ScottRE
Senior HTF Member
Hey Randall,Respectfully, I struggle to get your point. Have you actually seen this episode and know of the twist ending? It might not even be unique and clever in the great body of over a century of SF time travel stories, (and most recently another tangent was acted on again in print and on film by Stephen King with 11-22-63), but with Profile in Silver I find it's resolution memorable, and emotionally effecting because of the power of that long-ago tragedy that is still felt deeply by many. And the implications of that day have colored the years since darkly...the rot and decay of public trust in the nation state, the poison of the conspiracy industry that sprung up (Oswald alone did this), the well meaning Vietnam War disaster and Watergate that followed...America (and the entire Western world) in precipitous decline, toward God knows what...
I remember that day, in remembering it I want to vomit. Yes, I'm one of those "people who couldn't get past it". I think that 1963-65 represent a point of no return, it's implications are grave and felt to this day. I hold a realistic view of JFK, a good and sometimes great president with a terrible and reckless entitlement behind closed doors. His vices even risking national security. I have no illusions in respect to JFK's private and secret life, I have books like The Dark Side of Camelot by Seymour Hersh, Havana Nocturne by T.J. English and Reclaiming History by Vincent Bugliosi...Intellectually, I appreciate this SF Fantasy of Profile in Silver for it's more than just competent and effective execution. It does move me emotionally, as a sort of "wish fulfillment" as you say...and I regard this episode to be in keeping with the spirit of Rod Serling's original Twilight Zone.
At least we have accomplished some discussion of vintage TV programs, but I'm getting a lot of passive-aggressive vibes in this thread, and I wonder it it's worth the effort that I've put into these recent posts. A whole lot of work. I appreciate other members effort here. We're such a small community of old coots discussing TV shows that are 35 to 65 years old that nobody else remembers, it would be nice if we actually encouraged each other here. Just my 2 cents.
Let me first say that there was absolutely no offense or aggression (passive or otherwise) intended. If that’s how it came across, then I sincerely apologize. I was just commenting about the way some shows focused on a major tragedy in history (Lincoln, Pearl Harbor, JFK, etc) and had a character do whatever they had to in order to change it. Honestly, it was simply a question about at what point tragedy becomes history and when or if these notions lose relevancy. That’s really it. I was born in 1967, so it didn't happen in my lifetime, which is probably why there's a loss of connection. That's why I made the 9/11 comparison, which DID hit me quite hard since I was able to watch it unfold from my office window.
Nope, I never saw the episode in question and I don’t know the twist. I don’t know if I needed to in order to make my comment, but I apparently rubbed you the wrong way. Honestly again, I never meant to. I really enjoy your posts, and I love reading your takes on the episodes and the generous screen caps. Honestly, I enjoy everyone’s contributions, this is a fun and friendly community and merely wanted to discuss. I hope we’re cool.