The Twilight Zone (TV Series) Among the Untrodden (2020) User Reviews

In the cards

[paultapner · 8/10 · 8 November 2020]

A new girl comes to a high class school. She's a nerd and a loner. So she's bullied from the off by a group of mean girls.

She's doing a project about psychic abilities. Then she finds one of the mean girls might just have some. This is the start of a very unlikely relationship.

There's hope for this show. A really really good episode. It twists and turns so much, keeping you guessing how it will go right to the end. And you won't see any of it coming. Even though you might think you do at one point.

The two lead characters are really three dimensional and well acted as well, the former being especially true in regards to the mean one.

The good amount of story and twists and turns means it's just the right length as well. A good and memorable watch.

Entertaining episode

[hnt_dnl · 8/10 · 30 June 2020]

This Mean Girls/Craft-esque episode AMONG THE UNTRODDEN was a nice change of pace. Instead of being set in the same generic city landscape of the prior episodes, this one is set at a creepy all girls school and really features some good acting from the 2 actresses playing Madison and Irene. I did find Irene kind of annoying, but turns out there was a very good reason why. Madison was the real star of the piece as she became more and more likable as the episode progressed. This one was really clever and once you realize the twist, it's fun to go back and see all the clues that popped up during the episode.

Best Episode So Far

[kipperquillen · 8/10 · 28 June 2020]

This is the 3rd episode this season that has really surprised me! From the very beginning, this episode had me intrigued then grew to be my favorite episode thus far. Comparing to the previous episode, this was a breath of fresh air with the writing, the twist, and the original story.

Very few to love

[southdavid · 7/10 · 20 January 2021]

It's damning with faint praise a little bit, but this is comfortably the best episode of the second season so far, and probably one of the best the rebooted series has offered.

At an all-girl boarding school, queen bee Madison (Abbie Hern) and her clique delight in picking on the new girl, Irene (Sophia Macy). Irene's interest in the occult manifests in a science experiment into ESP, during which Irene comes to believe that Madison has various psychic abilities. As they try to enhance her powers, the pair become friendlier and Madison alienates the rest of her social circle, until a night-time roof top drinking session has deadly consequences.

It's nothing revolutionary, don't get me wrong, but for an episode of this series to have an actual story, rather than just a premise is rare. More unusual still, is that it takes what would have been the obvious twist of the ending and circumvents it somewhat into a much more interesting double twist and then a sad little postscript. I'd put the credit at the door of writer Heather Anne Campbell then. In the first season she provided the patchy but solid "Not All Men" and the frankly dreadful "Six Degrees of Freedom" so there's evidence that her scripts are improving as she continues with the series.

The director is Tayarisha Poe, who directed the similarly set movie "Selah and the Spades" in 2019. She does a fine job here and is ably supported by whomever did the set dressing for the episode, the abandoned toilet is a particularly fine location. The performances from the two leads are good, but the rest of the girls and the teachers blend together a bit. If I'm nit picking, perhaps one more scene of Madison using her powers might have helped sell the story a little more and the idea that the faculty would let other students put up 'that' diorama doesn't ring true.

But - in and of itself and (especially) relative to the rest of the episodes, this was strong stuff.

One of the seasons best episodes

[grlym-46849 · 7/10 · 1 July 2020]

Twists and turns, intriguing, and constant guessing kept me watching. The end cap did not quit explain it all for me so succinctly as I would have preferred, but great nonetheless

A great turn for the show

[marcelonslm · 7/10 · 30 June 2020]

Unpredictable and watchable, but still has a long way to go. It's like a Carrie with a twist at first. It shows that this has potential without preaching their own political ideology. Just making TV enjoyable should be their first and only concern.

That was a wonderful Twilight Zone

[Jazzman-41 · 9/10 · 27 October 2020]

It did what a Twilight Zone episode, the best of them anyway, is supposed to do. There was magic, and there were elements that kept you unsure of what was really going on and finally, there was a very human element at the core of the story without it being darkly cynical as so many of the other episodes have been so far. I hope that the rest of the episodes from this season embody the elements that made this one so good.

