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I think its kinda like the last episode Mirror Image where parallel dimensions collide and Authur somehow in someway switched to Jerrys universe where he's playing him
It may be all 3 really, even simultaneously. It could even be that the businessman replaced the actor as the worlds collided and since they were alternate reality versions of the same person the actor simply willed himself into becoming one with the businessman. The voices on the set were simply the walls of reality being weak for a moment longer. The actor and the businessman both got their wishes.
@@kevinlane1219 My theory answers that. Jerry was an alternate reality version of Arthur, and since only one copy of a person can exist per world they merged. Ar-rry then went to Arthur's world, but in the back of his mind he will forever doubt the world he is in because part of him remembers.
The "Wholesome" awnser is Arthur, as he had a good life & marriage(despite working too much). The "Honest" awnser is Jerry, as there's just too much evidence to say it's not. In fact, this very dictonimy is the reason this is a Fantastic episode. It let's the viewer "pick their own truth", giving you just enough evidence to successfully prove either point. I guess it all comes down to how you see the world around you, especially when your in.....The Twilight Zone...
I honestly think both are real. This is The Twilight Zone after all. Who's to say that Arthur and Gerald hadn't temporarily switched realities during the episode?
I've thought the same - except at the end we don't really see any evidence that an actor was running rampant in the fictional world. It's like time in the fictional world stopped while Curtis was in our world. Which makes sense - because the director had yelled CUT. So.... I assume the actor was present but trapped inside his own mind throughout the episode.
But then when Arthur goes back the directors can't find Gerald so the only way that theory would work is if Gerald went into another duplicate dimension or something weird like that.
It's possible that Arthur Curtis and Jerry Reagan BOTH exist and somehow got swapped so Arthur could appreciate life more and Jerry could finally want to clean up his!
One of the best "mindfuck" episodes. Did Arthur Curtis temporarily slip into another dimension where he is just a character in a movie or did Jerry Reagan escape into a fantasy world to leave his unhappy life behind? I prefer the first option, but either work.
I concur with this theory! I think that Arthur is the real person, while Jerry is his persona whom he used as a coping mechanism for his stressful job.
My theory is that Jerry Reagan was unhappy with his life. So he became Arthur Curtis and escaped into the fantasy world. Would you if your career is in shambles, your ex-spouse is an @$$hole and you're becoming an alcoholic? I would!
@@melissacooper4282 I like Walter's interpretation that Arthur Curtis is the real persona and Gerry Raigan is his brain dealing with how overworked he is. Gerry being the real personality with a falling-apart life who escapes into the fantasy world of a character he played seems like too much of a rehash of "16MM Shrine" 👍
Ah the ancient Chinese philosophy. I dreamed that I was a butterfly and when I woke I don't know ...am I a man dreaming that I'm a butterfly or am I a butterfly dreaming that I'm a man
I love when the show "Supernatural" had an episode like this, where they were teleported to the "real world" where they were just actors on a show. It always makes for an interesting concept.
This is such an undeservedly underrated episode and I think I know why. It comes right after not one, but two more iconic and well-known episodes in the show's production order. That being "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street" and "Mirror Image." However, I agree and that "A World Of Difference" doesn't deserve to go overlooked.
The key line that Arthur Curtis/Jerry Reagan says was when he goes back to the set one last time: "Please don't leave me here." So who is he pleading with? Is this a plot hole, or intentionally designed as a device for transiting back to his other existence ? Then as he rushes to leave with his other wife he hears voices. As if that other world is trying to bleed thru. In a panic he hurries to get away. How tenuous is his or our grasp on reality. I think this is the real question that's posed before us. Can everything slip away from us so easily ? Like the floor falling away in the opening of each episode of "MADMEN". Will we find ourselves losing our grip on reality due to the pressure of high stakes living ? This is certainly a reoccurring theme in Twilight Zone episodes.
I always felt bad for the character, whoever he is. Either an actor who desperately tries to live in the fantasy world he longs. Or a Working business man who's overworking himself to delusions about his very existence. Very good episode
You know, not that I don’t enjoy the typical Critic stuff, but seeing more of these in-depth video essays would be great for the channel, because this is some top-quality content.
That last scene , when he asks "dont leave me here" - only people who lost someone in life will understand - when world becomes disgusting and all you want is to go back - in that past world when everything was ok. I remember to ask "someone" to take me back to past life every night - but sadly life is not a movie.
Alberto Camus does seem to give a similar take. In which he describe the Absurd man is as an actor, fully aware their is not meaning in the world yet desperate go about his life seeking. Just as someone on stage he plays a role, a ruse to remain on set.
That was my first thought when I saw the episode. There's also another episode called "The Whole Truth" which must have been an inspiration for "Liar Liar."
@@Brenda-cg1px I know the episode is totally different from the movie, but "The Masks" is one letter away from "The Mask". Wait, isn't the movie about Stanley going from a guy that can't show his true self to people, but becomes his true self when he wears a mask? It is the same thing!
Arthur's wife: Was your other wife...pretty? Arthur: Maybe. She was such a hate-filled shrew by that point in their marriage, it's hard to really judge. Wife: Wait...hateful shrew? Arthur: Maybe he drove her to this state... Wife: Arthur, dear! You were in the Twilight Zone! Arthur: I was? Wife: Of course - nearly all wives are hateful monsters in Serling's works. Arthur: Thank God I didn't get the one from 'Time Enough'.
Oh yeah the lady from Time Enough was awful. To be fair though Sterling wrote some unpleasant husbands too. The guys from The Fever, The Chaser, The Escape Clause, A Piano In The House, The Prime Mover, Living Doll are pretty awful spouses. Also while the wife was a little snobby in A World Of His Own she wasn’t exactly wrong about her husband’s infidelity in the episode.
This episode is like a spiritual sequel to the one that Lupino starred in. The shot of Curtis seeing the camera crew for the first time is a masterpiece.
I enjoy the fact that the director decided to do the opening scene in one long take instead of cutting away to see the crew watching. As Duff goes to use the phone, you can see the light change on the left as they pull back the wall facade.
