Dark Shadows Episode 826 - 8/25/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

In the woods, the gypsy ties up Magda. She says that if he unties her, she has friends that will take him anywhere. He places a gag over her mouth. They hear someone approaching, and a figure holding a lantern comes out into the open. It's King Johnny.

Magda is led through the woods to the Collins family crypt. King Johnny tells her he knows this is where she found Barnabas. She asks if he tortured Sandor to get that information. He says he hated to see him die, and Magda realizes that King Johnny killed him. He says she made him put the knife in his back when she stole the Hand. He leads her into the crypt and says she's going to stand trial right now. He says he will be the judge and prosecutor. He tells her to open the secret door. She does, revealing a table. She asks where the jury is, and he tells her they will be there soon. He mentions several people who will serve on her jury, and she points out that they're all dead. King Johnny calls to the spirits of the dead to join them.

Five ghosts enter the secret room in the mausoleum. King Johnny begins making his case. He says Magda stole the Hand and murdered Julianka. Magda denies it. Then King Johnny says she killed an infant. Magda says she did everything she could to keep the babies alive after Julianka put the curse on her. King Johnny says her final crime was giving him a false hand. He tells the jury the case is closed. Magda asks for Barnabas to testify on her behalf. King Johnny says non-gypsies cannot be called. She says Sandor and Jenny are both dead. He asks which she'd prefer to have testify, and she chooses Sandor.

King Johnny calls Sandor to join them, and he appears in the secret room. Magda asks if he's alright, but he says nothing. Sandor swears to tell the truth. Magda asks Sandor who killed him. Johnny interrupts and says the jury knows she did. She asks who killed Julianka, and Johnny interrupts again. He asks Sandor who wanted Julanka there, and Sandor says Magda. Magda asks him why she wanted Julianka there, to save the children from the curse. Johnny asks Sandor who placed the curse, and Sandor says it was Magda. King Johnny declares the case closed, and sends Sandor back to his grave.

He says it's time to find if she lives or dies. None of the jury speak on Magda's behalf. Istvan gives a thumbs down, and King Johnny tells her that she will die. Johnny says they will play hunt the weasel, and she's the weasel. Istvan lets her go. She asks what kind of trick this is, and he says it's just a game. He explains that if she gets away, she lives, and if they find her, she dies. He tells her to run, and she does.

As Magda makes her way through the woods, King Johnny dispatches the ghosts to capture Magda.

Magda doesn't know which way to go. When confronted by one of the ghosts, she casts a spell to send him back to hell. He screams in pain and disappears.

Her excitement at her success is short lived, as she hears King Johnny say that she got rid of Sergio, but not him. She runs off, and finds herself back by the mausoleum. She finds herself surrounded by ghosts. She says if she knew how they died, she would know how to banish them. They slowly close in on her.

She calls out in the name of the gypsy women who cried for them and their crimes, she sends them back to death. They disappear and she hears King Johnny laugh. He tells her to keep running. She turns and runs, and King Johnny follows her, laughing.

At Widow's Hill, Magda is confronted by the ghost of Sandor. He says he's come to take her back with him. She says he's dead, and Sandor says that's the only place he can hide her. He says they should be together. She sends Sandor's spirit back to the land of the dead as well.

King Johnny approaches her, congratulating her on getting rid of the ghosts. He says she can't get rid of him, and tells her the game is lost.

Our thoughts

John: I guess that ghosts don't count towards the normal cast size per episode! I do think one of the gypsies got dressed in a pirate costume by mistake.

Andreas

Marco

Stefan

Pedor

Sergio

Christine: Are you talking about Stefan? Isn't he a little short for a pirate?

John: It's been a while since we had a coutroom drama episode on the show, and while those had questionable tactics from the prosecution, they weren't nearly as one-sided as King Johnny's Court! I loved when he not only objected to Magda's questions, but began asking his own of her witness!

Christine: We haven't had a kangaroo court with a dead jury since Episode 512!

John: Decent work with the chroma key today - going the extra length to have ghosts walking down the steps into the secret room in the mausoleum, but they didn't quite stick the landing with one of the more common shots, which I like to call the Big Sandor. Even for such a big guy, he just seemed a little too large next to Magda.

Christine: Apparently, his death loomed large over her.

Dark Shadows Episode 798 - 7/16/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Barnabas and Magda hear three knocks on the door of the old house. Magda tells Barnabas that it's too late to do anything, and she cannot run away from her fate. She goes to the door and opens it. Sandor stands in the doorway. She berates him, saying he found another woman. He stumbles into the old house. She asks him what bad things he's been doing. Sandor says he saw Julianka. She asks what happened. Sandor falls to the ground with a knife in his back. Barnabas says that Sandor is cold and has been dead for a long time.

