‘Tales from the Darkside’ Retro Recap: ‘The Odds’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

The prevailing belief in modern society when it comes to the afterlife, is that good people… will enjoy peace for all eternity when they pass on. For their souls will be transported to a wonderful place where pain, hunger and suffering simply do not exist. Instead, they are replaced by joy and love, and everything that was great about our time on Earth, and it gets better from there. Since evil is cast down into its own special pit where those that do wrong suffer for eternity as penance for a lifetime of cruelty and once, they are committed to their eternal damnation, they can do no harm to anyone ever again and well… that’s a pretty sweet belief to hang onto.
​
Because it keeps us on the straight and narrow and gives us plenty to look forward to when we know we’ve been good and our number is up, and we all certainly hope that this belief is true, and that bliss is indeed what awaits good souls in the beyond. But alas, we simply don’t know what happens to us when we die outside of the physiological stuff that science has made inherently clear to us. Which leaves the afterlife up to interpretation often and creative minds are happy to explore the endless possibilities of what the beyond looks like, simply because they can and really… that freedom is top of mind today because some alternate ideas about what the afterlife could look like were presented unto us in the next episode of Tales from the Darkside.

A feat that ‘The Odds’ accomplishes by plunging us into a an out of the way corner of the world, where something incredible is happening. For a grizzled and experienced bookie named Tommy Vale is dealing with quite the surprise. In that, a mysterious stranger that likes to make bets that should cost him everything, keeps on winning and winning. To the point where Tommy, who never refuses a bet, is losing cash hand over fist to this stranger. But he refuses to let up. Because of that edict and because no one has ever broken him and he doesn’t believe that will happen now and well, when the stranger offers Tommy a bet he can’t refuse, one that would allow for him to reclaim his money and cheat the odds of death… Tommy is more than happy to place his bet. 

---

Which is a scenario that at first glance, appears to be grounded deeper in our fears of death and perhaps what our final moments might look like if say… the Grim Reaper was catered to the moment instead of how he usually appears in stories. But the revelation that the stranger, is no stranger… is what brings about that unique examination in question. For the real identity of the man that cannot lose is Bill Lacey, and Lacey placed a bevy of bad bets back in the day to Tommy Vale, the kind that cost him everything and eventually his life. But after years of hanging around the afterlife, full of regret and without direction, he thought appearing now… at the end of Tommy’s life would allow for him to get the better of the salty veteran and make his losings back and finally have some measure of revenge.
​
A revelation that hammers home a reality where the afterlife, is no different than our everyday world, and that’s quite the sobering and frightening reality to put on display. Since it would mean that the beyond doesn’t offer absolution or peace or penance and torture… it is just business as usual and well, when one considers how many people dedicate themselves to steering clear of business as usual or avoiding the fiery pits below… that would be a devastating lesson to learn. One that oddly enough, is quite philosophical in nature. Because at the same time, an afterlife free from a greeting from God or a scolding from the Devil, would mean… what we put in now is what we get in the beyond and that too is both scary and invigorating. Since it would ask us to really look at our lives and our conduct, since that will determine our happiness or sorrow in the eternal void that awaits.

Which makes this… a fascinating episode in the end, one that plays a wild game of ‘what if?’ when it comes to an age-old notion and the wonder of this episode extends beyond its examination of what an alternate afterlife might look like. For it also features some top-notch acting across the board, courtesy of a cast filled with screen legends. Since this episode features Danny Aiello as Tommy Vale and Tom Noonan as Bill Lacey, with a touch of Robert Weil (as Horace Chadway) thrown in for good measure… and watching this trio chew up the scenery as only they can, only engages you further and leaves you satisfied when the episode comes to an end over the fact… that you’ve just been through an experience. One that features an acting clinic and a lot to chew upon, and it is wonderful to see this iconic series continue to deliver in this manner… in its inaugural year. Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.     

---