In the era of Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Best, Rod Serling’s groundbreaking series brought science fiction and fantasy into the mainstream. The series, which ran from 1959 to 1964, was an instant hit, thanks to its creepy take on everything from plastic surgery to nuclear war to the monsters next door. (And its casting director must have had a crystal ball—the list of guest stars includes up-and-comers Burt Reynolds, Robert Redford, William Shatner, and Carol Burnett, among others.) The full collection of the fifth dimension includes all 156 episodes and the bonus features from the DVD set, along with fun new extras like the unofficial pilot, “The Time Element.” It’s a must-have for any sci-fi fan who hasn’t already bought the individual seasons on Blu-ray—even if you have to do some time-travel sports betting to afford it (the list price is $400).