I agree with Walter's interpretation of the episode, and think that Arthur was "The Real McCoy." It reminds me a little of "The Truman Show", as it shares many of the same plot beats, notably, the protagonist discovering that their life is just a fictional production. 😊😍
I love this episode. I used to skip it, but caught it on TV one day, and it became one of my favorites. I prefer to think that he actually escaped into the other world and lived happily ever after, as I personally prefer happy endings.
This is my favorite episode, seen this episode a hundred times and never thought of arthur curtis as being the real person. i think this episode has the most eerie sounding soundtrack of all the twilight zone episodes. 'Person or persons unknown' was another great episode.
@@helanesolomon1724 gerry reagian is the real person. notice that all the people were trying to explain to him that he is gerry reagian, and also the person who made the phone call complaining "his mind is gone and he swears he's arthur curtis the character he's playing in the picture". gerry reagain is the only person who thinks he's arthur curtis and no one else. gerry reagain was not happy with his life so he escaped into a fantasy world thinking he's arthur curtis.
7:21 That's what I think. To be more specific they were originally both real, but when cut was yelled, Arthur Curtis suddenly swung to a different universe and takes over Gerry Raigan's body, pretty much killing Gerry's mind/soul/personality. At the end Arthur with Gerry's body returned to his universe, but Gerry disappeared in his universe because of that.
I do agree. Rick and Morty does feel like an attempt to make a The Twilight Zone-like show but give it overlapping plot/characters and not make it an anthology.
Binging these episodes back to back, it's interesting to notice instances of twinning. I said previously how I thought there was parallelism between "Last Flight" and "The Purple Testament," well I think the same about this and "Mirror Image." More than just a character trying to convince others that they're not having a nervous breakdown, this episode brings up the idea of parallel lives. My interpretation is that Curtis and Raigan are alternate dimension versions of the same person and the dimensions intersected for an afternoon. This was brilliant and I'm so pleased for the happy ending, regardless of its implications.
twilight zone is my favorite tv show, rod sterling is on of my d&d characters, and you're doing amazing with the reviews and giving the twilight zone the respect it deserves
There's also Gail Kobe as the secretary. She got to play much bigger roles on the show later on. And Frank Maxwell as the director. He has a down to earth quality even in the weirdest stories he's in.
This episode legitimately scared me more than anything I can remember, and that's only because of the idea that one day I'll find myself in an entirely new world where I have an entirely new life, one which I know nothing about, and my relationships, friends, etc. have no real connection to me, just acting in a show. Is that how it's meant to be taken? Not sure, but it still frightens me.
Great premise executed flawlessly equals perfection. I really liked Richard Matheson's stories and the stellar cast makes this awesome. Howard Duff nails it and Eileen Ryan does as well. One of the best episodes.
No matter what was real I felt so sorry for the man. He generally was so distraught through it was all I wanted for him too have some kind if relief in the end.
I really like the idea that it’s parallel worlds like the previous episode but I honestly think it could be an overworked actor trying to get back to a happy point in his life.
The guy who runs past at 1:12 (and is seen a couple more times) is Bill Idelson, former teen actor on radio and co-author of the episode “Long-Distance Call.”
One thing I never noticed before watching this video: Arthur is wearing his wedding band on his pinky. In those days that was a common way to indicate divorce. Which identity is going though a divorce?
This is an interesting episode now that I've read *Redshirts* by John Scalzi -- where the characters not only become aware of their tie to a fictional property that seems to be controlling their fates, but also use the show's own technobabble science to hijack their way to the "reality" and free themselves from that fate through a combination of courage, pleading, empathy, thinking outside the box, and just plain luck. One of my favorite books, and more meaningful each time I return to a few specific parts.
I always thought Reagan was the reality and Curtis was the fantasy. It just makes too much sense: Curtis has a loving wife and child that adore him, and a job that while stressful provides a comfortable, modest lifestyle. Reagan on the other hand is an alcoholic, overworked actor with a bitchy soon-to-be ex-wife who seemingly only ever loved him for his fame and fortune. My theory is that he got so lost in the character of Curtis and his idyllic life that he truly believed himself to be Curtis, and that belief and desire was so strong that it was able to tear a hole in the veil between worlds and he was able to escape to his fantasy through the twilight zone.
I personally like the idea that both are real. Especially considering the title, I like to think that Gerald just didn't even notice the switch because he was too busy getting into the role
Probably my favorite episode. According to the writer of the episode, the real person is the actor. Good that he escaped into a better life in the end.
I like to think it's a sort of swap and both personalities are real in different universes. Curtis is transported into a universe where he is just a character, while Regan is transported to Curtis's universe where he is living that character.
I appreciate your intention, Walter, to represent the brilliant intricacy in execution and compositional details that contribute to the overall density and thematic nebulousness of this episode. It appears from the paucity of definitive evidence and general ambiguity surrounding the events of the inextricably entwined lives of Arthur Curtis and Gerald Raigan that the prospective interpretations you presented each have the possibility for defensibility and veracity depending on the audience’s perspective. Personally, I would like to believe that A World of Difference can be seen as an exploration into the tenuity of the dividing line between fiction and reality, and how the constructed worlds of a fictionalized narrative can seem real and tangible from the strength and intimacy of the detail used to describe them. Arthur Curtis is a true identity, as is the universe he and his family populate, though to the reality of Raigan, his existence is merely relegated to the pages of a script. Arthur’s world has warped amidst his prosaic existence, the walls of his reality literally fading before him, and he finds himself suddenly immersed in a dimension in which his life was never real, like a character escaped from the printed text of a novel. His reality is immersed or inset within Raigan’s, just as fictionalized narratives exist within our own, and Arthur, due to a momentary intersection of realities or other preternatural workings of The Twilight Zone, is free to explore his alternate, simultaneous existence as Gerald Raigan. Assuming Arthur has crossed worlds and adopted Raigan’s identity, the question then becomes what happened to Raigan during this time, given that when Arthur escapes Raigan cannot be found in either world. It’s therefore possible to postulate that Raigan’s body and identity were overridden by Arthur, and that Raigan essentially no longer exists. It’s a rather dark perspective to harbor concerning this episode, yet I suppose the erasure or denial of self are rather prominent and would suffice as an overarching theme, in addition to a moralistic lesson pertaining to extinguishing or punishment of Raigan for the dismal life he has led. After all, Arthur learns to further appreciate the normality of his own existence and elects to live an improved life post his experiences as Raigan. Regardless, the prospect of theorizing numerous possibilities to explain the events of this episode is a true testament to the quality of its writing and ability to create effective nebulousness in its ending. I love partaking in these discussions with you, Walter, and I’m glad to read the many varying perspectives that people have!
