Dark Shadows Episode 394 - 12/28/67

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André finds Angelique outside of the Countess' room. She explains they heard sounds from behind the locked door. As he makes plans to force the door, it opens on its own. They go in to find the room torn apart.

André is unwilling to believe something supernatural took place, but he can't otherwise explain things. Angelique suggests it may have been Jeremiah's ghost. Abigail enters, and upon seeing the state of the room, claims the devil has followed them into the new house. She says that Reverend Trask said they should clear the house of evil before moving in. She also says that the Collins family was never troubled until Victoria Winters and the duPrés arrived. André is insulted, and tells Abigail that he intends to tell her brother of her behavior.

As Angelique starts to leave, Abigail stops her. She intends to interrogate her. She tells Angelique she wants her to tell about her trickery. Angelique is surprised, and denies knowing what she means. Abigail says she used trickery on Barnabas. She explains that she knows how she got Barnabas to agree to marry her. She asks about the potion Angelique used to cure Sarah. Abigail tells Angelique that she doesn't fool her. She says that someone can cure ills may also be able to make people sick. Angelique says it's impossible, but then happens to mention that when Sarah was ill, Victoria was present. Abigail jumps on that, and while she doesn't dismiss her suspicion of Angelique as being in league with Vicki.

Abigail leaves, and Angelique calls for Jeremiah to appear. He does, and she tells him that he cannot return to his grave until he does one more thing for her.

Nathan stops in to see Barnabas. He asks to speak to him as a friend. He says the Countess told him that Barnabas is going to marry Angelique. He doesn't understand it, and Barnabas says it's too much to explain. He says that his father and aunt are against his marriage, and he hopes his friends will support him. He explains he has no choice. Nathan asks if he has to marry her because her honor is at stake, and Barnabas puts his mind at ease. Nathan asks about Josette, suggesting that the two of them might reconnect. Barnabas snaps at him, and then apologizes. Nathan leaves, saying he hopes Barnabas and Angelique will be happy together.

Barnabas hears the voice of Jeremiah. He turns to see him standing in the room. He says he wants in death what Barnabas would not give him in life—justice. He says Barnabas cannot have Josette, and Barnabas says that he'll marry Angelique. Jeremiah threatens to haunt him forever if he ever tries to marry Josette.

Angelique  comes to see Barnabas, and tells him his aunt Abigail is trying to prevent them from getting married. She says she was accused of making Sarah ill in order to trap him into marrying her. She says they must get married tonight. He says they promised his father they would wait, and she says that his aunt will find a way to stop them. He mentions that Jeremiah was just in his room, and threatened him if he ever married Josette. She tells him that the only solution is for them to be married tonight. He agrees, and says they will not run away to do it. He will go to speak to his father immediately.

Our thoughts

John Well, you've got to give Abigail credit for suspecting Angelique. But just when she had her on the ropes, Angelique drops the V-word and Abigail's suspicions return to our young Miss Winters.

Christine: I'm surprised she doesn't suspect they are in the same coven. Maybe it will take her a little more time to get around to that.

John: So is Jeremiah a ghost or a shambling cadaver? I was hoping for the latter after his prior appearances, but now he's back, via the bargain blue-screen, and it's not quite as impressive as when he's on set.

Christine: He seems to be a little bit of both. I think the voiceover also reduces his fear factor.

John: Can anyone explain why one of Jeremiah's eyes is hanging out of its socket? It's a good look, but I wish it were justified based on how he died. Unless they really want us to believe that Barnabas shot him in the face during their duel. Or it was damage from crawling out of the grave...

Christine: Perhaps he's just decomposing quickly.

Dark Shadows Episode 393 - 12/27/67

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Josette arrives at Jeremiah's grave with Naomi. She calls to Jeremiah to waken him, and as Naomi tries to explain that he's dead, a hand bursts from the grave. She screams and runs off with Naomi.

