TV: The Outer Limits (1995-2002 revival)

The twist ending can feel like a copout if it's not handled correctly, especially in feature films (cf. almost anything directed by M. Night Shymalan). For a TV series, the stakes are a bit lower, because at the very most the viewer has only invested 30 to 60 minutes on the "main" story anyway. The 1995 Showtime relaunch of "The Outer Limits," like the original "Twilight Zone," leans on the twist ending pretty heavily:



As the series progressed, the twist endings in the modern "Outer Limits" episodes became more and more sadistic. Wil Wheaton inadvertently destroys the entire human race in one episode, for instance, just because his spacecraft didn't have any windows - he couldn't see he was actually launching a doomsday device at Earth and not an alien homeworld.

Still, even with some awfully unfair twists, I have to admit that I like the show. My main gripe is that most of the episodes could be condensed into a half-hour with little trouble. That same criticism could be levelled at any number of hour-long shows, though.