Dark Shadows Episode 658 - 1/1/69

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Julia calls Chris to let him know that the Sheriff picked up Joe and has him locked up. She says Joe keeps talking about him, and he may be the only one who can calm him down.

Julia goes in to see Joe. He tells her they have to find Chris, and they have to get Amy out of Collinwood so she never sees it. They don't know what he's referring to. He adds that everyone is in danger. He asks where Maggie is, and when Julia says she's in Collinwood, he tells her he'll take her away, too. Joe asks Julia why she stopped him from taking Amy away. She says that Amy didn't want to go. Joe pictures the werewolf, and screams that he knows who it is.

Chris arrives and the Sheriff lets him in. Julia asks Chris to try and talk to Joe. He approaches and Joe threatens to kill him. Julia gives Joe a sedative, and he cries that he can't take the dreams.

Outside the cell, the Sheriff asks Chris if he knows what happened to Joe. He says it appears that Joe saw something so frightening that it sent him off the deep end. He asks what Joe meant when he said he still had the gun. Chris says he doesn't know why Joe would be saying that.

Joe dreams about watching Chris transform into a werewolf. In the dream, he shoots the werewolf several times, and says that he must protect Amy.

He runs to Collinwood only to find the werewolf there. He runs into Julia who approaches him with a syringe. He tells her that the monster Chris becomes wants to kill them.

He runs away from her and finds himself in the Collins family crypt in Eagle Hill Cemetery. Inside, he discovers Chris, laughing at him. Joe asks him how he got there. He says he just saw him change in his room. He then says he saw Chris at Collinwood, and Chris tells him he hasn't been to Collinwood in a long time.

Joe asks Chris if he remembers giving him a gun and asking him to shoot him. Chris says that never happened, and Joe begins to doubt himself, thinking it was a nightmare. Joe tells him he was attacked by an animal that walked like a man at Maggie's. Chris tells him that he's the same that he ever was. Joe then asks him what he's doing in the mausoleum in the middle of the night. Chris tells him that he's always out at night. Joe says he wasn't last night. Then Chris tells him it's a case of mistaken identity. He says he's not Chris, he's Tom. Joe says that he's dead, and Tom tells him that he's not dead at night—only during the day. He bares his fangs and Joe runs outside, into the arms of the werewolf. He screams as the vampire and werewolf descend on him.

Joe screams, wearing s strait jacket. Julia tells the Sheriff that she'll take Joe to Windcliff in the morning. Chris offers to stay with Joe until it's time for him to go. Julia tells Chris that there's nothing he could have done.

Our thoughts

John: Is it me, or has the Collinsport jail not changed much in 200 years?

Christine: I wouldn't expect the brick or the bars to change too much, but you'd think that the striped bedspread that Peter Bradford spent his last days on would be gone by now.

Episode 623

John: Wow. This was one of the longest nightmare/dream sequences we've had in a single episode. And it brought out the Jennings Brothers! It sure is a shame that Tom's not really around to join up with his brother in a familial Monster Squad!

Christine: It was one of the best dreams yet! I was not expecting Tom Jennings, and loved the way he revealed himself. It is too bad that he was dispatched by Barnabas. He was such a fun vampire to have around. Let's hope he'll show up in more dreams in the future.

John: I guess it's a good thing they put the strait-jacket on Joe while he was sleeping, though it probably contributed to his nightmare.

Christine: Where did they get the straight-jacket anyway? Do they keep one on hand at the jail, or does Julia have one in her little black bag for emergencies? Sadly, Joe is going to Windcliff for an indefinite stay, and this is the last time we'll see him on the show.

More amazing stunt work by Alex Stevens, with great lighting to accentuate the action.

Dark Shadows Episode 631 - 11/25/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Blair pulls a coffin out of the ground and opens it up. Tom Jennings' staked body lies within. Blair removes the bloody stake, and demands that he rise. Tom sits up, and goes to attack Blair. Blair explains that he is his master, and Tom will do as he says.

Vicki is in bed when Tom Jennings crawls through her bedroom window. He approaches with bared fangs and she screams when she sees him. She gets up and runs from him, passing out. Before he can bite her, Barnabas arrives and sees Tom, who flees out the window.

