Tales from the Darkside: “It All Comes Out in the Wash” (S1E20)
Now here’s a little gem in the Tales from the Darkside catalogue that combines dark humour with classic morality tale structure. It All Comes Out in the Wash is sly, clever, and more playful than terrifying, though it still leaves that signature aftertaste of karmic justice. It doesn’t boast big effects or flashy twists, but it tells a tight, character-driven story with a concept that feels like a modern fable.
Plot Summary
The story follows a man named Trent, a high-society criminal with a long history of morally and legally questionable activity. He seeks out a mysterious laundromat operated by a soft-spoken but eerie figure named Mr. Piper. But this isn’t your average wash-and-fold service—Mr. Piper offers to clean not just clothes, but sins. Yep. For the right price, this laundromat can scrub your soul clean, one stained memory at a time.
Trent starts using the service and finds that with each wash, the guilt of his past crimes starts to lift. His conscience clears, his anxiety fades, and he starts to feel almost… invincible. As expected, that goes to his head.
But the more he uses the service, the more insatiable his need to cleanse himself becomes. He commits worse and worse acts, believing he can just rinse them away. When he attempts to skip out on paying Mr. Piper his due, he discovers too late that this kind of cleansing always comes at a final price.
What Works
A Clever Core Concept
The central metaphor—washing away guilt like dirt on a shirt—is perfect horror anthology fodder. It’s imaginative without being convoluted, and just fantastical enough to pull you in.
Dark Humour and Irony
There’s a dry wit running through the episode, especially in how Trent begins to treat the laundromat like a literal get-out-of-jail-free card. The humour doesn’t undercut the creep factor, though; it actually enhances the moral sting.
Solid Performances
The actor playing Trent (Vince Edwards) strikes a good balance between suave and smarmy. You never really like him, but you enjoy watching his ego balloon. Mr. Piper (James Coco), the laundromat owner, is a low-key delight—measured, mysterious, and just off enough to make you uneasy.
A Satisfying Ending
Without spoiling too much, the episode delivers the kind of moral payoff you expect from Tales from the Darkside. It wraps up cleanly (pun intended), with a nice sting in the tail.
What Doesn’t Work
Not Particularly Scary
This episode leans more into dark fantasy and moral allegory than horror. If you’re tuning in for something genuinely spine-chilling, this one might feel too light.
Predictable Structure
From the moment the laundromat is introduced, genre-savvy viewers will likely guess how it all ends. The story is more about watching the pieces fall into place than being surprised by the turn.
Limited World-Building
While the laundromat is a great concept, we don’t learn much about how it works or who Mr. Piper is. A little more lore might have given the episode even more punch.
Themes: Guilt, Redemption, and Moral Debt
This is a textbook Darkside morality tale. Trent believes that if he can pay someone else to deal with his guilt, then he doesn’t have to change his behaviour. But guilt exists for a reason, and consequences can only be delayed for so long.
There’s also something deeply modern about this story. It parallels real-world ideas like laundering money, outsourcing responsibility, or using privilege to dodge moral accountability. The episode subtly critiques the mindset that if you can afford to cleanse your image, you don’t have to clean up your actions.
Final Thoughts: Short, Smart, and Sneaky
It All Comes Out in the Wash isn’t flashy, but it’s one of the smarter, more thoughtful episodes of the season. It doesn’t rely on jump scares or gore. Instead, it delivers its horror through irony, consequence, and a slow-burning unravelling of character. In a season that sometimes fumbles tone or pacing, this one stands out for its simplicity and clarity of vision.
Who Would Enjoy This Episode?
- Fans of ironic, fable-like horror
- Viewers who enjoy stories of comeuppance
- Those who like moral dilemmas with a supernatural twist
Who Might Not Enjoy It?
- Viewers looking for visceral or visual horror
- Those who want more action or supernatural spectacle
- Anyone who dislikes predictable morality tales
Final Verdict: A Morality Rinse with a Sinister Cycle
It All Comes Out in the Wash is a fun, thoughtful little tale that sticks with you. It’s not going to scare your socks off, but it might make you think twice the next time you’re tempted to dodge responsibility. And if someone ever offers to clean your soul, maybe read the fine print first.
