Shadows on the Wall: Episode 17

    

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/07/episode-17-71966.html

Then & Now

John: "100 miles — it seemed like 100 miles" is one of my favorite DS Bloopers, and deftly handled by Louis Edmonds.

Bill's one hell of an investigator. In a matter of minutes, he looks at a wreck and is able to determine the exact cause, and draw a perfect schematic of the system and the missing piece! Seems like he's a wasted resource working for the Collins' clan — unless they also retain him as a private investigator!

Liz imparts some more Collinwood history, describing Isaac Collins' arrival in 1690.

My biggest question I'm left with today — just who is the father of Lucy Cameron's baby!

Christine: Bill Malloy's presentation still has me recalling fond memories of Phineas J. Whoopee from Tennessee Tuxedo. Of course, the real purpose of his presentation was to make us all aware that the missing piece was the same one we saw in David's possession, and perhaps also to foreshadow that the Collinsport constabulary will prove to be not quite as astute as Bill Malloy.

Mr. Cameron is most likely the father of Lucy Cameron's baby. Dr. Reeves took his call just as Roger and Bill left the exam room to use the waiting room for automotive instruction, and he conveniently waited until they were finished before heading out to deliver the Camerons' baby. So perhaps the real question is: did Mr. Cameron end up delivering his own baby?

Roger's injuries may have been more traumatic for him had his drinking arm been the one placed in a sling.

Shadows on the Wall

John: David's got a nice toy boat by his bed, but more importantly, we get a great panning shot of another Japanese robot from his collection. It's got a very unique design, with what looks like 10 typewriter keys at its waist, but I haven't yet been able to identify the specific model. 

That's a nice half-skull decorating the doctor's office!

Christine: Many skeletons, bones, and body parts will eventually appear on the show that may be worthy of collecting. I'm just not sure whether Dr. Reeves's skull belongs in a Skeleton Collection or one for Office Supplies, considering it appears to be a very effective way to keep track of the many forms he would rather not fill out.

What visual detail caught your eye in this episode?

Shadows on the Wall: Episode 16

   

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/07/episode-16-71866.html

Then & Now

John: Was today the first time anyone opened one of the windows in the drawing room?

Given that Vicki was there to see Burke poking around Roger's car, it's surprising that she doesn't consider that he might be responsible for Roger's accident. Perhaps Carolyn isn't the only one under Burke's charm.

This time watching, I noticed that when Liz is talking to Roger on the phone, she doesn't pause long enough between her statements for someone on the other end of the line to speak!

Based on what was playing in July of 1966, I wonder if Joe and Carolyn were going to check out the Adam West Batman movie. Think of the foreshadowing opportunity... another 'Bat-man' in Collinwood!

I also loved how Liz makes Matthew out to be a real 'car brakes' enthusiast. Since she never gets out of Collinwood, maybe she doesn't realize there's more to a car than just its brakes!

Christine: Carolyn asks Joe whether he would hit her over the head and drag her out of Collinwood. I interpreted her question differently this time. It made me wonder whether Carolyn is really looking for someone who will take charge and make her feel safe. Perhaps part of her dissatisfaction with Joe isn't just that he offers little excitement, but that he rarely sets any boundaries, allowing her to push him around instead. If Joe had simply reminded Carolyn that he promised Elizabeth they wouldn't go to the Blue Whale–and stood by it–I think she would have accepted it. Of course, that wouldn't have made for as interesting an episode. 

After seeing Joe dance with Carolyn, I can better understand why he was reluctant in Episode 2. Then again, it's probably difficult to dance with someone who's got her back to you while she's busy wiggling for another guy.

Shadows on the Wall

Christine: We explore more of the kitchen set today, getting a better look at the cabinets and tea service area. Seeing all the plants made me wonder who takes care of them. I have to believe Elizabeth does, considering she spends all her time at Collinwood and must find other ways to occupy herself besides serving tea. 

The painting of the schooner hanging above the jukebox at the Blue Whale caught my eye today. It made me wonder how many schooners, sailing ships, and boats we've seen so far–from the model ship in the Collinwood drawing room, to the one on the cover of the America Sails the Seas book Vicki was reading in Episode 6, to the toy ship in David's room. Are there any others I've missed? I did catch another painting of a ship on the wall at the Blue Whale, but I wonder if I might have spotted one at the Collinsport Inn as well.

John: When we saw more of the kitchen, my first thought was, did they just wander into a greenhouse?

What visual detail caught your eye in this episode?

Shadows on the Wall: Episode 15

 

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/07/episode-15-71566.html

Then & Now

John: Why on earth would Roger's car keys be in such random places around the drawing room? If he was going to check anywhere, you'd think he would have explored his most frequented location in the room — the liquor cart!

Roger is today's ghost whisperer, asking Elizabeth if her ghosts are talking to her, and telling her to let them rest. Not realizing that he may be on his way to becoming a ghost himself.

David's half-hearted attempt to dissuade Roger from taking the car doesn't lead me to believe he really had a change of heart. 

Christine: It was amusing to see all the odd places Roger thought he might have left his keys, though his frequent trips to the decanter lead me to suspect this isn't the first time he's had to search for them in unexpected places.

Shadows on the Wall

John: Another cool Japanese Robot in David's room, though we don't get a great look at it since David grabs it from Vicki, concerned she'd break it.

David also brandishes a cool toy revolver, pointing it right into the camera and pulling the trigger. Two guns are seen alongside a checkerboard during the end credts — a revolver that may be the one he pointed at the camera, and what appears to be a German Luger. 

That bronze statue on the table by the telephone in the foyer has gone unnoticed by me until it was featured in the shot today with the phone ringing.

Christine: You are referring to the famed bronze foyer statue–still disputed as to whether it holds a shovel or a hayfork–that becomes a constant at Collinwood. What made it stand out today is that the table was positioned farther forward than usual, where the brighter lighting made it much easier to see. The table typically sits in line with the end of the staircase, though in Episode 2 it was placed closer to the kitchen and dining room doors, allowing the chandelier's shadow to be visible on the floor. 

David's robot collection now stands at four. May we rely on our resident vintage toy expert to identify them all? There also appears to be a knife among the toy collection in the end credits. 

What did you notice during this viewing that you had never noticed before?