I love the episode of Growing Pains that's an homage to this episode. Also, there is a certain series on a certain popular streaming service that seemed ready to dive head first into this idea after its season ending cliffhanger. But then, maddeningly, it got cancelled. 😠😠😠 I won't say anymore just because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it.
David White would later go on to play Larry Tate in "Bewitched " Along side Dick York who was in the earlier mentioned "The Purple Testament" and a later episode, "A Penny For Your Thoughts"
Channel Awesome, thank you for this brilliant and thorough analysis of tbis fascinating and surreal episode. Serling and his crrw did a amazing job of putting this together. Duff, he was an amazing convincing actor. If I could also mention that these episodes being shot in B&W just adds so much more depth. Had these TZ episodes been done in color this wouldn't of been possible
I like Walter's interpretation that Arthur Curtis is the real persona and Gerry Raigan is his brain dealing with how overworked he is. Gerry being the real personality with a falling-apart life who escapes into the fantasy world of a character he played seems like too much of a rehash of "16MM Shrine" 👍
Reminds me of the earlier episode about the fading star actress who can’t move past her glory days & winds up leaving reality behind for her old films. But I sympathize more with Arthur/Jerry. Barbie refused to move on - Arthur/Jerry had no choice.
@@WalterCulture And I like to think that The Twilight Zone as a conceptual character is capricious enough to give a second chance to a failing actor to live a better life withing the Zone's many private worlds, as to how I imagine it currently. Have a great day!
A world of difference likely had a large influence on the Supernatural episode “The French Mistake.” The series already did a lot of fourth wall breaks and both of the actors said they would only do the episode if they never left character, but I can see a lot of comparisons. So, with that said, I’m going with alternate realities crossing.
I think curtis IS real...but he's ALSO fictional. Wat's more twilight zone than a fictional character somehow escaping into the real world and experiencing the not-so perfect life of the actor who portrays him, only to finally return home to his reality...possibly with his actor's body in tow.
Yes! This was how I saw it. The created character on paper came to life and his world is in that script. It’s why there are background noises at the end. He gets a glimpse of the reality outside his world, and is desperate to get back. Only once he’s back, he’s fully aware of the other world. Kind of leaves an ominous sense of uncertainty when the set will finally be gone.
"A good performance can bring a character to life. Doubly so when the actor behind it yearns for an escape. Arthur Curtis, born from the realm of creativity, briefly stepped into reality. And Gerald Reagan, ground down from reality, followed him back into creativity. Now two men live as one, perhaps for a lifetime, perhaps just for a little while, but in either case happily ever after in the dimension of mind that composes... the Twilight Zone.
I think the episode tries to be more grounded than others, so I think the Reagan world was reality and some otherworldly presence took pity on Reagan and gave him the chance to be in the world of Arthur. It's a good twist, but ultimately I think that particular ending was what the director wanted to go for in the ending. However, he did leave the ending slightly ambiguous to just mess with viewers.
I for some reason remembered that ending from Bandersnatch too jeje. Another Twiligth Zone episode ending that I think they referenced is the one from Perchance to Dream.
The wife showing up at the end made me think it was Arthur. I mean where did she come from if he's the other dude. Think it was a parallel universe thing like they had in other episodes
I'm going to use again my theory of merging alternate timelines in the episode And When The Sky Was Opened except this time, its alternate realities instead. Arthur and Jerry exist in two realities, Arthur Curtis the role and Jerry Reagan the actor. When Arthur dialed that number he somehow merged himself with Jerry, and when he started mumbling "Don't leave me here." that triggered him to return to his reality. Regardless, BOTH Arthur and Jerry were real in each of their own realities. We don't know what happens to Jerry's reality now that he merged with Arthur. BUT, the real question though is: Did Jerry actually wanted to merge with Arthur in the first place? To escape his alcoholism and his divorce?
There is an episode of Super Natural that uses this exact premise which there was obviously played up more for laughs, I had a feeling it was an homage to something but didn't know what at the time, im glad they took inspiration from one of the best shows on television and in the process, keeping some of its impact alive in newer forms
I believe Jerry Reagan was the real version of the main character, and that he convinced himself he really was Arthur Curtis. The ending of this episode is much the same as "The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine", where the actor magically wills himself into the world of the movie they were making.
This episode always makes me think of a JM Barrie (author of "Peter Pan") play, "Dear Brutus", where a gathering of discontented people is transported to separate fantasy scenarios where things are more of what they would have wanted, and the consequences of this. The most affecting one is an alcoholic husband whose transported scene is between him and his otherworld daughter. As the scenario draws to a close and the husband is pulled away from the daughter, back to his unhappy reality, the daughter is left alone, crying out: "Daddy, come back; I don't want to be a might-have-been."
After watching this episode over and over I finally realized he must be Jerry Regan and he was having a nervous breakdown.But I had thought he was really Arthur Curtis.Its one of the best episodes in a series filled with classic episodes and I think Sally is a beautiful woman.
Now I know where they got the inspiration for shows and movies like The Truman Show, Jett Jackson: The Movie, and that episode of Supernatural where Sam and Dean ended up in the real world of their actors Jensen and Jared.
A very similar TZ episode is "Person Or Persons Unknown", starring Richard Long as the man who wakes up one morning to find that no one in his life (wife, boss, favorite bartender) knows who he is.
Thought you might have made a small mention about another Character from Bewitch appearing in the Twilight Zone. First Dick York now David White. Excellent job with the this.
Doesn't matter who he really was. In the end, he got to be who he wanted to be; who he thought he was. We should all be so lucky. please wake up. please.
Family was very important to Dad so I can imagine that he indeed would create a character that did NOT "want to be left" in a world without love and support-wife and children. .
