Shadows on the Wall: Episode 36

   

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/08/episode-36-81566.html

Then & Now

Christine: Vicki makes a good argument to Liz. If David hates her and wishes her harm, there's little chance he'll cooperate with her or learn from her. The fact that Elizabeth still wants her to stay suggests there are other reasons for keeping Vicki at Collinwood beyond being David's ineffective tutor or simply someone to share tea with. If Elizabeth truly is Victoria's mother and that's part of the reason she wants Vicki to stay, the question is why she wants one daughter to escape Collinwood while insisting that the other remain there with her.

John: What I like about the 'real' Sam Evans is that you can never tell if he's brilliant at portraying a drunk, or horrible at remembering his lines.

Liz hopes Vicki can bring love and understanding to David. Maybe Liz was looking for a life partner for the little guy... 

I love how Spooky Sam sends Vicki back to her ghosts and goblins in Collinwood.

Shadows on the Wall

Christine: With all his talk of death, I'm guessing Sam may be sketching a tombstone on the Collinsport Inn napkin, complete with what appears to be a long epitaph. I'm beginning to question whether I can continue defending the artistic talent he claims to possess.

John: Perhaps he's sketching potential stage props for Spinal Tap?

It seems like they always talk about going to the movies in Collinwood, but never what they're going to see!

Whew! Roger finally poured himself a drink. I was beginning to worry about him. Perhaps his flying off the handle might have been the result of his not taking a drink sooner... but wait — it appears he puts it down, unfinished! A drink-tracker first???

Christine: Yes. It is concerning. 

What did you notice this time that you had never noticed before?

Shadows on the Wall: Episode 35

   

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/08/episode-35-81266.html

Then & Now

John: The real Sam Evans has arrived! The one who could spot a hangover from a mile away!

John: Joe should have explained to Sam that Maggie had the day off today.

I don't remember Carolyn thanking Vicki for calling her an idiot. I do wonder if 'idiot' was the '60s television acceptable substitute for calling someone a 'bitch.' 

Christine: I think idiot was the appropriate term in this case, regardless of the time period. Carolyn was being an idiot, though what may have set her off was that Vicki didn't bother to tell her where she was going when she asked to borrow her car, even though Vicki was well aware that Carolyn is infatuated with Burke. Vicki probably intended to keep it to herself, but big mouth Joe just couldn't wait to pour some cold water on Carolyn with that juicy news. 

John: I also forgot Sam's extreme close-up monologue. That alcohol sure works fast!

Christine: New Sam may have been trying to match the volume of Old Sam. 

Shadows on the Wall

John: So — will Sam Evans give Roger Collins a run for his money in the drinking department? 

Christine: Oh, I expect that he will. 

John: Why is it that Vicki never hangs up coats? This isn't the first time she just left one on the table in the foyer.

Christine: There's no coat rack. 

The sculpture by the couch in Burke's hotel room in yesterday's episode has been replaced by some nondescript container or cigarette holder. I wonder if yesterday's intriguing item will reappear elsewhere in Collinsport. 

Today's episode

Episode 34

What stood out to you during this viewing of the episode?

Shadows on the Wall: Episode 34

   

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/08/episode-34-81166.html

Then & Now

John: It seems like Burke might believe Vicki's interested in more than just his report on her when she pushes him to invite her up to his room.

Christine: I'm seeing Vicki in a whole new light this viewing. Where I once might have perceived her as innocent and naive (Malted Vicki), I now think she's much more enigmatic than that. Burke first decides she's not the sherry type, and then, when she insists on going straight to his hotel room rather than having dinner first, apparently decides she's Champagne Vicki. Perhaps neither label quite fits.

Is her single-minded determination to find answers about her background what has her willing to risk being pawed over by Burke in his hotel room to get the information she wants? Is it possible that Vicki is actually more calculating than Burke gives her credit for?

On my last viewing, I thought it was poor manners when she blew off the steak dinner Burke ordered, but now I wonder if she was actually taking control of the situation rather than allowing Burke to use her desire for information about her parentage to get something in return.

It's too bad that when Burke offered to help her, she didn't think to ask whether he could find a handwriting expert to compare the handwriting on the note of abandonment she was left with at the foundling home to Elizabeth's.

John: Yeah, you'd think if he put his private investigator on her case, they could have gotten to the bottom of things lickety-split!

Shadows on the Wall

John: How many drinks do you think you can get at the Blue Whale for $8 (plus tip) in 1966 dollars?

Christine: Well, shots were 25¢ to 50¢ in 1966, so about 16 to 32 drinks. That's quite a bender!

I couldn't figure out what that oddly shaped item on the table by the couch was in the dark shots of Burke's hotel room, and it was finally revealed in close-up. I'm not sure if it was there while David was visiting, but he may have been too focused on setting Burke up for attempted murder to be distracted by it.

What stood out to you during this viewing of the episode?