Dark Shadows Episode 578 - 9/11/68

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In the garden, Tony tells Carolyn he'd like to go back to the early days of their relationship, and they kiss. Adam watching them. Carolyn goes inside, and Adam attacks Tony, telling him to leave her alone before knocking him out.

Carolyn finds Tony in the garden and calls for help. Roger shows up as Tony comes to. They ask what happened, and he says he was attacked from behind. They help him into the house.

Adam watches the events unfold from the window of the tower room. He realizes Carolyn will be angry, but doesn't care.

Roger helps Tony onto the couch. Tony describes his assailant as tremendously strong. He says the man told him to, "stay away from her." He asks her if she knows who it might have been, and she says she doesn't. Roger goes to call the sheriff, and Carolyn says that's not necessary. Roger then decides to ask Tony what he was doing at Collinwood. Tony explains that Liz hired her tonight to change her will. Roger goes to speak to Liz. Tony asks if she's sure she doesn't know who attacked him. She assures him she doesn't.

Adam watches as Tony drives off. He realizes that Carolyn loves Tony, and wishes that he had killed him.

There's a knock on Adam's door. He lets Carolyn in. She accuses him of attacking Tony. He doesn't deny it. She says she should turn him over to the authorities. He tells her to go ahead. He then takes a scarf from a drawer and gives it to her. He said he kept it to remind him of her, but he doesn't want it any more. He asks if she loves Tony. She says she's attracted to him, but she doesn't know if she loves him. Adam tells her he doesn't want to just be her friend. He asks her to leave, and she does.

Roger calls Carolyn into the drawing room. He tells her that Liz plans to cut everyone out of her will unless they all agree to have a special mausoleum built to her specifications, that will send up an a alarm and open her coffin to prevent her from being buried alive. Roger proposes sending her back to Windcliff. She says she needs time to think about. They argue, and she excuses herself.

Carolyn meets Harry in the garden, and tells him that she needs him to stay with Adam full time. Harry reminds her that he's afraid of Adam. She assures him Adam will be friendly. He tells her he wants $100 a day to stay with him. Carolyn agrees, and Harry says he'll do it, but he won't like it.

Harry goes to Adam's room and lets him know Carolyn told him to stay with Adam. Adam tells him to go get Carolyn, or he'll kill him.

Carolyn apologizes to Roger, and he tells her that she acted like she didn't care about her mother at all. Harry interrupts them, and Carolyn excuses herself to talk to him. He explains that Adam threatened to kill him if he didn't get her.

Roger goes into the foyer looking for Carolyn, but can't find her.

Upstairs, Carolyn and Harry find the door to Adam's room broken open. Harry points out a note that Adam wrote, indicating that he was leaving,

Our thoughts

John: Fake Carolyn alert! They really should warn us before we see an imposter filling someone's shoes. Of course, it's not just the performance, the character of Carolyn seems different in the way she interacts with the other characters. And her performance doesn't make it appear that she actually knows Adam was behind the attack, when we know that she would. Bad day for Nancy Barrett to miss work!

Christine: Did you somehow miss Louis Edmonds' announcement that "Today, the part of Caro-line Stoddard will be played by Miss Diana Walker" during the opening credits? I'm not sure why he mispronounced Carolyn's name, but I guess the doppelgänger threw him off. I like how they shrouded her face in shadow in the opening scene before letting us know that someone would be standing in for Barrett, who is obviously irreplaceable, but have no fear, this will be the only time Walker impersonates Carolyn. It certainly couldn't have been easy to show up out of the blue and try to assume the role of a character with a lot of history, so we'll try to cut the brave lass some slack. I wonder if that's Adam's shadow moving in the window behind the lovebirds.

John: Considering Roger's love of money, I would think he should be happy to know that all he needs to do in order to ensure his share of the inheritance is to go along with Liz' whims. Will he really risk it all to try and get her committed in Windcliff again?

Christine: Mental illness seems to frighten Roger more than any ghosts, witches or vampires ever would.

John: Nice bribery job, Harry! Instead of getting kicked out of Collinwood, you get Carolyn to commit to giving you $100 a day to babysit Adam! But then you blow it by letting him escape. I betcha Harry still asks for the money...

