Dark Shadows Episode 1184 1/7/71

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV 

Daphne tells Quentin that she can't see him any more. She tells him that Joanna still loves him. He says that he and Joanna broke up. She can't listen to him. She says Joanna won't be right again without him. He asks if she's willing to sacrifice everything for her sister. She tells him that she doesn't feel the same about him anymore. He asks what she's going to do, and she tells him that she's going to marry Gerard Stiles. He can't believe it. He asks what made her change. She says he doesn't understand the hold Gerard has over her. He says he's not going to let her marry Gerard. He tells her that he's going to divorce Samantha when he gets out of jail. He asks Daphne when she last spoke to Joanna. She says it was this afternoon. He asks if Joanna told her that he loved her. She says she did not. He asks why she thinks Joanna didn't tell her. He says he knows her better than Gerard does. He asks what Gerard did to make her change. She says she would explain it if she could. He begs her to promise him that she won't do anything until he gets out. He tells her that he will be free soon, and Joanna will leave. 

Mordecai Grimes reads a letter from Dawson saying he doesn't know if he should come to court or not. His son Jeremy reminds him that if Quentin is acquitted, then he's not a warlock. Grimes tells Jeremy that if Dawson doesn't want his testimony, other Jeremy son walks out on him. 

Jeremy meets Carrie in the woods. He holds her and she says it's wrong. He tells her that she has to get over it. He explains that he has work to do during the day, so he can't come see her. She says he just wants her to listen to him, but he's wrong sometimes. He says he's not wrong about her, and kisses her. 

Daphne returns to Collinwood, and Gerard stops her as she heads upstairs. He reminds her that he hasn't asked his question about getting married. He says that he knows that Quentin would have her not do it. He says deep in her heart, he knows she will, and kisses her. 

Gerard visits Quentin in his cell. He tells him that he's in love with Daphne. Quentin reminds him that he was in love with Samantha when he returned to Collinwood. Quentin says he seems to want his life, and he's well on his way, having the estate, and the fortune. Gerard says it will all revert to him when he's free. Quentin says he doesn't think Gerard has human emotions. He tells Gerard that he's not going to let him marry Daphne. He says he'll kill him first. Gerard can't believe it, hearing those words from his best friend. Quentin laughs at him, and tells him to get out. Gerard says he came to make him understand that falling in love is an involuntary thing, and if it's a crime, it's the only thing he's guilty of.

Jeremy tells Carrie that it's time everyone knew about them. He kisses her, and they enter Collinwood together. He says he feels right at home. They hear someone enter and he's surprised to see his father. Grimes sees him with Carrie, and tells him to come with him. He warns Carrie to stay away from Jeremy. His father tells him to say goodbye to her for the last time. He says he'll stop the two of them if it's the last thing he does. Carrie tells Jeremy to try and make his father understand.

Gerard tells Grimes that he heard he came to Collinwood. Grimes refers to Collinwood as a house of corruption. Gerard says it isn't corrupting him, and Grimes says he heard as much from Trask. Gerard says he doesn't think Grimes' testimony will be strong enough. He adds that he found some evidence that he's sure would prove Quentin's guilt. He asks Grimes to incorporate this evidence into his testimony, without reference to him. He agrees. Gerard asks him to write a note to Dawson. He reminds him that it could be used as evidence in the trial, so it mustn't mention his name. He dictates the letter from Grimes' perspective, pointing out that he has found evidence of Quentin's guilt, and asking him to come see him immediately. Grimes finishes the letter and says his son will deliver it. Gerard says he'll be back with the evidence before Dawson arrives. Gerard leaves, and Grimes tells Jeremy to deliver the note to Dawson.

Carrie decides to go see Jeremy's father to explain how she feels. After she leaves, Gerard returns to Collinwood and goes into the drawing room. He takes out his devil's sigil, and says it's a shame they must sacrifice Grimes so that Quentin will be beheaded. Gerard calls for the shadow of death to visit Grimes.

Grimes sees the shadow approaching him, and collapses.

Gerard smiles and declares that Quentin will be found guilty.

Carrie arrives at Grimes's house and finds him on the floor. He tells her that Quentin Collins did this.

Our thoughts: 

John: We've got the trial of the century underway, and all of the folks that should be keeping a watchful eye on Gerard are off. I sure hope that before the show is over, Quentin will get a chance to duke it out with his 'old buddy,' possessed or not!

 

Christine: Hopefully Quentin's lawyer will show up tomorrow to give us a break from some of the traditional soap opera love triangles and teen smooching that's been going on heavily this week. 

 

John: It's the return of the killer shadow! Who would have expected that the least-convincing effect in the history of the show (a title not so easily awarded) would return to haunt someone else.

 

Christine: What's up with those spindly legs on the shadow monster? Even though this shadow didn't have the same undulating motion that Angelique's conjured shadow had, I still couldn't help hearing Herb Alpert and the Tijuana brass when it advanced on Mordecai. Now we know where Angelique learned how to conjure this cutout figure. 

John: For a moment I thought that we'd find out that Jeremy refused to deliver his father's note to Dawson, and Carrie's unannounced arrival would thwart Gerard's plan, but it looks as if it will serve him well, giving Grimes a chance to level an accusation at Quentin directly. Unless I'm right about the first part, and Jeremy returns and he and Carrie decide to hide his father's body. Of course, that seems somewhat far-fetched, even for our writers...

