Dark Shadows Episode 491 - 5/13/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Adam and Barnabas are lying on operating tables in the lab as Julia prepares for the experiment. Julia throws two nasty looking switches and electricity pulses through the lab. A polygraph and an oscilloscope are amongst the odd equipment churning away.

Julia is frantic as several small smoke bombs go off in the lab. She shuts down the machines, and goes to Barnabas.

His eyes open and she's thrilled he's still alive. He asks what happened and she says she had to stop. He asks to get up, and says they will try again. He sends her downstairs to review the journals and find out what she did wrong. She leaves and he gets up and walks to Adam's body, telling him he wanted it to be looking down on his lifeless shell. He begs for him to live, and Adam's eyes open. Barnabas realizes that they are both alive.

Barnabas calls for Julia as Adam breaks free of his bindings and gets up. Barnabas helps him stand, and then sits him back down on the table. Adam touches his own lips, but is unable to speak.

Julia arrives and is frightened by him. She asks what they are going to do. Barnabas asks what he's going to do, as he's still alive. Barnabas asks if Adam can understand them, and he looks at him oddly. Barnabas moves across the room, and like an animal or child, Adam follows him. Julia takes off her bracelet and shakes it in front of him. Adam grabs it and shakes it. He's like a happy child.

Barnabas says she should go through the books again. She says that he's alive, and there's nothing more to do. Barnabas wonders what they'll do with him. Julia goes to get him a sedative. Adam walks around confused. Julia explains she's going to put him to sleep, and when he wakes they'll feed him. The shot hurts Adam, and he attacks Julia.

Barnabas pulls him back and calmly brings him back to the table to lie down. He gets back up on the table, and Julia points out that Barnabas has power over him. He asks Julia what time it is, noting he has no bloodlust. She says he may not need to return to his coffin. He asks if he stays until dawn and dies, what will happen to Adam. She asks if he's prepared to die, and he says yes when there's a knock at the door.

Liz enters Lang's office.

Barnabas tells Liz he is surprised to see her, and she says she's come to see Dr. Hoffman about David. She asks Barnabas about his note, and his cousin Adam, when Julia enters. Liz tells her that David lost his voice inexplicably. Barnabas asks if Cassandra was upset. He also added that he once had a servant named Ben who had a similar experience, and was eventually fine. Julia agrees to go with Liz to Collinwood, and Barnabas reminds her about the experiment, pointing out that it's almost dawn. She assures him that she'll be back by then. Julia goes to get her bag, and Barnabas apologizes for his focus on their experiment. She seems surprised by his interest in science. Barnabas tells her he's most interested in the future—the very near future.

Alone in Lang's office, Barnabas waxes poetic about life and Adam, as he awaits the possible death that dawn brings.

Adam stirs, and gets up. He wanders around the lab, looking at and touching things. He sees his reflection, but continues his exploration of the lab.

He inadvertently turns on the bubbling machines and is quite enamored with them.

Barnabas drones on, thinking it may be better for him to live, as opposed to living and again being cursed. Julia returns and asks if he feels alright. He asks what will happen to Adam if he dies, and she says he won't die. He says they must make some arrangement to protect him, when she says there's no need. Barnabas sees the sunrise and realizes he is cured. He asks what happened, and asks if Adam is now a vampire. They hear a crash from the lab.

In the lab, a table is overturned. Adam picks up a scalpel and cuts himself. Hurt, he goes through the lab, breaking things and crying. Julia and Barnabas come in and he chases Julia around the lab. Barnabas tries to stop him and they end up holding him off at the door, with one arm reaching through.

Our thoughts

John: Adam must have thrown off his covers between last Friday and today's filming of the experiments, disappointing anyone thinking he might not be fully dressed after being assembled from dead body parts of others. That, or they hadn't figured out a costume for him prior to this week.

Christine: I would say that Barnabas would have made sure he was clothed, as he was expecting to wake up in Adam's body, but Adam's fashion suggests otherwise. Happy Birthday, Adam!

John: Again, anyone else think that Liz might have had the nightmare when she showed up at Lang's? Particularly since she was out and about before dawn? That would have been funny. "Barnabas, I had a terrible nightmare, and as you were in it, I need to tell you..."

Christine: That would be a nice shocker, but I don't think Liz can have the dream until Mrs. Johnson has it. It doesn't seem like we'll have a character experience the dream without us having the opportunity to witness it and add their door prize to the Nightmare Tracker.

John: So the sedative was going to put Adam to sleep for hours, and yet in the few minutes between receiving it and dawn, he's back up and walking around. As I mentioned previously, the Adam storyline is the one I remember watching when first seeing Dark Shadows in syndication in the early 80s. I have to say, I'm quite happy with how his debut went today, and am looking forward to his continuing adventures over the next several months!

Christine: I wonder if becoming parents will deepen Barnabas and Julia's relationship. Adam is quite the lovable monster child. It was clear that Barnabas provided him with some of his life force when Adam went for Julia's throat the first time she did something to make him mad. Like monster father, like monster son.

Dark Shadows Before I Die Round Robin Nightmare tracker:

1. Wide-eyed skull
2. Guillotine
3. Lang's Headless creation
4. Skeletal bride