Thisforward-thinking anthology templateproved to be a wonderful jumping-off point for storytellers moving forward.
Few episodes from this ‘85 to ‘89 run are as indicative of its creative tendencies as “Gramma.”
To dig this hole even deeper, King’s work wasn’t even wholly original in and of itself.
That’s right, it’s aTwilight Zonecrossoverwith the Lovecraftian mythos.
Well, that’s exactly what happened!
Sure, there were plenty of stories written by folks likeGeorge R.R.
You couldn’t walk five feet without running into a paperback ofThe ShiningorIt.
His works were even being adapted into movies and TV shows on a regular basis.
Mixing in a hefty dose of Stephen King and H.P.
Lovecraft could have been a recipe for disaster.
That, or it would have just fallen flat as a lackluster representation of a much greater original idea.
These guys often tell horror stories with a large scope.
Image via Warner Bros.
It has to be tough trying to boil them down for TV!
“Gramma” is about as simple as it gets.
Essentially, it feels like a whole lot of killing time to meet in 20 minutes.
Image via CBS
Unfortunately, this episode doesn’t really go anywhere.
Cthulhu, the Great Old Ones, Yog-Sothoth, and more are all name-dropped!
It’s a pretty exciting moment for Lovecraft fans and is the creepiest moment in the show.
Image via United Artists
Something is seriously wrong with “Gramma.”
Okay, now let’s get into it… right?
Well, the episode doesn’t really do anything with this twist.
You could have dodged all of this, Georgie!
For Lovecraft fans, don’t expect too much.
It’s all bark and hardly any bite.
It comes and goes quickly, but she’s undoubtedly the standout.
Here, she’s both warm and absolutely sinister in the way she taunts Georgie.
If you’re looking for the ultimate meeting point ofThe Twilight Zone, Stephen King, and H.P.
In that case, “Gramma” is bound to give you an enjoyable 20-minute ride.
The Twilight Zoneis streaming on Paramount Plus in the U.S.
Watch on Paramount+