Blair waits in his drawing room, getting up to look out the window. There's a knock at the door and it's Chris Jennings. He explains that he's Tom's brother and would like to talk. He asks Blair about Tom working for him the night he was attacked. Chris asks if there was something menacing him that night, as he's trying to determine if he was murdered. Outside the window, Tom watches. Chris asks Blair what he does, and he tells him he's retired. Chris is distracted, saying he thought he saw someone outside the window. Blair explains that he would like to retire, and bids Chris goodnight.

Vicki wakes up to see Barnabas sitting by her side. She says she recognized Tom Jennings was there earlier, but he's dead. She says that dead people can't come back. Barnabas explains that his kind can. He tells her that a few people in the world suffer the curse of the living dead. They feed on the blood of others. He tells her they are called vampires. She seems willing to believe him. She asks if Blair could be responsible for making Tom a vampire? If so, she says that Blair may have sent Tom to kill her. She explains that she went to Blair when she found out Maggie planned to marry him. She says she told Blair that if he tried to go through with it, she'd tell Maggie everything she knows. Barnabas tells her he doesn't want her to have anything more to do with this. He promises her that Maggie will be safe.

Blair lets Harry in, and asks for details. Harry says he watched as they took the body and buried it at Collinsport cemetery. He sends Harry downstairs to collect a shovel when there's a knock at the door. Barnabas comes in and tells Blair that he had better cancel his arrangements. He tells him that his scheme to kill Vicki has failed. Blair pleads ignorance. Barnabas says that in order for the experiment to resume, Blair must swear that Vicki is safe. Blair guarantees her safety, and asks if that is all.

Barnabas adds one more condition. He says it would be insane for him to let Maggie marry him, and tells him to stay away from her. Blair asks what will happen if he refuses, and Barnabas says Eve will never live again. Blair says he wants Eve to be brought to life. Barnabas gets him to agree that he will stay away from Maggie and Vicki, and he is to destroy Tom Jennings. Blair reluctantly agrees, and Barnabas confirms they will be ready to begin the experiment at sundown tomorrow.

He yells for Harry to come upstairs, and he does. He says he's trying to decide whether to go to the graveyard, or deal with Tom Jennings. He decides they will go to the graveyard and dig up Eve's grave. Harry looks troubled. Blair tells him he's in trouble if he doesn't get the body out of the grave, which means Harry will be in trouble, too. He promises that after tonight, Harry will never see him again.

Blair and Harry walk to the cemetery. Barnabas is in the woods, watching from a distance. Tom Jennings is also lurking in the woods.

Blair and Harry arrive at the grave. Harry begins digging.

Barnabas sneaks into Blair's house. Tom Jennings sneaks in after him.

The coffin in on the surface. Harry opens it to show Blair the contents. Satisfied, he tells him they are bringing it to the old house.

Barnabas finds Tom's coffin in the basement. He starts upstairs to wait for him. He looks outside when Tom attacks him from behind. Barnabas grabs two candlesticks and makes a cross to fend him off. Barnabas apologizes to Tom, but says he must. Barnabas forces him to look out the window, and Tom disappears.

Our thoughts

John: What's with Tom the vampire bobble-head when he sneaks up on Vicki?

Christine: Tom's an animal! His bloodlust has him all aquiver. Tom really seemed to enjoy being a vampire, unlike the rest of the vampires on the show. He will be missed.

John: Blair is really up against a wall, and not liking it. Of course broken promises flow freely around Collinsport, so I don't know that I believe he'll be so quick to leave Maggie alone...

Christine: Barnabas should know better. Once he's got Eve, he'll have Maggie as well.

John: Barnabas must have recently watched Horror of Dracula, using the candlesticks to form a cross a la Peter Cushing. Unfortunately, Tom's demise isn't in quite as grand a fashion as Christopher Lee's.

Christine: That was a nice homage. Tom died as he lived, with a flair for melodrama. It's interesting to see Barnabas explain about vampires to Vicki after feeding off her himself at one time. How is it that Julia and Willie remember being victims of a vampire, but Carolyn and Vicki do not?

Dark Shadows Episode 630 - 11/22/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Barnabas, released from Windcliff, goes to see Blair. Blair tells Barnabas that Angelique will not harm him as long as he works with him. Barnabas points out that Adam will just kill her again. He also says there's no assurance that they will be able to return Eve to life. He points out that Eve has been dead for some time, and they still need a life force. Blair explains that he will provide the life force. Barnabas asks if he plans to summon up another Danielle Roget from hell. Blair tells him that Barnabas is merely a technician. He asks Barnabas if he is jealous of his powers. Barnabas tells him that they will not proceed if he brings a woman who is drugged or under a spell, and Blair assures him that he has a way of getting women to do what he wants them to do.

