The alien race in “To Serve Man” is called the Kanamits. The episode is the 24th installment of The Twilight Zone’s third season and originally aired on March 2, 1962.
The Kanamits arrive on Earth promising peace, advanced technology, and solutions to major human problems such as food and energy shortages. Their apparent benevolence quickly wins over governments and the public. A cryptographer named Michael Chambers works to translate a book the aliens leave behind, titled To Serve Man.
The title initially seems to confirm the Kanamits’ humanitarian intentions. Humans accept their help, dismantle military defenses, and even volunteer to visit the Kanamits’ home planet. The famous twist comes when the book is translated completely: it is not a guide to serving humanity, but a cookbook.
Richard Kiel portrays the Kanamits, who are depicted as towering, physically powerful beings. The episode was adapted from Damon Knight’s 1950 short story and became one of the series’ best-known examples of a surprise ending.