Tales from the Darkside: “No Strings” (S4E05)

“No Strings” brings a bit of gangster noir into the horror anthology format, mixing crime drama with supernatural revenge in a tight, eerie little package. It’s an episode that leans into dark humour and karmic justice, offering a grimly satisfying tale with a macabre twist. While it doesn’t reach the atmospheric heights of some Darkside classics, it’s a solid entry with a memorable final image.

Plot Summary

When mob boss Eddie Minelli is murdered, his right-hand man, Rocky, becomes the new head of the family. To tie up loose ends—and to deliver a cruel joke—Rocky forces a down-on-his-luck puppeteer named Don to create a lifelike marionette of Eddie for a posthumous “performance.”

Don, desperate and fearful, obliges. But as he builds the puppet, strange things begin happening. The puppet seems to move on its own. Whispers echo in the theatre. And eventually, Eddie’s ghost—or something pretending to be Eddie—takes over the puppet completely, turning the strings on those who betrayed him.

What Works

The Mob Meets the Macabre

The mash-up of mob drama and supernatural horror is a fun twist. It’s not a pairing you see often, and the episode does a good job of keeping the tone grounded while still allowing for supernatural flair.

Strong Performances

The actors, especially the ones playing Rocky and Don, deliver strong performances. Rocky is perfectly sleazy and intimidating, while Don evokes sympathy as a man being dragged into something he doesn’t understand.

Creepy Puppet Work

The puppet itself is genuinely unsettling. There’s a reason puppets are a horror staple—they straddle the uncanny valley perfectly. The lifelike nature of the marionette, combined with eerie movements and lighting, adds a real sense of dread to the scenes.

What Doesn’t Work

Predictable Plot

The twist—that Eddie is controlling the puppet from beyond the grave—isn’t exactly shocking. If you’ve seen a few horror anthologies, you’ll see it coming a mile away. That said, it’s still fun to watch it unfold.

Limited Character Development

We don’t get much backstory on Don, which is a shame. He’s a potentially fascinating character—a puppeteer being used against his will—but the episode focuses more on Rocky’s machinations than Don’s emotional journey.

Low Stakes Until the End

Most of the episode is setup, with the horror elements coming late in the game. While the final act is effective, it feels a bit rushed compared to the slower burn of the first half.

Themes: Control, Revenge, and Manipulation

As the title suggests, “No Strings” is all about control—who holds the power and what happens when the puppet masters become the puppets. There’s a delicious irony in Rocky’s fate: he thinks he’s pulling the strings, only to find he’s been dancing to someone else’s tune all along.

It also plays with the idea of artistry being perverted for violence. Don’s talent—something that should bring joy or wonder—is used to mock and humiliate. That corruption of creativity becomes part of the horror.

Final Thoughts: Simple, Sinister, and Satisfying

“No Strings” may not reinvent the wheel, but it delivers exactly what you want from a Tales from the Darkside episode: an atmospheric, bite-sized morality play with a supernatural sting in the tail. It doesn’t ask you to think too hard, but it rewards your attention with creepy visuals and poetic justice.

It’s also one of those stories that could easily be expanded into a longer piece—there’s room for more world-building, more tension, and more puppet mayhem. But even as it stands, it’s an effective little tale about how the dead don’t always stay down… especially when you insult them with a puppet.

Who Would Enjoy This Episode?

• Fans of mob/crime stories with a supernatural twist
• Anyone who finds puppets inherently creepy (which is most of us)
• Viewers who enjoy dark humour mixed with horror

Who Might Not Enjoy It?

• Those who prefer more psychological or subtle horror
• Viewers looking for more original or complex storytelling
• Anyone who’s not a fan of puppet-based scares

Final Verdict: A Morbidly Fun Tale with a Killer Punchline

If you like your horror with a touch of gangster swagger and a strong sense of irony, “No Strings” is worth a watch. It won’t blow your mind, but it will definitely make you think twice before making a puppet of your old boss.