“The Lonely” is Season 1 Episode 7 of the original The Twilight Zone, airing on November 13, 1959. Written by Rod Serling and directed by Jack Smight, the narrative unfolds on a barren asteroid where James A. Corry (portrayed by Jack Warden), sentenced to fifty years of solitary incarceration following a murder conviction, faces the agony of utter isolation. His only companionship arrives in the form of Alicia (played by Jean Marsh), an android left behind by resupply crew–her synthetic humanity providing emotional solace in the void. <br /><br />Over time, Corry forms a poignant attachment to Alicia, drawn to her gentle presence and apparent empathy. Captain Allenby (portrayed by John Dehner) announces Corry’s unexpected pardon, but the catch becomes heartbreakingly clear: Alicia exceeds the ship's strict weight limit. Corry refuses to leave her behind. In a final act of mercy, Allenby fatally shoots the robot, revealing her mechanical core—and leaving Corry with stark, crushing loneliness as the one constant in an abandoned world. <br /><br />This episode stands out for its profound examination of human need, companionship, and the emotional limits of artificial constructs. Rod Serling’s introspective narration frames the episode like an elegiac meditation on companionship and loss. The bleak landscape—shot under extreme conditions in Death Valley—mirrors Corry’s emotional terrain, while Bernard Herrmann’s haunting score reinforces the melancholy <br /><br /><br />Jack Warden as James A. Corry – the lone convict stranded on an asteroid <br /><br />Jean Marsh as Alicia – the lifelike female robot companion <br /><br />John Dehner as Captain Allenby – the supply ship captain and emissary from Earth <br /><br />Ted Knight as Adams (uncredited) – crew member <br /><br />James Turley as Carstairs (uncredited) – crew observer <br /><br />Rod Serling – Narrator (voice), framing opening and closing moral monologues
