Tales from the Darkside: “Parlour Floor Front” (S2E04)
“Parlour Floor Front” is Tales from the Darkside at its most theatrical: small cast, confined setting, and a story that hinges more on performances than spectacle. It leans into classic tropes of witchcraft and tenant troubles, delivering a morality play with a supernatural twist. It’s creepy, quirky, and delightfully wicked, even if a little rough around the edges.
Plot Summary
The episode centres around Mr. Carlin, a callous and greedy landlord who buys an old house with plans to renovate and flip it for a big profit. He has no interest in preserving its history or respecting the existing tenants. Chief among those tenants is Miss Emily, an elderly woman who lives in the parlour floor front apartment and refuses to leave.
Miss Emily is… odd. Eccentric, sharp-tongued, and mysterious, she claims to have lived in the house for generations. Carlin tries every trick in the book to get her out, but she remains immovable. And soon, strange things begin happening: objects move, he hears chanting, and his nightmares get worse. Miss Emily, it turns out, is a witch—and her grip on the house goes far beyond a lease agreement.
As Carlin ramps up his efforts to evict her, she escalates in return, eventually revealing her true power. The episode ends with the landlord getting his comeuppance in classic Darkside fashion: he becomes trapped in the house, cursed by the very magic he tried to bulldoze over.
What Works
A Strong Central Conflict
The episode thrives on the tension between Miss Emily and Mr. Carlin. Their cat-and-mouse dynamic is fun to watch, with Emily’s icy calm a perfect counter to Carlin’s increasing desperation and aggression.
Miss Emily Is a Standout Character
Jean Marsh (best known for Upstairs, Downstairs and later Willow) is pitch-perfect as Miss Emily. She plays the role with a quiet menace and a touch of camp, making her one of the more memorable witches in anthology TV.
Classic Darkside Moralism
Like many Tales from the Darkside episodes, this one is a morality tale. Greed, disrespect, and cruelty are punished, while tradition and hidden power are honoured. It’s not subtle, but it’s satisfying.
What Doesn’t Work
Limited Visual Flair
The effects here are modest—a little smoke, a spooky dream, some sound effects. It works for the story, but viewers expecting overt magic or dramatic transformations may be underwhelmed.
Pacing Issues
The episode is a slow burn. While the payoff is worth it, the buildup drags at times, especially with long scenes of Carlin ranting or pacing.
One-Dimensional Villain
Mr. Carlin is very much a stock character: the sleazy, uncaring landlord. He works as a foil, but he’s never particularly interesting on his own.
Themes: Tradition vs. Greed, Power in the Overlooked
“Parlour Floor Front” is about the danger of underestimating people, especially older women, especially those labelled as strange. It’s also a cautionary tale about trying to erase history or bulldoze over the past for profit. In the end, the house itself seems to resist change, and Miss Emily is its guardian.
There’s also a subtext here about the dismissal of the elderly and how they’re often seen as burdens or obstacles in a society obsessed with progress. Miss Emily reclaims her agency through supernatural means, turning the tables on her would-be evictor.
Final Thoughts: A Slow-Burn Tale with Witchy Charm
“Parlour Floor Front” might not dazzle with special effects or plot twists, but it delivers a satisfying little ghost story with a strong sense of atmosphere and a deliciously spiteful ending. It feels like a stage play in many ways, and that works in its favour, allowing the actors to carry the weight of the narrative.
It’s a story that reminds us: be careful who you try to push around, especially if they keep jars of herbs, speak Latin, and have been around a little too long.
Who Would Enjoy This Episode?
- Fans of witchcraft stories with subtle magic
- Viewers who enjoy character-driven horror
- Anyone who likes a good “greedy jerk gets cursed” tale
Who Might Not Enjoy It?
- Those who want fast pacing and flashy visuals
- Viewers looking for complex plots or surprises
- Anyone not in the mood for theatrical monologues and slow-building dread
Final Verdict: A Creepy Character Piece with a Magical Bite
“Parlour Floor Front” isn’t the scariest or most elaborate Tales from the Darkside episode, but it’s an effective cautionary tale with a great performance at its center. It’s cozy, eerie, and quietly triumphant—like a haunted teacup full of revenge.
