Dark Shadows Episode 455 - 3/22/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Daniel doesn't see Vicki inside the mausoleum. From within the secret room, Vicki hears him and opens the door. Daniel rushes in and begs her to close the door, saying someone is outside chasing him.

Noah approaches and enters the mausoleum, finding it empty, leaves.

Vicki asks if Nathan was chasing him, and Daniel explains it was someone else. Daniel asks if he can go with her when she leaves. She explains that they could never come back to Collinwood. Daniel explains that he has money, from Millicent signing over everything to him. Daniel adds that Nathan no longer likes him. She asks Daniel if Nathan is at Collinwood, as she realizes that Peter is on his way there.

Nathan comes downstairs and finds Noah in the drawing room. He tells him to get out, and Noah explains that it wasn't his fault. He says that Daniel got away. Nathan is ready to kill him, but Noah reminds him that everyone in the house will know he's there. Noah describes what happened to Daniel, leading up to his disappearing in the mausoleum, calling for Vicki, but he couldn't find him.

Naomi comes in, interrupting them, and Nathan escorts Noah out, under the guise of giving him Naval orders. Naomi tells Nathan that Daniel has been missing for hours. He's not concerned. Naomi says he acts as if he knows exactly where Daniel is. Nathan then suggests that maybe the witch got Daniel. Naomi refuses to believe that, and asks that he tell Millicent about Daniel. He instead offers to leave and join the search.

After he sees Nathan leave, Peter arrives at Collinwood. Naomi asks where Vicki is, and he tells her that she's hiding on the property. He tells her Vicki wanted her to know she thought Daniel was in terrible danger. She had a dream that led Vicki not to trust Nathan. She asks how she can help. She offers to help when Joshua returns from Boston. She asks how Vicki is, and he explains she was shot. Naomi insists that he bring Vicki to Collinwood to take care of her.

Daniel realizes that Vicki isn't well. He says he's going to get his cousin Naomi. She tries to stop him but cannot. He heads into the night. He makes his way through the cemetery, where he runs right into Noah's arms. He screams for help. Vicki comes to his rescue, and shoots Noah in the back. She calls for Peter, and takes Daniel back to the mausoleum.

Peter comes across the dead body of Noah in the cemetery. He picks up Noah's pistol when Nathan shows up, gun drawn. He takes the pistol and tells Peter that he's taking him back to the jail, with a new charge—murder!

Our thoughts

John: It sure looked like Vicki might accidentally shoot Daniel with her arm in the sling.

Christine: I wasn't sure that bullet was ever going to reach Noah, with Vicki firing the gun before we heard the shot and Noah falling a few seconds after that. Noah mysteriously acquired a beanie after being bare headed in yesterday's episode.

John: Poor Noah, the early beatnik. Died before he ever saw a dime from his pal Nathan Forbes.

Christine: That probably would have been the same result even if he'd died of old age.

John: If Peter plays his cards right, he can say he was bewitched by Vicki. She's going to die either way—might as well spare his own life!

Christine: Peter is no Nathan Forbes. He'll gladly go the the gallows with her since he won't want to go on living without her.  I was surprised Nathan settled for Peter Bradford and didn't try to bag Vicki and Daniel too. Perhaps he intends to circle back for the two of them next.

Dark Shadows Episode 454 - 3/21/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Peter and Vicki are asleep in the secret room in the mausoleum. Vicki dreams of a coffin. A man opens it, and it is empty. He then proceeds to put on white gloves, and she sees him put his hands around Daniel's neck. She sees the man's face—it's Nathan Forbes. She wakes up screaming Daniel's name, and tells Peter that Daniel is in danger, and someone is trying to murder him. She says she needs to go to Collinwood right away. She says Daniel was being strangled by Nathan. Peter tells her it was a dream, and Vicki says it was a premonition. Peter asks what the history book says about Daniel. She says it was wrong about Barnabas and Millicent, so it might be wrong about Daniel, too. Peter refuses to let her out of the secret room. She tells him he has to go alone. She tells him the Collins family line is dependent on Daniel's survival.

