Ep 11. And When the Sky Was Opened

In The Twilight Zone season 1 episode 11 titled "And When the Sky Was Opened", three astronauts, Colonel Clegg Forbes, Lieutenant Colonel Ed Harrington, and Lieutenant Charles Van Horn, return from a space mission and crash-land on Earth. The episode opens with the three men being celebrated for their successful mission to space. However, things take a terrifying turn when the three astronauts experience strange and inexplicable events.

After their crash landing, the three men emerge from the wreckage unharmed, but soon realize that they are experiencing a strange sense of déjà vu. They realize that they can't remember certain details of their lives and that their pasts are disappearing. They find themselves feeling increasingly disconnected from reality as they struggle to hold on to their memories.

The three men soon discover that they are not alone in their experience. Others who knew them are also having difficulty remembering them, including a fiancée of one of the astronauts who suddenly has no recollection of ever being engaged. As the men struggle to find an explanation for what is happening to them, they begin to believe that they may have crossed over into a parallel universe or that reality is beginning to disappear around them.

The tension slowly builds as they seek answers, but more and more strange occurrences continue to happen. Colonel Forbes is the first to disappear, with his name and image being removed from photographs and records, followed shortly by Lieutenant Van Horn. Harrington is left alone to struggle with the terrifying prospect that he may be next.

The episode's strong writing and use of fear and mystery to build suspense make "And When the Sky Was Opened" a classic Twilight Zone episode. The realization that reality and one's own identity can disappear so easily is a deeply chilling thought and one that is sure to stay with viewers long after the episode has ended.

Overall, "And When the Sky Was Opened" is a masterful example of the Twilight Zone's ability to create powerful and thought-provoking stories that stick with viewers long after they're over. The show's use of suspense and mystery is effective at creating a sense of tension and unease, and the episode's themes of identity and reality make it a standout in the series.