Tales from the Darkside (TV Series) Comet Watch (1986) User Reviews

Tales from the Darkside--Comet Watch

[Scarecrow-88 · 6/10 · 24 April 2013]

If you were a kid growing up in the 80s (particularly 84-85), Hailey's Comet was all the rage and I think that nostalgic memory will return in this episode of Tales from the Darkside, a definite time capsule episode that truly does date itself to a certain extent. It is another of those silly diversions that I can't figure will be heralded as an episode to go out of your way to see. That said, I can't imagine those like me who recall the hullabaloo surrounding the Comet won't get some enjoyment out of it. I remember having a class school picture in school with the background of the Comet, so "Comet Watch" did bring a smile to face. It also has two familiar faces that show up in the cast, character actor Anthony Heald (who has made a living playing smarmy characters; when he needed to he could definitely make your skin crawl; he may be best known for "Silence of the Lambs" & "Boston Public"), and horror icon Fritz Weaver ("Re-Animator" & "Creepshow"; he was also in the Tom Savini-directed Tales from the Darkside episode, "Inside the Closet"). Heald is a treat as cuckolded husband, Englebert Ames, a "stargazer", with a pariah wife, Charlene (Kate McGregor-Stewart), always demanding of him, ordering him to do this and that. It is the big night of "Halley's Comet" (Fritz plays Halley, the historical figure who was responsible for recognizing the Comet and establishing its timeline for returning every 75.5 years), and Englebert has a giant telescope aimed right at the sky, super-excited for its re-appearance. What Englebert doesn't expect is for a "Comet rider" to emerge from the inside of his telescope! Her name is Laura (Sarah Rush), and she's from 1910! It seems Halley found a "window" that allows him to travel space, and he chose Laura as his "queen of the stars". Halley had temporarily lost Laura, with her hitching a ride back through the telescope and into Englebert's study. Soon Halley follows after her, with Charlene incensed that her hubby hasn't gotten ready for their dinner party involving her father and Englebert's position in pop's company. This is just as wacky as the synopsis indicates. Fritz looks like he came right out of a meeting with those who crafted the Declaration of Independence, with knee high stockings and white, curly wig. All that self-adoration and pomposity is on full display as Fritz lays it on thick regarding how he views himself quite highly. Charlene is loud and grotesque as appropriate for her easy-to-loathe, over-the-top bitch caricature. She is the wife who bosses around the husband, and he is walks on eggshells around her. The ending regarding who will stay and who will leave should never be in doubt, particularly when Englebert and Laura become smitten with each other. Laura doesn't want to go back, and Englebert doesn't want her to leave; the other two, Halley and Charlene, expect their counterparts to obey their command and do as ordered. Heald and Sara have good chemistry, remaining googly-eyed and swapping obvious looks of growing affection.

"Elvis is waiting in the car." Another bizarre & quirky Tales from the Darkside episode.

[poolandrews · 4/10 · 7 April 2008]

Tales from the Darkside: Comet Watch starts as amateur stargazer Englebert Ames (Anthony Heald) is excited by the once in a lifetime opportunity to witness Halley's Comet which only passes the Earth every seventy-five point eight years. However while gazing at it through his old telescope something strange happens, he sees a woman heading towards him & she ends up coming out of the end of his telescope & into his room! The woman says her name is Lara Burns (Sarah Rush) & that she found a time window in 1910 the last time Halley's Comet passed Earth which allowed her to ride it with it's discoverer Edmund Halley (Fritz Weaver) who also drops into Englebert's room through his telescope to reclaim Lara but she doesn't want to go back with him...

Episode 13 from season 2 this Tales from the Darkside story was directed by Warner Shook & is yet another light hearted fantasy that wouldn't feel out of place on the Disney channel. The script by Harvey Jacobs & Jule Selbo has an absolutely bizarre premise behind it, the fact that Edmund Halley lives on the comet he discovered & that a woman from 1910 also lives on it with him is certainly a unique plot. I mean can you think of another film or telly programme with a similar story? The main problem I have with Comet Watch & the majority of these types of Tales from the Darkside episodes is that once the novelty value wears off they become incredibly silly & rarely do anything with the premise. At only twenty minutes at least it's short but the story is just so far removed from reality it's very becomes odd watching it, the overly happy mushy ending is weak & predictable as well.

Like a lot of Tales from the Darkside episodes Comet Watch takes place in a single location with only four cast members, this series is very good at using the absolute economic minimum to tell a story. Despite being known as a horror anthology series this episode isn't scary & doesn't even try to be. Comet Watch was one of respected actor Anthony Heald's first jobs while it was one of veteran actor Fritz Weaver's last.

