History Recap / TalesFromTheCryptS1E1TheManWhoWasDeath

* AdaptationalHeroism: Nikes is much less evil than his comics counterpart, going after those criminals left off with a technicality while his comics self went after people found not guilty (with at least one victim implied to have been innocent).

* BookEnds: The episode opens as a prisoner, Charlie Ledbetter, is dragged to and strapped into the electric chair. The episode's closing scene shows Talbot being dragged to and strapped into the chair as the same music that played over the opening scene ambles on.

* EveryoneHasStandars: When Niles prepares to kill Flood, he makes no effort to hide his contempt for the man.

* AdaptionalNameChange: In the comic, the executioner was named Edgar Bowman. Here, he's Niles Talbot.
* AdaptionalPersonalityChange: Edgar was an eccentric lunatic, while Niles remains more grounded in reality.

* AssholeVictim: After listening to and watching Niles for a half-hour, it's REALLY cathartic to see him get lead to the chair.

* AllBikersAreHellsAngels: The first victim of VillainProtagonist Niles Talbot after he turns VigilanteMan is a murderous biker let OffOnATechnicality. Before doing this, Niles first deliver a [[BreakingTheFourthWall lecture to camera]] about how much he admires biker culture and how it represents what was great about the country before it became all 'civilized'.

** His vitcims count too, being unrepentant murderers themselves. The first one was only let go because of a technicality, and mocks a family member of his victim. His other victims were an adulterous couple who don't hesitate to turn on each other when he appears to perform the sentence.

** In the episode's opening scene, Talbot revels as a prisoner shouts that the governor is going to call to give him a stay of execution as he is strapped into the electric chair. Talbot states that this phone call has never happened. The episode concludes with Talbot being strapped into the chair, repeating the prisoner's desperate cries, and then executed after the phone doesn't ring.

* IronicEcho: In the episode's opening scene, Talbot revels as a prisoner shouts that the governor is going to call to give him a stay of execution as he is strapped into the electric chair. Talbot states that this phone call has never happened. The episode concludes with Talbot being strapped into the chair, repeating the prisoner's desperate cries, and then executed after the phone doesn't ring.

* HighVoltageDeath: Niles really loves to deliver this method of execution.

* ActorAllusion: [[Film/PhantomOfTheParadise Gerrit Graham once again is given a]] HighVoltageDeath.

** Talbot comments at one point, "I have seen a few heads smoke after it's all over. A smokin' head ain't very pretty." Following his own execution, he says, "I didn't want no haircut. They said that was a mistake 'cause my head might catch on fire from the electricity when they juiced me. I told 'em, 'Don't worry. Governor gonna call.'" Cue a shot of Talbot's body in the chair, smoke dribbling up from the electrodes on his temples.

Niles Talbot works as the executioner at a state prison, throwing the switch to put convicts to death in the electric chair. He's an easygoing, genial sort of fellow, commenting on the prisoners' behavior when their time comes and touting the virtues of electricity as a method of execution.

* ArtisticLicenseLaw: [[spoiler:Niles receives the death penalty for murders that he committed while it had been rescinded by the state legislature.]] This is an ''ex post facto'' law, which is prohibited at both the federal and state levels under the United States Constitution.
* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler: After listening to and watching Niles for a half-hour, it's REALLY cathartic to see him get lead to the chair.]]
* BookEnds: The episode opens as a prisoner, Charlie Ledbetter, is dragged to and strapped into the electric chair. [[spoiler: The episode's closing scene shows Talbot being dragged to and strapped into the chair as the same music that played over the opening scene ambles on.]]

* IronicEcho: In the episode's opening scene, Talbot revels as a prisoner shouts that the governor is going to call to give him a stay of execution as he is strapped into the electric chair. Talbot states that this phone call has never happened. [[spoiler: The episode concludes with Talbot being strapped into the chair, repeating the prisoner's desperate cries, and then executed after the phone doesn't ring.]]
** Talbot comments at one point, "I have seen a few heads smoke after it's all over. A smokin' head ain't very pretty." [[spoiler:Following his own execution, he says, "I didn't want no haircut. They said that was a mistake 'cause my head might catch on fire from the electricity when they juiced me. I told 'em, 'Don't worry. Governor gonna call.'" Cue a shot of Talbot's body in the chair, smoke dribbling up from the electrodes on his temples.]]

* IronicEcho: In the episode's opening scene, Talbot revels as a prisoner shouts that the governor is going to call to give him a stay of execution as he is strapped into the electric chair. Talbot states that this phone call has never happened. [[spoiler: The episode concludes with Talbot being strapped into the chair, repeating the prisoner's desperate cries.]]

* IronicEcho: In the episode's opening scene, Talbot revels as a prisoner shouts that the governor is going to call to give him a stay of execution as he is strapped into the electric chair. Talbot states that this phone call has never happened. [[spoiler: The episode concludes with Talbot being strapped into the chair, repeating the prisoner's desperate cries.]]

Niles Talbot is a perfect fit for his job as an executioner working for a state prison. But when his (unnamed) state bans the death penalty, Talbot decides to take the law into his own hands by bringing his brand of justice to the criminal scum he believes do not deserve to live.

Niles Talbot is a perfect fit for his job as an executioner working for a state prison. But when his (unnamed)state bans the death penalty, Talbot decides to take the law into his own hands by bringing his brand of justice to the criminal scum he believes do not deserve to live.

* BookEnds: The episode opens as a prisoner, Charlie Ledbetter, is dragged to and strapped into the electric chair. [[spoiler: The episode's closing scene shows Talbot being dragged to and strapped into the chair as the same music that played over the opening scene ambles on.]]