André discusses leaving Collinwood, and Joshua explains that they won't want to leave before Jeremiah's extensive estate has been settled. Josette and Naomi burst in. Josette hysterically explains that she heard Jeremiah's voice, and they went to his grave where she and Naomi saw Jeremiah's hand reach from his grave. André and Joshua assure her that Jeremiah is dead. Josette says that Jeremiah is going to come to find her. André takes Josette upstairs. Joshua dismisses Naomi's corroboration as the result of her drinking. She suggests that Joshua go to the grave to see for himself. Looking out the window, Naomi sees Jeremiah, his face partially wrapped in bandages, standing outside. She calls for Joshua to come look. By the time he gets to the window, he points out there is nothing there.

Naomi tells the Countess what happened. The Countess asks if Naomi now believes her that there's an evil force in the house. She agrees, though she also states that she doesn't believe that force is Miss Winters. The Countess says she's considered that Joshua could be responsible. She points out that everyone is a suspect, herself included. Naomi asks about Angelique, and the Countess dismisses that notion. They work through the family members and staff, and the Countess suggests Naomi's sister-in-law. She then says they really need to find Miss Winters.

The Countess checks in on Josette, who is sleeping. She sends André off to bed, and they leave Josette alone in her room. Jeremiah appears and approaches her bed. Josette sits up in terror. Jeremiah implores her to come with him. She screams for help, and the Countess rushes in to find her alone.

Josette wakes up to the sound of a rooster, and the Countess tells her to go back to sleep. Angelique enters with coffee for the Countess. She offers to stay with Josette, and the Countess agrees, saying she can help her pack for the move to the new house. Angelique starts packing, and Josette asks her to sit down with her. She asks if Angelique wishes they could go back to Martinique. She explains she plans to stay, and when Josette asks for details, she says if Barnabas has not explained, then she cannot say. Josette presses the issue, and Angelique tells her that Barnabas has asked for her hand in marriage. Josette is surprised by the news. She tells Angelique that she doesn't need to pack for her any more, and hopes that Barnabas makes her happy.

Joshua complains to Naomi about the state of his study in the new house. The Countess arrives with Angelique, and compliments Naomi on the work she's done preparing the new house. Naomi leads Angelique upstairs with the Countess' things. The Countess and Joshua look around the foyer.

Upstairs, Naomi tries to open the door to The Countess' room, which was to have been Jeremiah's room. They hear footsteps inside, and the Countess suggests it's Miss Winters. They hear a man's laughing from behind the door, and then Naomi runs downstairs to get Joshua.

Our thoughts

John: Once again, the excitement of the arrival of a dead character is tempered by the fact that they are unrecognizable. We never did get an explanation why Jeremiah's head was bandaged before his death, but his face is now a bloody mess. Were we to believe Barnabas shot him in the face?

Christine: I think it must have happened as a result of having to claw his way out of a coffin through rocky graveyard soil. I'm wondering if that's how his eyeball got popped out onto his cheek. 

John: Angelique's spilling the beans about her upcoming wedding didn't seem to have much of an impact on Josette. I guess that will come over time, once she gets over seeing her dead husband.

Christine: I thought she looked like she wanted to throw up after hearing the news, though maybe she was still thinking of her zombie husband's mutilated face.

John: I think the writers were reaching when they decided that Jeremiah would go to what was to be his room in the new house, as opposed to returning to his room at the old house. Is that why he came back—because he was really looking forward to his new room?

Christine: I thought Angelique was controlling him. Why would she have him hang out at the old house by himself, with everyone moving out? I wonder why he's laughing his head off in his room at the new house.

Dark Shadows Episode 390/391 - 12/22/67

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Naomi, Josette and her father sit by Jeremiah's bedside. She refuses to leave his side. She then points out a coldness that came over her. She says she feels the presence of death all around them, and that Jeremiah is going to die tonight.

André tells Barnabas that Josette believes Jeremiah will die tonight. He says she feels responsible for his condition. Barnabas explains that Jeremiah's blood is not on her hands—just his own. André begs him to make Josette believe that he doesn't blame her for what happened. He agrees to, and says perhaps Jeremiah will be well and they can live happily ever after.

