Dark Shadows Episode 629 - 11/21/68

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Maggie unexpectedly arrives at Blair's house. She wanders in and looks around. He asks if there's a reason for her visit, and she says no. She tells him she doesn't know why she's there. He says he hopes she wanted to see him. She says she feels strange, and then grabs her neck, saying she can't breathe. He can't understand what's happening when the room turns red. He hears a voice call his name. He realizes his master is speaking to him through Maggie. The voice warns Blair to prepare for his judgment.

Blair asks why he has come for him. The Master says that he has failed him, since Eve is dead. Blair begs for Maggie's life. The Master asks if Blair has become the protector of the innocent. He asks Blair if he's fallen in love with her. Blair admits it, and the Master says he has become more human than he perceived.

The master explains that Blair will be summoned to give an account of himself and his actions. The room returns to normal and Maggie wakes up, not remembering anything. She says she still doesn't know why she's here. He offers to take her home.

Liz catches Julia as she's about to leave Collinwood, and asks to speak to her. Liz explains that she had a long talk with Barnabas, who called from Windcliff. Julia explained that Barnabas had a nervous breakdown, and she thinks he should stay for a month at least. Liz tells her that he is miserable, and she says she doesn't think it's the place for Barnabas. She says that Barnabas can stay in Collinwood. Julia explains that he needs constant attention. She says he should stay there for his own good. Liz asks if she can go with Julia to Windcliff tomorrow.

There's a knock at the door, and it's Blair to see Julia. He says it's vitally urgent, involving her and Barnabas. The two retire to the drawing room and Liz goes upstairs. Julia asks if Blair has done something to Barnabas. He says he needs her help. She is surprised. He explains that now that Eve is dead, his plans have stalled. He tells her that she is going to repeat the experiment, and she refuses. He says he just needs her to do the last part. He explains that he'll bring Eve's body tomorrow. They will infuse it with a new life force. Julia says she will not do it, and Eve will stay dead. Blair gives her three minutes to change her mind.

She asks him what has changed about him. She points out that he appears upset and desperate. She asks why he didn't bring Eve to life on his own. He tells her it was imperative that she was created the same way Adam was. The originals were tempted by The Master. Julia asks if he means Satan, and he tells her he knows him by another name. He says that this new Adam and Eve, and all those they breed will be the children of his master.

Julia says she won't be a part of it. She tells him to use her powers to force her to help him. He says that if she cares about Barnabas, she'll help him. He threatens Barnabas with something far worse than Angelique. He reminds her that if anything happens to Adam, Barnabas will die. He tells Julia that he will kill Adam if he needs to. She agrees to go through Lang's journals, and says she will let Blair know tomorrow if she can perform the experiment.

In the foyer, Julia calls Windcliff to speak to Barnabas. Liz watches her from atop the stairs.

Blair returns home, and at midnight. His Master tells him that he appears appropriately frightened. The master explains that Blair will leave his world, and enter The Master's, permanently. Blair glows, and when he returns to normal, he's in Diabolos' office.

The master asks if he knows why he as summoned. Blair realizes that he is there because of Angelique. The master says that Blair's feelings for Maggie have resulted in his current predicament. The master calls out Blair for giving Angelique so many chances, and says while she has succeeded, Blair as failed him. Blair tries to get a little more time, but The Master says he doesn't give second chances.

Blair says that Eve will soon be infused with a new life force and reborn. The master offers Blair 48 hours. The master says that once the experiment has concluded, Blair will return to him. He will be judged based on whether Eve lives again. Blair tries to arrange to be returned as a human, so he could be with Maggie. The master explains that Blair can be with Maggie, but only here. Blair realizes that would require her dying. The master tells Blair that she would have to be sacrificed on the black alter if they are to be together.

Our thoughts

John: Those were weird shots of Maggie's open mouth as the Master supposedly was speaking through her.

Christine: Hmm, yes. It may not have been as weird if she kept her mouth closed and eyes wide open, or even if she flapped her gums up and down to attempt some lip sync. No, actually, all those scenarios seem pretty weird, especially coupled with the fact that Diabolos does not really have an appropriately menacing voice. He has more of a cartoon character devil voice. I was expecting to hear him say Mwa-ha-ha at some point.

John: So Blair is willing to give everything up just to have a girlfriend? Surely he knows better than that. Poor guy. It seems like not that long ago, we were discussing Blair's enormous presence. He's definitely come down a few notches since then.

Christine: I was hoping Blair might enter Hell with the same flamboyant posturing we saw from Angelique, but that vision will only exist in my mind. In Episode 616, Nicholas practically admitted he had given his power to Maggie. How the mighty have fallen. I love how Diabolos says he doesn't give second chances and then immediately gave Nicholas a second chance. Now we know where he learned it.

John: I'm going to miss my pal Diabolos (yes, I couldn't help but look online to see how long he'd stick around). For a demon/devil, he's got a great looking crib!

Christine: According to Blair's conversation with Julia, Diabolos is Satan. Does Satan wear glasses? There seems to be some reflection of candlelight captured under that hood. Shame on you for accessing the spoilers. Now we know he won't be around for Maggie's sacrifice on the Black Altar, and Maggie won't be going to Satan's office to live happily ever after with Blair.

