Dark Shadows Episode 666 - 1/13/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

After dawn, in 1796, the Countess and Forbes enter the mausoleum. She says she had him released from prison to do what must be done. He has a stake in his hand, and she opens the secret door. She tells him to open the coffin. He does, and the find Barnabas sleeping inside. She tells Forbes to destroy him, and he raises a mallet into the air, only to be interrupted by Ben who pounds a crowbar on the brick while calling out to Forbes. He wrestles the mallet away from Forbes. The Countess asks if Ben knows what Barnabas is, and he explains that he's the victim of Angelique's curse, and he will help him. Forbes draws a gun on Ben, and tells him they're taking him to the constable. Ben advances and Forbes shoots him. Ben grabs Forbes and pounds his body on the steps, killing him. Ben tells the Countess that she knows too much. She tries to run away, but Ben inadvertently kills her, too.

In 1969, Julia tells Willie she's going back to the cemetery. Willie says that Barnabas wasn't there last night. She tells him that she saw Barnabas disappear, and she believes that her being in the graveyard is necessary for him to reappear. She leaves, and Willie remembers finding Barnabas in the mausoleum. He runs out after her.

Julia is in the cemetery, trying to will Barnabas back, when Willie arrives. He asks what happened to the gravestones for Vicki and Peter, and she says they were gone yesterday. She tells him that Barnabas managed to save them, but he may have trapped himself. She calls for him again, but there's no sign of him.

Bacm in 1796, Barnabas asks Ben why he didn't chain him in the coffin. Ben tells him that Forbes and the Countess found him, and Forbes was about to drive a stake through his heart. Ben says he had to kill them. Now that he's a murderer, he says he needs his help. Barnabas sees that Ben has buried the bodies, and tells him he needs to get rid of the Countess' belongings before his father returns. Barnabas says he needs to chain him in the coffin in the morning.

In 1969, Willie brings Julia soup. He says that maybe Barnabas wants to stay in the past. Julia points out that he's a vampire back then. Willie asks what if Barnabas comes back the way he found him - in the mausoleum. He suggests that he'll try that. She says that if he's in the coffin, it means he's a vampire again.

Willie returns to the secret room in the mausoleum, and sees the coffin is not chained shut. He opens it, and finding it empty, closes it again. He leaves the mausoleum, disappointed. Outside, it's dawn.

Inside the secret room, chains materialize around the coffin. Inside the coffin, Barnabas screams for help.

Willie returns to the old house. Julia tells him the coffin was empty. He asks her if she'll try again tonight, and she says she's not sure. She goes up to bed and he tells her he's sorry. He says that maybe tomorrow will be different. After she's gone, he hears crying, and sees the ghost of Josette. He runs towards her and she disappears.

He calls for Julia. She comes downstairs and he tells her that Josette's ghost appeared to him, crying. He says she only appeared to them whenever Barnabas was in danger. He then hears a heartbeat coming from behind Barnabas' portrait. He says that's how he found him before. He says Barnabas is in the mausoleum and he's alive.

Barnabas continues to struggle in his coffin.

Our thoughts

John: Did Ben get shot by Forbes or not? He clutches his chest like he did, but then kills Forbes with his bare hands.

Christine: I think he was clutching his chest from surprise. The only thing that fired from that gun was a loud sound. I wonder how Ben becoming a murderer may affect the life of his future relation, Professor Stokes.

John: How is it that Julia would know that Barnabas would become a vampire by traveling back to 1796? That still doesn't make sense to me. I guess this time travel interlude was deemed the most expedient way of getting rid of Vicki and bringing a vampire back into town.

Christine: Julia may not have known for certain that he would become a vampire, it is just what she fears most. I'm sure she hasn't forgotten all the times he choked her, or how mean and nasty he was to her when he was a vampire before.

John: When there weren't chains on the coffin, why would Willie even bother checking for Barnabas? Without chains, he wouldn't be trapped in it. Poor guy has crap timing. A few minutes later and he would have been there to welcome his old boss back.