As he leaves, he runs into Angelique, who says Sarah is with her doll and feeling better. André goes upstairs, and Angelique asks him if he plans to tell Josette they are getting married. Barnabas tells her they never spoke of marriage, and Angelique reminds him that he promised he would marry her if Sarah got better. He says he said that when he didn't think Sarah would survive. Angelique releases him from his promise, and begins to cry. She says that soon Josette may be a widow, and he can finally marry her. She says that she understands how he couldn't love a lowly servant like her. He asks if she can accept him, knowing how he feels about Josette. She says that all she wants is to be his wife. He tells her that he won't break his promise. She promises to make him happy, and he asks her not to tell anyone else. He'll tell his family and Josette in his own way. She agrees to be an obedient wife.

Naomi enters and asks Angelique to stay with Josette. She leaves, and Naomi asks when Barnabas will speak to Josette. He tells her that he has decided to marry Angelique. She tells him she hopes he's not making a mistake that he'll regret for the rest of his life.

Angelique checks on Josette, who asks her about Barnabas. She says her father said he had something to tell her. Angelique says that she knows what he's planning to tell her. Josette asks Angelique to tell her what he was going to say to her. She says he was going to tell her that he forgives her for marrying Jeremiah. Josette asks if her father told him to say that. Angelique says they spoke, but doesn't corroborate her claim. Josette blames herself for what has transpired, and says she wishes she were dead. She sends Angelique away.

André sits with Jeremiah. Barnabas enters, and André says he may not live through the night. He asks if Barnabas spoke to Josette. He says he may speak to her tomorrow. Something else came up tonight, and he doesn't want to talk to her about it yet. André suggests that he make his peace, and forgive Jeremiah. He then notices he can't tell if Jeremiah is breathing.

Josette sits up in bed and asks who's there. She hears a clock strike 2am. Jeremiah appears at the end of her bed, and she asks who is and what he wants. She realizes it's Jeremiah, but he doesn't answer her. He leaves her room and she follows him.

André pulls a sheet up over Jeremiah's head. Barnabas stands over the body when Josette runs in. She says she just saw Jeremiah in her room.

André tells her that's impossible, as Jeremiah just died.

Our thoughts

John: Has Anthony George already been let go? I can't otherwise imagine why Jeremiah's head was wrapped up like Imhotep in today's episode.

Christine: Episode 384 was Anthony George's last appearance. Poor guy got killed off twice with very little fanfare on either occasion. For some reason, he was not given the opportunity to act out a death scene. Timothy Gordon is on hand to play the ghost of Jeremiah, and it was also his hand that reached up from the unchained coffin to strangle Willie Loomis in Episode 210.

John: Why would Naomi not want Barnabas to marry cousin Millicent? Joshua was adamant that Jeremiah court her to get her wealth into the Collins family coffers.

Christine: Naomi wants Barnabas to be happy and marry for love instead of money, probably so he will not end up like her in a loveless marriage, seeking solace in the bottle. Nobody expected Jeremiah to fall in love with anyone, and he probably wouldn't have, if not for witchcraft and the devil's influence.

John: With Jeremiah now dead, will it be too late for Barnabas to ease Josette's suffering by forgiving her? Or will he be inclined to take advantage of the fact that she's once again single?

Christine: He promised to marry Angelique and sealed the deal by telling his mom what he was going to do. Josette is on the back burner until he spurns Angelique again, once he's made Josette suffer a little by planning to marry her servant. It's difficult to imagine Angelique being the obedient wife she promises to be to Barnabas.

Dark shadows in Josette's bedroom.

Dark Shadows Episode 387 - 12/19/67

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Trask tells Joshua that someone helped Vicki Winters escape, which means there are others in league with the devil; a coven of witches that must be found and destroyed. Angelique listens on fearfully while removing a tea tray. Trask says he will interrogate everyone in the house, as no one is above suspicion.

