Tales Of The Unexpected Season 9 Episode 10
Ever tuned into Tales of the Unexpected and ended up scratching your head in delightful confusion? Season 9, episode 10, "The Flypaper," is a prime example of why this show remains so captivating. It's a quirky little story that sticks with you, much like, well, flypaper!
A Sticky Situation
The episode revolves around a rather unfortunate fellow named Mr. Blenkinsopp, played with comedic timing by actor Peter Davison. He's a nervous bank clerk with a nagging problem: flies. Not just a few buzzing annoyances, but a full-blown infestation making his life a misery.
Desperate, Mr. Blenkinsopp turns to a rather unorthodox solution: a powerful, almost magical, flypaper from a mysterious shopkeeper. You know, the kind of place where you half expect to find a genie in a bottle alongside the mousetraps. The shopkeeper, a true eccentric, is portrayed by John Woodnutt, a face familiar to many classic TV fans.
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The Price of Pest Control
This flypaper is no ordinary sticky strip. It works too well. It snags not just flies, but anything that comes close, including, accidentally, Mr. Blenkinsopp's boss! It becomes a real problem for our friend.
Imagine the horror! Your boss stuck fast to flypaper in your living room! It's a comedic nightmare scenario, and Davison plays the sheer panic and exasperation beautifully. The rest of the episode is a frantic, increasingly absurd attempt to free his boss without causing even more trouble. Think classic slapstick with a dark, Tales of the Unexpected twist.
The humor is dark and dry. It's the kind of story where you're laughing, but also wincing at the sheer awkwardness of it all. The situation spirals out of control so quickly, it's hard not to get swept up in Mr. Blenkinsopp's mounting desperation.
More Than Just a Gag
Beyond the slapstick, "The Flypaper" hints at something deeper. Is it a commentary on the dangers of quick fixes? Or perhaps a metaphor for how easily we can get trapped by our own desires and desperate measures?
The ending, as is typical of Tales of the Unexpected, is suitably ambiguous and leaves you pondering. Did Mr. Blenkinsopp truly escape the flypaper's clutches, or is he forever stuck in a sticky situation of his own making? The question is, did he escape, or become a pawn in the shopkeeper's scheme?
A Reminder of the Show's Charm
This episode is a reminder of what made Tales of the Unexpected so great. It's not about big budgets or special effects. It's about clever writing, strong performances, and stories that linger in your mind long after the credits roll. The show really delivers on the unexpected.
If you're looking for an episode that perfectly encapsulates the show's quirky charm and unexpected twists, give "The Flypaper" a watch. It's a sticky, hilarious, and thought-provoking ride. Just be careful you don't get stuck yourself!
Ultimately, "The Flypaper" demonstrates the brilliance of Roald Dahl's vision. It highlights how ordinary situations, when twisted just so, can reveal the extraordinary and often absurd realities of human nature. If nothing else, it's a great way to remind you how not to deal with an insect problem!