Christine: At least he figured it out after Josette made an appearance. I don't understand why Barnabas is freaking out in his coffin. It's not like he hasn't spent time in a closed coffin before. Does this mean he suddenly appeared in 1969 right after Ben chained him in 1796, or has he been freaking out for nearly 200 years? I could understand if he were human and running out of air, but he's definitely still wearing his vampire makeup.

Dark Shadows Episode 665 - 1/10/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Angelique tells Vicki's corpse that she will release her from her spell once she's been buried, so she can awaken in a coffin only to die again.

Barnabas rises from his coffin and is met by Ben. Ben confirms that he is ready to help him.

Peter looks over Vicki's body as the Countess and Millicent look on. Peter tells them that Vicki is not going to be buried. He says he can't let got of her, and does the patented Bradford/Clark head-grab.

Angelique eavesdrops on Peter before going upstairs.

Angelique comes to see Barnabas, and he says she betrayed him. She denies it, explaining that Vicki had to undergo the hanging. She says Vicki will live again, once the two of them leave Collinwood. He doesn't trust her. She tells him that if he doesn't, Vicki will die the most horrible death imaginable. He says that she is wrong, and that she will die. He walks to the door and opens it. Ben enters with a torch, and proceeds to light her on fire. She screams as she burns, while Ben chants, "Burn!"

Peter is distracted by a woman screaming when Vicki sits up, alive.

Barnabas tells Ben to spread Angelique's ashes to the four winds. As they leave the room, the Countess sees him, despite knowing that he's dead. She goes into the room he and Ben came out of, and sees the coffin. She opens it.

Vicki says she remembers standing on the gallows, and then waking up in Collinwood. Barnabas enters and is shocked to see her alive.

Millicent comes into the room with the coffin. She says she heard screaming. The Countess tells her that Barnabas is alive. Millicent says she already knew that. The Countess says the coffin in the room is empty. Millicent says that Nathan talked about Barnabas when she saw him, saying that he wanted her to destroy Barnabas by driving a stake through his heart.

Barnabas says it's a miracle. He explains that Angelique put a spell on her, but it must have been broken when they burned her alive. Peter comes in, and Barnabas tells then to go away, as far as they can. He wishes them happiness. Peter thanks him, and Vicki asks to be alone with Barnabas for a moment. He goes to prepare the carriage, and Vicki tells Barnabas that no matter what happens, she will always remain close to him. She kisses him on the cheek and leaves.

The Countess believes that Barnabas is a vampire. She realizes that he wanted to make Josette like him, which is why she jumped from the cliff at Widow's Hill. She pledges to destroy Barnabas.

Ben asks where Barnabas will be returning to. He says he needs to be in the cemetery where Ben met him 48 hours ago. Ben agrees to go with him.

The Countess and Millicent go to follow Barnabas.

In the cemetery, Barnabas returns to the spot where he left Julia. He calls to her in the future, asking her to draw him forward in time. Millicent and Julia watch from the woods. Barnabas says that perhaps Julia was to find him the way Willie found him, and asks Ben to follow him into the mausoleum. He tells Ben to return in the morning and place chains around the coffin. He also asks him to tell his father what happened.

After dawn, the Countess and Forbes enter the mausoleum. She says she had him released from prison to do what must be done. He has a stake in his hand, and she opens the secret door. She tells him to open the coffin. He does, and the find Barnabas sleeping inside. She tells Forbes to destroy him, and he raises a mallet into the air, and brings it down in a crash.

Our thoughts

John: So Angelique is giving Vicki the Liz Stoddard/buried alive treatment, though this time she's cutting right to the chase. Makes sense, the way these things can drag on.

Christine: Why torment Vicki just because Barnabas loves her? It's one thing to do away with her to make him suffer, but quite another to make her die twice horribly just because he spurned Angelique. She is really honing her skills at evildoing.

John: I'm sorry, but if Angelique could be done away with a simple impromptu barbecue, she would have been vanquished long ago. This has all the hallmarks of the writers' needing a quick way to wrap up the storyline... As Barnabas tells Ben, it's hard to believe. And particularly hard to believe is that she burned to ashes in a matter of minutes.

Christine: Angelique cannot be killed, only diminished. I only hope her incineration will break Liz's spell too.