My number 62 episode. Veteran actor Howard Duff is good and the episode is well done. The question of just who he is is intriguing. I don't think it's clear, but it was fascinating to watch 😊
The subject of parallel worlds is accentuated in your favorite scene, possibly showing that the main character is at a crossroads. The background shows two symmetric sides. One in light, and the other in shadow. This is possibly hinting that there is a pocket break in reality, either that or it's symbolic of the main character trapped trapped between two identities where only one of them is real. I must admit less answers definitely helps compliment this episode's atmosphere of insecurity.
I remember watching this during one of those syfy channel marathons and my dad walked in and asked what was going on in it. I tried to explain it to him like 10 times and he just couldn't understand this idea of a guy switching realities xD
"Marian", the wife of "Arthur Curtis", consents to go on vacation with him, to go to the airport with him and get on the plane, so that lends a little credence to Arthur being the reality character, though most everything else points to Gerry.
Reminds me an episode of Supernatural titled, The French Mistake. The duo end up in the real world (our world) in place of the actors who play them on the television series.
It seems to me that there are parallel worlds, one with Raigan in which Arthur Curtis is character in a script whose details match those of the other parallel world the one with Arthur Curtis. Curtis is somehow someway transported into the Raigan world. Both worlds have the same location, the office of Curtis which is a real office in the Curtis world and a movie set in the Raigan world. Early on, Sally calls him Mr Curtis, talks about Tina's birthday, and Curtis tellls her to change the plane reservations to Saturday. Then when he makes a phone call, he somehow is now in the Raigan world, notice at 4:08 the parallel world Sally calls him Mr. Raigan. We know that he was in the " Curtis world" in the beginning, hecause at the end he's tranported back to the Curtis world Sally there tells him she has the plane tickets for Saurday night that they talked about earlier. There is a picture of Marion, the wife, on the desk in the office set of the Raigan world and on the desk of the office of Curtis in the Curtis world. That means there are two Marions, the one married to Curtis in the Curtis world , and an actress playing that role in the Raigan world, just as there are two Sallys - the secretary to Curtis in the Curtis world, and and a actress playing Sally in the Raigan world. Curtis sees the" Curtis world" Marion at the end and she tells him he has been missing annd that Sally didn't see him leave - that's because he was transported to the Raigan world. That woudn't be part of a script and Curtis can hear the sounds of voices from the Raigan world talking about moving furniture but cant see them yet, so he and Marion leave quickly before he gets tranported back to that world again. Its sort of like The Twilight Zpne The Parallel I don't know why Curtis can't recall his phone number at 6:11 but he might have changed it recently or was flustered by what was going on and so couldn't recall it. Also, in The Raigan world, at the end when the movie set is being taken down, they can't find him - because he is now in the Curtis parallel world. That's my take on it
It's also a great episode to think about and I like the interpretation in this video. How I see it Walter Curtis and Gerald Reagan were both real and had switched places. Perhaps due to some mystical quality connected with the stress that each man was feeling at the time. It's just that we're only seeing things from Walter's perspective. Eventually both men returned to their own realities.
What's your take on the ending?
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The ending is kind of up in the air but it's a good episode and a good review
I think its kinda like the last episode Mirror Image where parallel dimensions collide and Authur somehow in someway switched to Jerrys universe where he's playing him
It may be all 3 really, even simultaneously. It could even be that the businessman replaced the actor as the worlds collided and since they were alternate reality versions of the same person the actor simply willed himself into becoming one with the businessman. The voices on the set were simply the walls of reality being weak for a moment longer. The actor and the businessman both got their wishes.
@@kevinlane1219 My theory answers that. Jerry was an alternate reality version of Arthur, and since only one copy of a person can exist per world they merged. Ar-rry then went to Arthur's world, but in the back of his mind he will forever doubt the world he is in because part of him remembers.
The "Wholesome" awnser is Arthur, as he had a good life & marriage(despite working too much). The "Honest" awnser is Jerry, as there's just too much evidence to say it's not. In fact, this very dictonimy is the reason this is a Fantastic episode. It let's the viewer "pick their own truth", giving you just enough evidence to successfully prove either point. I guess it all comes down to how you see the world around you, especially when your in.....The Twilight Zone...
I honestly think both are real. This is The Twilight Zone after all. Who's to say that Arthur and Gerald hadn't temporarily switched realities during the episode?
That makes for an interesting idea for a sequel episode. The man who believes himself an actor trapped in the world of the script he was playing
I've thought the same - except at the end we don't really see any evidence that an actor was running rampant in the fictional world. It's like time in the fictional world stopped while Curtis was in our world. Which makes sense - because the director had yelled CUT. So.... I assume the actor was present but trapped inside his own mind throughout the episode.
But then when Arthur goes back the directors can't find Gerald so the only way that theory would work is if Gerald went into another duplicate dimension or something weird like that.
I really like this idea! I had never considered it before, but it would definitely explain what happened.
There is a Twilight Zone episode where that happens. The two dimensions are similar with small differences.
It's possible that Arthur Curtis and Jerry Reagan BOTH exist and somehow got swapped so Arthur could appreciate life more and Jerry could finally want to clean up his!
The way Serling talks about it. It does seem to point both realities are as real as the other
One of the best "mindfuck" episodes. Did Arthur Curtis temporarily slip into another dimension where he is just a character in a movie or did Jerry Reagan escape into a fantasy world to leave his unhappy life behind? I prefer the first option, but either work.
I concur with this theory! I think that Arthur is the real person, while Jerry is his persona whom he used as a coping mechanism for his stressful job.
My theory is that Jerry Reagan was unhappy with his life. So he became Arthur Curtis and escaped into the fantasy world. Would you if your career is in shambles, your ex-spouse is an @$$hole and you're becoming an alcoholic? I would!
@@melissacooper4282 I like Walter's interpretation that Arthur Curtis is the real persona and Gerry Raigan is his brain dealing with how overworked he is. Gerry being the real personality with a falling-apart life who escapes into the fantasy world of a character he played seems like too much of a rehash of "16MM Shrine" 👍
Ah the ancient Chinese philosophy. I dreamed that I was a butterfly and when I woke I don't know ...am I a man dreaming that I'm a butterfly or am I a butterfly dreaming that I'm a man
I believe it is both. Some time early in the episode the two men merged into one.
