Burgess Meredith played a number of roles in a number of episodes of the Twilight Zone during its run, and every one of them was just brilliant. In each he perfectly captured the essence of the character he was playing and made you believe in them.
It’s no different here as he plays the lead character of the episode Mr. Dingle, who is constantly bullied by a regular patron of the bar he frequents, and often finds himself punched out for not agreeing with his point of view. Enter an invisible two-headed alien (a normal everyday event) who is experimenting with aspects of human existence. It confers upon Dingle super strength in order to see what he will achieve with this new ability. Of course, the episode then revolves around Dingle discovering what he can now do, and he becomes somewhat of a celebrity. Once the Martian realises he is only using his ability for show, it decides to take it off him, at the exact wrong moment for his own purposes.
While the episode is more or less predictable. Burgess Meredith is just wonderful. When, having been conferred with enormous intellect by an arriving Venusian at the end of the episode, he walks away sprouting formulas for saving the world, it tops off his performance nicely.
Rating: When Mr. Dingle appears a little too close to home. 4/5
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