This Classic Episode of The Twilight Zone Was the Original Final Destination

by

Initially, when Jeffrey Reddick conceived the idea for the 2000 movie “Final Destination”, he aimed to develop it as a speculative script for an episode of “The X-Files”. Had Reddick chosen this route, the concept of Death pursuing individuals who should not have survived a disaster would have aligned seamlessly with the bizarre and extraordinary cases that Mulder and Scully investigate weekly.

It’s not surprising that The X-Files, created by Chris Carter, bore a resemblance to the strange and otherworldly events of an influential series preceding it: The Twilight Zone, which was known for its stories about inexplicable forces dictating the lives of unfortunate individuals. (This series was often shown on SYFY.)

For More on The Twilight Zone

1. Revisiting the Twilight Zone Episode with a Science Fiction Spin on Ancient Bible Tales: Unveiling the Story Behind the Collaboration with a Renowned Horror Filmmaker in The Twilight Zone

2. Recalling the Twilight Zone Episode that Brought a Sci-Fi Makeover to Old Testament Stories: Exploring the Hiring Process of a Famed Horror Director in The Twilight Zone

3. Reflecting on the Salad-Fueled Production of the Iconic Twilight Zone Episode with a Sci-Fi Twist on the Old Testament: Insights into the Cast and Crew’s Dietary Choices During Filming

As a child, what I adored about ‘The Twilight Zone’ was something modern viewers might miss: There was always an element of surprise because you never knew what you would encounter. When I watched it in syndication, I didn’t know which episode I’d get next – it could range from average to extraordinary. That uncertainty was part of the charm when I wrote for ‘The X-Files’; each episode could be vastly different from the last.

In essence, Rod Serling’s timeless anthology series laid the groundwork for the ‘Final Destination’ franchise around four decades prior to its cinematic debut. The specific reference is to the first season’s episode titled “And When the Sky Was Opened.

Classic Twilight Zone episode “And When the Sky Was Opened” did Final Destination first

‘And When the Sky Opened’ – a chilling tale penned by Richard Matheson, regularly featured in ‘The Twilight Zone’, was adapted by Serling. This story instills an overpowering sense of existential fear. Following their return to Earth in a mysterious experimental spacecraft that vanished for a full day from radar, three astronauts – Colonel Ed Harrington (Charles Aidman), Colonel Clegg Forbes (Rod Taylor), and Major William Gart (Jim Hutton) – mysteriously vanish one by one. According to Harrington’s hypothesis, they were never meant to survive their journey, and now an unseen force is correcting this oversight by erasing the men and their vessel from existence itself.

First Harrington, then Forbes, and finally a bedridden Gart.

Although characters in this show don’t meet a gory demise like those in Final Destination, one might contend that living on as if you never existed at all is a fate more dreadful than death. However, it’s Taylor who single-handedly carries the entire episode, delivering an exceptional performance that transforms Colonel Forbes from a self-assured and charming aviator to a frantic man desperately clinging to a reality he alone recalls. His palpable fear, deteriorating sanity, and stubborn denial of the situation effectively convey the sense that something deeply troubling is occurring. Ultimately, “And When the Sky Was Opened” poignantly portrays our shared apprehension of the unknown and offers a chilling, Lovecraftian perspective on the universe as vast, indifferent, and inhospitable.

In his own words, as shared by Marc Scott Zicree in “The Twilight Zone Companion”, Serling stated that the scariest thing is when the fear of the unknown starts affecting you personally, something you can’t explain or discuss with others. Put simply, this idea can be rephrased as: For me, the most terrifying sensation comes from the unknown exerting its influence upon us, an experience we can’t express to others.

Read More

2025-05-21 20:01