Review: Jenna Elfman in The Twilight Zone ‘A Human Face’
Jenna Elfman and Chris Meloni experience terror in The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is known for its timeless parables about human nature, often incorporating science fiction and supernatural elements to drive home larger messages. The season 2 episode “A Human Face” features Fear the Walking Dead star Jenna Elfman along with Chris Meloni as a couple struggling with the loss of a child when something unexpected happens.
Minor Spoilers Ahead
“A Human Face” is very reminiscent of the classic Twilight Zone episode “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” in the sense that once the solar flare hits, and an alien appears in the basement (as they do), Elfman and Meloni’s characters start fighting with each other even more than they had been before. The alien’s presence is almost secondary to their own marital strife. There is also an Easter Egg nod to the original series episode “The Invaders” if you pay close attention.
Interestingly, Elfman also plays a mother who lost a child in Fear the Walking Dead. Elfman is the proud mom of two boys and you can see her summon that Mama Bear energy in performances that deal with children or, in this case, the loss of a child. Despite all logic, Elfman is drawn to the alien that bears her daughter’s face, even though she knows that it isn’t really her daughter.
Meloni plays well off of Elfman’s energy. The couple’s marriage is strained and at first we think it’s because of the loss of their child but the alien is quick to point out that he wasn’t there even when she was alive. Seeing Meloni work to convince Elfman that the alien is playing with their emotions, only to crack himself, is heartbreaking. It’s also part of a plan.
Elfman is the third member of the TWD Family to appear in The Twilight Zone. The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun appeared in season 1, while her Fear TWD co-star Colman Domingo appears in the season 2 episode “Downtime.”
Season 2 of The Twilight Zone is available to stream now on CBS All Access, and Fear the Walking Dead season 6 will premiere later this summer.