I love when the show "Supernatural" had an episode like this, where they were teleported to the "real world" where they were just actors on a show. It always makes for an interesting concept.
Ah yes, The French Mistake. I love how they brought the showrunner and producer into the episode and had them killed
One of my favourites!
I imagine both are just as real as the other
The gunshop scene was very Terminator.
This is such an undeservedly underrated episode and I think I know why. It comes right after not one, but two more iconic and well-known episodes in the show's production order. That being "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street" and "Mirror Image." However, I agree and that "A World Of Difference" doesn't deserve to go overlooked.
The key line that Arthur Curtis/Jerry Reagan says was when he goes back to the set one last time: "Please don't leave me here." So who is he pleading with? Is this a plot hole, or intentionally designed as a device for transiting back to his other existence ? Then as he rushes to leave with his other wife he hears voices. As if that other world is trying to bleed thru. In a panic he hurries to get away. How tenuous is his or our grasp on reality. I think this is the real question that's posed before us. Can everything slip away from us so easily ? Like the floor falling away in the opening of each episode of "MADMEN". Will we find ourselves losing our grip on reality due to the pressure of high stakes living ? This is certainly a reoccurring theme in Twilight Zone episodes.
I always felt bad for the character, whoever he is. Either an actor who desperately tries to live in the fantasy world he longs. Or a Working business man who's overworking himself to delusions about his very existence. Very good episode
It may have prepared David white for larry tate
An agent, or adman. Etc
You know, not that I don’t enjoy the typical Critic stuff, but seeing more of these in-depth video essays would be great for the channel, because this is some top-quality content.
I completely agree. More analytical, less humour yes (though I like Doug's humour) but the writing is top notch and it deals with timeless classics.
Its a breath of fresh air compared to the skit heavy Critic reviews
That last scene , when he asks "dont leave me here" - only people who lost someone in life will understand - when world becomes disgusting and all you want is to go back - in that past world when everything was ok. I remember to ask "someone" to take me back to past life every night - but sadly life is not a movie.
what you wrote resonated with me.... teared as I was reading what was already in my heart...
Alberto Camus does seem to give a similar take. In which he describe the Absurd man is as an actor, fully aware their is not meaning in the world yet desperate go about his life seeking. Just as someone on stage he plays a role, a ruse to remain on set.
@@williammorse8330 I hope you're both feeling a little better now.
the fact that this could be two different stories wrapped into one is truly fascinating
That seems like a good idea for a 1998 movie starring Jim Carrey
Smart!
The Truman show
That was my first thought when I saw the episode. There's also another episode called "The Whole Truth" which must have been an inspiration for "Liar Liar."
@@Brenda-cg1px I know the episode is totally different from the movie, but "The Masks" is one letter away from "The Mask". Wait, isn't the movie about Stanley going from a guy that can't show his true self to people, but becomes his true self when he wears a mask? It is the same thing!
@@KairuHakubi A parody of a parody is still a parody
Arthur's wife: Was your other wife...pretty?
Arthur: Maybe. She was such a hate-filled shrew by that point in their marriage, it's hard to really judge.
Wife: Wait...hateful shrew?
Arthur: Maybe he drove her to this state...
Wife: Arthur, dear! You were in the Twilight Zone!
Arthur: I was?
Wife: Of course - nearly all wives are hateful monsters in Serling's works.
Arthur: Thank God I didn't get the one from 'Time Enough'.
Oh yeah the lady from Time Enough was awful. To be fair though Sterling wrote some unpleasant husbands too. The guys from The Fever, The Chaser, The Escape Clause, A Piano In The House, The Prime Mover, Living Doll are pretty awful spouses. Also while the wife was a little snobby in A World Of His Own she wasn’t exactly wrong about her husband’s infidelity in the episode.
My take on this is Jerry Reagan actually an extreme method actor that "trapped" in the character he was playing as.
A great critique of such an annoying way certain actors prepare for their roles.
Bagus Danial my idea is the same as yours.
I've heard of actors who live their part but that's taking it to the extreme!
One of my favorite all time TZ episodes. Can watch it over and over.
I agree 100% these type episodes and brilliant acting keep you riveted
A very underrated episode......one of my favorites.
This episode is like a spiritual sequel to the one that Lupino starred in. The shot of Curtis seeing the camera crew for the first time is a masterpiece.
I enjoy the fact that the director decided to do the opening scene in one long take instead of cutting away to see the crew watching. As Duff goes to use the phone, you can see the light change on the left as they pull back the wall facade.
Didn't notice that. Good catch.
This is really one of the better episodes in the series.
A World of Difference from 2020 would be nice right about now XD
You and me both.
Ain’t that the truth
Meh. Life has always sucked. It's just more obvious now.
I agree with Walter's interpretation of the episode, and think that Arthur was "The Real McCoy." It reminds me a little of "The Truman Show", as it shares many of the same plot beats, notably, the protagonist discovering that their life is just a fictional production. 😊😍
I love this episode. I used to skip it, but caught it on TV one day, and it became one of my favorites. I prefer to think that he actually escaped into the other world and lived happily ever after, as I personally prefer happy endings.
This is my favorite episode, seen this episode a hundred times and never thought of arthur curtis as being the real person. i think this episode has the most eerie sounding soundtrack of all the twilight zone episodes. 'Person or persons unknown' was another great episode.
The writer of the episode meant the actor to be the real person!
@@helanesolomon1724 gerry reagian is the real person. notice that all the people were trying to explain to him that he is gerry reagian, and also the person who made the phone call complaining "his mind is gone and he swears he's arthur curtis the character he's playing in the picture". gerry reagain is the only person who thinks he's arthur curtis and no one else. gerry reagain was not happy with his life so he escaped into a fantasy world thinking he's arthur curtis.
@@JxT1957 Yeah and the closing narration seems to support this.
