Dark Shadows Episode 874 - 10/30/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

(For the duration of the Petofi/Quentin mind-swap, Count Petofi occupying Quentin as played by David Selby will be referred to as Petofi-Q, and Quentin in Petofi's body as played by Thayer David will be referred to as Count Quentin).

Petofi-Q reminds Barnabas that he has the powers of his hand. He threatens to use it on Barnabas unless he tells him where the portrait of Quentin is.

Kitty asks Count Quentin for help. She says she knows his hand has powers. He used it to make her husband say things she had never known. She begs him to help her. She offers her jewelry, and refuses to leave without his help.

Petofi-Q tells Barnabas his time is up. Barnabas says he doesn't know where the portrait is. Petofi-Q raises his hand and first threatens death, and then decides to revert Barnabas to his vampire curse. He puts his hand to Barnabas' head, but nothing happens. Barnabas asks him what happened to his power.

Count Quentin asks for Kitty to be able to see who she really is, and touches her face with his withered hand. She says that Barnabas is right, and she is Josette DuPres, but also Kitty Soames.

She says she first came to Collinwood in 1795 to marry Barnabas. She says she brought her servant Angelique. She wonders what she's doing there. Count Quentin says many inexplicable things are happening tonight. He tells Kitty to stay, and he leaves.

Barnabas points out how embarrassed Petofi-Q must be. Petofi-Q says it must be because Barnabas is not human. He says he will find other ways to defeat him if not with his hand. Barnabas walks out on him.

Kitty wonders how she can go back to Collinwood knowing what she knows now. She wonders how she can end it, and picks up a knife. She struggles and then puts it back down. She runs out of the Mill.

Count Quentin arrives at Collinwood to see Barnabas. He finds Charity and tells her that he must see him. She takes him into the drawing room and says that she knows that he's Quentin. She hugs him, and says she's going to tell everyone. He tells her not to, saying that something has happened and he needs to talk to Barnabas first. Barnabas enters, and Count Quentin asks her to excuse them. Barnabas says Petofi has lost the portrait and the power of his hand. Count Quentin says he has the power. He starts to tell Barnabas how Kitty came to the Mill looking for help.

In the old house, Kitty goes to Josette's room.

Barnabas says he must go to find Kitty. He tells Count Quentin to hide at the rectory.

Beth asks Petofi-Q what's wrong. He once again blames her for bringing him back from the future, and tells her to get out of his room. He wonders if the trip through time caused him to lose his power. He decides to try the hand again on Charity, who he used it to possess her with Pansy.

Charity tells Petofi-Q that she'll scream as he drags her into his room. He says he's going to do them both a favor. He tells her to look at his hand. She does, and says she knows that he has evil in his hand. He calls her Charity, and says she will forget the memories of Pansy Faye. He touches her cheek.

Kitty hears someone calling her. It's Josette, telling her not to despair, and not to fight. She says she means her no harm, and asks her to let her live through her.

Petofi-Q tells Charity she can leave, and she asks, in Pansy's voice, what he's trying to do to her. He says it cannot be. He rushes out of the room.

Beth comes in and asks where he went. Charity says he's in the wrong body. She says she thinks she's got Quentin, but it's Count Petofi in his body. Beth doesn't believe her. She admits that he has done some strange things recently.

Barnabas finds Kitty at the old house. He tells her not to be afraid. He promises that she will become happy if she becomes Josette. She says something terrible would happen. She says he didn't fall in love with a portrait, and he admits that he fell in love with a woman. She points out that was 100 years ago. Kitty bounces back and forth between herself and Josette. She screams that she can't bear it. He says that he won't let her go. He holds her, and they kiss.

At the Mill, Petofi-Q wonders where Quentin is, and if the power has gone to his hand or simply disappeared. Beth finds him and tells him there's nothing to worry about Count Petofi any more. She says the gypsies are about to catch up with him again. Petofi-Q asks who told her that. She says they arrived at Collinwood, and he says he has to leave. She asks if he's afraid, and Petofi-Q denies that he is. He tells her to look at him but she refuses. He asks if something is making her feel different towards him. He says he'll see her back at Collinwood, and leaves. She realizes that he is Petofi.

Our thoughts

John: I was really hoping that Barnabas would have had more fun with Petofi-Q once it was clear that he no longer wielded the power of the hand. But we all know Barnabas. When there's a version of Josette around, nothing else matters...

Christine: I was hoping Count Quentin would try out his newfound power on his nemesis, but I guess he doesn't want to risk damaging his own pretty face. Lady Hampshire is going to get some sort of psychic whiplash the way she careens back and forth between Kitty and Josette.

John: I love when Charity describes looking into Count Quentin's eyes... while he's wearing glasses  so dark that you can't see them!

Christine: I was sort of hoping there'd be a little juice left in Petofi-Q's hand to bring Charity back, but I suppose I'd miss Pansy Faye if that happened, especially now that she's working to serve justice to Trask and Petofi.