Nathan comes downstairs and makes himself at home in the drawing room.  Daniel comes in, looking for Naomi, and Nathan explains she's gone into town. He asks if Daniel recalls their discussion from yesterday, and asks if he's withholding information about Vicki. He tells him the constable will be there to question him. Daniel says he will only talk to Naomi. He's going to ask Naomi and Joshua to adopt him, so that Nathan will not be his legal guardian.

Nathan is on the docks when Noah arrives, late. Noah complains that he hasn't yet been paid by Nathan. Nathan tells Noah that he's going to take care of the last obstacle tonight. Noah says he's not going to kill anyone. Nathan reminds him that everything he has promised has come true. Noah points out that everything but getting the money he promised. Nathan tells him Millicent signed all of her money over to Daniel. If anything happens to him, it will revert to her. Noah realizes they have to take care of Daniel. Nathan blackmails Noah into helping him, threatening to tell the constable that Noah was responsible for several attacks and murders. Noah asks what he has to do. Nathan says he'll abduct Daniel, take him out on a boat, and return without him. Nathan tells him that Daniel will be between the new and old house this afternoon, where Noah will be waiting for him.

Noah waits in the woods until Daniel appears. He grabs the boy and drags him away.

Peter asks Vicki if she can use a pistol if it becomes necessary. He won't leave her unless he knows she can protect herself. She tells him she will use the pistol, if she has to. He leaves her in the secret room in the mausoleum.

Noah takes Daniel to the shed on the waterfront. Daniel asks where they're going, and Noah tells him to stop asking questions. He then explains they're going to take a boat out on the ocean. A window blows open, and as Noah goes to close it, Daniel runs out the front door.

Daniel runs through the woods, and tries to find his way to the graveyard where Vicki is hiding in the mausoleum. He arrives at the cemetery and goes inside the mausoleum.

Noah searches for Daniel, and when he gets to the cemetery, he hears Daniel calling for Vicki.

Daniel doesn't see Vicki inside the mausoleum. From within the secret room, Vicki hears him and opens the door. Daniel rushes in and begs her to close the door, saying someone is outside chasing him.

Noah approaches and enters the mausoleum, finding it empty.

Our thoughts

John: Wouldn't it be funny if Peter started to believe that Vicki was in fact a witch?

Christine: I understand the symbolism of the white gloves in Vicki's dream now. Nathan didn't want to get his hands dirty, so he's having Noah do the job of killing Daniel. Noah was clearly not cut out to be a kidnapper and child murderer. He should have cut his losses with Nathan Forbes already.

John: Alexandra Moltke had it easy. When she slips up and refers to the character of the future rather than the character from the past, at least it can be explained by Vicki being confused...

Christine: We found out in the opening titles that Vicki's 1795 journey is coming to an end. I wonder if we'll hear characters slip up and call each other by their 1795 names when we return to 1968. I love when Peter asks if Vicki will be able to use the pistol. Did he already forget what happened during the jail break?

John: Is there honestly only one building on the dock at Collinsport? You'd think eventually someone going there to hide from everyone might run into someone else hiding from everyone. Maybe they hang a sock on the door.

Christine: The suggestion that Vicki's presence in 1795 changed Collins family history by involving Nathan in her trial and subsequently changing Millicent's spinster status so that Vicki would be compelled to save Daniel from Nathan has me utterly confused. Also, it appears that someone must have died after this time period and had their grave marked with a cross, as the cross in the graveyard that Barnabas so casually rested his hand on in Episode 218 is no longer present. Update: I was wrong. The cross is visible when Sarah is wandering through the cemetery in Episode 413.

Episode 218

Dark Shadows Episode 444 - 3/7/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Millicent arrives in the garden, calling for Barnabas. She sets down and opens up the box with dueling pistols, and takes one out. Noah is reluctant, but Nathan makes him go through with his plan. Noah approaches Millicent from behind and pulls the cane at her throat. Nathan rushes in and fights off the attacker. The masked man strikes him with his cane and runs away.

Nathan asks if Millicent is okay, and she says the man was going to kill her. She says she didn't see his face, but his cane had a wolf's head like Barnabas'. Nathan says that Barnabas is in England, and she says she received a note from him earlier. He asks why Barnabas would want to kill her. She says that she'd be dead if not for him.