Christine: I don't think we can blame him for requesting a stipend for the extra duties, or for doing what Adam asked upon threat of death. What I don't get is why Adam is all put out by Carolyn making out with Tony when he's got a specially ordered undead mate on the way.

Dark Shadows Episode 577 - 9/10/68

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Liz wakes up screaming. Carolyn runs in, and her mother tells her that she knows that she's going to be buried alive. Carolyn tells her it's merely a fixation, and suggests that she see a local doctor. Liz gets up and phones her lawyer. He's unavailable, and she leaves a message that if she doesn't hear from him within the hour, she won't speak with him again. She asks Carolyn if Roger told her lawyer that she's gone mad. Carolyn begs her to see a doctor who can help her. Liz appeases Carolyn, who goes back to bed. She locks her bedroom door, and calls information to get Anthony Peterson's number. She then calls Tony.

Tony answers the phone, and Liz asks him to see her immediately. He agrees, and she tells him to please hurry.

Adam plays chess against himself, while talking to himself as if he's playing against Carolyn. There's a knock at his door when Carolyn brings him food. He tells her that he can't remember her name, as it's been so long since he's seen her. She comes in, and he notices she appears depressed. She explains that she's concerned about her mother. Adam tells her that Liz is very beautiful.

He says she should take her mother to a doctor. Carolyn tries to explain things, and Adam launches in to a discussion of Freud. He gives Carolyn his book on Freud, and tells her to read it tonight, and they can discuss it tomorrow. He asks her to sit and play chess with him. She says she doesn't know how, and he cannot understand how she can know so little, having lived so long. She grills him on who he has been playing chess with, and he explains that he's been playing against her. He adds that she doesn't play as well as he does. He asks her to stay and tell him about her mother.

Peterson visits Liz, and she tells him she wants him to replace Richard Garner as her attorney. She says that to start, she wants to make some additions to her will. She lays out how her coffin is to be displayed. She provides details on how her coffin is to be made, including air vents near her head. He points out that her requests are unusual, but agrees to go along with it. She adds that a buzzer will be in the coffin, wired to a system that would be heard throughout the house. She then asks him to get her papers to sign as soon as possible. He tells her that the additions she's requesting are rather strange. She tells him they are not strange at all, since she knows that she's going to be buried alive.

Carolyn goes out in the garden with the book of Freud Adam gave her. She wonders if it will help her understand her mother or Adam. Tony startles her, and sees that she's reading Freud. He says it's appropriate. He adds that her mother has requested changes to her will. Carolyn begins crying, telling him to do whatever her mother wants him to do.

He says he's not sure he should, and she might not be mentally competent. He says he doesn't envy her or her family. He does say that he's sympathetic. He adds that he's been too embarrassed to call her due to Cassandra. He says he can't explain what happened; he says he hated her even when he was compelled to be with her. Adam watches them in the garden from his window. Tony tells Carolyn he'd like to go back to the early days of their relationship, and they kiss.

Adam is now downstairs watching them. Carolyn goes inside, and Adam attacks Tony, telling him to leave her alone before knocking him out.

Our thoughts

John: For one creepy moment, I was wondering if Adam was interested in Liz. Imagine him as Carolyn's stepfather...

Christine: It was disturbing to hear him say he'd been thinking about Liz while telling Carolyn how beautiful her mother is. I was wondering if Stokes gave him a copy of The Graduate to read.

John: I'm sorry, but Carolyn's crying was some of the least convincing acting we've seen from her. At least Tony Peterson is back in her life to cheer her up (and down, I'm sure, all in good time).

Christine: Maybe Angelique will make him vampire boyfriend number #3.

John: So is there a slide or a fireman's pole providing access from the tower room to the garden? How else was Adam able to get downstairs so quickly? I guess we can look forward to another visit from the sheriff, as they once again will have to comb the surrounding area for the madman lurking around Collinwood.

Christine: He probably jumped from the window. He did survive a fall from Widows' Hill, after all. Did anyone else notice that Liz appropriated Maggie's quilt sometime during the middle of the night, and also changed the blue nightgown she wore at the end of yesterday's episode? Maybe she was dreaming that she was having a nightmare yesterday.

Beginning of today's episode.

End of yesterday's episode.

