DECEMBER 2025

Christmas in the Twilight Zone

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

Rod Serling's Twilight Zone TV series (1959-64) remains perennially relevant and popular with generations of fans due to its fusion of fantasy with profound human truths.  One of the best examples of this fusion of fusion and humanity is the 102nd episode of the series titled "The Changing of the Guard."  Originally aired on June 1, 1962, this episode is set at Christmastime at an American prep school for boys in the early 1960s.  Donald Pleasance portrays the lead character, Professor Ellis Fowler, who after 51 years of teaching English Literature, is forcibly retired on Christmas Eve due to the school's enforcement of its mandatory retirement age.  Although Professor Fowler has no financial worries because of a comfortable if not generous pension, he becomes despondent as he begins to question whether or not he had a meaningful impact on the lives of his students.

Convinced that his lessons have been in vain and that he accomplished nothing in his life, Professor Fowler is prepared to commit suicide on Christmas Eve in front of the school's statue of educator Horace Mann.  Before he can do this, Fowler hears a school bell ring and it prompts him to return to his classroom which he finds filled with the ghosts of former students representing generations from the past 50 years (1910 - 1960) that he taught during his career.  Having questioned his legacy, Fowler learns that these former students have returned from beyond the grave to inform him that his teachings inspired them to become good men by learning about ethics, patriotism, courage, loyalty and honesty.  The spirits of these students affirm that Fowler's teachings enabled them to make a positive difference by giving of themselves in service to others: one posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Iwo Jima (World War II), another died at Pearl Harbor on the USS Arizona after saving twelve of his shipmates, while yet another died of leukemia after exposure to X-Rays while doing research on cancer treatments.  Others perished in World War I to save their comrades in arms.  Fowler is moved to tears as he learns that while all these former students died, they willingly gave their lives so others could live theirs.  All of these former pupils are eternally grateful for how Fowler was able to inspire them with his teachings about bravery.

The school bell rings again, and the spirits of his former students, having completed their mission of informing their beloved teacher of how much he meant to them, disappear from this linear realm.  Fowler is now content to retire gracefully secure in the knowledge that he has lived a rich, full life having enriched the lives of his pupils over the course of more than half a century!  At Christmas when we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we find renewal and regeneration as the greatest gifts in life cannot be measured in monetary terms, but rather in how we give of ourselves to others.  In the same spirit that Christ's teachings remain the same yesterday, today and forever, we find that "The Changing of the Guard" illustrates how redemption is found through gratitude for all the blessings we have received from God.  The closing scene in which Fowler's present day students sing Christmas carols to their beloved teacher at his residence, remind us that Christmas is truly a season of Love.  If you have the opportunity, please take a half-hour to view this classic Twilight Zone episode via streaming during this Holiday Season.  Its themes of reflection and redemption make for a truly inspirational viewing experience.  With that in mind, we here at the Galaxy Nostalgia Network wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

NOTE: All photos are from the public domain.