History YMMV / TheTwilightZone1959S1E6EscapeClause

* WorldOfHam: The appeal of this episode comes almost entirely in the HamToHamCombat between Bedeker and "Mr Cadwallader"!

* TheHedonist: From the start, Walter Bedeker suffers from ATragedyOfImpulsiveness, jumping to petulant conclusions throughout the episode and blaming his wife and the world for his boredom. If he'd had any real patience and self-control (and empathy), almost none of the plot of the episode could have occurred. Instead, he seeks thrills from risking his life, impulsively decides to claim he's murdered his wife, and then impulsively decides to evoke the Escape Clause without taking a moment to consider other alternatives. It is difficult to have any sympathy for him at all.

* ReadTheFinePrint: Technically speaking, if Walter ever exercised his "escape clause," it should just mean that he is no longer immortal, but gets to keep his soul, since the terms of the deal were null and void. Cadwallader isn't worried because he knows that Walter is acting like such a jerk, he definitely would end up with Walt's soul anyways.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: It would have been interesting to see Bedeker live through centuries or even millenia before growing bored, cynical, etc. rather than his attempts to kill himself or get executed in the electric chair. It may be more realistic to see things get out of hand quickly.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: It would have been interesting to see Bedeker live through centuries or even millenia before growing bored, cynical, etc. rather than his attempts to kill himself or get executed in the electric chair.

* MagnificentBastard: [[{{Satan}} The Devil]], appearing as an affable, portly man named [[AffablyEvil Cadwallader]], is a trickster who appears to hypochondriac Walter Bedeker offering him immortality [[DealWithTheDevil in exchange for his soul]]. Cadwallader plays to Bedeker's ego to get him to accept the deal, also explaining that there is an "escape clause" that will have him kill Bedeker if he requests. Bedeker quickly uses his newfound immortality to [[ImmortalityImmorality throw himself into dangerous situations]] for a thrill, eventually trying to get himself executed in the electric chair. However Bedeker is instead sentenced to life imprisonment and is crestfallen, calling Cadwallader to enact the escape clause which he does, with the Devil getting everything he wanted without [[ExactWords ever telling a lie]].

* MagnificentBastard: [[{{Satan}} The Devil]], appearing as an affable, portly man named [[AffablyEvil Cadwallader]], is a trickster who appears to hypochondriac Walter Bedeker offering him immortality [[DealWithTheDevil in exchange for his soul]]. Cadwallader plays to Bedeker's ego to get him to accept the deal, also explaining that there is an "escape clause" that will have him kill Bedeker if he requests. Bedeker quickly uses his newfound immortality to [[ImmortalityImmorality throw himself into dangerous situations]] for a thrill, eventually trying to get himself executed in the electric chair. However Bedeker is instead sentenced to life imprisonment and is crestfallen, calling Cadwallader to enact the escape clause which he does, with the Devil getting everything he wanted without [[ExactWords ever telling a lie]].
* WhatAnIdiot: The man is given complete immortality, invincibility from all harm and what does he do? He decides to kill himself in a bunch of different ways, perpetuate some low-grade insurance fraud, and in a supreme display of idiocy, [[spoiler: he accidentally kills his wife, turns himself in so he can try the electric chair, and then when he is sentenced to life in prison instead, [[ForgotAboutHisPowers rather than try to escape since he can't be shot]], he just gives his life and lets the devil take his soul.]] Maybe the devil only makes deals with people who have no imagination?
** This actually makes sense...in one episode (Printer's Devil), the mark actually ''has'' a good sense of imagination...and gets out of their contract as a result.
** He also wouldn't have spent centuries in prison, decades at most. When someone reaches age 100+ while still in perfect health, coupled with being seemingly immune to damage, no government on the planet would just leave them in jail. They'd pull some strings to get him released and ''study the hell out of him.'' Decades in prison would still suck, though.

* WhatAnIdiot: The man is given complete immortality, invincibility from all harm and what does he do? He decides to kill himself in a bunch of different ways, perpetuate some low-grade insurance fraud, and in a supreme display of idiocy, [[spoiler: he accidentally kills his wife, turns himself in so he can try the electric chair, and then when he is sentenced to life in prison instead, [[ForgotAboutHisPowers rather than try to escape since he can't be shot]], he just gives his life and lets the devil take his soul.]] I guess the devil only makes deals with people who have no imagination.
** He also wouldn't have spent centuries in prison. Decades at most. When someone reaches age 100+ while still in perfect health, coupled with being seemingly immune to damage, no government on the planet would just leave them in jail. They'd pull some strings to get him released and ''study the hell out of him.'' Decades in prison would still suck, though.

* WhatAnIdiot: The man is given complete immortality, invincibility from all harm and what does he do? He decides to kill himself in a bunch of different ways, perpetuate some low-grade insurance fraud, and in a supreme display of idiocy, [[spoiler: he accidentally kills his wife, turns himself in so he can try the electric chair, and then when he is sentenced to life in prison instead, [[ForgotAboutHisPowers rather than try to escape since he can't be shot]], he just gives his life and lets the devil take his soul.]] I guess the devil only makes deals with people who have no imagination.