Dark Shadows Episode 523 - 6/27/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

In the cellar, Blair finds Reverend Trask's skeleton. He asks where Angelique is, and tells Trask that he cannot be resisted. He commands Trask to come back from the grave. Trask's voice asks who summons him. Blair commands him to appear, and Trask reappears behind the brick wall.

Trask says that he knows who Blair is, claiming that he's the devil himself come to tempt him. He says he will not be tempted, nor listen to him, and Blair explains he has no choice. Trask tries to cast Blair back to hell, and Blair applauds at his efforts.

Blair demands to know what Trask has done with the witch. Trask explains that the demon has been exorcised from her. Blair demands to know where the exorcism took place. Trask refuses to tell him, and Blair says he will allow him to return to his grave in peace only if he does as he asks. Trask pulls a cross on him, and Blair cowers in fear. Trask disappears, and Blair screams he hasn't seen the last of him.

Blair returns to Collinwood and finds Carolyn in the drawing room. He sits down, and she explains that they might not be related by marriage much longer. He asks how his sister has aroused such hostility. Carolyn says if he wants to know why Cassandra alienated the entire family, he can talk to Tony Peterson. He asks if she's implying Cassandra and Tony were lovers. She says he couldn't resist her, and Blair likens it to her having some power over him.

Blair says he's going to visit Mr. Peterson, when Vicki enters. Carolyn introduces them, and Vicki is a bit shocked. Blair excuses himself, and Vicki asks her how Cassandra could have a relative.

Tony is working in his office when the doorbell rings. He opens the door, and Blair says he represents a corporation that will be suing the Collins family, and shows off a jeweled cigarette case that hypnotizes Tony.

Blair points out his extraordinary resemblance to Trask. He then asks Tony to tell him about Cassandra. Tony says he loves her. Blair asks where she is, and he says Collinwood. Blair tells him to clear his mind, and tell him the first image that comes to his mind. Tony describes a tree, and Nicholas tries to get him to identify the precise location of the tree. He leaves, and Tony gets up, as if no one had been there.

Vicki is in the drawing room, wondering about Nicholas Blair, when there's a knock at the door. It's Jeff, and she's thrilled to see him.

Jeff explains he still doesn't know who he is. He tells her he couldn't find out any more information from the police. She tells him he exists here and now, and that's all that matters. They kiss, and Jeff tells her he brought her a present.

He goes to  the car to get it. Trask appears before Vicki, and tells her to beware the devil.

Jeff returns and tells Trask to leave Vicki alone, because she's innocent. Trask disappears, and Jeff gets a headache. Vicki points out that the fact he recognized Trask means he's Peter Bradford.

Our thoughts

John: I have to give them credit - making Trask appear over the skeleton via chroma key was the most effective use of the technology yet.

Christine: I suppose so, if you don't pay attention to how the brick shapes cut out of his black robe don't quite match up with the wall. It was still quite good, though I should remind you of some other  impressive uses of the chroma key:

John: If Blair could get Tony to provide information about Cassandra that he didn't know, how come he couldn't just conjure it up on his own?

Christine: It would seem his powers aren't without limits. Blair says it must have amused Cassandra that Tony closely resembled Trask, but he should be as concerned as the rest of us with the fact that she's forced him to fall in love with her and has been playing around with him, suggesting that she's got the hots for Trask. She must have fallen for him when she learned he also likes to play with fire.

John: Interesting that Jeff recognized Trask, but more importantly, Vicki is skipping over the important detail Trask provided about the devil being a guest in Collinwood...

Christine: Devil shmevil, she's found her lost love! It's possible that Nicholas Blair might actually be Q. I love when he tells Trask: "You were a blind, overzealous fanatic, a bigot and a fraud, intolerant, cruel and unjust! A man after my own heart."

Dark Shadows Before I Die Round Robin Nightmare tracker (bold appearing in this episode):

1. Wide-eyed skull
2. Guillotine
3. Lang's Headless creation
4. Skeletal bride 
5. Educational Bat-footage
6. Giant spider-web 
7. Mounted wolf's head 
8. Carolyn's tombstone 
9. Maggie with Sam's coffin

Dark Shadows Episode 513 - 6/13/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Cassandra meanders through the garden, calling for Tony to come to her.

