1950s TV was notable for drama that explored existentialism, alienation, and the search for personal meaning -- Rod Serling's work, for instance, both in individual dramatic TV films & of course of "The Twilight Zone", is filled with it.
But to find it on "Father Knows Best"? Yet here it is, with Betty not sure if she exists as a real person, questioning whether life makes any sense, asking why generation after generation of people do the same things over & over again, seemingly to no purpose. I could easily see this as a Twilight Zone episode with just a bit of fine-tuning, in fact.
Certainly Betty is overly dramatic & wrapped up in herself. That's an accurate portrayal of being 17 & smart enough to wonder about things. And the questions she asks have been asked by millions, and not just in their teens, either. A really thoughtful episode that has some real punch.
But to find it on "Father Knows Best"? Yet here it is, with Betty not sure if she exists as a real person, questioning whether life makes any sense, asking why generation after generation of people do the same things over & over again, seemingly to no purpose. I could easily see this as a Twilight Zone episode with just a bit of fine-tuning, in fact.
Certainly Betty is overly dramatic & wrapped up in herself. That's an accurate portrayal of being 17 & smart enough to wonder about things. And the questions she asks have been asked by millions, and not just in their teens, either. A really thoughtful episode that has some real punch.
