June 29, 2023- number 102

Once again, Prime’s playing of the Twilight Zone episodes are not in the same order as the listings for the series. This episode was the 34th of the season on Prime, but, in actuality, should be the 37th of season three. I am listing it as its actual number.

Spoilers

“The Changing of the Guard”

This episode felt a little more personal than some of the other episodes of The Twilight Zone for me.

“Professor Ellis Fowler, a gentle, bookish guide to the young, who is about to discover that life still has certain surprises, and that the campus of the Rock Spring School for Boys lies on a direct path to another institution, commonly referred to as the Twilight Zone.”

Getting on in age, Professor Ellis Fowler sends his latest class to Christmas break with his typical bravado and flair. However, he is unaware of what awaited him. His contract was not being renewed, he would be ‘terminated’ from his position because it was believed that a younger voice needed to be given the position.

Unsure what he would do next, Professor Fowler went home and retrieved a gun, with the implication that he had nothing left in life, that he wasted his time by teaching these kids nothing of value, and that he would kill himself. However, the stalwart teacher was visited by the ghosts of past students who had died and who spoke to him of the ways that he inspired them. Fowler decided against suicide and moved happily into retirement.

“The Changing of the Guard” is kind of a combination of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol” as this was also set during the Christmas holiday.

As a teacher, you some times do not understand how much you affect the lives of the students that you are working with. There are times that you may even feel as if you are doing no good for anyone. Just recently, I had a parent come over and talk to me at a baseball game letting me know how grateful she was for everything that I had done for her children over the years. Hearing that was a wonderfully kind thing and I was very appreciative. It goes to show how much of an impact teachers can have even if they feel unappreciated at times or that they have not been able to accomplish what they had hoped.