Quentin drinks as he listens to his theme in the drawing room.

Victor arranges a meeting with someone on the phone. He then enters the drawing room and says the music made him think he would find a lovesick lady. Quentin asks him if he's ever had his fortune told, and Victor tells him not to listen to gypsies. He asks if the gypsy is still living at the old house.

Magda and Barnabas stand over Sandor's grave. She says that one day she'll kill him as he sleeps in his coffin for what he did to Sandor. She offers up her neck to him, and he tells her that she will not kill him, nor will he bite her.

Quentin stands in the garden with a pistol. He hears someone calling for Aristede. He sees Victor and Aristede talking, but can't hear what they're saying. Aristede appears to be upset.

Aristede says that the fact that Victor killed Julianka has nothing to do with him. He asks why Victor didn't get the hand from her. He then apologizes to Victor. Victor threatens Aristede with mangle-face, which he describes as a gift from the unicorn. Aristede says he can't talk to Quentin, as he'll kill him, and Victor suggests that may be what he has in mind.

Magda says she cannot live without love, and whoever she loves must die. He tells her the same is true of him. She says she loves Quentin's son, and she must protect him. Barnabas tells her it can wait until morning, and she says she must do it tonight.

Aristede says he wants to get out alive. Victor says he will, if he speaks to Quentin. Victor tells him to go, and contact him when he feels more positive.

He leaves, and Quentin sneaks up on Victor. He puts his gun to Victor's head and asks him about Aristede, asking if he put him up to killing him. He lets Victor go, and Victor asks if Aristede really tried to kill him. Quentin says Victor knows Aristede very well. Victor plays dumb, and Quentin puts the gun under his chin. Victor says he doesn't really know Aristede, but Quentin doesn't buy it. Victor suggests they go inside and call the police. Quentin says he'll deal with it himself.

Quentin tells Barnabas there's a connection between Victor and Aristede, but they don't know what it is. Magda enters, and Quentin expresses his condolences about Sandor. She says no one else will die. Quentin asks what she means. She tells him that his son is dead. Barnabas resigns himself to the fact that it has happened. Quentin says he doesn't have a son, and Barnabas explains that Jenny had kids after Quentin left. He asks how his son died, and Magda says it was Julianka's curse. His caretaker heard a scream, and when she ran to his bed, he was dead. Cold, as if he had been dead for some time. Quentin asks about his daughter, and Magda says she's fine. Barnabas says she must stay alive if Chris Jennings is to stay alive in the future. Magda says she swears she'll fix them good. Quentin says there's no more fixing, and walks out.

Barnabas asks if she'll be alright. She tells him to do what he has to do, and she will do the same. He tells her to hide the hand, as Aristede is still looking for it. A rooster crows, and Barnabas heads down to the basement. Magda grabs an axe, takes the hand of Petofi, and says it won't cause any more trouble. She raises the axe to strike.

Our thoughts

John: I guess I got my answer to whether Thayer David would be playing two roles simultaneously in 1897. Just for one episode!

Christine: Poor Sandor had to die immediately before opening credits so he could have enough time to wash off all his makeup and change himself into Victor for the next scene. Quite impressive!

John: Did we have a new burial speed record? We never saw Julianka buried, but it sure seems like Sandor was under ground faster than anyone else in quite some time. Poor Sandor will be missed! How will Magda go on?

Christine: Sandor has been gone since Episode 750 and nobody ever asked about where he was, which just goes to show he wasn't really appreciated until he was truly gone. Barnabas said Quentin's daughter needs to be alright for Chris Jennings to be alright in the future. So, does that mean Quentin is Chris, Amy, and Tom's grandpa? What a sad way for Quentin to find out he's a dad. I wonder if he'll try to reclaim his daughter or if he'll assume she's better off without him.

John: Boy, in Victor's presence, Aristede is a completely different character than we've seen to date. By the time Victor was through with him today, I was ready for him to whine about not getting to go into Tosche Station to pick up power converters...

Christine: I loved the way Aristede pantomimed his conversation with Victor. It may have been more believable if both Victor and Aristede were not heard on separate occasions from Quentin's vantage point, which made the whole thing seem quite comical.