Clearly reminds me of "Shatterday"

[bonheura · 7/10 · 18 July 2020]

A mean girl bonds with the new girl in town (in class actually), whom she bullies at first, and they slowly "swift" their inner nature. The way I see it, just like in the very first episode of the original TTZ series (Shatterday), Madison is on the verge of putting things right in her life, drop the toxic friends and become a better person. When she's ready, her other self, Irene, disappears. Very good plot, very good episode.

Must Watch

[ljahcomix · 9/10 · 28 July 2020]

This is the best episode of the series. It's clever in its foreshadowing and turns cliches on their heads. I really enjoyed this one and hope more future episodes follow suit.

Among the Untrodden

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 29 June 2020]

It was interesting for awhile, but there was no payoff, no big moment. The "twist" again missed the mark.

Best episode so far

[firedragonlife · 10/10 · 12 December 2020]

I can say without a doubt, this is the best episode (of this series) so far. Felt like the 60s series and had a unique and unexpected ending

One of the stronger episodes but still misses the mark

[hello-41679 · 6/10 · 7 December 2023]

This was one of the better episodes. The plot is fairly deep and has a surprising amount of story arc for the short run time. My main complaint is none of the characters are likeable. The girls are all very hostile to the new girl in school for no reason, who is the only white student. Seemed kinda racist IMO and I question whether that was done on purpose (probably was). Anyway the new girl isn't likeable either because she's a total push over, willing to do anything to be accepted. The ending has a double twist, somewhat predictable but still fresh enough to be interesting. Still ... I don't like stories where bullying plays a large role like this one.

Strange and different girl arrives to class!

[blanbrn · 4/10 · 2 July 2020]

This "TZ" episode called "Among the Untrodden" is one that's strange and weird as it's shows people are just so different, however the episode really doesn't have any twist as it just stays simple. The tale involves a group of girls at a boarding school and when a new student girl arrives she's treated different like an outcast only she has special powers and talent. As it's like the theme of the episode is to try and shock the other central characters with surprise only this episode really doesn't deliver much drama or suspense overall it's not really one of the better ones.

One of the best of the new bunch

[cuchulain-96418 · 9/10 · 4 December 2020]

I've watched about a season and a half of these and this was definitely a standout. Predictably there were twists, but the twists were unpredictable for a change. Very well acted.

Means Girls meets The Craft?

[Hannah_Bananah · 8/10 · 28 June 2020]

One of the better stories of JP's season 2 (and 1), and one I'd recommend, another being The Who in You (skipping every second episode seems like a good pattern so far). Set in a boarding school, we're introduced to the "mean girls" who of course mercilessly bully the new girl. The main characters of Madison and Irene develop a bond and we see a change in both of them (ie: character development). Some themes covered in this story are supernatural abilities, bullying, self-discovery, and true friendship. Production-wise, both leads are well performed and I felt like I was watching a made for tv movie - but just the right length I think. The episode also has its fair share of twists, with one that may not be so easy to predict (unlike the twist in S2. Ep01). There is some mature dialogue, so its not "kid friendly", and although it covers themes like bullying, it doesn't spoon-feed the audience about the effects of peer-pressure or the need to "fit in".

Stellar performance from Abbie Hern

[jburg-17458 · 8/10 · 4 January 2021]

I am a fan of shows of this genre and this episode stuck out to me due to the story and acting from the character Madison played by Abbie Hern. I did not recognize her from anything else but if she keeps working and auditioning, she has a bright future in hollywood. Kudos Abbie!

It seemed like this was formulated from an episode of the original show or an old movie but I couldn't place it and I could be wrong (I'm not thinking of Carrie despite the similarities). Regardless, it was a great telling of a girl in high school unlocking her psychic powers. I found the writing in the scene towards the end about friendship to be a bit cheesey but it was saved by the talented acting from Abbie. Jordan Peele's dialogue has been great this season.