He asks for Joshua's permission to proceed. Joshua tells him to exercise judgment, and proceed with caution. He doesn't want a scandal around the family name. He places the house at Trask's disposal. André duPrés asks if Joshua truly plans to open his family and guests to the interrogation of the witch hunter. Trask is interested in duPrés' reluctance to cooperate. André refuses to be questioned. Trask says he might have a good reason to refuse to cooperate—protecting himself, or shielding someone else. Joshua asks if André has something to hide. He insists that André submit to Trask's questions. He reluctantly agrees.

Angelique runs in to Nathan at the servant's entrance. She asks what he's doing, and he says he's just passing through the kitchen as he was leaving. She asks about the bundle he's carrying, and he admits he's taken some food from the kitchen to go on a picnic. He invites her to join him, and she declines. He asks that this remain their little secret, and she says she won't tell anyone. After he leaves, she says he didn't deceive her, and she knows he's taking food to Vicki.

Trask asks Joshua about Angelique's whereabouts. Joshua explains that she belongs to the duPrés family. Angelique enters at that point, and Trask begins questioning her. He explains he's looking for as many witches as there are in Collinwood. He asks her to sit down. He asks her if she fears the Almighty. She says she does. He asks what she knows of the sorcery afflicting the people of the house. She denies knowing anything. He asks if she's been baptized, and she says no. He presses her for reasons why, and she has none. He asks why she was walking alone in the woods. She says she doesn't know, and he counters that she does, and she's going to tell him. He claims she's trying to deceive him. He asks if she goes to the woods to see the devil himself. She says she has never been tempted by the devil. Trask asks if she's seen the devil in the woods. She says she goes to the woods because it's quiet and peaceful, and she wants to be close to God. He asks how she can be close to God if she's not been baptized.

She drops to her knees and tries to impress upon him that she feels closer to God than ever before. She tells him that he must be responsible for what she's feeling. Joshua asks him what's wrong with her. Trask tells him she's either a complete charlatan, or she's having a spiritual revelation. She describes seeing a new, large house. Trask asks Joshua if he knows of such a place, and Roger says it must be the new house. Trask says he'd like to go there at once. He says the witch they are looking for will be found at Collinwood. They leave, and Angelique smiles.

Nathan delivers food to Vicki at the new house. She thanks him for his help, and asks how long he thinks she'll have to stay. He says he doesn't know. He tells her Barnabas spoke to his father, but he had already been swayed by Abigail. Vicki talks about transcending time and space in order to go home. He warns her against talking like that. He says it's no wonder Trask thinks she's a witch. He says he believes she's a good person when they hear someone enter the new house.

Joshua brings Trask into the house, and he says he senses evil spirits. Joshua asks how he senses evil spirits. He hears a noise when Nathan comes out. Joshua asks what he's doing in the new house uninvited. He apologizes and says Barnabas had told him he needed to see the architecture. Trask says he's lying, and asks where the witch is. Nathan claims to have no idea where Vicki is.

Joshua says his explanation is not satisfactory, and they will all search the house together. They go in to the room where Vicki had been, and find an open window. Trask asks if the workmen eat in the house, and points out fresh crumbs. He turns to look at Nathan.

Our thoughts
                                                               
John: I love when Andre calls Trask a complete idiot, but he should realize that Trask answers to no one when it comes to deciding who is in league with the devil.

Christine: I'm surprised that womanizing Nathan Forbes made such a half-hearted play for Angelique. Perhaps he senses the danger that surrounds her.

John: Trask is a fantastic evil interrogator. Of course I was disappointed that he couldn't tell that Angelique was in fact a charlatan and NOT having a spiritual revelation...

Christine: It's not his fault that Angelique is a master manipulator even without the poppets and potions. She had him when she told him he made her feel closer to God.

John: Nathan's really done it now. Sneaking around the old house was bad enough. The fact that he was harboring a witch in the new house is going to be hard to explain away. Where's Barnabas when he needs him!

Christine: He is surely waiting to hear news of his uncle's fate, as are we all.

