Ep 2. The Thirty-Fathom Grave

The Twilight Zone season 4 episode 2, titled "The Thirty-Fathom Grave," takes viewers on a journey to the depths of the ocean. The episode is set during World War II and centers on a naval crew aboard the USS Queen of Glasgow, a destroyer that has been patrolling the waters off the coast of Guadalcanal. The crew is experienced and battle-tested, having fought in many skirmishes throughout the war, but their latest mission proves to be their most haunting yet.

As the crew is preparing to anchor for the night, they receive a distress signal from a nearby ship. The message is faint, but they are able to make out the name of the ship: the USS Lancetfish. The Lancetfish had been reported missing for over a year and had been presumed lost at sea. The crew of the Queen of Glasgow's were initially skeptical of the signal but later decide to investigate.

Upon locating the Lancetfish, the crew discovers that the ship sunk due to enemy fire. As they investigate the wreckage, they hear eerie noises coming from within the ship, as if someone or something is still alive and trapped inside. One crew member, Benny, claims to hear a voice calling out from deep within the sunken ship. The voice sounds like that of a former crew member, specifically someone named Master-at-Arms Third Class Jimbo Ferell.

As the Queen of Glasgow's crew continue to explore the Lancetfish's wreckage, they become more and more convinced that Ferell is still alive and trapped inside. Benny becomes obsessed with finding Ferell, convinced that he is still alive. His fixation leads him to dive deep into the ocean to the sunken Lancetfish.

The episode's title refers to the depth at which the Lancetfish sank, which was 30 fathoms (180 feet). Benny's descent into the blackness of the ocean proves to be a haunting and eerie experience. The visuals are dark, gloomy, and chilling, with creepy sound effects setting the tone for a suspenseful dive. Benny discovers that Ferell's body is indeed still inside the ship, and that the voice he heard was simply his own mind playing tricks on him.

Despite the disappointment of not finding Ferell alive, Benny still feels a sense of closure and is able to move on from the phantoms that haunted him. It is a somber, yet cathartic, ending to an episode that explores the depths of the human psyche as well as the physical depths of the ocean.

Overall, "The Thirty-Fathom Grave" is a fascinating episode that shows how even the most battle-hardened soldiers can be affected by the horrors of war and the depths of the human mind. It also serves as a reminder of the dangers that lurk beneath the waves, and the eerie mysteries that remain hidden below the water's surface.