Comet Watch is an oddity, it's a watchable oddity that is just so bizarre I don't quite know how to take it or what to think of it. Fans of the more quirky stories from this show should like it.

I should hate this one but I don't

[shellytwade · 6/10 · 26 January 2022]

I don't know what it is about this episode but I find it oddly compelling. I don't know if it's nostalgia from me watching it as a child but whatever it is I really enjoy this episode. But if you're expecting something of actual quality you had better pass.

Truly horrible

[Leofwine_draca · 2/10 · 5 June 2015]

COMET WATCH is far more horrifying than any of the so-called horror episodes of TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE; it's horrible because it's an attempted comedy, and it's an attempt that falls flat over and over again. In fact it's completely worthless, a dud that fails to be funny, fails at everything it sets out to be, and wastes the talent of one or two decent actors.

The story features Fritz Weaver (RE-ANIMATOR) playing Sir Edmund Halley and the ultra-annoying Kate McGregor-Stewart, who we saw way too much of in the last TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE episode, GRANDMA'S LAST WISH. I guess somebody must have found her funny because here she is in another episode. I wish they hadn't bothered because she's a failure (as is everything else in this story).

The Halley Comet

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 7 April 2022]

Englebert Ames loves astronomy and his idol is Sir Edmund Halley. On the night that the Halley Comet will pass near Earth, his annoying wife Charlene wishes to have dinner with her father. Englebert decides to stay at home and out of the blue, a woman arrives in his room through his telescope. Soon, Sir Edmund Halley also comes looking for the woman named Lara Burns. Englebert learns that Lara loves astronomy and accidentally joined Halley on the comet through a window that opens every 75.8 years and they shall return in a short time. But things get more complicated when Charlene comes to the room.

"Comet Watch" is another funny episode of "Tales from the Darkside". The nonsense plot is highly entertaining and the conclusion satisfactory. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Comet Watch"

One of the worst episodes of the series.

[TOMNEL · 2/10 · 8 February 2008]

With Fritz Weaver.

Fritz Weaver from the classic horror film Creepshow portrays an unhappily married man in this pathetic episode. As I've said for other episodes, this one just seems like it would've been better as an Amazing Stories episode, and it still wouldn't have been a very good one. Fritz Weaver meets a girl on Haley's comet and falls in love with her. Unfortunately her arranged to be married comes on a later comet. Not very good at all. This tries to be humorous, but instead it's annoying, and I suggest you don't show this to a first time viewer. Found on VHS volume 5. My rating: Horrid. 20 mins. TV G

Strange, yet enjoyable comic episode

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 4 October 2013]

Nerdy henpecked astronomer Englebert Ames (robustly played to pointdexter perfection by Anthony Heald) is excited about the prospect of seeing Haley's Comet. Things take a strange and unexpected turn when Ames receives surprise visits from Sir Edmond Haley (a delightfully dotty and dynamic portrayal by Fritz Weaver) and vibrant young lass Laura Burns (a lively and charming performance by the fetching Sarah Rush), both of whom have been trapped inside the comet for seventy-five years. Director Warner Shook, working from an offbeat and original script by Harvey Jacobs and Jule Selbo, relates the enjoyable oddball story at a swift pace and milks plenty of amusing quirky humor from the idiosyncratic premise. The spirited acting from the enthusiastic cast keeps everything buzzing: Heald and Rush display an appealing chemistry, Weaver has a field day as a pompous blow hard version of Haley, and Kate McGregor-Stewart really sinks her teeth into her juicy part as Ames' shrewish and overbearing wife Charlene. Sweet upbeat ending, too. A cute show.

A Masterpiece That's Trapped In Its Own Time

[wbnothing · 10/10 · 15 December 2023]

It might be hard for younger people to understand why this is such an enjoyable episode, but in 1985, Halley's Comet had arrived. It captured the imagination of a whole generation of elementary school and high school students, and a good many of us loved this episode of Tales from the Darkside because it focused on the comet.

Fritz Weaver was also a joy to see in this episode. The guy screaming "Obsolete!" in Twilight Zone episodes showing up as Edmund Halley was also a really awesome thing for aging baby boomers and their kids.

I admit that this episode is an acquired taste, and there may be zero chance of younger viewers getting it, but if you lived through 1985, this is a fascinating episode. Halley's Comet was kind of like a viral internet sensation just in the pre-internet era. Anything about it brings back fond memories for people who got to see it in 1985.