Since Twilight Zone is coming back (and with good reasons to get excited for it) I want to gush a bit on how the history of Rod Serling and how his work leading up to & through The Twilight Zone's run highlights the importance of portraying equality and progressivism in media. 
For me personally, I look up to him as a creative who was both aspiring for s better world but also incredibly honest about himself and his own weaknesses. The Twilight Zone reflects so much of this. But that makes sense since he wrote 92 of the 156 episodes of the show.
Before getting into writing professionally, it's important to highlight two aspects of his life: his upbringing and his time in WWII. Through his early life growing up in FDR America, Rod developed his views into one where empathy and compassion was the cornerstone of his beliefs
His effort in the war reinforced this idea but also expanded on it. Throughout his work he tackled many morality issues in war and what lives were like after it. And as the 60s went on he became more of an antiwar proponent
Finally after many years, he arrived to work right at the birth of television. His work quickly garnered praise in a short period of time. Working primarily on live theater shows, his scripts for Patterns and Requiem for a Heavyweight made him one of the best writers at his time
But with his acclaim, he still was finding creative control lacking. Sponsors during this era had immense control over what content went on air. Details like background props would be up for grabs. Social and political issues were out of the question. For Rod, he couldn't hang
In an interview with Mike Wallace around the premiere of Twilight Zone Rod mentioned these issues and how its impossible to do social issues on TV but Rod found a way around it. Using a fantasy setting for the show, he could disguise those stories and ideas
He brought on several other writers who would help write the series with him who also carried the same ideas of the biggest obscenity is not caring for others. Richard Matheson (Night Call) and Charles Beaumont (Miniature).
Given the era of the times, Rod focused some episodes on the red scare of communism. Mostly famously the episode The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street is the best example of this. It can be read in the context of the times, but could easily be applied to today as well.
Not only did disguising these issues in allegoric stories help Rod gain the creative freedom he wanted, he is crucial to the legacy and long lasting nature of the show. These stories can have meaning in other times besides the one it was made in.
It's not all social issues. There are plenty of fun, pulpy episodes that stand out. But the episodes that tend to be the standouts in the series, are these ones. My other favorites are ones like Walking Distance that give us a glimpse into who Rod was and what he struggled with
These also show off the immense love of people Rod showed in his work. Some of his best work is focused on smaller people: street vendors, pool players, boxers, people down on their luck. He wanted to showcase a wide range of people to show how important empathy is.
After the 5 exhausting years on the show, Rod took steps back. He tried doing film work, but found his calling doing teaching and lectures. I still go back to this long lecture he had at UCLA in the mid 60s. He's talking about events of the time, but it could sound like now
It's a bit sad to feel like he's talking about now, but 50 years ago. But the spirit of th work he did in the 50s and on Twilight Zone are so inspiring, and seeing what has been accomplished. It's so inspiring.
After Rod's death, the kids who grew up on Twilight Zone, tried to reboot it, but missed the mark. They focused on the twists and the fantastical. They left out the backbone, the social messages of a better society. That's why @JordanPeele picking this up is so exciting
You can see influences of Twilight Zone directly in Black Mirror, but it lacks the optimism in a lot of the episodes (sans San Junipero). Even in the darkest episodes of Twilight Zone, it left you wanting to take action and help avoid the dark events it was depicting.
We really need a Rod Serling now in this time. We stories that grab us, make us live in a fantasy world but also remind us that we have still live in the real world and that we can make it a better place. Here's hoping the new Twilight Zone does a bit of that
I'm skipping over a lot about Rod Serling in this, but his life and work are fascinating. If you're interested in learning more there are a few docs and books I'd recommend:
PBS' American Masters: Rod Serling
As I Knew Him: My Dad Rod Serling by Anne Serling
PBS' American Masters: Rod Serling
As I Knew Him: My Dad Rod Serling by Anne Serling
Also! Here is a link to the 1959 interview with Mike Wallace (total aside, but how crazy is it to see people smoking while doing an interview)