Naomi calls for Millicent, and Nathan replies to her. Millicent explains that Nathan saved her life. Nathan tells Naomi that she was attacked, and Millicent says he saved her. Naomi thanks him, but asks why he was on the property when her husband had strictly forbid it. He says he came by to say goodbye to Millicent before leaving Collinwood. He says he understands he is not welcome in the house, and asks Naomi if he can say goodbye to Millicent privately before leaving. Naomi reluctantly agrees.

Nathan tells Millicent he'll be leaving at daybreak. She asks if he must leave so soon, and he tells her he's complying with Joshua's request. Nathan then tells her it would be too painful for him to stay in Collinwood, considering how he hurt her. She says he seems so different tonight. He apologizes to her, and tells him he knows it's too late to be sorry. Millicent tells him that she's sure Joshua wouldn't mind his staying in Collinsport longer, and she would like it. He tells her he loves her, and kisses her forehead.

They say goodbye, and he hands her the box of dueling pistols and sends her to Naomi. As she walks away, he smiles, pleased that his plan is working.

In the foyer, Millicent tells Naomi she needs to speak with her cousin Joshua about Barnabas. She says she can't imagine why he'd want to harm her. He sent her a note, and then tried to strangle her. She says that she knows it was him because he had Barnabas' cane. Naomi tells her she must be mistaken. Millicent says she must do something for Nathan to show her gratitude. Naomi tells her she must let him leave and never think of him again.

Noah is in Nathan's room with Barnabas' cane. Nathan returns and tells him he needed to make sure the lady was alright. Noah is concerned that she saw his face. Nathan starts packing, and Noah asks why. He explains it's part of his plan. He tells Noah to go to the Eagle for a drink, but Noah demands his money. Nathan explains that he doesn't have money yet, but he will soon. He tells Noah to leave, as he's expecting a visitor. Noah asks if he really thinks the woman is going to come to see him, and Nathan is sure that she will. Noah says he doesn't trust him, so he's staying.

Nathan waits impatiently, making sure the room looks like he's packing to leave. There's a knock at the door, and Nathan tells Noah to leave before he ruins everything. Noah reluctantly exits out the back door. Nathan opens the door and Millicent rushes in. She explains that under the circumstances, she had to come see him. He tells her that nothing makes him happier, though saying goodbye again will be more painful than before. She asks if he has to leave in the morning, and says that she might have been wrong about him. He tells her that his leaving is the best for both of them. She says she's not so sure. She asks if does love him, and he says he always will. She tells him she can't face the thought of being without him, and begs him to stay in Collinsport. As she hugs him, he smiles. 

Our thoughts

John: Why is it no surprise that Nathan's ploy worked. Millicent is certainly not the sharpest tool in the Collins' shed.

Christine: Don't be so hard on Millicent. She just wants to be loved, and is naïve enough to fall prey to a wolf like Forbes.

John: Is it just me, or is Noah a bit too beatnik for 1795? I can imagine him hanging out at the Blue Whale with some of Carolyn's old conquests, but he seems out of place in the distant past.

Christine: I thought it was just awkward acting, but I think you have a point. Give him some shades and a black turtleneck and hook him up with Buzz for beers at the BW.

John: I don't get Nathan's relationship with Barnabas. I thought they were pals. And when Nathan started to find evidence that Barnabas might still be around, rather than seeking him out to confront him, he uses that information to manipulate Millicent. And in doing so, he's just ignoring the fact that Barnabas may be a killer roaming the Collinsport countryside.

Christine: He's got a grand plan to hook Millicent, but I still believe he's trying to also hook Barnabas into a blackmailing scheme. If so, it will be interesting to see how that turns out. 

Dark Shadows Episode 443 - 3/6/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Nathan is in his room holding Barnabas' cane. Noah arrives, and he says on his way back from the old house, he saw that fisherman had found Maude's body. He tells Nathan he wants the $50 he's owed. Nathan tells him he'll earn $100 if he stays one more day. He tells Noah that the Collinsport Strangler is going to strike again. Noah says Nathan is going to get drummed out of the Navy.

