‘Tales from the Darkside’ Retro Recap: ‘A Case of the Stubborns’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

There are… a great deal of things that we fear in this life. For instance, some of us fear being alone. Since we believe that life is something that should be shared and the thought of never finding the right person to share it with, is a chilling one indeed. Others however, fear getting sick or losing control of their body in any capacity, since it is one of the few things in this life, we actually have control over. And of course, there are others that fear more topical things… such as the dark or the eight-legged visitors that pop up in our homes now and again. But while each and every one of us have some kind of unique fear that we harbor deep within our souls… there is one that we all share in. In that, we all fear death.
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Granted, our reasons for fearing it are vastly different and unique as well. Since some cannot reconcile the finality and suddenness of it and the waves of ugly emotions that accompany it. While others fear what awaits us beyond that final breath, and some fear the reality that the beauty of this world escapes us when we die. But those specific reasons as to why we fear are immaterial, the bottom line is that we are scared of the end… to the point where people often go to great lengths to cheat it and avoid it, to no avail. Because eventually, it will find us, and it is up to us to make peace with it, and one way we accomplish that… is through storytelling. Since it can help us to reconcile our reasons and our fears and believe it or not, the next episode of Tales from the Darkside takes the time to do just that. 

A feat that ‘A Case of the Stubborns’ accomplishes, by offering up quite the unique story. One that takes place in the not-too-distant past on a dark day for the Tolliver family. For Jody and his mother are mourning the loss of their grandfather/father, Titus, in this tale… and are preparing to bid him farewell when something incredible happens. In that, Titus just comes down the stairs and declares himself to be alive and well… regardless of the fact that he is clearly still dead. But none of that means a hill of beans to Titus, who genuinely believes that death is nothing more than another challenge to overcome in life, and despite the best efforts of the family to convince him otherwise… Titus will not rest. A decision that brings forth greater concerns about the long-term health of the family, since this corpse is beginning to rot and well, that motivates Jody to go to extremes to finally help his grandpappy understand… that his time has come.

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Which is, a brilliant way to explore our collective fear of death. Since Titus really is the embodiment of all our various fears. For he expresses his concerns about leaving his family behind and the change that death entails and its finality and unknowns, and it takes the next generation… to help him understand that there’s nothing he can do about what is our natural purpose. Which is really where the episode shines exploration wise, since Jody’s bold act and Titus’ eventual understanding of where he actually is in life, makes it clear that we cannot fear death… and we shouldn’t. For if there is nothing, we can do to avoid it, we simply must embrace it and live life to the fullest. So that when our time arrives, there are no regrets or concerns… just joy and fulfillment and an understanding that we will live on through those we love and our actions. 
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Which is a message that is shockingly deep and beautiful to find within the framework of a horror story, but it is there none the less and well, at first glance… that message makes it appear as though this episode doesn’t hold true to its horror roots by offering something so uplifting. But have no fear, there are plenty of horrific moments and hallmarks from this series surrounding the cerebral. Because the fact that Titus returns from death is horrific for certain, as is watching his corpse rot before your eyes. Not to mention, this episode is also unique for handling this subject matter through dark humor. Which is perhaps the best way to explore such matters without making them overwhelming and well… it is those elements and its observations on death that allow for the message to resonate, since the wild nature of this one stays with you long after its ended. Prompting you to ponder upon every moment. 

If anything, this is just a brilliant story through and through. One that explores one of our greatest fears in a unique manner and surprisingly… features a bevy of actors that we now know to be mega stars. For this episode features a cameo from Brent Spiner, who would go on to fame and accolades by playing Lieutenant Commander Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Jody is played by none other than Christian Slater. Whom would of course go on to take Hollywood by storm, and ironically, he had a cameo in the sixth Star Trek film. But all epic-ness aside regarding seeing a couple of superstars in a horror show from 1984, it is the story and its depth that really allows for this episode to shine. Because this is just horror at its finest, plain and simple, and it definitely motivates us to continue this journey through the darkside, to see what other powerful examinations await us via the smartest genre out there. Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.  

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