 

Christine: Nothing is too farfetched for this gang of writers. 

Episode 972

Dark Shadows Episode 1154/1155 11/27/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV

Randall sneaks into Gerard's room and snoops around. He finds a box in the bottom drawer of a desk, and opens it up to see the bejeweled mask. He hears someone at the door. It opens and Edith walks in. She asks where Gerard is, and then asks what he's doing there. He turns the tables on her, asking what she's doing there. She says she came with a message from Gabriel. He points out that she's a modern woman, coming to a man's bedroom. She uses Gabriel's disability as an excuse. He asks if Gerard and Gabriel are friends, and then asks her if she knows Gerard better. She says she's done nothing wrong coming there, and asks him again what he's doing. He tells her that he's curious. He then asks Edith how his sister felt about Gerard. He then follows up asking her how well Gerard knows Quentin, and he's surprised to hear that they are the best of friends. They agree not to mention running into each other to anybody.

Gabriel looks around Collinwood for Edith when Mr. Grimes comes looking for Quentin. When he hears that he isn't there, he says he'll go straight to the constable. Gabriel asks him if it's a serious matter. He invites Grimes in to wait for Quentin. Gabriel asks how things are at Weatherby Farm. Grimes tells him that he's not planning to sell them his land. Gabriel says Grimes' cows broke through the fence yesterday, and Grimes points out that they're all dead. 

Quentin arrives and addresses Grimes. Grimes accuses Quentin of being responsible for his herd of cows being killed. Quentin asks if he's been talking to Trask. Grimes says the whole town knows. Quentin pushes Gabriel out of the drawing room. Grimes says there was nothing wrong with his herd when they died. He lists off all the strange phenomena that has been occurring in Collinwood,  Quentin denies having anything to do with it. He tells Grimes to get out. Quentin threatens him, and Gabriel laughs as Grimes runs out. 

In the woods, someone follows Grimes. He hears someone following him, and calls to Quentin, saying he's prepared to fight him. He pulls a gun and fires. Randall appears and asks Grimes what he's doing. Grimes tells him to follow him. They find a paper with the Devil's mark stuck to a tree with a knife. Grimes says it's a warning Quentin left for him. Randall asks him if he's sure it was Quentin. Grimes tells Randall to get his sister out of the house while he still can.

Edith is sitting by the fireplace when she hears someone coming. She hides in the shadows as Gerard comes into his room. She asks him where he has been. He tells her to nevermind. She asks if he's going to be nice to her, or awful as he is sometimes. He kisses her, and then walks away. She tells him she can't stand it at Collinwood anymore. He says she took a big chance coming to his room, and she says he should be glad she did. He asks what she means. She tells him she caught Randall in his room, at his desk. Gerard sees the case with the mask has been opened. She asks him what's in the box, and he tells her she'll find out one night soon. She reminds him that she'll do anything for him. He tells her to go to Collinwood and find out who Randall has talked to.  He says he's going to go to the village to see if Randall is still at Trask's. He kisses her once again, and then sends her away. He hides the box with the mask.

Gabriel is in the foyer when Edith returns to Collinwood. He asks where she has been, and she says she was at the old house. He asks if Barnabas is the new object of her devotion. She asks him if Randall has been there, and Gabriel says he is more her type. She goes to ask someone else. He grabs her hand and says they're going to have a chat about why she went to the old house. She admits that she did not go to the old house. 

Randall comes in and asks them to tell them exactly what is happening in Collinwood, showing them the paper with the Devil's sign. He says it was left as a warning to Grimes. Gabriel dismisses it. Randall says Trask was right that there was something supernatural about his sister's death. He says tonight is the final proof — Desmond's attack through Quentin's voodoo doll. He asks how close Quentin is to Gerard, and Gabriel says very close. He says he's going to the police to meet Trask, and Gabriel tells him he admires how he can step outside his family and harm his sister, nephew and brother in law. He tells Gabriel he has no choice, and leaves. 

Edith is excited to think Quentin might go to jail. Gabriel says if that happens, he has many plans. He asks her why she was asking if Randall was there. She makes up a story about Samantha. Quentin comes in through the back door. Gabriel tells him that Randall is meeting up with Trask to go to the police, because they think he is a warlock. Quentin goes out after them. Gabriel sends Edith up to bed.

Randall waits in the woods for Trask. He hears someone approaching. He's surprised by who he sees. A gloved hand grabs Randall's throat and chokes him. The man stabs another piece of paper with the Devil's mark into the ground next to Randall's body.

Our thoughts: 

John: Who is this Grimes who appears to have arrived out of a Charles Dickens novel?

 

Christine: It was about time Thayer David showed up in 1840 to assume the role of Mordecai Grimes! 

 

John: I love how Randall reluctantly admits there was something supernatural about his sister's death. Oh, your vampire sister who disintegrated when you kept her from he coffin while the sun rose? Supernatural? Really?

 
Christine: That did not make a whole lot of sense, though I assume the supernatural aspect he's citing referred to how she became a vampire, which was instigated unconventionally by witchcraft. 

John: Place your bets on the mystery man! I guess there really aren't too many choices. It seems pretty obvious that it has to be Gerard... but maybe, just maybe, the writers have another trick up their sleeves.

 

Christine: You never know. Sometimes they make us think that it couldn't be the obvious choice and it turns out to be the obvious choice, though every now and then they hit us with something completely unexpected. Let's hope for the latter this time.