Blair fixes a drink for Maggie. She sees a cup and asks him about it. He tells her it's Egyptian, old, from before her Christ was born. He explains that it supposedly belonged to Cleopatra's seer, and it's a very valuable object. He shows her an opal, and asks if she'd like him to tell her fortune. She agrees, and follows his instructions.

He says she will have a long and happy life. She says he sounds disappointed. He tells her he's leaving Collinsport, and he wants her to leave with him, and marry him. He tries to convince her that she doesn't love Joe anymore. He asks her to tell him that she wants to marry him.

Vicki is surprised that Maggie would consider marrying Blair. She points out that no one knows Blair, and she doesn't trust him. Maggie tells her that they're not going to live in Collinsport anyway, so it doesn't matter if Vicki doesn't like who she's going to marry. Maggie leaves, and Vicki picks up the phone to call Blair.

Blair pours himself a drink when there's a knock at the door. He's surprised to see Vicki. He offers her a brandy to celebrate her first visit to his house. She tells him he can't marry Maggie. She says that Maggie doesn't know what he is. Blair asks her to describe what he is. She tells him he's not human. She points out that Cassandra Collins was a witch. He adds that as her brother, that would make him a Warlock? Vicki points out that he appeared just as she disappeared. He asks if she's afraid of him. He asks her what if she's wrong, and grabs her arm. She tells him to let go of her, and he does.

He says that is proof he is not as she says. He says she can tell Maggie, as she won't believe her anyway. Blair tells him that he has given up a great deal for Maggie's love. Vicki says she can't say nothing. He tells her to be careful, and he threatens than she may lose Maggie's friendship. He says he can make Maggie forget what Vicki tells her, without using any of the special powers that she believes he has. She tells Blair that if he truly loves Maggie, he won't go through with it. She leaves, and Blair thinks he could have wiped Vicki's memory. He thinks that Maggie Evans makes him human. He realizes that he has to deal with Vicki in a way that can't be traced back to him. He remembers that there is another way.

Blair goes downstairs and begins to dig up the basement floor.

Vicki returns to Collinwood and turns off the lights in the foyer. The door flies open and Barnabas is standing outside. She says it's great to see him, and asks what he's doing out so late. He says he's working with Julia. She invites him to dinner tomorrow before retiring upstairs.

Blair pulls a coffin out of the ground and opens it up. Tom Jennings' staked body lies within. Blair removes the stake, and demands that he rise. Tom sits up, and goes to attack Blair. Blair explains that he is his master, and Tom will do as he says.

Vicki is in bed when Tom Jennings crawls through her bedroom window. He approaches with bared fangs and she screams when she sees him.

Our thoughts

John: After yesterday's meeting with the big boss, Blair doesn't really seem that concerned about his fate. And now we find he's an antique dealer/fortune teller on the side? 

Christine: He's not concerned because he knows Diabolos won't have another appearance on the show. I guess he had to resort to using his magic cup from his trunk of magical trinkets since Angelique made off with his magic mirror.

John: My immediate response is this new stranger in Collinwood isn't our Victoria. We'll see if she grows on me over time, but she starts off more bombastic than Alexandra Moltke ever was.

Christine: It's sad to say goodbye to Alexandra Moltke and the Victoria we first met arriving by train to Collinsport more than two years ago. I don't think she can be replaced.

John: Tom's back! Looking good considering he's been staked and buried for 60 episodes! I can't wait to see Tom and Chris reunited (not to mention how they pull off that special effect!).

Christine: Hello, Chroma-Key twin! Are you sure you're looking forward to that? Don Briscoe delivers pretty stilted dialogue, but he really shines as a vampire. He's a lot more animalistic than any of the other vampires on the show, as demonstrated by the way he enters Vicki's room, and the strange thing he does with his tongue at the end of the episode. I am happy to see that he's been resurrected, though I do wonder why Blair went to the trouble of burying him under the basement floor instead of just installing him in a coffin above ground for easier access.

Dark Shadows Episode 571 - 9/2/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Julia moans Barnabas' name. Liz tells her he left her to die.