John: Was anyone else hoping that Barnabas might have a change of heart and bite Vicki to keep as his own... Instead he lets her go, and decides to take another 200-year nap, all but ensuring he'll return to the future as a vampire. Unless his life is cut short by Nathan Forbes!

Christine: I'm glad to see that Barnabas has learned some selflessness and decided to let Vicki go with the man she truly loves. Maybe he'll mature even more after another 200 years of reflection. The loud bang we heard at the end of the episode didn't sound like a hammer hitting a stake, so I think he'll come out okay on Monday. Dan Curtis spared no expense in this episode, with a total of 8 actors on board for the action today! That may be a record.

Dark Shadows Episode 663 - 1/8/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Barnabas arrives at Collinwood at 9pm, and makes his way to Joshua's study. Forbes is waiting inside with the crossbow pointed at the door. Barnabas opens the door but does not enter. Forbes goes to the door but doesn't see anyone, so he closes and locks it. He then hears Barnabas' voice inside the room, but he can't see him. Barnabas then appears behind Forbes and grabs him. Forbes pleads with Barnabas not to kill him, and he agrees. He tells Forbes to write a confession that he lied about Vicki and Peter.

Forbes bargains for his life - saying he doesn't want to die, but he also doesn't want to go to jail. Barnabas threatens him. Forbes agrees to write a confession and sign it, as long as Barnabas does, too. Forbes uses Peter and Vicki's lives as leverage. Barnabas warns him that he can take care of him without killing him. He tells Forbes that he is unaware of his powers. Barnabas approaches him with fangs bared, and Forbes screams.

Barnabas tells Ben that he needs his help. Forbes is sitting in a chair with a shocked look and a signed confession on his lap. Barnabas explains that he had to use a little persuasion, and they now need to take him into town to turn him in to the authorities.

Ben and Barnabas lead Forbes out through the foyer when Millicent comes downstairs. She asks where they're taking her husband, and they ignore her.

At the dock, Barnabas tells Ben that Peter will be released, but the judge feels there is still compelling evidence against Vicki. Barnabas tells Ben to go back to Collinwood to wait for him. Barnabas eyes a lady of the evening standing nearby.

In the gaol, Millicent asks Forbes what's wrong with him. She asks him what he's done. He tells her that she may be able to help him.

The lady on the dock, Crystal, approaches Barnabas and introduces herself. She asks him if he wants to join her for a drink at The Eagle. He says he'd rather stay outside and talk with her for a few minutes. She suddenly recognizes him, and says she used to see him going in and out of his father's office. He leans in to bite her, pauses, steps back... and then advances on her again when we hear a splash from her falling into the water.

Millicent doesn't understand what Forbes is asking of her. He says that something must be done about Barnabas. She says she's sure Barnabas is dead. He reminds her that she just saw Barnabas take him to jail. He explains how she can destroy Barnabas. He tells her to prepare a stake, and take it to the Tower room during the day, where she'll find him in a coffin. He tells her she has to drive the stake through his heart to destroy him.

Barnabas returns to Collinwood, and tells Ben he had forgotten how overwhelming his urge for blood would be. Ben tells him they only have an hour. Ben asks if that means helping Vicki escape. Barnabas tells him to give him a few minutes to plan, and he retires to his father's study, where he discovers Crystal's dead body lying in a chair.

Our thoughts

John: I'm not sure what Forbes was thinking when he tried to turn the tables on Barnabas. Even if he wasn't aware of the vampire's powers to control him, why would he think he could blackmail one of the living dead?

Christine: I'm not sure why Barnabas thought a signed confession was going to help Vicki when it didn't save her after he forced Trask to sign a confession in Episode 442. Maybe he should have gone farther back in time and brought Trask to the magistrate to declare that Vicki was not the witch, instead of walling him up in his basement. Perhaps he could have also saved his mother by changing that one bit of history.

John: I'm not sure why Millicent would attempt to kill Barnabas at the behest of her husband. I get that she's mentally unstable, but convincing her to commit a pretty challenging murder seems like a long shot.

Christine: By the way Forbes was rolling his eyes, I believe he's aware that he's grasping at straws.