Dark Shadows Episode 628 - 11/20/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Angelique approaches her coffin, and thinks that if she succeeds tonight, Blair will be returned to darkness, and the master may lift her curse. She summons a great evil, and is surrounded by fire. She begs not to be destroyed, but screams in agony. A voice asks why she summoned him. It says she will descend to him, and she finds herself in hell.

A robed figure sitting at a desk tells her to approach him. She tells him that Nicholas has failed him. He says she deserved the punishment she received, and he doesn't want to hear any more. He explains how proud he is of Blair, and how excited he is about the super race Blair is preparing for him. She tells him that Blair is failing him, with one of the super beings already having killed the other, because Blair is preoccupied with love for a girl in town. He can't understand how one of his followers could love. She asks him to give her the power to handle Blair. He asks what she'll want in return for taking care of him, and she replies that she would have him lift the curse.

Blair returns home and finds Adam not interested in talking. Blair asks about Eve, and Adam tells him that she's out. Adam asks if Blair was with Maggie. He says he was, and asks why Adam asked. Adam explains that he's lonely when there's a knock at the door. Blair sends him away and opens the door for Julia.

She says she's there to see Adam. Blair says he's not there, and she doesn't believe him. She checks the drawing room, and finds it empty. She then tells Blair that Eve is dead. Murdered. Blair is shocked. He asks how it happened, and she tells him Jeff Clark found her in his room, strangled. She says the police are sure Jeff killed her, but she says they both know it was Adam. He then appears and asks her how she knows. Blair invites her in, and she asks Adam why he killed her. He says he didn't, and she points out he knew Eve was dead when she arrived, or he would have been surprised by the news.

He says he doesn't care because she didn't love him. Blair thinks her theory is interesting, and asks what she intends to do. She says there's nothing she can do, but it would be good to get Adam out of town. She asks to speak to Adam alone, and Blair refuses. Adam demands that he let them speak alone, and Blair leaves.

She tells Adam that she's not unhappy that Eve is dead. She explains she was an evil, vicious woman, and she's glad that she's dead. She tells Adam that she needs his help. She explains that Jeff is innocent. She adds that Stokes taught him decency. He asks if she expects him to go to the police and confess, and she says she doesn't. She says she wants to help the three of them, Adam, Barnabas and Jeff, but she doesn't know how she can. Adam doesn't believe she cares about him. She reminds Adam that she created him. He says he has no friends. She asks about Carolyn and Stokes. He tells her to leave, and she does. After she's gone, Adam realizes he can't like anyone ever again.

Blair accuses Adam of lying. Adam asks what Blair will do if he admits to killing Eve. Blair says he doesn't know. There's a knock at the door, and Blair says it could be the police.

Adam hides, but it's Maggie at the door. She wanders in and looks around. He asks if there's a reason for her visit, and she says no. She tells him she doesn't know why she's there. He says he hopes she wanted to see him. She says she feels strange, and then grabs her neck, saying she can't breathe.

He can't understand what's happening when the room turns red. He hears a voice call his name. He realizes his master is speaking to him through Maggie. The voice warns Blair that tomorrow he will appear before him, and to be prepared.

Our thoughts

John: Angelique's interpretive dance and a disappointing chroma key effect delivered us to what may be the coolest, most ridiculous thing we've experienced in more than 600 episodes of Dark Shadows. Diabolos! Or more appropriately, Diabolos' office. He's got a nice desk, though his all-covering cloak is a little too business casual for such a force of darkness. And once you get him talking, he seems like an accessible evil guy, and not the overbearing evil master you might expect. I hope we haven't seen the last of Diabolos—he deserves his own show like David Brent or Michael Scott on The Office.

Christine: You're funny! Too bad you're not in charge of programming! We have truly entered a new realm on Dark Shadows. I love how Angelique was tattling on Blair for being in love when she's guilty of the same cardinal sin in Diabolos' book. I was surprised he didn't already know about that, but I guess he's not an omniscient being. You may be interested to know that Diabolos is played by Duane Morris, who also appeared as the headless creation in the dream curse in Episode 484, the headless ghost Nicholas summoned in Episode 544, and Lang's creation before he was given life. So Diabolos is really Adam, which is an interesting concept to ponder.

John: So once again, Adam's naiveté gets him in trouble. It was all planned what he was supposed to do, and when Julia arrives tossing around accusations, he gets defensive rather that playing surprised, shocked, or forlorn about the loss of his mate.

Christine: Will the ethical side of Adam cultivated by Professor Stokes win out and lead him to confess to exonerate Jeff Clark? Who knows what to expect from this impulsive creature. Have I become accustomed to seeing smoke everywhere, or did it seem particularly smoky at the House by the Sea today? Perhaps the smoke from Hell was wafting up to Blair's place.

John: Interesting that Maggie was brought in to deliver Diabolos' message. You'd think that one scene wouldn't warrant a day's work for Kathryn Leigh Scott, but go figure. Fortunately, it seems to set up a showdown between Blair and Diabolos tomorrow. But I don't know if I'd prefer to see Blair brought to D's office, or have the Big D show up at Blair's front door! I guess we'll find out tomorrow!

Christine: I certainly hope he doesn't intend to continue voicing through Maggie's open mouth. I'd like to see Blair brought before Big D's desk for his reckoning, though it will be fun to watch either way.