Having been introduced to the series via the "Baby" episode, I decided to dig out the rest of the series. Starting, as would make sense, with the first "Special Offer". Which was less effective than "Baby" as a genuinely scary horror story, but rather affecting as a story of bullying in the workplace.
Noreen Beale (Pauline Quirke) is a dowdy supermarket employee whose demeanour constantly annoys her lecherous and ambitious store manager Colin Grimley (Geoffrey Batemen). When Colin again accuses Noreen of clumsily knocking items off the shelves, she blames the spillage on a loose animal that only she seems to catch sight of. As Colin tries to get rid of Noreen, the scale and damage of the animal attacks increase.
Watching it today, the spectre of "Carrie" looms rather large over this episode. It's implied, though never specifically stated, that Noreen is causing the damage rather that anything more literal than that, and when you consider stories of bullied girls striking back with telekinetic powers you have to think of "Carrie". As ubiquitous as it is now, 1976 was only two years after King's book had first been published and was the same year as Brian De Palma's movie, so at the very least it was a fresher idea then. A young Pauline Quirke is very good in the lead role, as she would go on to be in numerous things. It's quite a subtle shift she puts as she goes from put-upon victim to subtle executioner. The practical visual effects, items moving on shelves and, in particular, bags opening themselves is very nicely done.
However, I didn't feel like it was a great episode of television. It hit the same story beats too often, without much in the way of progression. It's also isn't scary. "Baby" had a genuine sense of tension and atmosphere before the final (admittedly underwhelming) moment. Tonally "Special Offer" never generates much anxiety, it's mostly sad and then repetitive.
I'll keep going with the series but for the moment, "Baby" is the highspot.