Shadows on the Wall: Episode 51

   

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/09/episode-51-9566.html

Then & Now

John: It's interesting that neither Vicki nor Carolyn were specific that they saw Bill Malloy's body. We all assumed it was Bill because he's been missing... but the writers chose to backpedal on that notion.

You'd think the ladies of Collinwood were asking Roger to kill a spider the way he avoided being the one to go check and see if there was a dead man at the base of Widow's Hill. I don't know if he's afraid to see a dead body, or if he's afraid to see Bill's dead body.

Christine: The fact that he looked concerned when hearing about the dead body makes me think he suspected Sam might have done Bill in and then called him to see if Evans had dispatched their problem. Why else would he tell Elizabeth that they shouldn't involve the police? 

John: 10 years ago I assumed Matthew was responsible for moving Bill's body. At this point I still think it looks like Roger is responsible for the death, and Matthew is just an accessory after the fact...

Christine: Since we know who's responsible for the death, it's interesting to see how well he covered for himself, even admitting he expected to find Bill Malloy down on the rocks. Elizabeth was right to be suspicious. It's possible he didn't consider that the corpse might resurface and cause additional problems for the Collins family. 

John: Carolyn asking her if she could bunk with her seemed to catch Vicki off guard — she momentarily forgot her line about the cocoa. 

Shadows on the Wall

John: Roger takes a swig in the name of sarcasm!

Is it me, or has Roger's scar been crawling up his head towards his hairline? I don't recall it having so much of a curve previously. And it's too late now to insert a scar-tracker. We can make a note for the 70th anniversary re-watch in HD.

Christine: I think it depends on the angle and lighting, but the scar appears anchored to his second forehead wrinkle, though it looks quite different in Episodes 39 and 40. It's never too late for a scar-tracker! Be careful what you wish for. The photo evidence below is all the effort I feel like putting into it, though. 

Also, forget HD. I expect we'll be doing the 70th anniversary re-watch with holographic video and will be able to measure that scar up close and personal. 

John: I loved Roger's reaction to Vicki telling him what David saw in his crystal ball! I'd have bet money he was right on this particular premonition. 

As threatened, here's the unofficial Roger Collins Scar-Tracker…

Today's episode

Today's episode

Episode 50

Episode 47

Episode 46

Episode 45

Episode 41

Episode 40

Episode 39

A few more things worth noticing…

Shadows on the Wall: Episode 50

   

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/09/episode-50-9266.html

Then & Now

John: During this viewing, I was beginning to wonder if Carolyn was going to be the third to throw herself over the cliff at Widow's Hill.

Christine: With the legend of either a third person or a governess falling from the cliff at Widows' Hill, you'd think Carolyn and Vicki would know better than to traipse around the cliff in the dark, especially when they got close enough to look over the edge and see a waterlogged corpse below. It was surprising to hear that Carolyn was allowed to run around the cliff when she was a kid. It makes me wonder how only two people have fallen (or thrown themselves) from the cliff, as the legend goes.

John: Let's review. Roger arrives home, and very shortly thereafter, Bill's body is discovered at the base of Widow's Hill.

Though I already knew Bill's fate on this go-around, before this week it seemed like he was destined for a lengthy tenure in Collinwood. The culmination of the first 50 episodes remains a high point of the pre-Barnabas era.

Christine: Our first corpse. Such a momentous occasion. 

Shadows on the Wall

John: Interesting to see Carolyn actually playing the piano. So often they shoot someone behind the piano so they only have to mime the act of playing. Even more surprising is that she's not that great of a piano player.

Do you think Bil Baird created the floating Bill Malloy doll?

Christine: I don't think the show could afford the talents of Bil Baird at this point in the show just for a soaked dummy. 

I love how quickly Roger abandoned his cold chicken sandwich and glass of milk in favor of the brandy as soon as Liz asked about his late-evening argument with Bill Malloy. However, it is concerning that he didn't seem to pour anything and appeared to be drinking from an empty glass. That is suspicious behavior indeed.

A few more things worth noticing…