John: Petofi's plan has all but unraveled. But it won't be satisfying if he remains stuck in his own time while in his own body... if the gypsies don't get a chance to exact their revenge, I'll be disappointed.

Christine: I assumed the story about the gypsies was concocted by Pansity as a way for Beth to find out that Petofi is occupying Quentin's body, though I imagine the gypsies will catch up to Petofi some time soon.

Dark Shadows Episode 873 - 10/29/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

(For the duration of the Petofi/Quentin mind-swap, Count Petofi occupying Quentin as played by David Selby will be referred to as Petofi-Q, and Quentin in Petofi's body as played by Thayer David will be referred to as Count Quentin).

Petofi-Q has laid out the 49th hexagram. He closes his eyes. He sees a door with the matching hexagram, and gets up and walks through it. He finds himself in the drawing room. He calls for Edward and Judith. He finds proof that he's in 1969, and revels in his success.

In 1969, Maggie Evans hears someone and comes downstairs. She goes into the drawing room, but no one is there.

Back in 1897, Petofi-Q is on the ground, thrashing. Beth tells him that she had to do it. She went to bury the suitcase and the portrait wasn't in it. He blames her for pulling him back from 1969.

She reiterates that the portrait is gone, and shows him the suitcase. He asks who could have taken it. He said he was only out of his room for a few minutes. He tells Beth to get him Charity. He wonders how she knew it was his birthday, and who would have told her. He realizes that Barnabas was in the house. He tells Beth that he must get the portrait back, and return to 1969 today.

Beth drags Charity to Quentin's room. He asks Beth to excuse them. Petofi-Q tells Charity that she's quite charming, and exquisitely dangerous. He asks who sent her to his room. He tells her that Barnabas told her it was his Birthday. He chokes her and she screams. He lets her go, and tells her that she knows better than to fight him. He asks her where Barnabas was when they had their drink. She storms out of his room.

Kitty is looking at the portrait when Barnabas approaches. She asks him into the drawing room. She tells him that she wants him to leave Collinwood today. She says that he's responsible for everything happening to her, and he seems intent on driving her insane. He says that her attacks began before his arrival. He offers to explain what is happening to her.

He says that she is the reincarnation of Josette DuPres. He says she is determined to live again. She says that he's mad. He tells her that she would be happier if she lets Josette live. He says that Kitty knows things that only Josette knew. She asks how he would know. He says he fell in love with her portrait as a young boy in England. He said no girl could match Josette until he saw her. He said he read her letters and diaries. He tells Kitty that he can help her. She calls him insane, and asks him to leave her. He does, and she hears the music box again.

Charity dreams that she is Pansy, and Quentin is searching the house for her. He finds her in the drawing room, and tells her he's going to hold on to her forever. They dance, and they sing her song as a duet. It ends with Quentin kissing her, and as he backs away he becomes Petofi, who laughs at her. She wakes up screaming.

Petofi-Q finds Barnabas in the drawing room just after midnight. He says it's a minute too late for them to share a birthday drink. Petofi-Q brings up Barnabas' vampire past, and suggests that they just admit they are enemies. Barnabas agrees, and calls him Count Petofi. Petofi-Q reminds Barnabas that he has the powers of his hand. He threatens to use it on Barnabas unless he tells him where the portrait of Quentin is.

Kitty asks Count Quentin for help. She says she knows his hand has powers. He used it to make her husband say things she had never known. She begs him to help her. She offers her jewelry, and refuses to leave without his help.

Petofi-Q tells Barnabas his time is up. Barnabas says he doesn't know where the portrait is. Petofi-Q raises his hand and first threatens death, and then decides to revert Barnabas to his vampire curse. He puts his hand to Barnabas' head, but nothing happens. Barnabas asks him what happened to his power.

Count Quentin asks for Kitty to be able to see who she really is, and touches her face with his withered hand. She says that Barnabas is right, and she is Josette DuPres, but also Kitty Soames.

Our thoughts

John: So the Petofi power has returned to its original source. But how? Is it related to Petofi-Q being yanked back from 1969 by Beth? Or something Barnabas did with Quentin's portrait? It sure feels like all family business is about to be settled, Godfather-style...

Christine: I hope he starts with Trask before he moves on to settling accounts with the Count.

John: The only thing more frightening than Quentin and Pansy singing a duet was the LSD/pre-disco music video... okay, his turning into Petofi would be pretty unsettling.

Christine: That may have been the most frightening thing we've seen on Dark Shadows to date! Though, if they had shown Petofi locking lips with Pansity, that would have been truly horrifying. I guess they didn't want to traumatize the younger viewing audience too much.

John: I love when characters offer to tell others the truth, when the truth is some fantastical, supernatural phenomenon. And then they back it up with some ridiculous story about research they've done to find this out...

Christine: If Kitty now knows that she is the reincarnation of Josette, I wonder if she also knows that Barnabas is the one and only from the portrait, and if she'll divulge what she knows to Edward in an effort to protect herself.