John: I can't figure out what was up with Barnabas' little, "will I, won't I," dance with Crystal on the docks. And it was oddly shot by director Dan Curtis, so I wouldn't be surprised if most viewers couldn't figure out what was going on. And then to have the body suddenly appear in Collinwood? Someone has some explaining to do... I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

Christine: The scenario was strangely similar to the one with Ruby Tate in Episode 414. He knows that biting the ladies is wrong, but he just can't resist those tasty little treats down at the docks. As he explained to Ben later, he forgot how overwhelming the urge for blood is, which overpowers his reason. Barnabas may not have considered that going back in time might also require him to contend with his vengeful wife, Angelique. She'd be my first guess as the person responsible for shenanigans with corpses.

Dark Shadows Episode 662 - 1/7/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Barnabas notices the gravestones have disappeared, and Ben shows up, convincing him that he's returned on the correct night. He says he must go to the village to change the course of history. Barnabas tells Ben to return to Collinwood, and tell his father that Forbes got away and that he's followed him to Bangor. Ben points out that his father will surely go to Bangor. Barnabas then tells him Forbes will soon be back, and he wants Ben to lead him to the house, where Barnabas will be waiting.

Forbes sits alone in The Eagle, emptying every bottle in the place, when Barnabas arrives. He tells Forbes that his mother committed suicide because of what he is, thanks to Forbes telling her where to find him. Forbes pulls a gun and threatens to take him to the constable for being the Collinsport strangler. Barnabas tells him to go ahead and shoot, and he does. Then Barnabas tells him that he can't kill what's already dead. Barnabas says he won't kill him, if he considers doing what Barnabas demands. He gives him until 9pm to decide, and then disappears. Forbes rushes out.

Vicki lies in her cell at the Collinsport jail. Barnabas appears in her cell. She's shocked to see him because she thinks he's dead. He explains that Angelique put him under a spell. She says she's going to be hanged tonight, and he tells her it's not too late. She says she knows she should be grateful, but there's another man.

Barnabas tells her he knows about Peter, and how much he means to her. She says that he will die on the gallows after she does, and he tells her that neither of them will die. Vicki tells Barnabas that since she saw him last, she went back to the future, and then returned to the past to be with Peter again. Barnabas tells her to trust him. He assures her that by morning, she and Peter will be free.

Forbes shows up at Collinwood to see Joshua. He says he needs to tell him about Barnabas. He tells Ben that he shot Barnabas, but it didn't kill him. Ben tells Forbes that Barnabas is a vampire; placed under a curse that will destroy his entire family. They go into the study, and Forbes blames Ben for protecting Barnabas, allowing him to kill people. Ben tells Forbes that he tried to destroy Barnabas once. He says if Forbes drives a stake through Barnabas' heart in the morning, it will kill him. Forbes asks Ben to stay with him. He spots the crossbow on the wall, and tells Ben that he's right, and he should face his fate alone. Ben leaves, and Forbes grabs the crossbow and loads a bolt.

Barnabas arrives at Collinwood at 9pm, and makes his way to Joshua's study. Forbes is waiting inside with the crossbow pointed at the door. Barnabas opens the door but does not enter. Forbes goes to the door but doesn't see anyone, so he closes and locks it. He then hears Barnabas' voice inside the room, but he can't see him. Barnabas then appears behind Forbes and grabs him.

Our thoughts

John: I know Barnabas has been around the block, but he seems particularly comfortable traveling through time.

Christine: I was surprised he wasn't a little more upset about becoming a vampire again, but I suspect he misses having the power to control others.

John: I don't know about you, but I thought Fake Vicki Number 2 was the best one yet. I'd like to see her come back to the future once Barnabas' 1796 vacation is over, but I'm not going to get my hopes up.

Christine: Carolyn Groves has a little more experience under her belt than Betsy Durkin, but it will be tough for anyone to replace Alexandra Moltke as Victoria.

John: Do you think they went with mutton chops so it would be easier for the audience to distinguish when the show was set in the past?

