Shadows on the Wall: Episode 70

   

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/09/episode-70-93066.html

Then & Now

Christine: Elizabeth has acknowledged that Matthew can be violent. He just admitted to wanting to murder Burke for the family, and he tried to dispose of Bill's corpse. Why does Elizabeth keep him around?

John: The way Carolyn lobbies Mrs. Johnson on her mother, you'd think she was part of the plot to get her to spy on the family on Burke's behalf. And how is it that Carolyn would know that Mrs. Johnson was a great cook?

Nothing ever comes of his threat, but I kinda like the notion of David using Josette as his hand of vengeance.

Shadows on the Wall

Christine: It's wonderful to be back at the Old House and see it again for the first time.

John: You can tell the introduction of the old house was a big deal — they went to the trouble of shooting exteriors of David and Vicki (as well as Matthew) making their way to it. And ten years later, I still feel that really needed a better foley department. And while I'm reiterating complaints, Matthew's protracted arrival at the old house still annoys me. 

All that said, Josette's ghostly descent from the portrait is an iconic moment in Dark Shadows history. It's sad that a small fraction of those who have witnessed Barnabas' arrival have been exposed to the first supernatural character on the show. 

I am compelled to ask if she regularly steps out of the portrait just to get some exercise?

Some other things worth a closer look…

Shadows on the Wall: Episode 69

  

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/09/episode-69-92966.html

Then & Now

John: I hadn't observed it before, but Mrs. Johnson has a bit of the look of Mrs. Dudley from Robert Wise's adaptation of Shirley Jackson's Haunting of Hill House.

I kept waiting for Roger to walk in on Joe and Carolyn canoodling in his office. They're lucky Louis Edmonds had the day off today...

Christine: I would have enjoyed seeing Carolyn have a more dramatic and jealous reaction to Burke calling her Vicki. 

One of my favorite discoveries in these early episodes is learning that Mrs. Johnson began her job at Collinwood as a mole. Who would have guessed how well suited she was for that job?

Shadows on the Wall

John: Mrs. Johnson was really heartbroken that the watch Bill loved so much was broken. Imagine being so jealous of a watch.

Christine: The ship in a glass dome has apparently taken another cruise around Roger's office. I wonder where it will turn up next. 

Today's episode

Episode 68

When Joe walked into Roger's office and saw the back of the office chair facing him, I had a brief flashback to a similar scene in Carnival of Souls and was anticipating a frightening reveal. 

John: I was going to say the exact same thing! But I felt bringing up The Haunting AND Carnival of Souls in reference to one episode might be considered indulgent... so I'm glad you mentioned it!

What caught your eye? Here are a few more scenes and visual details from the episode…