even wants one.

The strain of course comes from Elesabeth's character, despite how much Bronson display himself as a non threat, she's unfortunately still brainwashed by what her faction has programmed into her. She's having trouble opening up to him, seeing him as just another person, in a way her mute condition sort of reflects that. We see a moment when she looks at a propaganda poster and then takes unnecessary action against Bronson. Bronson then just walks away and then we see a little look of regret on her character and she then comes to a mirror, the calendar of a pin up girl and then looks outside again, I just thought that little moment showed whatever programming was inside her is fading and deep down she does want to be a person again.

The ending is sweet as we see her come to his place and she is in a dress and slightly cleaned up, showing she has chosen to be human again, live life since that is all both of them can do. And from the last looks they give each other you know both will make it.

It really is better to make love than war.

Rating: 4 stars

1961 was the height of the Cold War between the West and the Soviets and this Twilight Zone entry captured the mood and the moment perfectly. A nuclear holocaust has destroyed virtually everything on the planet except for two surviving soldiers from opposite sides: a man (Charles Bronson) and a woman (Elizabeth Montgomery). A strange cat-and-mouse game ensues when they discover one another's existence, much like the scenario that was playing itself out for real in the headlines of the day. As the episode unfolds, they continue to be suspicious of each other's motives while they gingerly negotiate their way through the destruction. When the final realization awakens them to the fact that they most either co-exist or else kill each other, the two settle into a somewhat uneasy truce. In the end, mutual annihilation is averted and the man and woman appear to be ready to begin a new life as "One." Whether Charles and Elizabeth live happily ever after is left to the viewer's imagination. It's all far-fetched and fanciful, but then this is the Twilight Zone.

This episode is mainly remembered now for the early starring roles of its two protagonists, Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery. Both went on to sterling careers, with old Charlie ending up as an iconic international star. The multi-talented Montgomery Pittman, who wrote and directed this episode, was prolific in both fields during his heyday. Unfortunately, he died too young from cancer at the age of 45. "Two" was just one of his many accomplishments.

The Twilight Zone has achieved a certain mythology about it--much like Star Trek. That's because there are many devoted lovers of the show that no matter what think every episode was a winner. They are the ones who score each individual show a 10 and cannot objectively evaluate the show. Because of this, a while back I reviewed all the original Star Trek episodes (the good and the bad) because the overall ratings and reviews were just too positive. Now, it's time to do the same for The Twilight Zone.

While I have scored many episodes 10, this one gets a 3 simply because it was bad. The writing was in fact embarrassingly bad. Two people from opposing sides in a great war are seen wandering about through the entire episode. After a while, it's apparent that they are the only two people left on Earth--as you learn in the really stupid and totally unconvincing conclusion. Usually the twist at the end makes the episode great--this one killed it!

The big war has happened and there are only 2 people left, one from each side, in a desolate city alone. There is a dress in the store window, and knifes, guns, and dirt everywhere. Of course we are in The Twilight Zone.

Serling actually has some fun with the viewer here. All the way through this one he limits what we know. No one speaks until after the first commercial. Then, only Bronson speaks for the entire show. Montegomery is totally silent.

They try to make Elizabeth look really plain throughout the episode but 2 things can not be hidden. Her body looks fantastic, and towards the end when she finally smiles at Bronson, that smile lights up her face even in black and white.

The black and white adds to the mood here, but then at the end we get the clincher. Even though Serling is making us believe all the way through that the big war has happened and these are the only 2 left, he admits at the end that this Zone tale is a bit of romance.

You gotta admit, Montgomerys silent beauty here is the perfect woman. She might try beating up Bronson early, but at the end the hand holding of the actors signals romance and hope. All from the Twilight Zone.