If you're not a fan of shows like the original twilight zone or black mirror, this might not be for you.

Lacks an actual storyline

[gareth-75442 · 4/10 · 28 June 2020]

Could've been interesting, had Heather Anne Campbell (writer) put as much time into writing an actual story instead of concentrating on the smutty talk & expletives, a wasted opportunity only ends up being a waste of time. Poor attempt at shock value, only thing more shocking was this being green lighted. Do better, please do better.

Chills down my spine!

[wdywfmalisa · 10/10 · 29 June 2020]

One of the best episodes of both seasons - fresh, intriguing, gripping. It really surprised me in the best way possible. Also, loved the realistic feeling the main character was giving. The writers did a great job making us empathising with a bully.

Favorite episode so far!!!

[anniewhitcomb-06675 · 10/10 · 1 July 2020]

Loving this new TZ series, but especially loving this episode. Madison is such a beautifully complex and well developed character that she deserves her own spin off or at the very least to join the witches in AHS. She'd kill it.

Growing pains!

[m2m4 · 8/10 · 28 June 2020]

Anybody that's been through high school knows about cliques. Being popular and/or accepted forms the foundation of a clique. However, some perceptive individuals find out later that this foundation cracks. Made up of superficial interests, the group lacks real human substance. Here, Madison confronts this concept in The Twilight Zone.

Fine, but actually not that unpredictable... They already did this before

[danieln-15525 · 1/10 · 1 August 2020]

This is fine episode. It makes you feel the twilight zone. But the twist is actually not new. Even recycled. They already had same twist on "Haunting Hour", Brother episode (2012), and also on "Goosebumps" (1996). [Hollywood. Never original.]

Be careful what you conger.

[jaysnzees-86155 · 9/10 · 10 July 2020]

Finally a second season episode that seems worthy of the name twilight zone. Very few have been as good as this episode

Means girls meets the craft indeed!

[raulsandoval-78125 · 9/10 · 30 June 2020]

This episode completely surprised me in a good way,it starts a bit cliched to be honest but it leaves that behind quickly.

Wow, a GREAT episode! I would say best of the entire show so far!

[perrycs-49152 · 9/10 · 26 January 2023]

Wow, a GREAT episode! I would say best of the entire show so far!

Ya know, after the season 1 garbage I never expected this show to ever put out decent non agenda episodes. Here we are, 5 in a row in season 2! WOW!

Good job writers. This one kept me captivated and the ending was pretty decent. The writing also felt more professional and fleshed out.

It's a shame the writing wasn't this decent in Season 1 but at least so far I am enjoying Season 2. Who would have thought!!!!

It honestly seems like they are actually trying (quite hard too) to fix the style of writing problems in season 1.

I just want to be entertained. THIS episode was entertainment. :)

If I had to look hard and find a fault with this episode I would have to say the representation is unbalanced. But, other than that, who cares. As long as it's a decent fun sci fi episode... BRING IT ON!!!! MORE like this!!!

If they keep this up for all of Season 2 or most of it anyways, I'll upgrade my overall rating 1 more star.

For now, I will rate the whole show, how I have rated it, BUT, if the episode deserves it, like this one... then I will happily give it a 9. THIS is what I want to see when I watch The Twilight Zone.

"You made me think I was special."

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 1 June 2023]

Something doesn't sit right with me for this episode. When it's all over, apparently Irene (Sophia Macy) never existed; she was a conjuring of schoolgirl Madison (Abbie Hern). This destroys the credibility of the story in my opinion. During their last conversation, Madison admits to Irene she has no friends, but that's not the way the show started out. She was thick as thieves with the other three girls trying to make life miserable for Irene. There was also the inconsistency of Irene's school project. When the teacher Ms. Watson (Marci T. House) told Irene she couldn't change her 'psychic abilities' project and Irene switched it anyway for the school's science fair, the teacher didn't call her out on it. Irene's surviving the fall from the school balcony probably should have been a heads-up for the unexpected ending, but the whole thing just didn't add up to a successful Twilight Zone.