Dark Shadows Episode 384 - 12/14/67

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André meets Josette in her room. He asks what he can do for her as Angelique enters. Josette tells her father that Ben brought Jeremiah a letter from Barnabas, and they are going to fight today. Angelique listens in, and is concerned. André says it's a matter of honor, and he cannot interfere. Josette says she can't bear to be responsible for anything happening to one of them. André asks which one, and says she should have thought of that before marrying Jeremiah. She pleads with him to talk to Barnabas, and he says he'll do so as a token gesture. Angelique runs out of the room.

Angelique finds Barnabas with his dueling pistols. She begs him not to fight today, and he asks if her mistress sent her. She denies it, and says that she told him before that she loved him. He asks if she still believes in love. She says she does, She says if they were in Martinique, he could just find another woman.

He asks if she knew Josette was going to marry Jeremiah, and she says yes. He asks why he didn't tell him, and she says he would have said she was a jealous woman. She asks if he's every fought a duel, or killed a man, and he admits that he has not. When she realizes that she cannot stop the duel, she gives him something to wear for luck that will keep him from harm. He puts it around his neck.

André knocks on the door, and when Barnabas lets him in, he asks Angelique what she's doing there. She makes up an excuse and then leaves. André points out the duel is ridiculous. He says that Barnabas loved his daughter yesterday, and that there must be some small part of him that still wishes happiness for her. He asks if he would destroy her life to save some pride.

Josette tells Jeremiah that she can't talk to him if there's going to be a duel. He explains he has no choice. She begs him to go see Barnabas. He explains that they grew up as brothers. She points out that was true until she arrived. She says that the two of them shared madness together, but not really love. He tells her if he lives, he'll provide her with a good life. And if he dies, she'll be able to remarry. She suggests that he wants Barnabas to kill him. André returns, and says Barnabas wishes to see Jeremiah. He refuses, and André says they must meet.

Barnabas returns his pistols to their case. Jeremiah comes to see him. Barnabas says he's glad he came, and Jeremiah says he's glad he asked him to. He then says that Barnabas is not glad he came, and he is not glad he's there. Jeremiah asks what he wants him to say. He says he is sorry. Barnabas says that if he does not love Josette, he ruined all their lives for nothing. Jeremiah says that Josette came to him. He said he tried to go away, but it was as if they were under a spell. Barnabas says he'll be talking of witchcraft next. Barnabas says he went behind his back and took advantage of Josette. He says that he must have hated him all his life. Jeremiah denies that. Barnabas asks if he would do it again, and Jeremiah says under the same circumstances, he would have no choice. Barnabas says that neither does he, and he removes a pistol from its case.

Josette is at her desk when Angelique enters. She says that Barnabas and Jeremiah have left with the pistols. Josette faints, and Angelique wipes her face with rosewater. She tells her that she must stop the duel.

Jeremiah and Barnabas stand back to back.

Barnabas tells him that they will take ten paces, turn, count to three, and then fire. Jeremiah tells him that prior to this, he never lied to Barnabas. They take their paces. They turn to face one another. Barnabas counts to three, after which Josette runs up screaming for them to stop.

There's a gunshot, and Jeremiah lies wounded. Josette tells Angelique to get help, and calls Barnabas a monster.

She says he killed the only man she ever loved. Barnabas puts down his pistol and offers to help Jeremiah. Josette rebuffs him, and he gets up and walks away.

Our thoughts
                                                               
John: The grand duel has happened, Jeremiah is near death, and poor Vicki never got to say goodbye this time.

Christine: Surprising that it happened on a Thursday. What big event will top it tomorrow?

John: Do you think Jeremiah even fired his pistol? Or do you think he sacrificed himself to Barnabas out of shame?

Christine: He definitely sacrificed himself. He never raised his pistol and there was only one shot. He closed his eyes and was murmuring something to himself before Barnabas shot him.

John: How will the rest of the folks in Collinwood react to Barnabas' potential killing of his uncle? Surely this will have huge ramifications on the family dynamic. I guess we'll soon find out, as word of the duel reaches the other family members.

Christine: They will probably think he was well within his rights to do it, though no good can come of it. The Collins family was cursed when Barnabas spurned Angelique.

Barnabas: I will be not sit here accepting this.