Dark Shadows Episode 872 - 10/28/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

(For the duration of the Petofi/Quentin mind-swap, Count Petofi occupying Quentin as played by David Selby will be referred to as Petofi-Q, and Quentin in Petofi's body as played by Thayer David will be referred to as Count Quentin).

Tate tells Petofi-Q that he is in the drawing room at Collinwood. The people are different. He describes a little boy and girl, and a woman named Julia, who is holding a newspaper. Petofi-Q asks the date on the newspaper, and Tate says it's October 28, 1969. Petofi-Q scatters the wands. He says he has found the right hexagram, and he knows the way to the future, and nothing can stop him now.

Beth comes to see Petofi-Q. He explains that he's been busy. She sees that he's packing, and asks if he would have seen her before he left. He tells her that she's going to follow him. She says she's sure he says the same things to Anelique. She sees jewels, and accuses him of stealing them. Petofi-Q says they're Petofi's. He tells her he found the hexagram that will allow him to escape to the future. He says they'll be safe from Angelique and Petofi in 1969. She's surprised to hear that he plans to take her.

He says he'll go first, and after he disappears, she can join him. He sends her into town to cash a check. Petofi-Q rolls up the portrait, saying he needs to take it with him to ensure no one destroys it. She asks how he'll get it. He says he'll bury it now, and dig it up in the future.

Tate arrives at Collinwood, and looks around, realizing how different it looked in his vision. He walks into the drawing room and finds Charity. She tells him that she's Pansy. She asks what's wrong with him, and he tells her that he's seen the future. She tells him that she has second sight, but she doesn't let it phase her. He says that Quentin is going to go to the future, but he won't let him. He runs upstairs.

Barnabas sees this and asks Charity what's wrong with Tate. He then says he understands her concern with him, and explains that he too was a victim of the vampire. She points out that Tate said Quentin was going to the future. Barnabas is intrigued.

Petofi-Q rolls up Quentin's portrait when Tate pounds on his door. Tate tells Petofi-Q that he's not going to go. He says that he found his way to the future because of him, and he owes him his talent back. Petofi-Q refuses to help him. He tells Tate that he has choices. He could become successful in something else. Tate grabs the portrait, and Petofi-Q tells him to put it down. Petofi-Q threatens him with his hand.

Charity asks Barnabas why he's taking Quentin's going to the future seriously. Barnabas whispers a secret to her.

Petofi-Q has subdued Tate. He tells him that he would have restored his talent, but he doesn't do favors for enemies. He sends Tate on his way, and he leaves, obediently.

Charity walks in and asks what Petofi-Q did. She tells him that she knows his secret. He starts to threaten her, and she reminds him that it's his birthday, and she's here to remind him. She offers him a drink and he agrees, saying that he's in a hurry. They go downstairs.

Beth returns to Collinwood as Petofi-Q and Charity come downstairs. Charity goes into the drawing room, and Petofi-Q tells Beth to take the money she got and bury it in the suitcase where he designated on the map. He then tells her to return to the house and wait with his body until it disappears. Then she can use the 49th hexagram to join him.

Barnabas sneaks into Quentin's room. He sees the empty frame where the portrait once was. He pokes around until he hears steps outside the door. He hides in the shadows when Beth enters. She takes a suitcase and leaves. Barnabas follows her.

Charity pours two glasses of champagne. Petofi-Q toasts the future. He sees Beth leave the house with the suitcase, followed by Barnabas. Petofi-Q offers Barnabas a drink, but he declines and leaves the house.

Barnabas tries to find where Beth went with the suitcase.

Barnabas returns to the drawing room and asks Charity where Quentin is, and if Beth had come back. She says no one has come or gone. He realizes that Petofi-Q must be in the house somewhere.

Petofi-Q has laid out the 49th hexagram. He closes his eyes. He sees a door with the matching hexagram, and gets up and walks through it. He finds himself in the drawing room. He calls for Edward and Judith. He finds proof that he's in 1969, and revels in his success.

Our thoughts

John: What secret do you think Barnabas whispered to Charity? Do you think he was telling her about Quentin's Birthday?

Christine: I'm pretty sure he said, "I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob."

John: So it does look like they can just lay out the hexagram of choice, as opposed to having to toss the I Ching wands to get a natural '49.'

Christine: We don't necessarily know that. He could have been tossing wands the whole time Charity was draining the bottle of champagne and Barnabas was being unsuccessful at finding Beth digging a big hole on the grounds. I'd prefer to think that's what he was doing anyway: "48! What the devil! So close! I'll try again..."

John: How soon do you think Petofi-Q will regret putting Beth in charge of burying the suitcase with the things he wanted access to in the future? And didn't it seem like he gave her the only copy of the map so she'd know where to bury it?

Christine: I think he will regret his decision quite soon. He really should have known better, but he was so excited about going to the future that he didn't seem to be thinking clearly, though I think we can assume he made an extra copy of the map. I'm hoping she buried the suitcase somewhere else in case he didn't bring her along as promised. Incidentally, that canvas looks an awful lot like a poster to me. I loved the way Tate slapped Petofi-Q with it.