7:21 That's what I think. To be more specific they were originally both real, but when cut was yelled, Arthur Curtis suddenly swung to a different universe and takes over Gerry Raigan's body, pretty much killing Gerry's mind/soul/personality. At the end Arthur with Gerry's body returned to his universe, but Gerry disappeared in his universe because of that.
Pretty decent possibility and explanation.
Pretty decent possibility and explanation.
Pretty decent possibility and explanation.
I just love how most every alternate reality show or movie is in some way a nod to The Twilight Zone.
I do agree. Rick and Morty does feel like an attempt to make a The Twilight Zone-like show but give it overlapping plot/characters and not make it an anthology.
Binging these episodes back to back, it's interesting to notice instances of twinning. I said previously how I thought there was parallelism between "Last Flight" and "The Purple Testament," well I think the same about this and "Mirror Image." More than just a character trying to convince others that they're not having a nervous breakdown, this episode brings up the idea of parallel lives. My interpretation is that Curtis and Raigan are alternate dimension versions of the same person and the dimensions intersected for an afternoon. This was brilliant and I'm so pleased for the happy ending, regardless of its implications.
This episode has some resemblance to "Person Or Persons Unknown."
twilight zone is my favorite tv show, rod sterling is on of my d&d characters, and you're doing amazing with the reviews and giving the twilight zone the respect it deserves
There's also Gail Kobe as the secretary. She got to play much bigger roles on the show later on.
And Frank Maxwell as the director. He has a down to earth quality even in the weirdest stories he's in.
This is a great premice: a method actor who becomes his charactor and looses himself in a life better than his own career.
*premise *loses
This episode legitimately scared me more than anything I can remember, and that's only because of the idea that one day I'll find myself in an entirely new world where I have an entirely new life, one which I know nothing about, and my relationships, friends, etc. have no real connection to me, just acting in a show.
Is that how it's meant to be taken? Not sure, but it still frightens me.
Great premise executed flawlessly equals perfection. I really liked Richard Matheson's stories and the stellar cast makes this awesome. Howard Duff nails it and Eileen Ryan does as well. One of the best episodes.
No matter what was real I felt so sorry for the man. He generally was so distraught through it was all I wanted for him too have some kind if relief in the end.
I really like the idea that it’s parallel worlds like the previous episode but I honestly think it could be an overworked actor trying to get back to a happy point in his life.
The guy who runs past at 1:12 (and is seen a couple more times) is Bill Idelson, former teen actor on radio and co-author of the episode “Long-Distance Call.”
Supernatural did an episode like this... one of their best, actually: 6x16 - "The French Mistake". I didn't know it was a Twilight Zone episode first.
A stop at Willoughby is order for Jerry or Arthur. The wives in both episodes are pretty bloody venomous, though quite different in personality.
One thing I never noticed before watching this video: Arthur is wearing his wedding band on his pinky. In those days that was a common way to indicate divorce. Which identity is going though a divorce?
This is an interesting episode now that I've read *Redshirts* by John Scalzi -- where the characters not only become aware of their tie to a fictional property that seems to be controlling their fates, but also use the show's own technobabble science to hijack their way to the "reality" and free themselves from that fate through a combination of courage, pleading, empathy, thinking outside the box, and just plain luck. One of my favorite books, and more meaningful each time I return to a few specific parts.
What a FREAKING episode
I always thought Reagan was the reality and Curtis was the fantasy. It just makes too much sense: Curtis has a loving wife and child that adore him, and a job that while stressful provides a comfortable, modest lifestyle. Reagan on the other hand is an alcoholic, overworked actor with a bitchy soon-to-be ex-wife who seemingly only ever loved him for his fame and fortune. My theory is that he got so lost in the character of Curtis and his idyllic life that he truly believed himself to be Curtis, and that belief and desire was so strong that it was able to tear a hole in the veil between worlds and he was able to escape to his fantasy through the twilight zone.
I think u got it right. He went into his fake world in order to escape the shitty life he was having, which can only happen in the Twilight Zone
Best "take" on this episode that I've read.
I personally like the idea that both are real. Especially considering the title, I like to think that Gerald just didn't even notice the switch because he was too busy getting into the role
I think my preferred explanation is two worlds crossing and a brief sojourn from one to the other. It learns more to the supernatural in my mind.
Probably my favorite episode. According to the writer of the episode, the real person is the actor. Good that he escaped into a better life in the end.
I can relate to this character, as I always wish to live in a world of a movie or tv show I like, since it's better than the real world
Ironically during the episode Jerry's agent said something similar to Jerry!
Only if you are the protagonist
@@sinisterwombat3128 I'd rather be the goddamn villain.
I like to think it's a sort of swap and both personalities are real in different universes. Curtis is transported into a universe where he is just a character, while Regan is transported to Curtis's universe where he is living that character.
Theres a STAR TREK like that
And spock was different..either beard
Pretty sensible explanation.
Yeah, this is my interpretation too.
Mostly because I find the 'delusional actor' interpretation boring.
I like that, in the end, he actually prays, and his prayers are answered.
He Got His Happy Ending, Perfect, He Went Through Hell, It Makes Since
I appreciate your intention, Walter, to represent the brilliant intricacy in execution and compositional details that contribute to the overall density and thematic nebulousness of this episode. It appears from the paucity of definitive evidence and general ambiguity surrounding the events of the inextricably entwined lives of Arthur Curtis and Gerald Raigan that the prospective interpretations you presented each have the possibility for defensibility and veracity depending on the audience’s perspective. Personally, I would like to believe that A World of Difference can be seen as an exploration into the tenuity of the dividing line between fiction and reality, and how the constructed worlds of a fictionalized narrative can seem real and tangible from the strength and intimacy of the detail used to describe them. Arthur Curtis is a true identity, as is the universe he and his family populate, though to the reality of Raigan, his existence is merely relegated to the pages of a script. Arthur’s world has warped amidst his prosaic existence, the walls of his reality literally fading before him, and he finds himself suddenly immersed in a dimension in which his life was never real, like a character escaped from the printed text of a novel. His reality is immersed or inset within Raigan’s, just as fictionalized narratives exist within our own, and Arthur, due to a momentary intersection of realities or other preternatural workings of The Twilight Zone, is free to explore his alternate, simultaneous existence as Gerald Raigan. Assuming Arthur has crossed worlds and adopted Raigan’s identity, the question then becomes what happened to Raigan during this time, given that when Arthur escapes Raigan cannot be found in either world. It’s therefore possible to postulate that Raigan’s body and identity were overridden by Arthur, and that Raigan essentially no longer exists. It’s a rather dark perspective to harbor concerning this episode, yet I suppose the erasure or denial of self are rather prominent and would suffice as an overarching theme, in addition to a moralistic lesson pertaining to extinguishing or punishment of Raigan for the dismal life he has led. After all, Arthur learns to further appreciate the normality of his own existence and elects to live an improved life post his experiences as Raigan.
