Both episodes take place entirely in a smoke-filled bars, both have an older man in essentially a battle of wills with a younger one, both emphasize being the best, both have a supernatural element but it's not really the point of the episode, and both have sharp dialogue.
'The Odds' features Danny Aiello as Tommy Vale, a minor league bookie who repeatedly boasts that he's never been broken and he's never been cheated. He says at least twice that he's "the best", and like Fats in 'A Game of Pool', Tommy takes pride in being the best even though it's pretty minor. But like Fats says, it may not be the most important thing in the world but he's the best at it, and that carries a certain cachet.
The episode is sort of 'A Game' looked at from the oldest player's POV. This time it's the younger competitor who shows up, trying to destroy the oldest person. Okay, in 'A Game' there's no such destruction trying to take place, but this is 'Tales From the Darkside', not 'Twilight Zone'.
But you've got good performances from the two main actors. Danny Aiello as the older bookie is top star, with his constant boasting of being the best and never being broken, and the fact that everything he says and does sells that, is the mark of a veteran actor. The contempt in his voice near the end when he tells Lacey he's a cheap loser, and always was, is a thing of beauty.
Tom Noonan, a veteran "Hey, It's That Guy!" and general creepy character actor of the 80s, is also good as the Bold Avenger come back from the grave to "avenge" his own death.
High marks to Robert Weil as Tommy's loyal sidekick Horace and even Michael Quill as Lacey's staring "bodyguard". They have small part, but like they say, there are no small parts, only small actors.
Ditto for the episode. 'Tales' was never a great series, and will never be spoken of in the same hushed tones as most of the 'Twilight Zone's. But when it was hot, it was hot. And 'The Odds' is one of the best.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
'The Odds' features Danny Aiello as Tommy Vale, a minor league bookie who repeatedly boasts that he's never been broken and he's never been cheated. He says at least twice that he's "the best", and like Fats in 'A Game of Pool', Tommy takes pride in being the best even though it's pretty minor. But like Fats says, it may not be the most important thing in the world but he's the best at it, and that carries a certain cachet.
The episode is sort of 'A Game' looked at from the oldest player's POV. This time it's the younger competitor who shows up, trying to destroy the oldest person. Okay, in 'A Game' there's no such destruction trying to take place, but this is 'Tales From the Darkside', not 'Twilight Zone'.
But you've got good performances from the two main actors. Danny Aiello as the older bookie is top star, with his constant boasting of being the best and never being broken, and the fact that everything he says and does sells that, is the mark of a veteran actor. The contempt in his voice near the end when he tells Lacey he's a cheap loser, and always was, is a thing of beauty.
Tom Noonan, a veteran "Hey, It's That Guy!" and general creepy character actor of the 80s, is also good as the Bold Avenger come back from the grave to "avenge" his own death.
High marks to Robert Weil as Tommy's loyal sidekick Horace and even Michael Quill as Lacey's staring "bodyguard". They have small part, but like they say, there are no small parts, only small actors.
Ditto for the episode. 'Tales' was never a great series, and will never be spoken of in the same hushed tones as most of the 'Twilight Zone's. But when it was hot, it was hot. And 'The Odds' is one of the best.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?