to say this be too preachy or obvious be an understatement . the best twilight zone episode be those where the meaning be not obvious and be instead subtly convey via fantastical allegory . serling be force to go this route after suffer from censorship early in his career that prevent him from directly address current social concern with criticism that might offend the advertiser . this episode fit the prevailing cold war mindset of the time and be therefore free from their censor . in the end and it become proof that perhaps the censorship serling often complain about be actually a good thing . it force him to hide his message in his fantasy story and avoid preach directly to the audience a he do in this episode . the main character here be ridiculous caricature of the evil tyrant and the saintly martyr . the whole plot strain the limit of believability time and time again . serling end monologue feel like he hit u over the head . those who strongly agree with it message might be able to overlook or even enjoy these thing and but in the end and it be a weak episode than if it have be more subtly execute .