Regardless, the prospect of theorizing numerous possibilities to explain the events of this episode is a true testament to the quality of its writing and ability to create effective nebulousness in its ending.
I love partaking in these discussions with you, Walter, and I’m glad to read the many varying perspectives that people have!
Good points, Hayley!
@@WalterCulture Thanks, Walter!
I love the episode of Growing Pains that's an homage to this episode.
Also, there is a certain series on a certain popular streaming service that seemed ready to dive head first into this idea after its season ending cliffhanger. But then, maddeningly, it got cancelled. 😠😠😠
I won't say anymore just because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it.
Maybe in the movie script, their is a part where Author jumps into another reality where he is a actor.
Love this episode also. Looking back on this now, i got a Mulholland Drive feeling. Probably no connection.
David White would later go on to play Larry Tate in "Bewitched " Along side Dick York who was in the earlier mentioned "The Purple Testament" and a later episode, "A Penny For Your Thoughts"
Anyone remember when Eerie Indiana did their version of this episode? That was awesome. I think it was the season finale.
The 90's were great.
Channel Awesome, thank you for this brilliant and thorough analysis of tbis fascinating and surreal episode. Serling and his crrw did a amazing job of putting this together. Duff, he was an amazing convincing actor.
If I could also mention that these episodes being shot in B&W just adds so much more depth. Had these TZ episodes been done in color this wouldn't of been possible
I like Walter's interpretation that Arthur Curtis is the real persona and Gerry Raigan is his brain dealing with how overworked he is. Gerry being the real personality with a falling-apart life who escapes into the fantasy world of a character he played seems like too much of a rehash of "16MM Shrine" 👍
Reminds me of the earlier episode about the fading star actress who can’t move past her glory days & winds up leaving reality behind for her old films. But I sympathize more with Arthur/Jerry. Barbie refused to move on - Arthur/Jerry had no choice.
That was his actual wife in that episode.
This was a particularly well-done review here. Thank you for making and sharing it!
Thanks for watching, Tomas!
@@WalterCulture And I like to think that The Twilight Zone as a conceptual character is capricious enough to give a second chance to a failing actor to live a better life withing the Zone's many private worlds, as to how I imagine it currently. Have a great day!
A world of difference likely had a large influence on the Supernatural episode “The French Mistake.” The series already did a lot of fourth wall breaks and both of the actors said they would only do the episode if they never left character, but I can see a lot of comparisons. So, with that said, I’m going with alternate realities crossing.
I think curtis IS real...but he's ALSO fictional. Wat's more twilight zone than a fictional character somehow escaping into the real world and experiencing the not-so perfect life of the actor who portrays him, only to finally return home to his reality...possibly with his actor's body in tow.
Yes! This was how I saw it. The created character on paper came to life and his world is in that script. It’s why there are background noises at the end. He gets a glimpse of the reality outside his world, and is desperate to get back. Only once he’s back, he’s fully aware of the other world. Kind of leaves an ominous sense of uncertainty when the set will finally be gone.
"A good performance can bring a character to life. Doubly so when the actor behind it yearns for an escape. Arthur Curtis, born from the realm of creativity, briefly stepped into reality. And Gerald Reagan, ground down from reality, followed him back into creativity. Now two men live as one, perhaps for a lifetime, perhaps just for a little while, but in either case happily ever after in the dimension of mind that composes... the Twilight Zone.
@@NimanWielder01Did you write that yourself? If yes, it's excellent!
@@57highland ...you know, I think I did. Thank you!
You just blew my mind..
That's quite an episode. It's nice that he had a happy ending
I think the episode tries to be more grounded than others, so I think the Reagan world was reality and some otherworldly presence took pity on Reagan and gave him the chance to be in the world of Arthur. It's a good twist, but ultimately I think that particular ending was what the director wanted to go for in the ending. However, he did leave the ending slightly ambiguous to just mess with viewers.
One of the endings of Black Mirror Bandersnatch references this episode
Neat, I never noticed that before, and must check it out! 😁
I for some reason remembered that ending from Bandersnatch too jeje. Another Twiligth Zone episode ending that I think they referenced is the one from Perchance to Dream.
The wife showing up at the end made me think it was Arthur. I mean where did she come from if he's the other dude. Think it was a parallel universe thing like they had in other episodes
More of these videos please
RIP Eileen Ryan
I'm going to use again my theory of merging alternate timelines in the episode And When The Sky Was Opened except this time, its alternate realities instead. Arthur and Jerry exist in two realities, Arthur Curtis the role and Jerry Reagan the actor. When Arthur dialed that number he somehow merged himself with Jerry, and when he started mumbling "Don't leave me here." that triggered him to return to his reality. Regardless, BOTH Arthur and Jerry were real in each of their own realities. We don't know what happens to Jerry's reality now that he merged with Arthur. BUT, the real question though is: Did Jerry actually wanted to merge with Arthur in the first place? To escape his alcoholism and his divorce?
I believe so.
Wow I saw this one recently. It's a good one
There is an episode of Super Natural that uses this exact premise which there was obviously played up more for laughs, I had a feeling it was an homage to something but didn't know what at the time, im glad they took inspiration from one of the best shows on television and in the process, keeping some of its impact alive in newer forms
I believe Jerry Reagan was the real version of the main character, and that he convinced himself he really was Arthur Curtis. The ending of this episode is much the same as "The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine", where the actor magically wills himself into the world of the movie they were making.
