If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you have multiple classic shows that explore unexplained and supernatural “real” cases. Beyond Beliefs: Facts or Novels,,,,, Unsolved secrets,,,,, Ripley believes it or not (Original from 1982), Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World,,,,, This happens (For those who look Telemundo),etc. These shows play a role in a simple and tempting premise: the reality we know is stranger than we think, and we should ask equally strange questions to try and understand it.
for a long time, Rod Serling‘ Twilight Zone It is authority on all the strange and unusual things, so considering that it is rooted in fiction. Its legacy is undoubtedly. But before Twilight ZoneTo be precise, nearly a year ago, another show had already laid the foundation for an unexplained format, as Serling’s sci-fi/horror anthology. The name of the program is One step away,Depend on Merwin Gerard And by John Newlandit remains one of the most disturbing TV shows of its kind. Newland attributes the claims that begins each episode to a lot: all of them are recorded-based events.
One step away It premiered on ABC Network on January 20, 1959 and ran for three seasons. This is an anthology documentary series consisting of 30 minutes of plot that dramatically records events of psychological events, premonition of death (a popular topic), natural disasters and inner state expressions of nature.
Newland directed every episode of the show, he introduced, commented and closed each episode and commented on the “facts” about the case. This is a very versatile show. Sometimes the plot ends with a brief interview with someone who claims to have experienced rare events. At other times, they will give a quick introduction and Eutro playback from Newland without any insertion throughout the process. Even in some episodes, Newland’s reception duties are more involved, stepping on every few minutes to enrich their role and situations in discovering themselves. These people are more like documentaries than documentaries.
For example, in episode 2 of Season 1, the title is “Eight of April 14Th,” a woman wakes up after a drowning nightmare. She is a bride, which implies that foresight is nothing more than a wedding day worries. One day, her fiancé unexpectedly announced her. Their honeymoon is set. They will be from England sails to New York City RMS Titanic. Suddenly, her dream might not be that far-fetched.
In “Tidalwave” (Season 3, 1960), women living in wheelchairs in Honolulu face the threat of a tsunami after recording a series of earthquakes. She heard an alarm on the radio and a sirens outside while she asked for evacuation. After a series of events that restricted her movement, she began praying for help. A deaf man heard her voice and helped her escape. This episode involves Newland interviewing the woman whom she swears about the truth of her statement.
In “The Joker” (Season 2, 1960), a jealous man accidentally kills his wife because he thinks she is flirting with the silent clown at a nearby carnival. The Joker can’t convey what’s really going on, but that doesn’t mean he can’t find some way to get justice for women. He performed a psychological projection, and every time he looked at himself in a mirror, he would appear behind his jealous husband, his gloves stretched out and ready to strangle. This is one of the most creepy plots in the series. It cleverly utilizes perspective, violence and introspection, leading to a unique story that makes clown characters the power of good rather than evil, and they rarely have the chance to be.
Then we have “The Holy Mushroom”, Season 3 Episode 18, which aired on January 24, 1961. This is One step awayThe Holy Grail. There is no drama here. Newland and a group of professors travel to Mexico to eat a rare mushroom, some claiming to unlock the potential for psychological enhancement. Newland personally performed the mushrooms and then conducted a series of tests to evaluate the claims. His kite is as tall as a kite and comments on how he feels the noise from the pictures and how he sees the bursting colors through his eye mask. This episode encapsulates the show’s mission statement. This matter was taken seriously, Newland told the audience that it was his turn to take a step. He therefore does believe that his audience is composed of mind-minded observers, not scammers.
John Newland and One step away Become synonymous with each other, as Salin did Twilight Zone. Like Salin, Newland is a straightforward shooter. He did not force the worldview or insist that you believe it. He often says that even if what we are going to see is based on real testimony, the ultimate say about whether it depends solely on the audience. He invited the faith, but he never asked for it. He asked the question, but he did not force or impose the answer. No intention to manipulate. This would go against good storytelling. Instead, Newland only asks people to think about each story so that they can make their own opinions.
That’s why the series deserves more attention and why it should be allowed to have a greater legacy. Even if the content of the discussion requires a more flexible definition of reality, this is a masterclass of how to conduct intelligent conversations.
