“The only thing I don't like about the episode is how quick Bedeker gives up.” Reddit · r/TwilightZone · 8 years ago The Twist Ending (Spoilers)
Watch a detailed breakdown of Bedeker's descent from hypochondria to immortal boredom: The Twilight Zone Episode 6 Review: Six Degrees of Freedom The Twilight Zone 1x6
It is one of the few episodes to lean into black comedy , offering a lighter (if more cynical) break from the show's typical dread. “The only thing I don't like about the
“David Wayne is great fun as unlikable hypochondriac Walter Bedeker.” IMDb Faced with the prospect of an eternity in
After accidentally causing his wife's death, Walter confesses to her "murder" just to experience the thrill of the electric chair. In a classic Twilight Zone irony, his lawyer successfully argues for . Faced with the prospect of an eternity in a cell, Walter is forced to invoke his escape clause, suffering a fatal heart attack and losing his soul.
Walter Bedeker is a self-absorbed, insufferable hypochondriac terrified of death. He strikes a bargain with a jovial, business-like devil named Cadwallader: his soul in exchange for and indestructibility . The contract includes an "escape clause" allowing Walter to die only if he chooses to. Critical Consensus
David Wayne's portrayal of the "unlikable" Walter and Thomas Gomez’s "hammy" yet effective Devil are frequently cited as the episode's highlights.