Spoiler alert: this week we’re analyzing the Twilight Zone episode “A Game of Pool.” Jesse Cardiff, played by Twilight Zone royalty Jack Klugman, carries a very unique burden with him to every pool hall he visits. He knows that he’s the best, but there is one competitor that he can’t beat: James Howard Brown, known to his friends as Fats, played by the incomparable comedian Jonathan Winters. The problem is not that Jesse isn’t good enough; it’s that Fats Brown is no longer with us on Earth, and you can’t defeat a ghost–or can you? On this night, Jesse is going to get a special wish granted. He’s going to play Fats Brown in a game of pool, and the stakes of this match are no less than life or death for Jesse. On this episode of KOI: A Twilight Zone Show, we’re going to try and figure out what this episode has to say about greatness; we’ll dive into whether or not there is enough information here to determine if Fats is a good, evil, or neutral entity; and I’ll reveal my moment of awe, a quick note about a missing scene from Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. So, grab your keys, and let’s open up this door to the fifth dimension. #twilightzone #thetwilightzone #rodserling

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We're walking through Rod Serling's class Twilight Zone series and asking difficult questions about life. So, if you love The Twilight Zone, science fiction, or even just philosophizing about life, consider joining us on this journey. There's always room for more.

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Episode outline:

00:00 - Introduction

00:43 - Plot

03:20 - Episode Details

04:09 - Episode Tidbits

05:01 - Question 1

12:43 - Question 2

17:21 - Question 3

21:02 - Episode rating

22:29 - Next episode and questions

22:56 - Announcements and comments

24:53 - How to support the show

No show did a better job than The Twilight Zone at generating awe and wonder within its audience. It just so happens that awe is exactly what we need in these difficult, divisive times. So, join me, Joe Meyer, and let's walk through the fifth dimension with Rod Serling. Along the way, we'll discuss big questions and relate them back to our Twilight Zone episodes.

Background artwork by James Seehafer: https://pixels.com/profiles/j-mark?tab=artwork

Opening and Ending theme: by Jacob Williams @jakeproduces on Fiverr

Pictures not belonging to the Twilight Zone show generally come from Pixabay and are under the free use license.

#twilightzone #rodserling #scifi #zone #outerlimits #sciencefiction