Shadows on the Wall: Episode 13

 

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/07/episode-13-71366.html

Then & Now

John: 10 years later, the most shocking thing about Roger entering the drawing room to see Burke is how long it takes him to pour himself a drink!

The look on Burke's face when Roger says he went to prison because he was guilty is telling.

At least we now know it's Matthew who keeps the drawing room fire burning.

Burke finally hits Roger in his weak spot, asking him for one more drink for old times' sake.

I didn't notice it 10 years ago, but Matthew uses "Ayuh" like so many of Stephen King's Maine-based characters.

Christine: Apparently the foundling home never read Vicki the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, because she seems perfectly comfortable letting herself into Matthew's cottage when no one answers the door. Considering how often Matthew complains about people snooping around, I'm surprised he still welcomed her with tea and muffins. 

I believe Matthew and Mr. Wells are the only two people in Collinsport we've met so far to have Maine accents. 

I love how casually Elizabeth warns Vicki that Matthew can be quite violent if he feels she's threatened, and how unfazed Vicki is by the warning. 

Shadows on the Wall

John: Is Matthew's tablecloth a hand-me-down from the Blue Whale?

And do Matthew's Muffins warrant dessert tracking alongside Maggie's pies and donuts?

A number of cars can be seen in today's episode, but none more interesting than Roger's 1966 Ford Shelby GT 350H Mustang. I sure wouldn't want to be Burke if anything happened to Roger in that car tomorrow... what with Vicki all but catching him snooping around the garage, and with a handy wrench, no less!

Christine: I suppose if desserts continue to take center stage, they may eventually spawn a Collinwood Confections page. I like that Matthew's muffins look homemade, with one slightly burned and the others just a bit uneven. No wonder Vicki picked at hers. 

When Roger made one of his customary visits to the decanter at Burke's behest, his brandy collection was hidden behind a large book. Could this be an early appearance of the famed Collins family history book?

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

Shadows on the Wall: Episode 12

 

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/07/episode-12-71266.html

Then & Now

John: Assuming the show was set in contemporary times, the house being 150 years old would suggest it was built in the early 1800s. Does that match up with our upcoming flashbacks, or the as-yet unseen old house versus the new house?

This is the first time a ghost whisperer (Roger) isn't making a joking reference...

We are to believe that Burke and Elizabeth are in the drawing room, when those of us in-the-know realize they both had the day off today. As a result, we get a lot of lingering outside those closed doors today.

Christine: No, the timeline doesn't match up, though it seems many of the series' historical details changed after Vicki was transported to 1795–perhaps because of her interference. 

Her hair may still be blonde, but this episode feels like the debut of the Maggie we've all come to know and love. 

Shadows on the Wall

John: Based on the Sam Evans paintings we've seen, it's a bit of a stretch for Maggie to suggest he's better than Michelangelo.

Christine: From what we've seen so far, perhaps. Fortunately, for Sam's reputation, his Angelique and Phoenix period lay ahead. Incidentally, I think I may have discovered another Sam Evans painting–a rocky ocean scene–propped behind the easel beneath the windows that I had not previously catalogued.

The striped throw blanket on the Evanses' couch caught my eye. Now I'm wondering how long it remains before Maggie's afghan first appears, and whether this blanket eventually finds its way into other households and timelines. Perhaps it's one we should keep an eye on. 

What caught your eye in this episode–something you had never noticed before or something that stood out in a new way?

Shadows on the Wall: Episode 11

   

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/07/episode-11-71166.html

Then & Now

John: There's that fire burning in then drawing room again — in the middle of the summer!

Is Burke the first 'guest' to be offered a drink in the drawing room?

I laughed this time when Mr. Wells told Sam his hair looked fine, despite the fact that it could definitely use a combing.

When Elizabeth asks Carolyn if Burke put the Venezuela letter where she'd see it, it certainly gives you the feeling that she's reading the full scripts for each episode, and not just her sides...

I kept waiting for Maggie to return to the diner, only to finally realize that she's not one of the players in today's episode.

Ten years on, I still think Burke is convincing when he says he's not out for revenge. 

Carolyn is today's ghost-whisperer, telling Joe over the phone that she thinks ghosts are all gone.

Christine: Where was Mr. Wells when Carolyn visited Burke at the Collinsport Inn? He somehow knew she'd called Burke's room, yet he was nowhere to be seen. Was he hiding behind the front desk? 

Shadows on the Wall

John: Hmm... I'm wondering how often phone booths come into play.

Nice of Burke to help with a history lesson to reinforce key historical family members like Jeremiah Collins.

Christine: Are you trying to instigate a phone booth collection? I can't help wondering if the phone booth at the Collinsport Inn is the same one that appears on the Blue Whale set. 

I was surprised by how many car horns can be heard as Sam walks to the Collinsport Inn. Given his condition, I can't help wondering if they're honking at him. 

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