Nathan tells him he'll soon be rich and respected. He tells Noah to give him what he sent him to find, but Noah tells him he wants his money first. Nathan offers him a full time job, and says he's about to marry the richest woman in Collinwood. He gives Noah $10, and Noah hands over a fan he stole for him. Nathan writes something on the fan, and tells Noah to take it to the main house and deliver it to Millicent Collins.

A maid gives Millicent the fan that was delivered for her. She says it was probably meant for Josette, not her. She says the fan isn't very pretty.

She opens it up and fans herself. She gasps and the maid asks if she's alright. Millicent sends her away. She reads the note on the fan which says, "Meet Me in Garden. Eight -B."

She thinks Barnabas is going to defend her honor. She takes out the dueling pistols, and is interrupted by the Countess.

The Countess tries to take the gun from her, and she says she will give it to no one but Barnabas. The Countess asks her about Barnabas, and Millicent says she got a letter from him. She catches Millicent in a lie, telling her that she knows Barnabas is not in England—that he's dead. Millicent refuses to believe her. She says she saw him in the last few weeks. The Countess tells her it must have been her imagination. Millicent says it was not her imagination, and not a ghost, as ghosts don't send notes. The Countess asks when she got it, and Millicent tells her a messenger brought it today. The Countess sees the fan that belonged to Josette, and tells Millicent she must not meet whoever sent her the message. Millicent points out that it's proof Barnabas is alive. The Countess points out that it would not be proper for Millicent to meet a gentleman alone at night—even her cousin. Millicent realizes that she is right. The Countess tells her that a gentleman will come to her. She also suggests Millicent doesn't need to carry around the dueling pistols.

Peter Bradford arrives at Collinwood to show the Countess a letter from Reverend Trask proving that Vicki is innocent. She asks why he brought it to her, and then realizes that the authorities probably laughed at him. He says they wondered why Trask wouldn't bring it to them. He was hoping the Countess could help Vicki by talking about Angelique, who must be the witch. He says Ben said she was the witch, and the Countess counters that Angelique appeared in court. Bradford says that no one has seen her since, and Ben took him to her grave, which was empty. Bradford tells her that she believes in ghosts, and knows that witches return. He asks her who benefitted from the witchcraft, and runs through the members of the family. He ends with Angelique, and the Countess is shocked with the realization. She says that his evidence is purely circumstantial, and he reminds her that so was the evidence that convicted Vicki. She compares the handwriting on Trask's notes with a note she received from him, and says they're the same. She implores him to go to Salem to ask why Trask wrote the letter, and he leaves to do that.

At night, Millicent sneaks downstairs. She grabs the dueling pistols and goes outside.

Nathan and Noah wait in the garden. Noah is wearing a coat like Barnabas, and Nathan puts a mask on him. He gives him the cane, and tells him to be sure Millicent sees it. As Millicent approaches, calling for Barnabas, she sets down and opens up the box with dueling pistols. She takes one out. Noah is reluctant, but Nathan makes him go through with his plan. He approaches Millicent from behind and pulls the cane at her throat.

Our thoughts

John: Nathan's trying to drum up terror business in Collinwood, unaware that there's plenty to go around without a Strangler being added to the mix.

Christine: What is Nathan up to? I'm guessing he's setting up the attack on Millicent to get her turn to him after having her believe that Barnabas is the local strangler (which he is), but I wonder if he's also trying to drive Barnabas out of the shadows to set up a confrontation with him. Noah marvels at how rich the Collins family must be to leave so many goods behind in the Old House, claiming they left "furniture, pictures...lamps." Lamps? Did Vicki bring some with her from the future?

I wonder why we've never seen these Argand lamps at the Old House.

Perhaps the maids are carrying them around with them.

John: Look everyone, a maid in Collinwood! For all the time we've heard about them, I believe this is the first we've seen, and it only took 443 episodes!

Christine: The maid is played by Charlotte Fairchild, who appeared in Silent Night, Bloody Night several years after this appearance. Apparently Dan Curtis could only afford her for one day. She'll be back to serving the family off screen in our imaginations after today.

