Shadows on the Wall: Episode 65

   

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/09/episode-65-92366.html

Then & Now

John: Burke has an interesting understanding of what normal folks would call trespassing.

I want to think that Burke's given name was Burke Lobsterpot, and he only later changed it to Devlin. 

Roger spilling Sam's drink has a spontaneity that makes it seem unscripted. At least the manner in which Sam drops his glass.

Christine: I had the same feeling about that scene, though I also wonder if Roger saying, "You can buy another drink, you can't buy another life" was also unscripted. That is like some kind of Zen koan. I'm still pondering the meaning of that. 

Here we find Sam and Roger again discussing quite loudly their collusion in the manslaughter trial as well as Bill Malloy's murder even though it's still not confirmed that he was murdered. If only Bartender Bob could talk, he would tell all!

"If you ever want anything bad enough in this life, you have to wait for it," sounds more like a Burke Lobsterpot philosophy than a Devlin one. 

"Don't you have some knitting or gardening or something to do?" That was uncalled for, Devlin! Elizabeth only has time for tea!

Shadows on the Wall

John: How did we miss the shadow of the boom mic in the beginning of this episode when Burke starts up the stairs? Or seeing the boom mic itself when it shows up in the shot when Burke is looking out the drawing room window!

Christine: We missed it because we were enthralled by the storytelling and the action. Or maybe the portraits. 

On our last viewing, I noted that the portrait of Abigail Collins had taken the place of Isaac's portrait. We now know that this isn't the first time we've seen it, since it previously appeared in Vicki's room.

Episode 8

Some other things worth noticing…

Shadows on the Wall: Episode 64

   

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/09/episode-64-92266.html

Then & Now

John: Carolyn clues Liz in to the fact that she's unwittingly sent Matthew on a mission to take out Burke Devlin.

In retrospect, I really like the confrontation between Matthew and Burke at the Blue Whale (up until the false fisticuffs, anyway). Matthew is probably the first person to come up against Burke who's an equal match.  

Christine: Burke seems to recognize the madman in Matthew, and it appears to frighten him. I wonder why he didn't insist that the Sheriff press charges. I did love how all the patrons lined up to watch and were reluctant to move even when the Sheriff told them to break it up. 

John: When Liz asks Carolyn if she'd rather believe Burke is a liar, or that her Uncle knowingly caused an innocent man to go to jail, the look on her face suggests she just might prefer to believe the latter.

Shadows on the Wall

John: Poor Bartender Bob shakes his head after Matthew and Burke are led out of the Blue Whale, disappointed by the fact that he can't speak. Of course, that might be all the more reason he (and we) should be keeping tabs on everyone who passes through the Blue Whale.

Christine: It was startling to see someone lurking outside the drawing room window while Elizabeth and Carolyn were having their argument. If I didn't know better, I'd think someone dangerous was waiting outside. Liz must have scared whoever it was off when she forcefully threw open the window.

I noted ten years ago that we heard our first non-Cobert tune on the Blue Whale jukebox in this episode. The Dark Shadows Wiki identifies it as "Hole in the Wall" by the T-Bones. I wonder about the significance of the change in music. Perhaps it was meant to prepare us for the unsettling encounter?

A few more things worth noticing…