Barnabas picks up the mallet and stake as Tom Jennings returns. He reminds him that it's almost dawn. They struggle, and Tom leans in to bite Barnabas' neck.

A rooster crows, and Barnabas reminds him he'll turn to dust if the sunlight hits him. Tom chokes Barnabas until he's unconscious, but leaves him alone as he struggles to get back into his coffin. Barnabas comes to and gets up, resting his hands on the coffin.

Julia moans about the light, asking Liz to close the curtains. She does as she's asked.

Barnabas opens the coffin. He picks up the stake and mallet, positioning it over Tom's torso. He hammers down the stake as Tom screams.

Julia wakes up screaming.

Barnabas drops the mallet. He realizes that Jennings must be buried after dark. He leaves to check on Julia, and does not notice that Blair is watching him from a distance.

Blair enters the crypt and opens the coffin.

Julia asks Liz for a mirror.  She gets one and Julia is thrilled to see the marks on her neck are gone.

Barnabas arrives to check on her, and she says she's feeling better. He asks Liz to leave them alone for a moment and she does. Barnabas tells her that it's over, and Tom will never bother her again.

Liz stares out the window of the old house as Roger approaches. He lets himself in and calls to Barnabas and Willie. Barnabas comes downstairs and Roger apologizes for the intrusion. Barnabas explains that Liz arrived at the old house (not noticing that she was hiding behind furniture). Liz accuses Roger of plotting with Julia to bury her alive. Liz says she'll lead them to the coffin, and then they can discuss Windcliff.

There's another knock at the door, and Blair arrives with flowers for Julia. Barnabas says she's resting, and Blair asks Liz to check and see if she'll see him. Roger and Barnabas leave to look for the coffin. Liz comes down and tells Blair he can see Julia now. He heads upstairs.

Roger says he's sure there's no coffin where Liz is claiming, but he insists that they check.

Julia thanks Blair for the flowers. She says that she doesn't believe he just came to ask her about her health. She asks if he found out what he came there to see, and he says he did, noting that she was much better.

Barnabas tells Roger that if there is a coffin, they don't need to open it. They arrive at the crypt, and there is no coffin. Barnabas is somewhat surprised, wondering what it could mean.

Liz tells Roger that the coffin must have been moved. Liz tells him that Julia saw it. Liz assures them that she's sane.

Roger asks Julia if Liz saw her in the crypt, and if there was a coffin there. Julia says something strange happened to Liz after she left her. She denies Liz saw her in the crypt, and Roger suggests they have to send her back to Windcliff. Julia tells him not to send her back.

Barnabas comes upstairs and says Liz is sure they're plotting against her. Roger goes downstairs and Barnabas confirms that Julia lied to Roger. He wonders who took the coffin, and she mentions the coincidence of Blair stopping by. Barnabas says he must find the vampire who was responsible for Tom Jennings.

Our thoughts

John: As soon as Barnabas opened the coffin, shouldn't the light hitting Tom have caused him to turn to dust? Oh well, at least we got our first vampire staking of the series! Too bad they couldn't afford the sound effect of Barnabas hitting the stake with the mallet... That or Network Standards & Practices wouldn't approve.

Christine: Too bad Tom Jennings got the stake so soon. He was quite a frightening vampire. Barnabas wondered if anyone had ever looked at him as he was looking at Jennings in his coffin, and thought he wouldn't be alive now if someone had. While it's been a long time, I'm surprised he forgot the first person who ever stood over him in his coffin:

Episode 411

John: I wonder what Blair managed to do with the coffin. And since moving coffins isn't the kind of dirty work he normally does, I wonder who did it. Joe? Angelique?

Christine: We still don't know what Blair managed to do with Maggie. When are we going to check in on her and see if she's alright? As far as the coffin, he probably twinkled his nose or something to magically move it.

John: How is it not crystal clear that Blair is behind the new vampires in town, particularly after he made a point of checking in on Julia?

Christine: How is it not crystal clear that Blair is behind the creation of Adam's bride, particularly after he asked Julia if she was getting back to work soon? So, Barnabas finally had a tender moment with Julia! How long can this possibly last? 

Barnabas: It's over. Tom Jennings will never bother you again.
Julia: Thank you, Barnabas.
Barnabas: You've saved my life so often that I don't deserve thanks.