One of the strange inconveniences of the modern streaming era is how difficult it can be to find a classic TV show on streaming. Not only do major streaming platforms like Netflix suspiciously lack older movies in their collection, but even recent shows are surprisingly hard to find. ("Westworld," a show that aired on HBO as recently as 2022 is no longer available on HBO's streaming service Max.)

Rod Serling's Extraordinary Anthology Series The Twilight Zone is no exception. While it was once available on Netflix until 2021, today it's primarily available on Paramount+, a service you can usually add on top of an Amazon Video or Apple TV+ subscription. If you get the Paramount+ With Showtime ($12.99/month in America) option, you'll be able to watch the show without commercials, except for a short one at the beginning; if you get the Paramount+ Essential bundle ($7.99), you'll have to go through the regular ad breaks. (It's worth noting: both options come with a one-week free trial.)

You can also watch the show for free on the streaming services PlutoTV or FreeVee, though note that there's no ad-free option on either. There are also options to buy the show outright Fandango at home, Amazon Videoand Microsoft Store. On Amazon, prices start at $2.99 ​​per episode (or $1.99 for standard definition) and $28.49 for the first season ($20.09 in SD). It seems to be the best deal, at least at the time of writing The Microsoft Agreement purchase the entire show (all 156 episodes) for just $79.99 (HD or SD).

Many people find it frustrating that such a huge, landmark TV show like The Twilight Zone doesn't come free or ad-free on nearly every major streaming platform. It's also frustrating how often streaming home TV shows tend to change; I've often looked up where to stream a TV show, only to find that a fairly recent article pointing me in the right direction was out of date because the show had already been moved to another streamer.

Therefore, the safest way to keep access to your favorite TV shows or movies is to invest in physical media. A streaming service can add or remove a show from the platform at any time, while DVD manufacturers will never come into your home and take your DVDs away from you. Buying The Twilight Zone box set can be more expensive than buying from a streaming service, but overall it's a safer investment. Physical media also protects you from the streaming service's tendency to change/remove controversial episodes or scenes. On Almost impossible to find online, The Simpsons' Michael Jackson-centric Stark Raving Dadfor example, but fans who own the Season 3 DVD can still watch the episode anytime.

It's also worth noting that many public libraries still have a DVD section that you can use for free. If you already own a DVD player and a library card and want to watch The Twilight Zone commercial-free, there's a good chance you can get access to the entire series without paying another dime.