Dark Shadows Episode 750 - 5/9/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Magda sits at Jenny's grave, telling her sister that come the morning, her death will be avenged. Sandor helps her up. He says they must make plans to leave after tonight, as once the curse is in effect, their lives will be in danger. She explains that they will be safe, but the Collins family will be in danger. She says she wants to watch them all be destroyed one by one.

Judith calls Beth into the drawing room. She gives her a letter and tells her that she's been terminated. She says it includes two week's severance. Beth asks why she is being dismissed, and Judith explains that now that Jenny's gone, her services are no longer required. Beth asks about Jenny's children. Judith says they'll remain in Collinsport with Mrs. Fillmore. Beth brings up Quentin, and Judith says he must never know about the children. Beth says she thinks he should know about them. Judith says her infatuation with her brother has not gone unnoticed. Beth leaves in a huff.

Quentin returns to Collinwood and Judith asks where he has been. He says he carried out his end of the bargain. He explains that she'll be rid of all of them by nightfall. There's a knock at the door, and it's Magda. She says she's there to pick up her sister's possessions. Judith tells her that she'll have Beth pack them up, and also tells her that she should pack up in order to be gone by nightfall.

Magda asks why she thinks she's leaving. Judith says she won't give her more money, and Magda says she won't take any money from her. Judith asks if she took the money, and Magda says she gave it back to Quentin. He tells her to be quiet. He says he's leaving Collinwood tonight, and she tells him he cannot escape the curse.

Magda leaves, and Judith calls Quentin a liar. She demands that he return the money, and he says he's keeping it so he can leave.

Beth comes downstairs with Jenny's dolls in her arms. She places them  in a suitcase with Jenny's other belongings. Quentin appears and tells her to pack her things, as they're leaving Collinwood tonight. He asks if she's changed her mind, and she says she doesn't know.

He says he has to leave, and says he wants her to go with him. Beth explains that Judith fired her, and Quentin says that there's no reason for her not to join him. He asks her if she has some reason to stay. She says she doesn't. He asks if she'll join him, and she says she'll let him know later that afternoon.

There's a knock at the door, and it's Sandor to pick up Jenny's things. Beth closes the suitcase. Quentin asks Beth to excuse them. Quentin says he's willing to make Sandor a new proposition. He says he offered he and Magda $10,000, and now he's offering it to Sandor alone. He says that Magda need never know about it.

Sandor asks what he wants in return. Quentin asks him to remove her curse. Sandor says he wouldn't know how. Sandor says he would do almost anything for the money, except betray Magda. Quentin offers him money to tell him what the curse is. When Sandor refuses, Quentin suggests that there is no curse.  Sandor tells him that in a few precious hours, he'll know what the curse is, and he leaves.

Magda stands over Jenny's grave when Sandor joins her. She says the moon will rise shortly, and then it will be time.

Quentin comes downstairs with a packed bag.

Beth is in her room, packing, when Quentin arrives. He asks if she's decided to come with him, and she says yes. She then asks why he wants her to join him, and he tells her that he loves her. She says she's had a lot of time to think about him, and she says they need to be honest with each other.

She tells him that she doesn't believe he loves her. She says he can't ever be alone. She says he uses people until he tires of them and discards them. He asks why she would agree to come with him if she believes that, and she tells him that despite her better judgement, she loves him. He kisses her, and says they can go to the carriage. She tells him that she has to do something in Collinsport before they leave.

Magda and Sandor are in the cemetery when the moon rises. She tells Sandor that it is time. She performs a ritual to finalize the curse on Quentin and all of the men of his lineage...

Quentin tells her that they don't have time. He suddenly appears to be in pain. She asks him what's wrong. He tells her to get a doctor before it's too late. He falls to the ground, writhing in pain.

We hear the sound of a wolf in Collinwood.

Our thoughts

John: Again, full credit to the Collinsport department of burial and engraving. Not only is Jenny's grave sufficiently aged, she's already got a carved tombstone just days after death. Now that's efficiency!

Christine: It certainly is impressive! Like Beth, I don't understand why Edward and Judith would keep Quentin's children a secret from him.

John: Magda's curse extends far beyond Quentin - to all his male heirs. I guess now we can assume that at least one of those babies in Collinsport is a boy, and is destined for burial between the main house and the old house!

Christine: Can we also assume that Chris Jennings is related to Quentin?

John: Really? We get to Friday's cliffhanger and don't even get a full werewolf transformation scene? Shame on you!

Christine: I guess they couldn't get Alex Stevens today. At least it gives you something to look forward to on Monday. I wonder who Quentin will tear into his first time out as the Wolfman.