In a dystopia, far in the future, books, movies, and art have been destroyed. A Mr. Stendahl has decided to build a replica of the House of Usher from the Edgar Allen Poe story. He is soon visited by the "moral" police. It is their job to humorlessly destroy those things which smack of imagination and creativity. He is fortunate that he accumulated enough money to carry out a plan that flies in the face of all that is destroying or has destroyed joy in the world. Patrick McNee plays Stendahl, and he is marvelously in control throughout. He has created robot versions of all the characters and caricatures in his haunted castle. We are treated to the comeuppance of the smug, dangerous forces of evil that rule the world. Very good episode.
5 Reviews
Go against the grain revenge with different means.
blanbrn19 September 2020
"Usher II" episode 5 from season 4 of "Ray Bradbury Theater" is one that's fun and different with entertaining themes that involve the future. set in a different world the government has banned and destroyed books of fantasy and horror. And this is not to the delight of one William a librarian who lives in a castle with many works. He has plans that involve replica works of robots and a little something with Edgar Allen Poe it's like his revenge is to wipe out the government. This episode was ahead of it's time with themes of world danger and the rise of violence and taking matters into one's own hands.
"There's always a minority afraid of something."
classicsoncall19 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
When the guy from Moral Climates showed up, I thought the story was making a segue into the realm of global warming. But it got back on track pretty quickly, with Stendahl (Patrick Macnee) having his android kill Garrett (Stuart Devenie), and his attendant Pikes (Ian penchant for Mune) whipping up a replacement, only to find that Garrett was an android himself. You could tell Stendahl was playing for keeps with the visitors from the Moral Climates committee, informed by the replacement Garrett that all was well, and that Stendahl had reformed from his penchant for literature and film, deemed inappropriate and harmful to the state. With the real Garrett finally showing up, he gets the old Cask of Amontillado treatment before Stendahl torches his entire mansion, content to finally get his revenge against a government bent on censorship. The story has a semblance of similarity to an old Twilight Zone episode titled 'The Obsolete Man' starring Burgess Meredith.
Viva F 451
jeffstonewords22 August 2021
"It was a pleasure to burn." Anyone who recognizes that famous first line will probably appreciate this short gem that wraps so many classic references and allusions around ironic bon mots. For anyone who loves great lit and the First Amendment, this episode is surely as enjoyable as it is unique. Absolutely fabulous.
Ray Bradbury really did Not like Socialism at all
evony-jwm22 December 2020
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