Christine: Nathan Forbes always had mutton chops, though they may have been poorly applied in today's episode. The uniform alone would have been enough to alert folks that they were no longer in the present day. I thought yesterday's repurposed footage was one of those situations where actors got to take a day off, but now I see how useful the refresher was in comparing the way events changed in today's episode.

Dark Shadows Episode 661 - 1/6/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Standing over Vicki's gravesite in Eagle Hill Cemetery, Barnabas says he must go back to help Vicki. Julia reminds him that when she was hanged before, she was sent back to the present. He tells her that last time, there was someone here to take her place, but the grave proves that she didn't come back this time. He says he has to go back a few hours before the hanging. He tells her he would change the events the night before they hanged her. He says his mother found his coffin that night, and took poison. 

In 1795, Barnabas and Ben discuss what happened to his mother, and they blame Nathan Forbes. His father comes in and tells him that his mother has died. He then says that he must destroy Barnabas to end the curse. Barnabas asks if he'll drive a stake through his heart. Joshua tells him that he will fire a silver bullet through his heart, and it will destroy him instantly. Barnabas says that before he does, he will kill Nathan Forbes.

Barnabas finds Forbes at the pub and confronts him over what he told his mother. Forbes says he only suspected it. Barnabas tells Forbes that his mother committed suicide because of him. Barnabas says Forbes will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Forbes pulls a gun on Barnabas and tells him that he's captured the Collinsport strangler. Barnabas encourages him to shoot. Forbes does, and nothing happens. Barnabas tells Forbes that he will die at 9.

Forbes goes to see Joshua, and says he shot Barnabas but nothing happened. Joshua tells him of Barnabas' vampire curse. Joshua says they both blame his wife's death on him. He says he almost feels sorry for him, but there's nothing he can do to help him. Ben describes how Forbes could kill Barnabas with a stake in the morning, but he tells him he'll be dead before then.

Forbes pleads with Joshua for help, and when he sees a crossbow on the wall, he tells him he no longer needs him. Joshua leaves him alone, and Forbes grabs the crossbow. Barnabas returns to Collinwood and is confronted by Forbes. He fires the crossbow bolt into Barnabas' chest, but misses his heart. Barnabas attacks him.

Barnabas discusses his final destruction with his father. Barnabas asks his father to free Ben, and to prevent Victoria Winters from being hanged. Joshua says he wasn't able to convince the judge to listen to him. Barnabas tells him to use his prestige with the governor, and he agrees. They say goodbye, and Barnabas leaves to return to his coffin.

Barnabas says he assumes his father couldn't bring himself to shoot his son, and decided to have Ben chain up the coffin. Ben does so, and says goodbye to Barnabas before leaving the secret room in the mausoleum one last time.

Barnabas tells Julia that he was chained in there for 200 years until Willie broke in and freed him. Barnabas says he should have let Forbes live so he could recant his testimony against Vicki. He says that is what he will do. He tells Julia that he will summon Bradford to bring him  back for one night so he can change what happened. He calls for Peter Bradford to send him back, and he watches as Julia and the gravestones for Vicki and Peter disappear.

Our thoughts

John: Wouldn't Barnabas want to go back more than a few hours early just to be safe? Maybe even early enough to save his mother?

Christine: What he really should do is go back to the time he was in Martinique and not allow himself to get involved with Angelique. That would save not only Vicki, but also his uncle, sister, mother, and his beloved Josette, in addition to preventing him from becoming a vampire.

John: Barnabas asks Julia to meet him at the grave in 48 hours, after telling her that he's going back for 24 hours? Does he need an extra day to freshen up?

Christine: Maybe it takes that long to get there and back. Barnabas makes time travel look as easy as creating life from dead tissue.

John: Did Barnabas become a vampire by traveling back in time? I know better than to ask these questions, because the rules seem to be made up by the writers on the day...

Christine: It appears so, though we'll see when he returns to the present if Julia was right about him coming back a vampire. Since the fate of Adam is unknown, he may no longer have the protection from the curse that Adam conferred. The bulk of this episode was made up from repurposed footage from episodes 459 and 460, which is not a bad thing since they were both excellent episodes directed by Dan Curtis, with some of the best scenes Jonathan Frid and Louis Edmonds ever had together.