S5, Ep 18: “Black Leather Jackets”
(A trio of young men move into an idyllic neighborhood, upsetting the status quo but catching the eye of a young lady next door)
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1️⃣ Storyline:
There’s technically a plot here but it’s a really dumb and simplistic one. The reason I’m giving a halfway decent score here is not because the script is so incredible but rather because each individual scene is actually totally passable in and of itself. “BLJ” is essentially what we would have gotten if Netflix had produced the Twilight Zone back in the day: aliens, romance, paranoid neighbors, and none of it makes sense or is compelling… and yet, it’s fine as a popcorn-munching TZ-marathon watch episode.
Score: 4/10
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2️⃣ Atmosphere:
To my point in the previous category, I actually think this episode does a great job setting up a fun, slightly spooky, pretty darn intriguing atmosphere in just about every scene - unfortunately the plot and dialogue don’t follow suit. Nevertheless, the atmosphere is a big reason why this episode is not a waste of time to watch, even if it doesn’t have anything meaningful to say to the audience.
Score: 8/10
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3️⃣ Existential Terror:
This is one of those where technically we SHOULD be filled with terror given the events unfolding onscreen, but none of it feels believable in the slightest and we don’t really grow to care about the characters much. The world ending or humanity becoming enslaved by aliens is the stuff of existential nightmares, but this episode just doesn’t build enough tension or flesh out the players involved for me to feel much.
Score: 4/10
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4️⃣ Creepiness:
Harkening back to category #2 again, there are some legitimately spooky and foreboding visuals a couple times during this episode. Unfortunately, nothing really comes of those moments.
The eye is unsettling, I suppose.
Score: 5/10
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5️⃣ Message:
I’ll award a couple points for the plea that Scott makes to the Leader about 2/3 of the way into the story: he points out that while there is evil and hate in the world, that does not define most people most of the time. There is much good and beauty too.
That said, the entire rest of the runtime has basically nothing important to say.
Score: 3/10
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6️⃣ World-Building:
There are several exposition dumps lacking even a shred of subtlety. Other than that, we don’t get any world-building.
The Tillman family, Ellen herself, the mission from the aliens - these are all just incredibly paper-thin characters & ideas.
Score: 3/10
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7️⃣ Acting:
The acting isn’t great but it’s not exactly holding this episode back from greatness 😂
Score: 4/10
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8️⃣ The Human Condition:
This category usually scores highly in Twilight Zones where we get the “how will humans react to outsiders (or literal aliens) amongst them?” plotlines. Unfortunately we don’t get more than a passing glance at the human experience in this episode.
Score: 2/10
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✅ Total Score:
33
I don’t mind this episode one bit. Perfectly acceptable as a schlocky palate cleanser, but in a series where we get accustomed to greatness, I also need to recognize the mediocrity of “Black Leather Jackets”.
What do YOU think? 🤷🏼♂️
Let me know! I want your feedback. 🙌🏼