In his office, Tony hears Cassandra calling and tries to ignore her.

He gets up, in a trance, and opens the door to leave his office. Professor Stokes is outside the door, and asks if he's going somewhere. He says he arrived with no time to spare, and is glad Tony called him to come. Tony says Stokes promised he was going to get rid of Cassandra. Stokes admits that something has gone wrong. He says the brick wall that broke open in the basement of the old house in Collinwood was bricked back up. He asks Tony if he's sure Cassandra believed he was dead. Stokes tells him that Cassandra needs Tony to help her reactivate the dream curse, by getting Sam Evans to have the dream. Stokes tells Tony to stay put, and that he's going to see Sam Evans. As he's leaving, he tells Tony that Cassandra can't hurt him—she can only use him.

Joe tells Maggie that there was no answer at the old house when he went looking for Barnabas. She asks for more information about Adam when there's a knock at the door. Professor Stokes asks to speak to Sam, and Maggie says he's in town at The Blue Whale with a friend. She invites him to wait. Stokes tells Maggie that her father might have the same dream that she had. There's another knock at the door, and it's Cassandra. She brought something for her father. Maggie invites her in, and she's surprised to see Professor Stokes.

She asks how he's been, and he tells her he's alive and kicking. Maggie introduces her to Joe. She takes the gift Cassandra left for her father, and says she'll give it to him as soon as he arrives. Cassandra explains she has to get back to Collinwood, and Stokes asks her to give Vicki a message—that he's no longer interested in buying the portrait she had. He found out it's a copy, and he's found the original. After she's gone, Stokes picked up the package and pockets it. Stokes suggests he's going to see if he can find Sam at The Blue Whale. After he's gone, Maggie notices that Cassandra's gift is gone.

Cassandra is in the garden when Tony arrives to see her. She tells him she had something important for him to do, but she decided to do it himself because he resisted her. She tells him he lied to her about Stokes being alive. She says Stokes has upset her plans. She tells him he's going to learn how powerful she is. Tony says Stokes tricked him. She describes Stokes as a fool who couldn't trick a 10 year-old. Tony realizes she's afraid of Stokes. She tells him to look into her eyes. She tells Tony that he's going to fall in love with her once they kiss, and he points out Mrs. Stoddard watching them from the window. Cassandra turns to see her, and Tony is able to get away.

Stokes is waiting at Tony's office when he returns. He explains he couldn't resist her. Tony asks how Stokes is able to resist her. Stokes says he was at the Evans's cottage when she arrived to drop off tobacco for Sam. He says it was drugged to help him sleep. He offers it to Tony, suggesting it's a fine Turkish blend that might help him dream.

Liz asks Cassandra to explain herself. Liz says she's going to speak to Roger as soon as she sees him. Cassandra says he won't believe her, and then tells Liz to look at her. Cassandra insults her, saying her life has been empty and uneventful. She says that death, in all of its forms and manifestations, will occupy Liz' mind.

Our thoughts

John: If the brick wall in the basement of the old house is back up, and Barnabas remains missing, wouldn't someone consider that he might be walled in behind it?

Christine: I don't know why anyone would suspect that he would be walled in, with the exception of Julia, who has demonstrated in the past that she can become very thick headed and confused when faced with a clear cut mystery for her to solve. It is rather rude that they've left us hanging with no hint of his fate today.

John: So much for Professor Stokes keeping his being alive a secret! But it was probably worth his being discovered, just to see the look on Cassandra's face.

Christine: That was a great moment. I also enjoyed when Peterson avoids the witch's kiss by saying, "The woman in the window, it's...Mrs. Stoddard!" which is surely a nod to the 1944 movie that Joan Bennett starred in with Edward G. Robinson.

John: I wonder if Cassandra's plan is going to work on Liz. Isn't she already somewhat fixated on death?

Christine: I think that's why her plan will work all too well. Remember the last time she was obsessed with death?


Dark Shadows Before I Die Round Robin Nightmare tracker:

1. Wide-eyed skull
2. Guillotine
3. Lang's Headless creation
4. Skeletal bride 
5. Educational Bat-footage
6. Giant spider-web 
7. Mounted wolf's head 
8. Carolyn's tombstone