I love this series
This episode always makes me think of a JM Barrie (author of "Peter Pan") play, "Dear Brutus", where a gathering of discontented people is transported to separate fantasy scenarios where things are more of what they would have wanted, and the consequences of this. The most affecting one is an alcoholic husband whose transported scene is between him and his otherworld daughter. As the scenario draws to a close and the husband is pulled away from the daughter, back to his unhappy reality, the daughter is left alone, crying out: "Daddy, come back; I don't want to be a might-have-been."
After watching this episode over and over I finally realized he must be Jerry Regan and he was having a nervous breakdown.But I had thought he was really Arthur Curtis.Its one of the best episodes in a series filled with classic episodes and I think Sally is a beautiful woman.
Great review. Similar territory to Last Stop at Willoughby and others..execs on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
Yo, I don’t think I’ve seen this one yet, but now I wanna look it up to experience the “life turned on its head” story. Thanks Walter!👍
Now I know where they got the inspiration for shows and movies like The Truman Show, Jett Jackson: The Movie, and that episode of Supernatural where Sam and Dean ended up in the real world of their actors Jensen and Jared.
A very similar TZ episode is "Person Or Persons Unknown", starring Richard Long as the man who wakes up one morning to find that no one in his life (wife, boss, favorite bartender) knows who he is.
In the end he wakes up to find the opposite! Everyone else knows who he is but he doesn't know them!
@@melissacooper4282 "A nightmare turned inside out."
According to the ending narration, if I remember correctly.
Brilliant!!!!
Thank you so much
❤'d Frasier
So Glad you and he decided to return in 2023.
Break a leg Guys!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Seems like a very interesting episode. I like your take on which persona the character really is.
Taking method acting to a whole new level.
Thought you might have made a small mention about another Character from Bewitch appearing in the Twilight Zone. First Dick York now David White. Excellent job with the this.
I remember Dick York appeared in the episode A Penny For Your Thoughts. Where he was a bank clerk who suddenly had the ability to read minds.
All the principal stars have been on twilight zone at some point. Elizabeth and Agnes come in eventually.
This reminds me of an episode of Eerie Indiana I saw once.
"That leaved you questioning in the end" Lol. Can't unhear that.
Doesn't matter who he really was. In the end, he got to be who he wanted to be; who he thought he was.
We should all be so lucky.
please wake up. please.
Family was very important to Dad so I can imagine that he indeed would create a character that did NOT "want to be left" in a world without love and support-wife and children. .
So David White, Agnus Moorehead, Dick York, and of course Elizabeth Montgomery all stared in bewitched, and also appeared on The Twilight Zone.
My number 62 episode. Veteran actor Howard Duff is good and the episode is well done. The question of just who he is is intriguing. I don't think it's clear, but it was fascinating to watch 😊
Really enjoying this series, and would be happy to see more like it on the channel. :)
This need to be a permanent series
Remember watching this one when I was younger!
Next time Long Live Walter Jameson!
Yes, Long Live Walter...
Jameson!
@@WalterCulture You?
@@WalterCulture *(J Jonah laughing meme)*
The subject of parallel worlds is accentuated in your favorite scene, possibly showing that the main character is at a crossroads. The background shows two symmetric sides. One in light, and the other in shadow. This is possibly hinting that there is a pocket break in reality, either that or it's symbolic of the main character trapped trapped between two identities where only one of them is real. I must admit less answers definitely helps compliment this episode's atmosphere of insecurity.
I think as someone who once disconnected from his own reality that this episode hits way to close to home.
Method acting to the max!
I remember watching this during one of those syfy channel marathons and my dad walked in and asked what was going on in it. I tried to explain it to him like 10 times and he just couldn't understand this idea of a guy switching realities xD
My father was like that, not much for anything weird or "off the beaten path."
"Marian", the wife of "Arthur Curtis", consents to go on vacation with him, to go to the airport with him and get on the plane, so that lends a little credence to Arthur being the reality character, though most everything else points to Gerry.
I don't have any cool theories to add or anything cool to say, just that I love this episode a lot.
I think your theory is good. Waiting for The Howling Man
Reminds me an episode of Supernatural titled, The French Mistake.
The duo end up in the real world (our world) in place of the actors who play them on the television series.
My favorite episode
It seems to me that there are parallel worlds, one with Raigan in which Arthur Curtis is character in a script whose details match those of the other parallel world the one with Arthur Curtis. Curtis is somehow someway transported into the Raigan world. Both worlds have the same location, the office of Curtis which is a real office in the Curtis world and a movie set in the Raigan world. Early on, Sally calls him Mr Curtis, talks about Tina's birthday, and Curtis tellls her to change the plane reservations to Saturday. Then when he makes a phone call, he somehow is now in the Raigan world, notice at 4:08 the parallel world Sally calls him Mr. Raigan. We know that he was in the " Curtis world" in the beginning, hecause at the end he's tranported back to the Curtis world Sally there tells him she has the plane tickets for Saurday night that they talked about earlier. There is a picture of Marion, the wife, on the desk in the office set of the Raigan world and on the desk of the office of Curtis in the Curtis world. That means there are two Marions, the one married to Curtis in the Curtis world , and an actress playing that role in the Raigan world, just as there are two Sallys - the secretary to Curtis in the Curtis world, and and a actress playing Sally in the Raigan world. Curtis sees the" Curtis world" Marion at the end and she tells him he has been missing annd that Sally didn't see him leave - that's because he was transported to the Raigan world. That woudn't be part of a script and Curtis can hear the sounds of voices from the Raigan world talking about moving furniture but cant see them yet, so he and Marion leave quickly before he gets tranported back to that world again. Its sort of like The Twilight Zpne The Parallel I don't know why Curtis can't recall his phone number at 6:11 but he might have changed it recently or was flustered by what was going on and so couldn't recall it. Also, in The Raigan world, at the end when the movie set is being taken down, they can't find him - because he is now in the Curtis parallel world. That's my take on it
It's also a great episode to think about and I like the interpretation in this video.
How I see it Walter Curtis and Gerald Reagan were both real and had switched places. Perhaps due to some mystical quality connected with the stress that each man was feeling at the time. It's just that we're only seeing things from Walter's perspective.
Eventually both men returned to their own realities.