Your mileage may vary but you better think good thoughts while you're here. Very good thoughts.
- Anvilicious: The story is an analogy for '20th-century modern' dictatorships, such as East Berlin and North Korea; a closed state where the outside world may as well not exist, and everything is dedicated to the unending praise of a godlike-manchild. Sure, needs are (sometimes) met and everything looks pristine, but that's because nothing of true value or pleasure is being done; the people live in fear of a dictator who decides whether they live or die, and if they speak up about important matters that have been mismanaged due to miscommunication or incompetence, or even trivial complaints that could be easily solved, they risk extermination. The only reason the people don't try to kill off the dictator is because they don't know what will happen the instant their god dies.
- Adaptation Displacement: The short story's existence is sometimes overshadowed by this episode.
- Alternative Character Interpretation: When Dan's pleas for anyone to kill Anthony while he distracts him fall on deaf ears, was it because everyone else in the room was too scared to try and defy Anthony, or because despite everything he's done, none of them want to kill a child?
- Memetic Mutation: "It's a Good Life" is easily among the most famous and quotable Twilight Zone episodes of all time. It's real good that it is though. It's a real good thing.
- Nightmare Fuel: Everything about Anthony. He can do whatever he wants whenever he wants and if you don't agree the worst things can happen to you. Twilight Zone: The Movie takes it up to eleven and makes him into a Reality Warper.
- Rooting for the Empire: Anthony can get this, as he's a cute-looking kid with formidable powers who can do anything he likes, and opposing him is utterly pointless.