John: I had to laugh when Millicent was having trouble with time, and states that no one tells her what day it is. Now she knows how we feel!

Christine: How is it that the Countess didn't suspect Angelique was the witch from the beginning after revealing that everyone in Martinique knew something about witchcraft, and that Angelique's mother was a 'healer' who used herbs and potions? And why is the Countess still hanging out at Collinwood anyway?

Dark Shadows Episode 439 - 2/29/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Barnabas rises from his coffin and asks Ben if he saw Trask. Ben explains that Joshua kept him busy so he never got to town. Barnabas tells him that Trask's dreams will get worse. Ben asks what he's planning, and Barnabas tells him that he will see. Ben tells him that whatever happens to Trask will be blamed on Vicki. Barnabas suggests that they could keep Trask in the old house. He tells Ben to make arrangements to wall in a part of the basement. Ben says he can't stomach more killing.  He tells Barnabas he'll have to make do without him. Barnabas reminds Ben that he knows too much and he has no choice but to help him. Ben tells him to go ahead and kill him if he has to. Barnabas says he can't hurt Ben, and explains there's nothing either of them can do.

A drunk Ben is in the Eagle with a prostitute, Maudie.

He asks if she knew what happened to Ruby, trying to warn her about being out alone at night. She gives up on him as he's more interested in drinking, and runs into Nathan and a friend (Noah) coming in. Nathan points out Ben to his friend, and introduces him to Maude, who says to look for him in an hour. Nathan tells his friend to find out what he can about Barnabas, and leaves.

Noah joins Ben and asks if there are any jobs available at Collinwood. He then presses him on Barnabas, and eventually Ben asks him what all the questions are about. He grabs him by the shirt collar and demands an answer.

Barnabas runs into Maudie on the docks. He tries to excuse himself, and she tries to convince him to stay. She feigns that she's going to faint, and he helps her. He asks if she's from around there, and she says she is not. She flirts with him, and he tells her she's pretty. He starts to leave, and he warns her she's not safe out tonight. She tells him she'll take her chances with him. He moves in to bite her and she screams.

They struggle, and Nathan hears the commotion. Barnabas hears Nathan and flees. He finds Maudie, and she says the strangler almost got her. She points out his cane, which Nathan recognizes.

Back in the Eagle, Nathan tells Maudie she should go to the police because she can identify the strangler. He asks her to describe him. She asks if he knows whose cane it was, and he tells her that his friend had one like it, but he's in England. Nathan asks her to describe the strangler. She says he didn't want to talk to her at first.

She then describes him as being handsome at first, and the hand that choked her had a ring that Nathan also recognizes as Barnabas'. He asks her not to tell anyone what she saw, and explains that she was lucky he heard her. He adds that she may not be the only lucky one tonight.

Our thoughts

John: Why is it that Ben can't get away from Barnabas? It seems like he could just skip town, and Barnabas would be screwed.

Christine: I wonder if Barnabas knows how to make a vampire servant yet, and if he'll consider it for Ben, so he'll give him less flak. Why is Ben so upset about making Trask suffer? He wasn't so moralistic when he was asking Angelique to turn Joshua into a jackass.

John: I'm curious about why Noah was introduced. His role digging up info from Ben seems less important now that Nathan has linked Barnabas to the strangler crimes.

Christine: Vampire meat, perhaps?

John: Considering we got two new characters introduced today, I'm all but willing to bet they're the equivalent of Star Trek red-shirted crew members. Look for one or both to be dead within a week...

Christine: We can only hope. So, it sounds like Barnabas wants to wall Trask up in the Old House where he takes his repose. Won't that be unpleasant for him to share his resting place with someone he loathes? Why not put him in the room where he'll keep Maggie in the future, or the secret room where Matthew kept Vicki?

John: Sadly, with today's episode, we finally lose sync with the 60s. As 1968 was a leap year, today's episode originally aired on February 29th, rather than March 1st. So for the foreseeable future, our Monday through Friday posts will be off by a day. At least until 2020 rolls around...

Christine: Not to worry. We'll be back in sync with the date when we get to Episode 961.

Did Maude steal Natalie duPrés' ring?

It appears to be the same ring the Countess wore in Episode 406.