True acting does not need words, and for Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery in this surprisingly unique episode that open season three, there's no nose wiggle, possibly a little death wish, and you will indeed be left bewitched by what occurs in 25 minutes. the two actors barely say a word, enemies from a battle which destroyed the world apparently and left them the two lone survivors, possibly on the opposite sides and bitter enemies, and yet curious about each other even though at times they are obviously trying to kill the other. Montgomery is seen first but Bronson gets the first opportunity to speak. there was a calendar without a year marked as February, but outside of that, we have no idea when or where this is. Her weapon fires artillery that is unrecognizable, so it's not even apparent if they are on Earth.

The sly writing keep the viewer in trance as he's too curious people alternate Lee try to avoid each other then continue to stalk each other. She follows him down the vacated streets to a fashionable shop and he pulls off a designer dress, tossing it to her. But is that enough to open up the lines of communication? mistrust is obviously still there, but one person must make the move. The question is, who will that be, and how will the other person react?

At the time a regular guest star on TV anthology series and potential movie star, Montgomery was not yet ready for the magic of TV sitcoms. what she was ready for however were serious dramatic roles where she could play a variety of characters and grow in her craft. She only has one or two lines, but acting with her eyes is as tough and challenging as acting with a script of lines to memorize. Bronson, too, is surprisingly good, a reminder that prior to all those B action movies that he made in the 1970s, was a great supporting actor in a variety of parts. The themes here are loneliness, despair, joy and resolution, and all of them happen when least expected to.

Can two people on opposite sides of a devastating war move beyond the survival mode and live ? That's basically what the story is . Both separately are wandering through the city . The wreckage is still apparent although the road is surprisingly clear and un littered . The search seems to be for food and is found. Best not to think too much about finding chicken drumsticks in this deserted place. The focus of both separately and together is a pretty dress and some posters of what use to be . Do they dare hope for such things in the future? Charles Bronson as the man is ready to leave war , destruction, violence and reasons to hate behind . No point in it now. Was there then? Elizabeth Montgomery as the woman is more suspicious but is slowly wanting to live and trust again. He gives her the dress . She takes it but sees other posters reminding her he's the enemy and she fires her rifle at him. He's had enough . She's alone it's dark and it sounds stormy. It's lonely and she realizes this is her future. The morning arrives it's clear. He's shaving, preparing to leave. She appears but he doesn't see her in full. He's leaving, he wants no more trouble. She appears in full wearing the dress her hair fixed differently. He utters the word pretty in her language ( the only word she says in the episode) . She smiles . They leave together and as Serling's closing narrative this has been a love story. More importantly I think it's the ability to move past differences and learn to trust each other. That's harder than loving or falling in love.

"Two" tells a little story in a post-apocalypse world full of scavengers and survivors. I got a real "Fallout" video game franchise from this one. There are only two characters here, members of warring armies with beefs that have outlasted society. One is tired of fighting, the other still hesitant to disarm. Our two characters are a male and a female that, over the course of the episode, eventually fall in love.

This really seemed like a waste of Charles Bronson's talents. I love Bronson and he doesn't really get the chance to shine here. With a better TZ script, he could have turned an average episode into a classic. I like a quiet episode as much as the next guy, but this one really didn't have any point. It's supposed to be a cutesy little romance episode but it doesn't hold up. If anything I guess we can embrace the moral that two warring sides can learn to love one another. That's a nice thought...

A man (a credible performance by Charles Bronson) and a woman (a convincing mute portrayal by Elizabeth Montgomery, who looks absolutely stunning) are the only two survivors of a devastating war that has wiped out the rest of the human race. The pair approach each other with caution and suspicion in the ruins of a deserted city.

Writer/director Montgomery Pittman relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, makes nice use of the empty and desolate city location, delivers a powerful and provocative point on the absurdity and wastefulness of war, and concludes things on an uplifting positive note. Bronson and Montgomery do excellent work in their roles; they both create vivid characters despite the fact that neither one of them says much. Moreover, the sparseness of this episode -- only two people, minimal dialogue, the barren city setting -- gives it a genuinely haunting quality.